--- In , "far_trader_mail" <far_trader_mail@...> wrote:
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> --- In , Eamon Watters <eamonwatters@> wrote:
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> > How can it be errata for TNE? TNE specifically introduced a sub 100-ton jump-capable ship.
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> The authors of such were taking the book at its literal without knowledge of, or ignoring same, the way Traveller jump drives work. So such designs also need to be noted as errata.
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> I was certain when I read it (the 2m3 minimum size) when it was first published that it was errata. You'll note the TNE main book had no sub-100 ton Starships and the example in FF&S uses a 100ton ship. Pretty glaring oversights IF the rule had really meant to be changed that much don't you think? Of course I don't blame anyone not passing familiar with prior Traveller canon on jump drives for missing it. And even an editor can be forgiven for missing it. It's a typo.
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> Changing this would seriously change the whole nature of the default Traveller setting. Alternative tech may permit such, and I'd have no argument with such. But jump drives are the default tech, and they have to work the same way they always did before. In my opinion, and apparently Marc's as well which is good enough for me. If Marc has said it was an error, then it is. And all official designs (and effects) resulting from the error are likewise rendered illegitimate. Using one (or several) such published examples as proof it isn't an error is not logical since they are the result of the error. They and the consequences are at best part of a special sub-set of Alternate TU. An unintentional Alternate Official TU or something :-)
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> Dan "far-trader" Burns
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GDW was basically sans Marc during the TNE period, but indications at the time were that they DID know what they were doing by removing the 100-dton minimum. They went so far as to have a miniature of the "offending" design cast up by RAFM.
Marc's opinion now notwithstanding, it was a conscious decision at the time by all public indications.
That said...
The 100-dton minimum is only odd in the context of Traveller because the game tends to dwell at the small end of ships to begin with. When we are used to the "default" being 200 to 400 tons, being told you can't go smaller than 100 seems arbitrary. Move your commerce default up to 2000-4000 dtons, and now that 100-dton scout looks "cute". Move the commerce default up above 10k dtons and the Scout becomes "that dangerous little contraption the Scout Service insists on calling a ship." I'm half convinced that the misjump rules are centered around the little stuff just as the commerce rules are, and that jumps are a LOT less risky as you get away from the tiny hulls that shouldn't be mounting jump drives even if the physics of jump allows them to.