Re: The Death of Tarkas Brain Lab IV

On Saturday, January 18, 2003, at 07:36  PM, woodelf wrote:

>> I just want to give everyone ample warning that the current
>> incarnation of Tarkas Brain Lab IV-including the Spelljammer
>> section The Arcane Space Division-is going to disappear
>> soon. I have decided to build a new site, including a new SJ
>> section.
>> [snip]
>
> sorry to make this curt but:
> 1: sorry to see it go
> 2: glad to hear it'll be back, sort of

Thanks.


> 3: i'm all for updating websites/content once in a while [not that i
> apparently *follow* that model]

The old TBLIV is rather ugly, and the new designs will be
both attractive will also fairly minimal is design (in theory, and
to taste, of course). New content will be a bit slower in coming,
but I will be splitting my time between multiple projects.


> 4: thanks for the heads-up--i've only just gotten the opportunity to
> run a SJ campaign (been wanting to ever since it came out), and i've
> already been grabbing much good stuff from your website.  i'll grab
> the rest of it now, just in case.

Lucky you. I am very intent on making the next D&D game
I run an SJ game.

> 5: for the most part, edition doesn't matter to me--i'm using Ars
> Magica.

Still, considering the similarities between 3e and AM, I would
think you would have an easier time converting 3e stuff to AM
than 2e stuff.


>  that said, are their substantive changes in the
> systems/content from the 2E to 3E ship constructions systems, other
> than those needed to comply with new rules (hardness, frex)?

To sum it up... Yes and no.

The core of my construction system is there, but there was a lot
of thought put into it to both improve on the concept and make
it suitable for 3e. I think it is an all around better system,
regardless of edition.



> with no
> attachment to either version of D&D, if the older one were more
> complete (due to stuff not having been converted over yet), or the
> newer one expanded ('cause you added stuff after you stopped working
> on the 2E version), i'd like to know--the intro to the 3E system
> didn't make this clear.

Which intro do you mean?

The 3e version of my construction system is complete, in that it
has all the rules you need to construct a ship. It has no rules for
helms or how to use the ship in the game. It is designed to
dovetail with the ship combat system, but there is no reason
a person couldn't adapt it all to another system. There is
nothing that was in the 2e version that wasn't put in the 3e version.


> 6: similarly, what's "beta" about the 3E ship const system--is the
> fundamental system any less complete/tested than the older one, or is
> it just the point at which it interfaces with the core rules
> (hitpoints/hullpoints, armor class/hardness--that sort of stuff)?

It is a beta because it has not been sufficiently tested. I myself
have not been able to give it a real test, and interest in the
system by others is seriously lacking, and no one has indicated
to me that they have made use of it.


Leroy Van Camp III
malacoda@????????.net
ICQ #20039817

"My hamster had five babies last week. This morning when I
looked in the cage she had ate two of them little babies.

What the heck. Had a couple myself."

               Earl, Red Meat