Stainless is pretty much correct, though 'planning to update' is a bit strong for what we were doing (mild though it is). What we were doing was discussing what changes we might put forward.
The idea was for us to generate a list of suggested resolutions and fixes for various issues ranging from impossible astrophysics to changed data in different versions of the Marches. From that discussion our intention was to cull out a list of issues, suggested fixes and expected consequences.
Our intent was to put that list in front of Mongoose's traveller line editor who would then decide which to put forward to Marc. Marc would decide which ones he wanted, we'd be told, and in they'd go.
Nice theory.
(as an aside, I've written nearly two dozen books using this working practice for major packagers and publishers outside the games industry).
What then happened was just plain crazed. First a handful of people started arguing about whether I should be allowed to alter canon. It was just the usual forum arm-waving so I ignored it, other than a rather pointed comment to the effect that nobody had actually asked what I was doing, and much of the debate about what I should be allowed to do centered on things that had frankly been made up - ie things I wasn't doing and had no intention of doing.
None of these people bothered to ask what I was doing, they just went on with the shouting and arm-waving. In short, they'd invented something to get upset about and were too busy being upset to bother finding out if there was anything to be upset about.
Then suddenly Marc Miller stepped in. 'Someone' (he never told me who) had informed him that I was planning to slip uauthorised canon changes into the Marches book.
(Another aside - I write books for a living. My professional integrity means a bit more to me than getting my favourite fanboy fix into a Traveller book. Doing that would serve my client (mongoose) very poorly and perhaps devalue their product. That's not a good way to keep my career intact. In short, this accuastion is both unfounded and very insulting)
Anyway, Marc scotched all changes, alterations, fixes and whatnot based on this unknown person's assertion. So we used the UWP data straight from Supplement 3.
To my intense annoyance, I was later sent a list of desired fixes (coming from Marc) which included issues we'd flagged and wanted to ask permission to fix.
A couple of other things happened too, which I'm deeply unhappy about, but I'll try to keep it off the public boards. That's more than the people involved deserve.
At the end of the day, though, and despite this almighty spanner thrown by some unknown, possibly malicious, person or persons, we produced a really excellent book.
As always working with Mongoose was painless and on top of it all they'll actually pay the invoice I'm about to send in (which seems to be the exception in this industry). I'm mentioning this in case anyone thinks I'm criticising Mongoose here - I'm not. Quite the opposite. Apart from my own Avenger Enterprises, Mongoose are the only games company I'll work with.
Yup, Mongoose don't dick me around and they give me money, on time. I like Mongoose. I hear some of their games are quite good too.....
I admit that I was fortunate enough to get an early glimpse.
