HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jmb@oclc.org (James Blight)
Subject: Re: STARFIRE! coming soon!
Organization: OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 21:33:35 GMT

In article <168738190.NETOPRBL@ncsuvm.cc.ncsu.edu> NETOPRBL@ncsuvm.cc.ncsu.edu (Christopher Lane) writes:
>I just got a look at one of my "friend who's a dealer"'s advanced announcements
>for  games coming in the next few months. and lo' and behold if under
>task force games they didn't have StarFire coming out in nov/dec! I believe
>the asking price was in the 20's.

   Wow, Task Force Games is reissuing an old game, wow isn't THAT a suprise! 
   Will it contain:
   1) The Commander's Edition
   2) The Beginner's Instruction Manual
   3) Ship Designs for all races including those that may be added later
   4) The "Strategic" Game for those who can't draw 
   5) A revised history including ships for a race that, while previously 
      reported as designed but not built, are now in production.
   5) Revised weapon rules that completely change tactics from the previous
      version
   6) The revised, updated, reintegrated, reorganized rules that you had and 
      knew anyway, with enough changes to require you to buy and read them
      just so you could play with your local group who you knew damn well was
      going to buy them just to use the revised rules on you at a critical
      moment. (Not to mention your ability to play at conventions)

    Or is it some other game I'm thinking of?   ;-)

    I've actually considered buying StarFire in the past, but never seemed to
    get around to it.  Does anyone have any info on this rerelease of StarFire?

    Will it be significantly different that I should buy it, as opposed to 
    buying an old version found in the "used" area of my local gaming store?

    Enquiring minds want to know.......

        -Jim B.

     <<< WARNING : .sig under construction >>>


Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: kabreuer@cip.informatik.uni-erlangen.de (Klaus Breuer)
Subject: BTECH: MechWar 1.0 - please ftp to USA
Organization: CSD., University of Erlangen
Distribution: rec.games.board
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 16:51:03 GMT

Hi!

Look, I've got a problem with the distribution of MechWar 1.0 here.
I'm only able to upload it to 131.188.1.43 in /pub/pc/incoming, I
can't ftp it anywhere else (someone limited the PCs ftp to local).

Since a lot of people would like to ftp the game from the states, could 
some kind soul please upload it to an ftp site there and post relevant
info on here? Perhaps wuarchive.wustl.edu could use it...

Thanks in advance,
Klaus
---
Klaus Breuer, Rudelsweiher Str. 6b, 8520 Erlangen, Germany
** "Geez, I need a _reason_ for everything?" --Calvin 
** "Should I or shouldn't I? -- Too late, I did!" --Hobbes 
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: FOR SALE: Cosmic Encounter 2nd Ed.
From: oberland@vax.sonoma.edu
Date: 1 Oct 92 18:00:27 -0800
Organization: Sonoma State University

I have the following for sale:

Cosmic Encounter(New edition)
MINT
unpunched, no nicks or dents.

I bought this to play, read the rules, and it has been sitting in the closet
for 6 months.
My friend moved away, and so I never got a chance to play it, even once.

Make me an offer.
Joe
P.S. I know this may not technically belong here, but HOW many persons
who do NOT own a copy know what rec.games.ce means?
From: casper@vxcrna.cern.ch (CASPER,DAVI./PPE)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: Diplomacy question: Double support
Date: 29 Sep 92 18:50:00 GMT
Organization: European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <abick.717785222@cunews>, abick@sebastian.carleton.ca (Alan Bick) writes...
>If the following orders are made what happens?
> 
>RUSSIA
>A Sil - Ber
>A Pru S A Sil - Ber
> 
>FRANCE
>A Ruh - Kie
>A Hol S A Ruh - Kie
> 
>GERMANY
>A Kie S A Ber-H
>A Ber S A Kie-H
> 

No question about it: both armies are displaced.

Dave
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: gulla@Lise.Unit.NO (Anders H}kon Gulla)
Subject: Re: another 1830 question
Organization: Norwegian Institute of Technology
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 92 15:11:33 GMT

in his post  bruno@cerberus.csd.uwm.edu says:

[two ways of selling stock debated ]

In our group, a rpg and board game club, we play a lot 1830, and the question
have been raised on several occations.  We have found that a person might
sell stock one at a time, if he so wants, but that he don't have to do it.

The rules state that you can sell more than one share at the present prise,
which of course is simultanous sale.  When he then sell from another
company he can choose himself if this occures before, after or simultanously
whith any other sale.  

-- 
"Mane, simul atque expergefactus es, Pu" dixit postermo Porcellus,
"quid est primum, quod tecum dicis?"
"Quid mihi in ientaculum paratur? Tu autem quid dicis o Porcelle?"
"Dico: Scire avco, quid magni momenti bodie accidat," dixit Porcellus.
Pu meditabundus adnuit. "Est idem," dixit.
ex Winnie ille Pu.
AH! Gulla
Winner at ArCon, out of the finals in the club championship :-(
gulla@lise.unit.no
From: carlton@apollo.hp.com (Carl Hommel)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: BTECH: MNA Rankings & Clan Honor
Date: 29 Sep 92 16:27:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: apollo.BvCLqL.BEF
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Chelmsford, MA

>Also here are some rules we have been using for Clan Honor.
>1) Clan Battlemechs cannot initiate a physical attack.
>2) A clan battlemech must declare enemy targets.
>3) A clan battlemech can return fire on any battlemech that has fired [first].

Why can't clan mechs declair a physical attack?

Here are the other rules we talked about in our group:
4.  No indirect fire spotting for other mechs.
5.  No retreats.  You may move around to take advantage of terrain, but
    walking backward to keep your target in long range to prevent them from
    firing back is not allowed.
6.  Death before dishonor...

Here is a question we could not settle.  Which statement do you think is
correct?

A.  Clanners *must* target the first IS mech that attacks them.
B.  Clanners target an appropriate mech.

Our lengthy 5 minute arguement boils down to this question.  Assume your
clanner is faced with an Atlas and a Locust.  The Locust is feeling suicidal,
and runs up and attacks you.  The Atlas dishonorably participates in a gang
fire at a fellow clanner, who engaged with a third IS mech.

Which mech will you target?

Carl Hommel
carlton@apollo.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: Andrew.Stratton@cm.cf.ac.uk (Andrew F Stratton)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Are there any PD multi-player board games available?
Date: 29 Sep 92 13:22:20 GMT
Organization: University of Wales College of Cardiff

The title says it all really - I am not interested in chess etc,
Thanks in advance,
Andy Stratton.
From: gsbg9079@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (G. Scott Braley)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: A&A: How about this strategy?
Keywords: A&A
Date: 1 Oct 92 21:53:10 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.BvGq4M.H8t
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

dmeier@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Douglas Meier) writes:

>Then he does the British move (Here is where I die).  He moves his India
>troops to South Africa, then builds a Complex there.   I can never take out
>his troops in time, and before I can get enough troops to take his complex, he
>starts cranking out waves of Brit tanks.  The result?  Germany gets
>stonewalled by lots of Russian Infantry while the British tanks pelt me from
>Africa, taking the land bridge across the Suez and up through Persia.

Are you playing first edition rules?  According to the 2nd edition, the max
number of units produced by a new factory is equal to the economic value of
the territory-- 2 in South Africa.

What do you do with Japan?  They can do a lot of damage before that 36-25
imbalance can catch up to them, especially with no brits in india.  The best
Japan strategy is to squash the american navy, preserving as much of your
firepower as possible, and getting troops into asia as fast as possible.

The game is biased in favor of the allies, but then so was the real war :)
so you need to gamble a bit as the axis in order to win.

				-Scott


-- 
*****************************************************************************
*  F.B.I.B.M.--The most feared merger  *  gsbg9079@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu         *
*****************************************************************************
From: gt7804b@prism.gatech.EDU (Wayne Edward Sheppard)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Loking for MCE
Date: 28 Sep 92 03:04:10 GMT
Distribution: atl
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

I am looking for More Cosmic Encounter.  If anyone has seen
it in any store, please Email me.

Thanks
Wayne Sheppard
gt7804b@prism.gatech.edu

-- 
Wayne Edward Sheppard
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
uucp:	  ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!gt7804b
Internet: gt7804b@prism.gatech.edu
From: slip@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Doolie)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: Bteck/RoboTech comparison
Summary: BTECH Robotech
Date: 30 Sep 92 23:54:54 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center

In article <Sep.30.16.17.44.1992.23680@andromeda.rutgers.edu> dshaffer@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Donald A Shaffer) writes:
>   Robo. mecha rely on speen and manuevarability.  Btech relies on armour and
>massive amounts of firepower.
>  2. either battletech armor is more powerful than robotech armour, or 
>robotech firepower is stronger than battletech's.  i.e. it takes many weapon
>hits to destroy a mech but robotech mecha you see get destroyed fairly easy
>if hit (one shot, boom)
>  3. mechs are generally bigger than mecha.

The big difference between the mecha and 'Mechs is that the Robotech mecha have
MUCH better control systems and are higher powered. (BTW, which generation are
we talking about?) My reasoning for the control systems is... Have you ever
seen a Battlemech tuck and roll?  The Veritechs seemed to move like actual
people if I remember the show correctly.  While at least the first-generation
veritechs had less firepower and probably lighter armor than Battlemechs,
They would be far more maneverable than the relatively stiff Mechs, and the
later genration models with even more speed and firepower, would be
super-LAMs.

-- 
* Gordon Emore	          *   <Place nifty quote here>      *
* slip@sage.cc.purdue.edu *   < Or maybe not >              *
From: erwinrd@sumax.seattleu.edu (Richard D. Erwin)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Looking for some Wargames to Purchase
Date: 27 Sep 92 01:04:34 GMT
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle WA

I'm looking for a game for myself and three for a local friend who doesn't
have net access:

1) Wargamer #10: Chinese Civil War.  I'll take it punched or mint, and will
   buy either just the mag alone or the game alone if the price is right and
   nobody offers me a complete set.

2) Wargamer #13: Forward to Richmond.  My friend would love to get this one   
   mint, but would settle for punched if he had to.

3) Wargamer #28: Port Stanley.  See comments in 2).

4) GDW Russo-Japanese War.  My friend will take the land or sea segments alone
   if he must, punched or mint if he must, but would best prefer a complete set
   if at all possible.

Thanks in Advance,
Rich Erwin
From: woods@colossal.Eng.Sun.COM (Don Woods)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: Diplomacy question: a variation
Date: 2 Oct 1992 02:02:12 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
NNTP-Posting-Host: colossal
Summary: a case where 2 can defend vs 4

Alan Bick writes:
| RUSSIA
| A Sil - Ber
| A Pru S A Sil - Ber
| FRANCE
| A Ruh - Kie
| A Hol S A Ruh - Kie
| GERMANY
| A Kie S A Ber-H
| A Ber S A Kie-H

As others have pointed out, the rules clearly state that each support is
cut, and therefore both Russia and France succeed in dislodging their
respective German targets.  However, it's worth contrasting this to the
following situation, in which two German units CAN stop both attacks.

RUSSIA:  A Pru-Ber, A Sil S A Pru-Ber
FRANCE:	 A Ruh-Mun, A Kie S A Ruh-Mun
GERMANY: A Mun-Sil, A Ber-Kie

Since each German unit is attacking a space OTHER than the one supporting
the attack on that unit, the French and Russian supports are cut, and so
the German units stand.
--
--	-- Don Woods.				[*** Generic Disclaimer ***]
--				    ...!sun!woods.eng -or- Woods@Eng.Sun.com
From: dshaffer@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Donald A Shaffer)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Bteck/RoboTech comparison
Date: 30 Sep 92 20:17:46 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


    This is probably going to seem silly, but a couple nights ago, me and a 
started discussing Btech and robotech( which we both love).  Anyways, one
thing led to another, and we started talking about what would happen if by
some strange phenomena, mecha from the robotech universe came over to the
battletech universe.
    After laughing about the veritech pilot first seeing a maurauder :) we 
actually started arguing about which technollogy is better, i.e. who would 
win in a fight.  We came up with the following facts.
   Robo. mecha rely on speen and manuevarability.  Btech relies on armour and
massive amounts of firepower.
  2. either battletech armor is more powerful than robotech armour, or 
robotech firepower is stronger than battletech's.  i.e. it takes many weapon
hits to destroy a mech but robotech mecha you see get destroyed fairly easy
if hit (one shot, boom)
  3. mechs are generally bigger than mecha.

Anyone have any comments? (Oh yes, for battletech mechs, use clan technology)
******************************************************************************
Gee, I wonder how many AC/20 shots  * Don Shaffer
  a veritech can take? :)           * dshaffer@andromeda.rutgers.edu
******************************************************************************
From: Graham_Arts@mindlink.bc.ca (Graham Arts)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: War in the West
Date: 29 Sep 92 01:43:31 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

        Does anyone know where I can get my hands on a good used copy (mint or
punched) of SPI's War in the West.  I would be interested in any edition
(assuming that there have been more than one).  Also, what would be the price
of this game?
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: NETOPRBL@ncsuvm.cc.ncsu.edu (Christopher Lane)
Subject: STARFIRE! coming soon!
Organization: North Carolina State University
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 13:12:47 GMT

I just got a look at one of my "friend who's a dealer"'s advanced announcements
for  games coming in the next few months. and lo' and behold if under
task force games they didn't have StarFire coming out in nov/dec! I believe
the asking price was in the 20's.
 
==================================
Christopher B. Lane
netoprbl@ncsuvm.cc.ncsu.edu
Raliegh, NC
==================================
Damn it Jim! I'm an operator not an university representative!
From: oberland@vax.sonoma.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: A&A Fixing the imbalances/how to give the Axis a fair chance
Date: 6 Oct 92 22:39:57 GMT
Organization: Sonoma State University

Guess it's time to make my appearance...

summary to date:
YAY ALLIES! Go ALLIES!

<puke>

there.  How come it seems that everyone wants to play the Allies, or
worse yet, cannot seem to play the Axis.

It is a fairly simple matter to kill the Axis off if everyone knows
what they are doing, d the Axis are average.

I wnat to hear how to WIN if you are the Axis.
---
Well, I think that the game is biased, and needs a few changes to the rules
to even things out, as the Axis seem to win about 30% of the time,
which is usually based on lucky rolls when it happens.

Ideas:
Historical accuracy.  The game is messed in certain areas, and the following
steps solve the most glaring glitches(note: these DO give the Axis a 
better chance, in fact, an even chance, so DON'T gripe about a fair game.
This is an attempt to MKAE it a fair game for both sides, and I appreciate
any and all comments.

1:U.S. fleet in Hawaii did not have the Carriers in attack range.
solution: switch the BShip and the Carrier in the Pacific.

2:Change the GermaNavy.  Remember the Bismark?  Hm.... don't see it.
BUT, I don't want it to be overkill, so substitute a BShip for the sub in the
German Sea zone.(this IS where the bismark originated, afterall)

3:Add troops to empty zones in Russia, as well as Panama and Mexico
---
optional, but recommended:
4:Add a sub or transport to the German Navy, preferably in the Med,
but out of range of the Brit. Battleship.

5:if all else fails, use the EQUALIZER(tm)
Give Germany rockets to begin with.  This is historically accurate, and
besides,  WWII was a CLOSE thing in Europe, not a piece of cake.

Well, that's it.
I personally like to play with 1,2,russian helf of #3, and 5.

Seems to even the game out nicely, and makes a Axis victory about as
likely as for the Allies.

Joe
P.S. Don't use Economic victory with the above mods.-Axis will win most of the
time.
From: v131p9t3@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Ninstar Cybermage - Back Again from the Mists!)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: +==[====----BTECH:AnimeK---====]==+
Date: 6 Oct 92 16:16:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

I've been watching Anime for a long time, and I've been playing BTECH for a good
deal of time as well and I'm a little confused.

What is it that you guys think is different between Anime and Battletech mecha?

I've heard that the Mechs are too slow.  Let's read some stats:
Locust:86.4 kph/129 kph
Wasp:66.5 kph/95.1 kph
Stinger:63.4 kph/91.6 kph
Hunchback: 43.9 kph/63.5 kph
Atlas: 32.4 kph/54.0 kph

Now if we compare this to the Mechs I saw in Anime.  The speeds are if anything
FASTER than the Macross mecha I saw.  If you use LAMs like they did in Macross
everything works out, and the Btech Mecha in the light range are almost perfect
analogues performance wise.  They don't have the same weapons systems.  Build
a LAM on 55 tons with an XL engine and you'll be able to build an accurate 
analogue to an alpha veritech.  Not only will it carry all the weapons systems,
but it'll die just as easily with it's low armor.

The system makes the Mechs seem slow because of the time scale.  In one round
a person can only do so much, so the mecha must be slow.  Look how much time
there is in a round!  10 seconds.  And in that 10 seconds your mech can move
sometimes 8(running on a 5/8 mech) * 30(1 hex) = 240 meters?  nearly a quarter
kilometer in 10 seconds?  And then he can also engage in hand to hand combat,
and fire any weapons available?

If you don't have Anime style fights in Btech you just aren't playing right.
If your sttategy is to use your mechs like tanks, then replace them with tanks.
Don't go trashing the game system because you don't know how to play.


James Shank           	#		v131p9t3@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
AKA: Ninstar Cybermage  #	or	shank@acsu.buffalo.edu
###############################################################################
"Ten thousand years old...He could be trouble." -Vampire Hunter D
"Every night I say a prayer, in the hope that there's a heaven..."-Styx
"How do you make ammends for a god's sins?"-Forgotten Realms
##############################################################################
Sneaky Types,Inc.:Clandestine operations for the common man.
	"Don't call us.  We'll just bill you when it's done."
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: osterbar@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Andrew Robert Osterburg)
Subject: Empire in Arms Naval Rules
Organization: University of Cincinnati
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 22:11:19 GMT


	I just got General 26/6 from Avalon Hill with Advanced Naval
Combat rules for EIA.  However, I cannot find the Tactical Naval Chart,
or the Naval General Chase Table.  If someone could either copy and
mail it to me, or tell me were to find it I would be eternaly grateful.


Thanks

AO
Andrew Osterburg
osterbar@ucunix.san.uc.edu 

Newsgroups: rec.games.board
From: moore@gibbs.oit.unc.edu (Hall Moore)
Subject: Re: Bteck/RoboTech comparison
Organization: University of North Carolina
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 18:44:51 GMT

In article <Sep.30.16.17.44.1992.23680@andromeda.rutgers.edu> dshaffer@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Donald A Shaffer) writes:
>
>    This is probably going to seem silly, but a couple nights ago, me and a 
>started discussing Btech and robotech( which we both love).  Anyways, one
>thing led to another, and we started talking about what would happen if by
>some strange phenomena, mecha from the robotech universe came over to the
>battletech universe.
>    After laughing about the veritech pilot first seeing a maurauder :) we 
>actually started arguing about which technollogy is better, i.e. who would 
>win in a fight.  We came up with the following facts.
>   Robo. mecha rely on speen and manuevarability.  Btech relies on armour and
>massive amounts of firepower.
>  2. either battletech armor is more powerful than robotech armour, or 
>robotech firepower is stronger than battletech's.  i.e. it takes many weapon
>hits to destroy a mech but robotech mecha you see get destroyed fairly easy
>if hit (one shot, boom)
>  3. mechs are generally bigger than mecha.
>
>Anyone have any comments? (Oh yes, for battletech mechs, use clan technology)
>******************************************************************************
>Gee, I wonder how many AC/20 shots  * Don Shaffer
>  a veritech can take? :)           * dshaffer@andromeda.rutgers.edu
>******************************************************************************

My memory is a little fuzzy on this, as I haven't seen Robotech in many
years :(  However, I think a few Veritechs could mop up a large company of
Btech mechs with no problem.  From what I remember, Veritechs could dish
out hideous amounts of damage, leveling small buildings, etc. in seconds.
(As I remember, the opening credits saw some extreme mayhem going on).
  This, combined with the previously noted speed/manuverability (sp?)
advantage, should allow mecha to kick ass (even against the clans).
I don't even want to think about what the Invid could do to the Inner
Sphere.

  Also, I seem to remember mecha being about the same size as mechs.
(ca. 2 stories tall when standing).

just my $0.02
From: mst@vexpert.dbai.tuwien.ac.at (Markus Stumptner)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Message to Greg Davis (sorry)
Date: 6 Oct 92 09:30:37 GMT
Organization: DB and ES Subdivision, TU Vienna

My mail to you has been bouncing for weeks (our nameserver is acting
up).  The Vector 3 has arrived, everything is ok.

	Markus
-- 
Markus Stumptner                                mst@vexpert.dbai.tuwien.ac.at
University of Technology Vienna                 vexpert!mst@relay.eu.net
Paniglg. 16, A-1040 Vienna, Austria             ...mcsun!vexpert!mst
From: mhatz@nyx.cs.du.edu (Mike Hatz)
Subject: Mechwar101.zip
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 92 14:31:04 GMT

I uploaded the newest version mech101.zip to the /pub/new directory here
at NYX.  If I get a chance I will move it to Ulowell or WUSTL.  Maybe a
fellow NYX user can help out and move it for me.  Thanks!

Mike
From: Bruce_Harper@mindlink.bc.ca (Bruce Harper)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: BTECH - no new group?
Date: 6 Oct 92 16:09:47 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

I don't know whether a separate group for BattleTech would encourage postings
on other games, but I suppose it couldn't hurt.  There's a clear need for
such a group and no one objected, as far as I saw.  What happened to that
idea?  I hope someone is pursuing it!
From: dominy@netcom.com (Robert Dominy)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Fast Food Franchise
Date: 2 Oct 92 06:13:31 GMT
Distribution: ba
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

Does anyone know of game store in the Bay area where I might
find the game "Fast Food Franchise" by Prism Games of Palo
Alto?  We have some friends who've played the game and think
it's a blast, but haven't been able to buy a copy for themselves.

- BOB