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blakes7-d Digest				Volume 99 : Issue 21

Today's Topics:
	 Re: blakes7-d Digest V98 #317
	 Re: blakes7-d Digest V99 #2

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 09:21:15 GMT
From: "Dita Stanistraken" <d.stanistraken@dundee.ac.uk>
To: blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se, blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: blakes7-d Digest V98 #317
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> Date:          Sat, 26 Dec 1998 00:47:10 +0100 (MET)
> From:          blakes7-d-request@lysator.liu.se
> Subject:       blakes7-d Digest V98 #317
> To:            blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se
> Reply-to:      blakes7@lysator.liu.se

> ------------------------------
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> 
> blakes7-d Digest				Volume 98 : Issue 317
> 
> Today's Topics:
> 	 Re: [B7L] RPG
> 	 Re: [B7L] T.'s Offer to S. in 'The Keeper'
> 	 Re: SC: Re: [B7L] Redemption
> 	 [B7L] Merry Christmas and apologies
> 	 Re: [B7L] The character known as dangermouse
> 	 Re: SC: Re: [B7L] Redemption
> 	 Re: [B7L] The character known as dangermouse
> 	 Re: [B7L] T.'s Offer to S. in 'The Keeper'
> 	 [B7L] Re: story arcs
> 	 Re: [B7L] RPG
> 	 Re: [B7L] Re: story arcs
> 	 Fw: [B7L] RPG
> 	 Re: [B7L] RPG
> 	 Re: [B7L] RPG
> 	 Re: [B7L] RPG
> 	 Re: SC: Re: [B7L] Redemption
> 	 Re: [B7L] RPG
> 	 Re: [B7L] RPG
> 	 [B7L] Holiday Greetings
> 	 Re: [B7L] RPG
> 	 Re: [B7L] T.'s Offer to S. in 'The Keeper'
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 09:25:01 +0100 (BST)
> From: Judith Proctor <Judith@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
> To: Lysator List <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: [B7L] RPG
> Message-ID: <Marcel-1.46-1224082501-339Rr9i@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> 
> On Thu 24 Dec, Taina Nieminen wrote:
> > I've played in a B7-type universe using GURPS, which worked okay. Hunted by
> > the Federation is a 120 point disadvantage, which being a group
> > disadvantage, bypasses the 40 point disad limit, and gives more than decent
> > characters using a 100 point base.
> 
> I think one of the RPGs being run at Redemption is using the GURPS system and
> another fan who hopes to be able to make it has mentioned that she has a B5
> GURPS scenario.
> 
> JUdith
> 
> -- 
> http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7
> 
> Redemption 99 - The Blakes 7/Babylon 5 convention  
> 26-28 February 1999, Ashford International Hotel, Kent
> http://www.smof.com/redemption/
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 10:48:37 -0800
> From: Pat Patera <pussnboots@geocities.com>
> To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: Re: [B7L] T.'s Offer to S. in 'The Keeper'
> Message-ID: <36828C85.1D8C@geocities.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> Penny Dreadful wrote:
> regarding the original post:
>  
> > >Why did Travis make her the offer?
> Because he loved her.
> This was obvious to me the first time Travis 1 came into her office. And
> also, that she did not respect him even then.
> 
> When they were in the caves in Orac and Travis protected her from the
> Phibians, I thought his love apparent - when he gives that little amused
> smile over her fear. And then climbs thru the hole first. And comes to
> her aid so quickly. This wasn't military training; this was personal
> concern for her safety. Perhaps it was her power he loved, but the power
> resided in her body.
>  
> > >Why did she turn him down?
> > ... moreover she didn't respect him enough to *pretend* to
> > consider it, which I think she would have done with Season 1 Travis.
> 
> With 1st season, she may have pretended just because she wanted to keep
> him on a string as she thought he might be useful. I agree that Travis 2
> was too far gone to be useful - a loose canon.
> 
> She is so dismissive of him in The Keeper it is painful to watch her
> reject his offer. The poor man is laying the Entire Galaxy at his lady's
> feet. And I believe this blatant demonstration of how she disdained him
> is what sent Travis 2 over the edge - his deliverance of Star One to the
> Aliens I see totally as revenge against his unrequited love.
> 
> A friend of mine says there is nothing more fragile than the Male Ego.
> And no better ego stomper than Servalan!
> 
> Avon was smart enough to keep her far far from his ego!
> Pat P
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 19:57:31 -0000
> From: "Dangermouse" <master@sol.co.uk>
> To: "Calle Dybedahl" <calle@lysator.liu.se>,
>         "Lysator List" <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se>,
>         "Space City" <Space-city@world.std.com>
> Subject: Re: SC: Re: [B7L] Redemption
> Message-Id: <199812242032.UAA06581@gnasher.sol.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> ----------
> > From: Calle Dybedahl <calle@lysator.liu.se>
> > To: Lysator List <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se>; Space City
> <Space-city@world.std.com>
> > Subject: Re: SC: Re: [B7L] Redemption
> > Date: 23 December 1998 19:45
> > 
> > "Dangermouse" <master@sol.co.uk> writes:
> > 
> > > I have a natural gift for rubbing everybody up the wrong way, sooner
> > > or later.
> > 
> > And on both mailing lists at once, even.
> 
> I just hit the reply button - Baskerville chose the forums.
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 20:09:04 -0000
> From: "Dangermouse" <master@sol.co.uk>
> To: <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: [B7L] Merry Christmas and apologies
> Message-Id: <199812242032.UAA06597@gnasher.sol.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> A merry Christmas to all (or pleasant Hanukkah or Ramadan where
> appropriate)
> 
> Peace and goodwill to all men with one notable exception.
> 
> Also, apologies for the trouble of late - I certainly didn't mean to
> discourage attendance of Redemption, but merely have some concerns over the
> appropriateness of the guest's previous behavious - there could be kids in
> the audience, for example.
> 
> However, one of you seems to have taken it to heart too much and decided to
> post abuse of me. How childish.
> 
> I wonder if he can resist the urge to have the last word - this is mine on
> the subject.
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 19:56:18 -0000
> From: "Dangermouse" <master@sol.co.uk>
> To: <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se>, <space-city@world.std.com>
> Subject: Re: [B7L] The character known as dangermouse
> Message-Id: <199812242032.UAA06576@gnasher.sol.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> ----------
> > From: Robert Baskerville <Robert@Baskerville.Net>
> > 
> > I understand that "dangermouse" has posted part or all of a private email
> > written by me (to him personally) to these mailing lists.
> 
> That's right, because you were trying to gag me.
> 
> > This is a blatent
> > abuse of netiquette, clearly this character has no manners whatsoever or
> > a significant technological ineptitude. 
> 
> Again, I presume we've never met... 
> 
> Rest assured if we meet at Redemption, I'll try to live up to your
> expectations of me.
> 
> > I apologise to all the list members
> > for the noise this has created.
> 
> Likewise, but frankly this arrogant prick is pissing me off, and that just
> make me stick to my guns even more. The rest of you, just ignore it.
>  
> > I'll not bother responding any more to the dangerm00se here; he's welcome
> > to hurl abuse directly at me all he likes. <Yawn>
> 
> How odd - I'm not the one who calls posters rude, descends to childish
> corruptions of their online IDs etc just because someone else doesn't have
> the same opinion of me.
> 
> There's only one of us hurling abuse at the other here - and it isn't me.
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 20:02:11 -0000
> From: "Dangermouse" <master@sol.co.uk>
> To: "Neil Faulkner" <N.Faulkner@tesco.net>, "lysator" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: SC: Re: [B7L] Redemption
> Message-Id: <199812242032.UAA06588@gnasher.sol.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> ----------
> > From: Neil Faulkner <N.Faulkner@tesco.net>
> > Damn, damn, someone stealing my thunder already (oy ve!).  But seriously,
> > Dangermouse's remarks open a new slant on an actor I'd always taken to be
> a
> > right-on working class hero.  What was the context of these remarks about
> > women, poofs and Pakis? 
> 
> To be honest I didn't pay enough attention to them to remember too well - I
> just remember observing a somewhat stunned audience looking very
> uncomfortable at that panel...
> 
> > The big blonde comment is the kind I'd make myself
> > without remotely meaning it, so I don't attach much importance to that.
> > Guess I'll have to see him in action at Rdemption.
> 
> Like I said, Kev Davies and Jan Chappell say he's normally charming, and
> must just have been having a bad day (and with that hotel who can blame
> him)
> 
> I certainly didn't mean to start any flamewars here, but nor am I going to
> let Baskerville browbeat me for having a different opinion. As for the
> netiquette of posting his email - because I couldn't reply to him directly;
> his killfiling was the equivalent of shouting "jinx, no comebacks" and
> slamming the phone down childishly.
> 
> So I'll apologise to the rest of the list - but not to him.
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 15:45:27 EST
> From: ShilLance@aol.com
> To: master@sol.co.uk, Blakes7@lysator.liu.se, space-city@world.std.com
> Subject: Re: [B7L] The character known as dangermouse
> Message-ID: <9243a00.3682a7e7@aol.com>
> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> In a message dated 12/24/98 3:33:24 PM EST, master@sol.co.uk writes:
> 
> << 
>  There's only one of us hurling abuse at the other here - and it isn't me.
>   >>
> 
> How about both of you dropping the nonsense so the rest of us don't suffer?
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 13:43:45 PST
> From: "Penny Dreadful" <pdreadful@hotmail.com>
> To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: Re: [B7L] T.'s Offer to S. in 'The Keeper'
> Message-ID: <19981224214346.28998.qmail@hotmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
> X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by samantha.lysator.liu.se id AAA25778
> 
> Pat said:
> 
> >She is so dismissive of him in The Keeper it is painful to watch her
> >reject his offer. The poor man is laying the Entire Galaxy at his=20
> lady's
> >feet. And I believe this blatant demonstration of how she disdained him
> >is what sent Travis 2 over the edge - his deliverance of Star One to=20
> the
> >Aliens I see totally as revenge against his unrequited love.
> 
> Hey, yo, Pat, baby, *great* minds think alike (ignore Calle's occasional=20
> .sig to the contrary)! A direct quote from one of my web-pages=20
> (committed under the influence of sinus medication):
> 
> "She bullies Travis, mocks him, swats him, has him beaten and abused in=20
> various ways by various minions, railroads him - but in the end it is=20
> apparently only her indifference - her obliviousness to his=20
> eleventh-hour overture (power-sharing proposal, pickup line, I really=20
> don't think there's much difference, no matter who's involved) - that=20
> decides him vis =E1 vis going out and doing some serious mass murder..."
> 
> -- Penny "But You Can Call Me Marilyn Monroe" Dreadful
> 
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 21:54:32 +0000 (GMT)
> From: Robert Baskerville <Robert@Baskerville.Net>
> To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: [B7L] Re: story arcs
> Message-Id: <2525.9812242154@mcchpd.mcc.ac.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> Judith wrote:
> 
> >I think one important things even though it isn't a story arc per se is that
> >the characters were allowed to change and develop over time.  Thus we get both
> >Travis and Blake becoming increasingly fanatic in the second season.  We get
> >major changes in Avon's character as he copes with life without first Blake and
> >then without Cally and Liberator.  Vila's attitude to Avon changes after Orbit
> >(I alway felt that was good acting on Michael Keating's part).
> 
> ...and a contrast to the way Avon sticks up for Villa in City at the Edge,
> and Villa's touching behaviour towards Avon in Rumours (eg immediately after
> Shrinker arrives on board)
> 
> Returning to Orbit, I wonder if Avon would have hesitated as long as he
> did if it had been someone else on board (Tarrant? <grin>)
> 
> Robert
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 09:25:25 +1000
> From: "Taina Nieminen" <taina@netspace.net.au>
> To: "B7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: [B7L] RPG
> Message-ID: <004d01be2ecb$867a18a0$6f6f6f6f@tenzil>
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> 	charset="iso-8859-1"
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> Kim asked for volunteers to do GURPS stats for B7 characters.
> 
> Yeah, I'll do it. I love character creation. It'll be a pleasure.
> 
> Taina
> ===========================
> Is there a mind/body problem?
> And if so, which is it better to have?
> - Woody Allen
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 18:38:07 EST
> From: Mac4781@aol.com
> To: Blakes7@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: story arcs
> Message-ID: <4204080f.3682d05f@aol.com>
> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> Robert wrote:
> 
> > Returning to Orbit, I wonder if Avon would have hesitated as long as he
> >  did if it had been someone else on board (Tarrant? <grin>)
> 
> He wouldn't have hesitated a second.  Avon would have walked out that airlock
> as fast as his leather-stiff legs would carry him to save Tarrant. ;-)
> 
> Carol Mc
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 10:50:14 +1000
> From: "Taina Nieminen" <taina@netspace.net.au>
> To: "B7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Fw: [B7L] RPG
> Message-ID: <001101be2ed7$5fd56720$6f6f6f6f@tenzil>
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> 	charset="iso-8859-1"
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> Kim has suggested:
> 
> >Maybe if a number of us on the list who are
> >familiar with GURPS each take a character or two, or if we all contributed
> >suggestions for each character...either of those could be interesting (and
> >productive).  We could work out a scenario for them later.
> >
> 
> And which season.
> 
> 
> What I see as some obvious disads (in no particular order) and advantages
> for first and second season:
> 
> Vila - Kleptomania, Alcoholism (or less extremely, compulsive behaviour -
> stealing, addiction - alcohol), Low Pain Threshold, Combat Paralysis,
> Cowardice, Laziness, Weak Will (Vila's not doing very well here)
> 
> Avon - Odious personal habit - petty insults (5 point), Greed, High Pain
> Threshold
> 
> Gan - possibly Gigantism - how big is he, exactly? Gullibility? Truthfulness
> 
> Travis - One eye (15 points), one arm (no points as bionically replaced),
> sadism?
> 
> Blake - Fanaticism, stubborness, Charisma
> 
> Cally - skinny?
> 
> Orac - Legless etc., I'm sure there should be some mental disadvantage,
> about hating to be interrupted by mere humans who can't be bothered to think
> for themselves - intolerance?
> 
> Group enemy - Federation - 40 points, tripled because they appear almost all
> the time = 120 points.
> 
> Nothing comes to mind for Jenna.
> 
> Taina
> ===========================
> Is there a mind/body problem?
> And if so, which is it better to have?
> - Woody Allen
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 01:04:02 -0000
> From: "Neil Faulkner" <N.Faulkner@tesco.net>
> To: "lysator" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: [B7L] RPG
> Message-ID: <001001be2fa2$e7633ac0$5e17ac3e@default>
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> 	charset="iso-8859-1"
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> >I've played in a B7-type universe using GURPS, which worked okay. Hunted by
> >the Federation is a 120 point disadvantage, which being a group
> >disadvantage, bypasses the 40 point disad limit, and gives more than decent
> >characters using a 100 point base.
> >
> And going by what it says on p.26 of the Basic Set, you still get up to 40
> points per character.  Throw in 5 quirks and you get an extra 165 points per
> character.  Eeek!
> 
> FWIW, I don't much like GURPS.  It groans under the strain of all those
> modifiers and skill defaults (I prefer skill trees myself).
> 
> >What's 2300AD like? I've never come across it.
> 
> 
> Never played it, only flipped through the rulebook.  It looked okay for a
> 'realistic' SF setting.
> 
> How do people go about rolegaming B7?  Do you use the series characters, or
> originals?  I've found that whenever the players use their own PCs, the end
> result is a flavourless generic space opera.  The depth of background that
> appears to be in the series isn't really there when you turn it into a
> rolegame setting.  It's the characters that make it B7.
> 
> Do people have trouble reconciling the different appraisals of B7 that
> various players might have?  After all, some fans approach it as science
> fantasy, others as quasi-cyberpunk.  Various episodes from the series
> endorse both extremes and various middle courses between the two. There are
> other contentious issues too, like how far in the future B7 is set and does
> it matter anyway, and how alien are people like the Auronar.  I can see
> players/GMs with strong views on such subjects either getting a bit miffed
> or rubbing backs up the wrong way (or both).
> 
> And what do you do when the player running Avon does something that s/he
> believes is entirely in character for Avon, but everyone else reckons is way
> offline?
> 
> I *have* run a successful B7 RPG (using the Horizon game, as it happens),
> but with series characters and carrying straight on after 'Blake'. Simply
> setting an SF scenario in the B7 universe wasn't half as successful.  The
> latter approach especially puts a heavy burden on the GM to create lots of
> background which is both plausible and in tune with the series (the series
> hints at a plausible background, but doesn't actually offer it).
> 
> How many people have devised extensive background detail for a B7 rolegame,
> and to what extent do their ideas coincide with or contradict one another's?
> 
> Neil
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 20:35:58 -0500
> From: "Kimberly D. Ashford" <thesseli@msn.com>
> To: <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: [B7L] RPG
> Message-ID: <02beb46380119c8CPIMSSMTPU02@email.msn.com>
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> 
> In addition to what's already been posted:
> 
> Blake: reputation, delusion ("I am the savior of the masses"!), fanaticism
> Vila: combat paralysis, weak will
> Avon: paranoia, vow ("I will keep fighting the Federation because I promised
> Blake")
> Servalan: charisma, status, sadism
> Travis: military rank, bad temper, bloodlust.  Travis could also have the
> split personality disadvantage...hmm, it must be really severe, to make his
> appearance change too!
> 
> 
> I wasn't thinking of running the B7 people as player characters, but as
> NPC's. That way the GM could make sure they stay in character; you'd have to
> come up with your own original characters for the game.   GURPS seems to me
> to be the best game system for a B7 RPG, since it's so flexible.  The most
> complicated parts are the combat rules, but there probably wouldn't be much
> hand to hand combat--so you wouldn't see "I rolled a 3, that's 27
> modified--do I hit?" too often.
> 
> 
> 
> Kim, the Smartest Vet since Tristan Farnon
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 12:12:54 +1000
> From: "Taina Nieminen" <taina@netspace.net.au>
> To: "B7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: [B7L] RPG
> Message-ID: <001c01be2ee2$ec0d6520$6f6f6f6f@tenzil>
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> 	charset="iso-8859-1"
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> Neil wrote:
> 
> >And going by what it says on p.26 of the Basic Set, you still get up to 40
> >points per character.  Throw in 5 quirks and you get an extra 165 points
> per
> >character.  Eeek!
> 
> In fact, we did better than that. I got an extra 190 points all up - 120
> enemy, 5 sense of duty - companions, 10 status - escaped prisoner, 25
> poverty - dead broke, as group disads, and that was with only 25 points of
> individual disads + 5 points of quirks. Like, we really tried.
> >
> >FWIW, I don't much like GURPS.  It groans under the strain of all those
> >modifiers and skill defaults (I prefer skill trees myself).
> 
> Likewise. A doctor, say, who has electronics operation (medical equipment)
> is able to, by default, repair, say, radars or computers. To my mind, that
> is just silly. But I do like the GURPS set of advantages and disadvantages
> very much. Most of my GMing in the last five years has been using a
> skill-based system I created myself, but it's in limbo at the moment between
> revisions, so I'm currently using GURPS for one campaign, and Champions for
> the other.
> 
> 
> >How do people go about rolegaming B7?  Do you use the series characters, or
> >originals?  I've found that whenever the players use their own PCs, the end
> >result is a flavourless generic space opera.  The depth of background that
> >appears to be in the series isn't really there when you turn it into a
> >rolegame setting.  It's the characters that make it B7.
> 
> Well, my experience in the B7-type one was quite dreadful, The reason it was
> B7 based was that our group had varying exposure to B7, ranging from none,
> to fourth season only, to passing through the living room while I watched B7
> videos. Anyway, our GM was an experienced roleplayer, but very inexperienced
> GM. We were saddled with super-NPC who could do everything we could do, but
> better, and who wasn't shy about letting us know, and who became righteously
> indignant when we didn't acknowledge her obvious superiority. The NPC bit is
> important, it's not just a rant. Instead of fighting the Federation, we
> ended up sitting around while the NPC and the late-joining PC talked about
> economic problems with the favoured alien species who were superior in all
> ways to humans. Compared to that, generic space opera with space battles and
> shoot-outs with Federation guards seems quite attractive. I guess it's all a
> matter of viewpoint.
> 
> 
> >And what do you do when the player running Avon does something that s/he
> >believes is entirely in character for Avon, but everyone else reckons is
> way
> >offline?
> 
> The Champions game I'm running (which I've started only recently) faces a
> similar problem in that it uses established characters from a comicbook
> series (Legion of Superheroes). What I've done is to begin at the
> beginning - at the formation of the Legion (ie beginning point of the
> series) so that players don't have the burden of what their character has
> done in the past being canonical. They're taking a character concept, and
> some have taken it much better than others. Only at one point have I (so
> far) said to a player, "Look, that character would simply not do that," and
> that was for a very bad character misinterpretation. In the interests of
> harmony, and not getting caught up in cyclical arguments (yes s/he would, no
> s/he wouldn't), I've ignored (what I see as) other character
> misinterpretations. And I hope that my players will generally do that, too.
> But that's my opinion, and I realise that people do sometimes feel strongly
> about characters dear to their hearts.
> 
> I guess the above is sort of B7 related.
> 
> Taina
> ===========================
> Is there a mind/body problem?
> And if so, which is it better to have?
> - Woody Allen
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 02:19:55 -0000
> From: "Neil Faulkner" <N.Faulkner@tesco.net>
> To: "lysator" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: SC: Re: [B7L] Redemption
> Message-ID: <00a601be2fad$657d22e0$5e17ac3e@default>
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> 	charset="iso-8859-1"
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> >>What was the context of these remarks about
> >> women, poofs and Pakis?
> 
> 
> Maybe he was being deliberately abrasive in an attempt to stir up a
> response.  Not that I would know anything about such tactics.
> 
> >I certainly didn't mean to start any flamewars here, but nor am I going to
> >let Baskerville browbeat me for having a different opinion. As for the
> >netiquette of posting his email - because I couldn't reply to him directly;
> >his killfiling was the equivalent of shouting "jinx, no comebacks" and
> >slamming the phone down childishly.
> >
> >So I'll apologise to the rest of the list - but not to him.
> 
> 
> No apology required, and the exception would appear to be justified.
> 
> Neil
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 02:05:04 -0000
> From: "Neil Faulkner" <N.Faulkner@tesco.net>
> To: "lysator" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: [B7L] RPG
> Message-ID: <00a501be2fad$649b4e60$5e17ac3e@default>
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> 	charset="iso-8859-1"
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> >>Maybe if a number of us on the list who are
> >>familiar with GURPS each take a character or two, or if we all contributed
> >>suggestions for each character...either of those could be interesting (and
> >>productive).  We could work out a scenario for them later.
> >>
> What about Wealth?  If a cheap hooker is a ten-credit touch ('Gambit') then
> a credit works out at about 3 dollars.  Standard starting wealth for an
> interstellar campaign is 15,000 dollars (p.16), or 5,000 credits.  Jenna
> estimated the contents of the Liberator's strongroom at 300 million credits,
> which between the six of the crew makes 50 million each.  This is 10,000
> times average starting wealth and would have a character point cost of
> several thousand...
>     And then there's Reputation (p.17).  How well known are the characters,
> and what kind of reputation do they have?  Kayn worked out who they were in
> 'Breakdown' and Renor had heard of them, so this can't be ignored.  Blake at
> least would certainly have a high Reputation.
Dita, President and Supreme Commander of the Terran Federation.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 09:22:13 GMT
From: "Dita Stanistraken" <d.stanistraken@dundee.ac.uk>
To: blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se, blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: blakes7-d Digest V99 #2
Message-Id: <E0zzda3-00024c-00@pp.dundee.ac.uk>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

> Date:          Mon, 4 Jan 1999 14:40:00 +0100 (MET)
> From:          blakes7-d-request@lysator.liu.se
> Subject:       blakes7-d Digest V99 #2
> To:            blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se
> Reply-to:      blakes7@lysator.liu.se

> ------------------------------
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> blakes7-d Digest				Volume 99 : Issue 2
> 
> Today's Topics:
> 	 Re: [B7L] voice recognition
> 	 [B7L] Susan Riaz
> 	 Re: re [B7L] Voice recognition
> 	 Re: re [B7L] Voice recognition
> 	 [B7L] French spelling in Star Cops
> 	 Re: [B7L] Broken Hearts
> 	 Re: [B7L] Tarrant (that'll get Carol's attention -grin-)
> 	 Re: [B7L] Broken Hearts
> 	 [B7L] Susan Matthews's latest
> 	 [B7L] Matters Tarrant
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 21:55:45 +0100 (BST)
> From: Judith Proctor <Judith@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
> To: Lysator List <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: [B7L] voice recognition
> Message-ID: <Marcel-1.46-0102205545-b49Rr9i@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
> 
> On Sat 02 Jan, Kathryn Andersen wrote:
> > On Fri, Jan 01, 1999 at 09:52:10PM +0100, Judith Proctor wrote:
> > > 
> > > Maybe there had been laws restricting the development of computers with
> > > personalities?
> > 
> > C'mon, this is the Federation!  They have *slaves*, they wouldn't balk
> > at the ethics of artificial personalities.  Or were you thinking in
> > terms of the fear of true independent Artificial Intelligence, as
> > distinct from personality simulations?  I got the impression from what
> > Avon said about Zen in particular, that true AI was something which
> > the experts took for granted to be impossible.
> 
> I was thinking of the potential problems of a computer with a mind of its own. 
> The altas fitted Zen with some kind of limiter, so they obviously faced similar
> problems.
> 
> Judith
> -- 
> http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7
> 
> Redemption 99 - The Blakes 7/Babylon 5 convention  
> 26-28 February 1999, Ashford International Hotel, Kent
> http://www.smof.com/redemption/
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 12:39:10 +0100 (BST)
> From: Judith Proctor <Judith@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
> To: Lysator List <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: [B7L] Susan Riaz
> Message-ID: <Marcel-1.46-0103113910-339Rr9i@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
> 
> Does anyone have a current e-mail address for Susan Riaz?
> 
> Judith
> -- 
> http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7
> 
> Redemption 99 - The Blakes 7/Babylon 5 convention  
> 26-28 February 1999, Ashford International Hotel, Kent
> http://www.smof.com/redemption/
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 16:05:12 -0000
> From: "Neil Faulkner" <N.Faulkner@tesco.net>
> To: "lysator" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: re [B7L] Voice recognition
> Message-ID: <004201be3733$c5fcee60$701fac3e@default>
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> 	charset="iso-8859-1"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> >>The concept of voiced and voice-activated computers
> >> has been around for a long time in SF; it was pretty much old hat by the
> >> time B7 rolled around.
> >
> >Exactly.  In Trek, voice recognition was commonplace, Trek came before
> >Blake's 7, so why did the writers choose for it not to be commonplace?
> >One reason could be that Blake's 7, *not* being a utopia, had to be a
> >bit more run-down and less luxurious.
> >Of course, my problem is that I am trying to find an *internal*
> >explanation, not an external one.
> 
> 
> I'm not sure it was choice on the part of the writers; I think they were
> themselves a bit overawed at the thought of holding conversations with a
> computer.  It would be interesting to hear Chris Boucher's take on this.  I
> distinctly remember, when I first encountered the Traveler RPG in 1980,
> being a bit disturbed to see a 'pocket computer' on the equipment list.  The
> very concept was vaguely alarming.  Nowadays, of course, I can pick one up
> for twenty quid in Argos.
> 
> There is a general tradition in science fiction for writers not to fully
> understand the technology they put in their stories.  Some deathless classic
> of the Golden Age had teams of scientists laboriously working out logatithms
> by hand, only then feeding the results into the computer.  Harry Harrison,
> in an essay on SF and technology, noted that computers in Golden Age stories
> tended to be analogue rather than digital machines.
> 
> >> >How are we to cope with this when I.T. creeps into fan fiction?  I
> >> >tend to assume that speech circuits and voice recognition are
> >> >commonplace (certainly not expensive), and if that contradicts the
> >> >series then the series can go fry.
> >
> >And Neil stands by that, as I have noticed in Neil's fiction,
> >particularly the wonderful very cyberpunk "A Casting of Swords" (in
> >Stadler Link), which, IMHO goes so much in that direction that it is
> >hardly Blake's 7 at all.  Really good story, and a delightfully
> >chilling explanation for Gan's limiter, but the pure cyberpunk seems
> >grafted on to the Blake's 7 universe, IMHO.
> >
> Glad you liked it; not everyone's cuppa, I know.
> 
> Rgarding the technological overhaul, it has to be done, IMO.  Techwise, the
> aired series is hopelessly out of date in many respects, and needs to be
> brought up to date.  I think that this can be done without damaging the
> overall structure of the series universe.  It certainly needn't alter the
> main characters to any significant degree, and since they're generally
> reckoned to be the central point of interest, no real damage is done.
> 
> Neil
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 18:20:53 -0000
> From: "Alison Page" <alison@alisonpage.demon.co.uk>
> To: "lysator" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: Re: re [B7L] Voice recognition
> Message-Id: <E0zwsRR-0007UP-00@post.mail.demon.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> 
> > Rgarding the technological overhaul, it has to be done, IMO.  Techwise,
> the
> > aired series is hopelessly out of date in many respects, and needs to be
> > brought up to date.  I think that this can be done without damaging the
> > overall structure of the series universe.  It certainly needn't alter the
> > main characters to any significant degree, and since they're generally
> > reckoned to be the central point of interest, no real damage is done.
> > 
> > Neil
> 
> Watching 'Alien' this weekend it was very noticeable that the computer
> technology was the most unbelievable part of the whole film. people in the
> late 70's didn't seem to have a very good intuitive grasp of what computers
> were about. Probably because computers were used, but in very restricted
> circumstances at that time.
> 
> One thing I can't bear in ST and B7 is that speedy computers wait on slow
> poorly-timed human commands before executing vital manoeuvres. I also get
> irritated by screens full of complex numbers scrolling past at top speed.
> And finally the random jiggling light displays. In Alien the computer bay
> is a whole room of pointless flickering fairy lights. At least Zen made it
> clear that its display was a meaningless visual reference designed to
> satisfy human psychology.
> 
> I really like Kathryn's suggestion that while people might be able to
> create human-like AI there are plenty of good reasons why they wouldn't
> want to. An artifact is made to supplement a person, not to mimic one. If I
> want a worker with a human-like mind then I would employ a person, not
> build a computer.
> 
> BTW watching Alien also confirmed my belief that 'Nostromo' is one of the
> best spaceships on film or TV, which we had a debate about last year. 
> 
> Alison
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 18:12:12 +0100 (BST)
> From: Judith Proctor <Judith@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
> To: Lysator List <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
> Subject: [B7L] French spelling in Star Cops
> Message-ID: <Marcel-1.46-0103171212-0e8Rr9i@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
> 
> Totally off-topic, but I'm editing 'An Instinct For Murder' and the text as I
> received it doesn't have any accents.  (I don't think computers could handle
> them when Chris Boucher originally typed in the document.)
> 
> I think I've got most of them in correctly now, but I'm stuck on 'Francoise'. 
> I've got a feeling the c should have a cidilla (one of those little hook things
> underneath), but I can't think of a suitable reference book to check it in.
> 
> Does anyone know?  The character is French, so she should be spelt the French
> way whatever that is.
> 
> Judith
> -- 
> http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7
> 
> Redemption 99 - The Blakes 7/Babylon 5 convention  
> 26-28 February 1999, Ashford International Hotel, Kent
> http://www.smof.com/redemption/
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sun, 03 Jan 1999 14:20:17 PST
> From: "Penny Dreadful" <pdreadful@hotmail.com>
> To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: Re: [B7L] Broken Hearts
> Message-ID: <19990103222018.16444.qmail@hotmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> Pat said:
> 
> >Yeah here, why not? The best love stories do not get mired in sex.
> >The best love stories focus on tragic love or unrequited love.
> 
> So do I win a prize if I post the entirety of "Wuthering Heights" with 
> 'Servalan' substituted for all instances of 'Heathcliff' and 'Travis' 
> for 'Cathy'?
> 
> After that: 'Romeo and Juliet' -> 'Tarrant and Dayna'
> 
> "Tarrant, Tarrant, wherefore art thou, Tarrant? Don't make me blow up 
> this balcony, Tarrant!"
> 
> --Penny "Womanly Softness" Dreadful
> 
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sun, 03 Jan 1999 14:28:09 PST
> From: "Joanne MacQueen" <j_macqueen@hotmail.com>
> To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: Re: [B7L] Tarrant (that'll get Carol's attention -grin-)
> Message-ID: <19990103222810.3713.qmail@hotmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> >It must be those prevailing winds.  It's hard to catch the right 
> currents >to reach Australia.   But I'll keep trying.
> 
> Well, it'll give you something to do when you're not eating, sleeping, 
> working, ogling the Toothy One, etc. Everyone needs a hobby <smile>
> 
> >> Liking  Avon is nature (for me); liking Tarrant is going to have to 
> be >> nurture, 
> >Do I even want to know how Snout and Snarl can be nature while 
> >adorable, sweet Tarrant has to be nurture?  Probably not.  It could 
> >destroy my faith in the human race. <g>  
> 
> Erm, can I blame the Bronte sisters? I thought not <smile> When I was 
> twelve, I seem to recall thinking Avon nastier than I do now (and, to a 
> certain extent, I still think he's a nasty piece of work, and possibly 
> irredeemable into the bargain). But before Carol starts thinking there 
> was more hope for the early adolescent me <grin> I don't think I thought 
> anything of Tarrant. At all. I think it was Vila and, to a lesser 
> extent, Dayna, who had my affections then.
> 
> By the way, "adorable, sweet Tarrant"? Careful, Carol, you're beginning 
> to sound like Cancer!
> 
> >Yes, for sure.  Where shall I start?  [list of people noticing the 
> Toothy One being resourceful as well as decorative snipped]
> > Or consider that Servalan also had the good taste to find Tarrant 
> >tempting, not to mention decorative and resourceful.
> 
> <mock horror> You want someone to follow Servalan's lead? Carol, the 
> idea! <grin> 
> 
> >>  docu-drama "Aftershocks" last night, and some of the archival >>  
> footage put me right back in 1989. Carol has provided the perfect >>  
> distraction from unhappy memories.)
> >Sorry about the bad deja vu.  You can call on me for distractions, 
> >perfect or otherwise, anytime.
> 
> <smile> Thanks. It seems that one has only to say the magic word and the 
> Godmother's ears will prick up.
> 
> >> I don't think one needs to be in that much of a hurry to defend     
> >> inconsistencies in "The Sevenfold Crown".
> >A person has to do something to keep busy in between drool >production.
> 
> Carol, drink plenty of fluids or you'll dehydrate, and nobody wants that 
> to happen to you <smile>
> 
> > Now be good and catch some of that dust.
> 
> <mock meekness> Yes, Godmother.
> 
> Regards
> Joanne
> 
> Appeal: Legal version of double or quits.
> --Miles Kington, "A Simple Glossary of Legal Terms", The Punch Book of 
> Crime
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sun, 03 Jan 1999 14:34:39 PST
> From: "Joanne MacQueen" <j_macqueen@hotmail.com>
> To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: Re: [B7L] Broken Hearts
> Message-ID: <19990103223439.14218.qmail@hotmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> >So do I win a prize if I post the entirety of "Wuthering Heights" with 
> >'Servalan' substituted for all instances of 'Heathcliff' and 'Travis' 
> >for 'Cathy'?
> >After that: 'Romeo and Juliet' -> 'Tarrant and Dayna'
> >"Tarrant, Tarrant, wherefore art thou, Tarrant? Don't make me blow >up 
> this balcony, Tarrant!"
> 
> Dreadful, Penny <grin>
> 
> Regards
> Joanne
> 
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Sun,  3 Jan 99 23:40:00 GMT 
> From: s.thompson8@genie.com
> To: space-city%world.std.com%inet03#@genie.com
> Cc: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: [B7L] Susan Matthews's latest
> Message-Id: <199901032341.XAA04703@rock103.genie.net>
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> For Susan Matthews fans, here's a review of the third book in her pro
> series.  It's by Carolyn Cushman and is from the December '98 issue of
> =Locus=, p. 23.
> 
> (For anyone who wonders what this has to do with B7, Susan started her
> career as a fan writer, primarily in Star Wars and B7.  She is especially
> known for one of the all-time favorite B7 fan novels, =The Mind of Man Is a
> Double-Edged Sword=, as well as its two sequels; they're now out of print,
> but used copies can be found fairly easily.  Highly recommended, especially
> if you like Avon angst.)
> 
> "Susan R. Matthews, =Hour of Judgment= (Avon Eos 0-380-80314-3, $5.99, 260
> pp, pb) January 1999.  Cover by J. K. Potter.
> 
> "Surgeon and Inquisitor Andrej Koscuisko returns in his third adventure, set
> five years after the previous book, when he uncovered some serious
> government corruption.  Apparently, the powers-that-be still haven't
> forgiven him; just as he comes to the end of his enlistment, Andrej learns
> that he's going to be drafted back in, to a worse posting than before.
> Meanwhile, he has to cope with a sadistic, games-playing captain whose
> charming crew includes an officer who rapes a prostitute so badly she
> requires Andrej's surgical skills, which then leads to a murder Andrej must
> solve.  Andrej only gets to torture one suspect this time, something of a
> departure for the series, but even if torture's not central, Andrej's angst
> still remains.  We also geet to meet one of Andrej's princely cousins, and
> get more cultural detail, which is interesting enough I regretted Andrej had
> to re-up; it would have been nice to see more of his native background.
> Still, there are hints that Andrej and his people may have a role in
> changing the brutal rule of the Jurisdiction; the ending's as close to
> hopeful as this gripping series has gotten yet.  It's powerful, tense, and
> oddly fun, compulsive reading."
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 08:35:08 EST
> From: Mac4781@aol.com
> To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: [B7L] Matters Tarrant
> Message-ID: <2d5abafa.3690c38c@aol.com>
> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
> 
> Penny wrote:
> 
> > After that: 'Romeo and Juliet' -> 'Tarrant and Dayna'
> >  
> >  "Tarrant, Tarrant, wherefore art thou, Tarrant? Don't make me blow up 
> >  this balcony, Tarrant!"
> 
> That's hilarious, so-o-o Dayna.  I get the feeling *this* Juliet wouldn't have
> met a tragic end:
> 
> "What's here? A cup, clos'd in my true love's hand?
> Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end:--
> Oh churl! I guess that means I have to find a new boyfriend."
> 
> Joanne revealed:
> 
> > I don't think I thought 
> >  anything of Tarrant. At all. I think it was Vila and, to a lesser 
> >  extent, Dayna, who had my affections then.
> 
> My goodness.  Vila and Dayna.  That's an interesting combination.  They aren't
> at all alike.  
> 
> >  By the way, "adorable, sweet Tarrant"? Careful, Carol, you're beginning 
> >  to sound like Cancer!
> 
> Well, he is a tasty morsel.  While she was feeding Avon to her mechanical
> critter, she was keeping the succulent Tarrant for herself. :) 
>   
> >  <mock horror> You want someone to follow Servalan's lead? Carol, the 
> >  idea! <grin> 
> 
> But...but... she's my role model. <g>
> 
> >  <mock meekness> Yes, Godmother.
> 
> Not quite the proper attitude...yet.  Maybe I need to borrow that machine
> Servalan used on Dayna. :)
> 
> Carol Mc
> 
> --------------------------------
> End of blakes7-d Digest V99 Issue #2
> ************************************
> 
Dita, President and Supreme Commander of the Terran Federation.

--------------------------------
End of blakes7-d Digest V99 Issue #21
*************************************