Hello Phil,

> On November 7, 2019 at 9:15 PM "Phil Pugliese (via tml list)" <xxxxxx@simplelists.com> wrote:
>
> > On Thursday, November 7, 2019, 03:10:02 PM MST, Thomas RUX <xxxxxx@comcast.net>

> > wrote:
>
> > Hello Phil,
>
> > The CT LBB 2 and CT LBB 5 construction systems require that all ship's have a power
> > plant. Non-starships must also have a maneuver drive and starships must have a jump
> > drive with the maneuver drive as an optional system.

> > The official X-Boat omits any mention of a power plant which in my opinion and supported
> > by the Consolidated CT Errata is a broken design.
>
> [MUCH DELETED]
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Yet, I do believe that the original CT LBB2 actually predates 'introduction' of the Xboat,
> doesn't it?

CT Supplement 9 Fighting Ship 1981 7th printing page 12 as far as I know is the first mention of the Express Boat (X-Boat). Per the Ship Information Sheet the X-Boat is a Book 2 Design.

So the answer is "Yes" that both CT LBB2 1977, CT LBB 2 1977/1981, CT LBB 5 1979, and CT LBB 5 1980 predate the X-boat presented in CT Supplement 9.

CT LBB 2 1977 and CT LBB 2 1977/1981 does not have directions on determining EP and Agility which would have to grafted on using CT LBB 5.

> Well, in any case, the Xboat system is such an integral part of the TU that Xboats just have

> to exist, no matter what.

I agree that the X-Boat system is an intregal part of the civilian and non-military side of the TU. The Imperial Navy on the other hand has fleet couriers that are independant of the Express Boat network.

> So, there it is...
> Broken, along with, it seems, just about every other design ever published by GDW et al, in
> any version!

In my attempts to recreate a number of CT official hulls the X-boat is the only one that does not have a power plant of some sort which is a requirement in all Traveller construction systems. For the other recreations I routinely fail to match cost which my calculations show the hull to cost more. Determining the crew is another area I frequently fail to match and finally my hull tannage sometimes doe not match.

So far my recreations of the CT LBB 2 1977/1981 standard designs the areas I have not matched are cost and/or crew. The crew issue after comparing CT LBB 2 1977/1981 to CT LBB 2 1977 is mainly with the stewards and is corrected by assigning all staterooms as being occupied by high passenger tickets.

I cannot confirm or deny that any of the other Traveller version designs are broken/illegal since I have not attempted to recreate them yet.

Thank you for the reply.

Tom Rux