Metric I hope
- Thread starter DrSkull
- Start date
Just consider yourself lucky it doesn't measure distances in inches which are both 10s of feet and 10s of yards depending on whether or not there's a roof overhead, and weights & volumes in 1.6oz Gold Pieces.
(Note, I'm assuming that these units were dropped in D&D3 (or even AD&D2), but if by some chance they're still in use, please don't tell me; there are some things I'd rather not know)
(Note, I'm assuming that these units were dropped in D&D3 (or even AD&D2), but if by some chance they're still in use, please don't tell me; there are some things I'd rather not know)
Antares Administration
SOC-12
Actually, I was going to suggest a further refinement of the metric system - scientific notation!!!
Just imagine landing at the downport, and asking for 1x10^6 grams of refined fuel...
Or the local fast food joint for a "1.14x10^2 Gram'r" and fries...
AA
[This message has been edited by Antares Administration (edited 31 May 2001).]
Just imagine landing at the downport, and asking for 1x10^6 grams of refined fuel...
Or the local fast food joint for a "1.14x10^2 Gram'r" and fries...
AA
[This message has been edited by Antares Administration (edited 31 May 2001).]
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DrSkull:
This is funny, but I am perfectly happy with non-meteric measurements in my everyday life, but the fact that GURPS doesn't use meteric for Traveller I found to be off-putting.
T20 will be using metric measurements, right?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I am also of this opinion. I like GURPS, but it just doesn't "feel" like Traveller using non-metric units. Of course, I also think GURPS should use UPPs and UWPs, etc, etc.
This is funny, but I am perfectly happy with non-meteric measurements in my everyday life, but the fact that GURPS doesn't use meteric for Traveller I found to be off-putting.
T20 will be using metric measurements, right?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I am also of this opinion. I like GURPS, but it just doesn't "feel" like Traveller using non-metric units. Of course, I also think GURPS should use UPPs and UWPs, etc, etc.
halofgazal
SOC-5
Since Traveller (and most other GDW role-playing games) use the Metric system, I have become quite familiar with it. Also, many of the players in my other games are from military backgrounds, and they are also familiar with the metric system. It did get rather funny when during a D&D system we found ourselves using meters to measure the distance between the PCs and their opponents.
I hope that T^20 (and T5, should it ever come out) use the Metric system. If, however, the writers decide to use "regular" measures, they should at least consider putting the metric equivalents in parentheses. The metric system is part of feel of the Traveller universe and should be retained. Steve Jackson games should also consider adding metric equivalents in the text of their GURPS Traveller products.
I hope that T^20 (and T5, should it ever come out) use the Metric system. If, however, the writers decide to use "regular" measures, they should at least consider putting the metric equivalents in parentheses. The metric system is part of feel of the Traveller universe and should be retained. Steve Jackson games should also consider adding metric equivalents in the text of their GURPS Traveller products.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by T. Foster:
Just consider yourself lucky it doesn't measure distances in inches which are both 10s of feet and 10s of yards depending on whether or not there's a roof overhead, and weights & volumes in 1.6oz Gold Pieces.
(Note, I'm assuming that these units were dropped in D&D3 (or even AD&D2), but if by some chance they're still in use, please don't tell me; there are some things I'd rather not know)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
3E uses "character units" only, but in "english" units, not SI (metric). So ranges in Feet. SWd20 uses SI. Also exclusively in "Character units". No miniatures "Game inches". Closest is squares. (Squares are either 5' or 2m)
I hope T20 uses SI, too.
------------------
-aramis
=============================================
Smith & Wesson: The Original Point and Click interface!
Just consider yourself lucky it doesn't measure distances in inches which are both 10s of feet and 10s of yards depending on whether or not there's a roof overhead, and weights & volumes in 1.6oz Gold Pieces.
(Note, I'm assuming that these units were dropped in D&D3 (or even AD&D2), but if by some chance they're still in use, please don't tell me; there are some things I'd rather not know)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
3E uses "character units" only, but in "english" units, not SI (metric). So ranges in Feet. SWd20 uses SI. Also exclusively in "Character units". No miniatures "Game inches". Closest is squares. (Squares are either 5' or 2m)
I hope T20 uses SI, too.
------------------
-aramis
=============================================
Smith & Wesson: The Original Point and Click interface!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Antares Administration:
Actually, I was going to suggest a further refinement of the metric system - scientific notation!!!
Just imagine landing at the downport, and asking for 1x10^6 grams of refined fuel...
Or the local fast food joint for a "1.14x10^2 Gram'r" and fries...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Agreed, but SI units, please, and engineering notation takes less room. So 1E3 kilos of fuel (hmm, we can call it a ton, that's a good metric term for a megagram) or 1.14E-1 kilo burger.
I think that in some parts of Europe a "pound" is a common supermarket term for a half kilo, and "pint" for a half liter. We should be grateful that we don't have to learn Vilani weights and measures.
Now for D&D3 the English system of measure makes some kind of sense, since it is a variation on the Roman system and local versions of that were used from Iceland to Egypt for nearly two-thousand years
Actually, I was going to suggest a further refinement of the metric system - scientific notation!!!
Just imagine landing at the downport, and asking for 1x10^6 grams of refined fuel...
Or the local fast food joint for a "1.14x10^2 Gram'r" and fries...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Agreed, but SI units, please, and engineering notation takes less room. So 1E3 kilos of fuel (hmm, we can call it a ton, that's a good metric term for a megagram) or 1.14E-1 kilo burger.
I think that in some parts of Europe a "pound" is a common supermarket term for a half kilo, and "pint" for a half liter. We should be grateful that we don't have to learn Vilani weights and measures.
Now for D&D3 the English system of measure makes some kind of sense, since it is a variation on the Roman system and local versions of that were used from Iceland to Egypt for nearly two-thousand years
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Uncle Bob:
and 1E3Kg is 1Mg (as opposed to 1mg, which is 1E-6 Kg)
SI is inherently engineering notation. In Grams, Meters, Watts, Amps, Volts, Columbs, Litres, Newtons, and a few more relatively obscure units.
T Terra 1E12
G Giga 1E9
M Mega 1E6
K Kilo 1E3
H Heca/hecto 1E2
D Deka 1E1
- - 1E0
d deci 1E-1
c centi 1E-2
m milli 1E-3
n nano 1E-6 (IIRC)
It provides the most common engineering notations in 1 character rather than 2-4.
------------------
-aramis
=============================================
Smith & Wesson: The Original Point and Click interface!
Originally posted by Antares Administration:
Actually, I was going to suggest a further refinement of the metric system - scientific notation!!!
Just imagine landing at the downport, and asking for 1x10^6 grams of refined fuel...
Or the local fast food joint for a "1.14x10^2 Gram'r" and fries...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Agreed, but SI units, please, and engineering notation takes less room. So 1E3 kilos of fuel (hmm, we can call it a ton, that's a good metric term for a megagram) or 1.14E-1 kilo burger.
and 1E3Kg is 1Mg (as opposed to 1mg, which is 1E-6 Kg)
SI is inherently engineering notation. In Grams, Meters, Watts, Amps, Volts, Columbs, Litres, Newtons, and a few more relatively obscure units.
T Terra 1E12
G Giga 1E9
M Mega 1E6
K Kilo 1E3
H Heca/hecto 1E2
D Deka 1E1
- - 1E0
d deci 1E-1
c centi 1E-2
m milli 1E-3
n nano 1E-6 (IIRC)
It provides the most common engineering notations in 1 character rather than 2-4.
------------------
-aramis
=============================================
Smith & Wesson: The Original Point and Click interface!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dominator:
I am also of this opinion. I like GURPS, but it just doesn't "feel" like Traveller using non-metric units. Of course, I also think GURPS should use UPPs and UWPs, etc, etc.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
No comment on GURPS not using metric.
UPPS are easy enough to back-convert, should they be neccessary. The only advantage UWPs have over the way GT materials give world information is that UWPs take up much less space. UWPs are very cryptic on a first glance, and are much easier to make mistakes with when copying down.
T20 is, if I recall correctly, planning to use both styles.
I am also of this opinion. I like GURPS, but it just doesn't "feel" like Traveller using non-metric units. Of course, I also think GURPS should use UPPs and UWPs, etc, etc.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
No comment on GURPS not using metric.
UPPS are easy enough to back-convert, should they be neccessary. The only advantage UWPs have over the way GT materials give world information is that UWPs take up much less space. UWPs are very cryptic on a first glance, and are much easier to make mistakes with when copying down.
T20 is, if I recall correctly, planning to use both styles.
Ok I feel sorry for all you Americans. Up here in Canada ( you know the large blank area on your maps above Michigan ) we comverted to metric in the 70's. However some phrases just didn't convert;
"the whole nine yards", "give them an inch..". We still refer to somone's weight in pounds and height in feet and inches. I think metric should be used though to keep an SF feel ( like classic trek used in the 60's ).
"the whole nine yards", "give them an inch..". We still refer to somone's weight in pounds and height in feet and inches. I think metric should be used though to keep an SF feel ( like classic trek used in the 60's ).
