Path: ...!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!ereborbbs.duckdns.org!.POSTED.192.168.18.17!not-for-mail From: Kyonshi Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc Subject: Usenet in Traveller Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2024 17:53:31 +0100 Organization: Erebor InterNetNews Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: c3066ed76bae8bcc0e476efb157ff758 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Injection-Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2024 16:53:27 -0000 (UTC) Injection-Info: ereborbbs.duckdns.org; posting-host="192.168.18.17"; logging-data="2314"; mail-complaints-to="usenet@ereborbbs.duckdns.org" User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird Content-Language: en-US Bytes: 2389 Lines: 27 When trying to find interesting scenarios to prep for Traveller I came across this Library Data: Xnet: An informal, rather loose association of regular topics discussed by Scouts, members of the Imperial Postal Administration, computer and communications enthusiasts which are grouped into literally billions of different “headers,” based on topic. Each header can be thought of as a sort of chain letter, which gathers comments and branches out into other headers as the mail packet proceeds to each subsequent destination. This practice can trace its roots to the “Usenet” communication network that still exists on Terra, as well as Usenet’s lesser imitators on other worlds, as well as the ultimate evolution of the peer–to–peer commentary network, better–known great FlameNet that exists within the planetary datasphere on Core. This is from The Starchild scenario in Signs and Portents 58 which is also in the MgT Compendium 1, so according to Traveller canon Usenet still exists in the 57th ct. Note 1: I do actually think interstellar communication in Traveller needs something like a Usenet-like forum, as the core setting conceit is that FTL communication only can happen by messages being taken along in ships jumping their 1-6parsec/week jumps. Note 2: Signs and Portents was Mongoose's free ezine which they used to support their game systems. Note the WAS. Where I downloaded all of them for free from their website in the 2010s by now they sell them for 4 bucks on drivethrurpg.