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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!qubix!steven
From: steven@qubix.UUCP (Steven Maurer)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Flaws in the Traveler Universe
Message-ID: <617@qubix.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Oct-83 17:28:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: qubix.617
Posted: Tue Oct 25 17:28:28 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Oct-83 07:55:20 EDT
References: <85@astrovax.UUCP>
Organization: Qubix Graphic Systems, Saratoga, CA
Lines: 70


    I do have a number of objections to the Traveller Universe,
as well as objections to its game system.  This is a listing that
comes to my mind at the moment.

    1] The previous experience system.   Every character is "Drafted"
	into some military service, at the start of their life.  They
	then undergo some of the most hair-raising adventures you have
	ever seen, given the fact that the dealth-rate runs anywhere
	from 10%-60% per year.  Can you imagine such a society??  Each
	year ALL (every single one) of the draftable youth is rounded
	up and put into death camps where 20% per year are killed.

    2]  The lack of appropriate percentages.  Over 1/3 of the population
	of the Imperium must be in the military, yet do you see any?  I
	cannot believe that all these peoronel never are allowed R&R.
	1/36 of the people in the Imperium are "royalty", they come
	practically a dime a dozen, but do you see any?

    3]  The silliness of the tech levels.  A tech level is SUPPOSED to
	represent an overall superioity in society, but rarely does this
	happen.  At the lower levels, (ours), the superiority is readily
	apparent; (Tech level 6 German Tanks rolled over Tech level 5
	Polish Cavilry at the begining of WWII, Tech Level 6 German Tanks
	would cook under a Tech Level 7 A-Bomb).   At the higher (Traveller)
	levels, the adjacent levels are almost indistinguishable. This
	occurs, until the magic number 17 is reached -- then anything can
	happen.

    4]  The lack of imagination.  This is a continuation of #3.  Where are
	all the standard (and non-standard) high tech special effects?
	Where are the Smart Bullets?, Matter Transference Beams?, Psionic
	Robotics?, Mutagenic Alterators?, Brain Wipes?, Force Fields?,
	Alien Technology?, Reliable Deep Freze?, Computer Guided (Amazingly
	Accurate) Weapons Tracking?, Semi-Intelligent Computers?, Vibro (Lazer)
	Swords?, Cyborgs?, Probability Manipulators?, Alternate Universes?,
	etc?, etc, etc.  Some of these are hinted at in Traveller, but are
	never implemented at the current tech levels.

    5]  The combat system.  I laugh at the combat system.  A combat system
	that makes a Greatsword do more damage than a high powered rifle.
	I chalenge anyone to go out, dress up in Platemail, with "cloth"
	underneath and take a blast from a UZI.  In return, I will submit
	to a chop from a soft-core Mideval Claymore.  Only in Traveller would
	space-ship naval officers want to use hand-to-hand weapons, because
	they are the best thing possible for close combat.  ("Quick Captain
	Kirk, put your Cutlass on Stun!!").

    6]  The "monsters".  Are inevitably interested in eating our heros.
	Sure, right, uh-huh.   Just like ET being attacked by a Bobcat.
	Can you imagine what such an encounter would be like?  The bobcat
	would take one sniff, and upchuck his cookies in the nearest bush.
	Even from the same world, animals do not randomly attack unknown
	prey; there are more people struck by lightning in the US, than
	are attacked by sharks.

    7]  The Scope of the Campaign.  (This is the major reason why I do not
	referee Traveller.  I could handle the above problems, by simply
	changing the system, and universe.)   I have a hard time keeping
	track of my three continents in the FRP that I run.  There is just
	too much there, for me to fill out the world completely.  I cannot
	imaigine what it would be like if I was running a Traveller universe.
	Whole worlds are reduced to a set of numbers and digits "A862HG", and
	people see nothing more than a bunch of spaceports.  What is the fun
	in that?


Steven Maurer