I uploaded a sample Game Map that explains the nomenclature that will be used in actual map.  Note that this is not the starting map, just a sample.

The starport type will be explained in more detail with scouting;  Basically "A" is the best, and is goes down the alphabet to "D", which is basically a parking lot and a small gas station.  An "X" implies that there is no starport.

Let me know if it seems unclear.

How  much information about each solar system would you like to have?  Personally, I prefer detailed solar systems that you can spend days exploring...

I'll present two options:

OPTION 1: Simple systems
You get info about the parent star, the main planet, and any bases or anomalies present.  Ex:

Sol		Star 	G-type
Earth		Terrestrial		B-867AA?-12		Temperate	HiPop, HiTech		Naval, Scout

OPTION 2: Detailed systems
You get info on every significant object in the solar system.  Ex:

Sol		Star 	G-type

Mercury		Small_Rock		D-300346-12		Roasting	Vacuum, LoPop, HiTech
Venus		Large_Rock 		X-8B0000-0		Roasting	Corrosive, Barren, Desert
Earth		Terrestrial		B-867AA?-12		Temperate	HiPop, HiTech	
Mars		Small_Rock		A-430765-12		Cold		Desert, HiTech, Non-Ag
Ceres		Planetoid		C-000222-12		Cold		Vacuum, Asteroid Belt
Juipiter	Gas Giant		Jupiterian		Minor_rings		Noticeable_Trojans
	Io			Small_Ice	X-200000-0		Cold	Volatile, Barren
	Europa		Small_Ice	D-200202-10		Frozen	Vacuum, LoPop
	Ganymede 	Small_Ice	X-300000-0		Frozen	Barren
	Callisto	Small_Ice	X-310000-0		Frozen	Barren
Saturn		Gas Giant		Saturnian		Spectacular_rings	No_trojans
	Titan		Small_Rock	C-3A3544-10		Frozen	Chemical_Oceans, Non-Industrial
Uranus		Gas Giant		Neptunian		Noticeable_rings	No_trojans	No_moons
Neptune		Gas Giant		Neptunian		Minor_rings		No_trojans
	Triton		Small_Ice	D-110152-10		Frozen	LoPop
Pluto		Small_ice		D-100100-10		Frozen	LoPop

(don't worry about the numbers yet;  they are just the UWP's from the Traveller SRD)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:35, Tue 15 May 2012.

The designation just takes up space and makes it harder to read.

Will this information be useful or necessary?  If not, then saying, "There are four rocky planets and four gas giants, as well as many moons and planetoids." is sufficient.

Use a table to make it easier to read.  Edit my post to see how.


This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Tue 15 May 2012.

This is just a sample.  I will of course format it nicer for the actual game.   I just want to know how much info you want.  (this is the format that my custom random solar system generator produces)

The UWP (X-123456-7) goes as:

(Starport class) - (World size)(Atmosphere Type)(Liquid coverage by 10%)(Population)(Government)(Law Level) - (Locally sustainable technology level)

Other info is really just flavor - how immersed do you want to be?

The advantage of more detail is that it extends the "play time" of each system:

 - If player A is interested in mining, he will scout out the asteroids and small rockys;

 - If player B is interested in lost civilizations or colonizing, he will scout the Terrestrial Worlds;

 - If player C is interested in combat, he will quickly skim a system for threats, then leave;

 - If player D is interested in pure exploration (and the potential to discover rare resources...) he will scout everything that everyone else skimmed over.

So with more detail, there is more overlap in what can be done in each system.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 23:14, Tue 15 May 2012.

kk, my first thought was just that it was really hard to read.



I'm just speaking for myself, but I have a feeling that few will want to remember which number corresponds to what.  Having instead a small description will probably be better.

Yea.... The string is not as simple as a chart. I will not remember what each number represents.

Man, I guess I'm just used to the UWP, because it tells me most everything about the system in a quick glance.  I guess I'll write code to translate these values into words, although I will probably still include the UWPs to make things easier for me...

If you've taken a look at the wiki:

http://www.obsidianportal.com/...base/wikis/main-page

I was wondering if players would prefer detailed solar systems as presented in the wiki, or simple systems.

Simple systems would be very "Star Wars" or "Star Trek"-esque:  one or two main worlds, a gas giant (if present), and only the most important details presented.


The advantage of the Detailed system is that it's more "Sci-fi," since you get to see whole solar systems, and it lends itself to strategic fleet play very well (moving between orbits, spreading out our fleet).  It also takes out some ambiguities.  The disadvantage is that it will add complexity and time to play.

The advantage of simple systems is that it will streamline play, and focus only on the important parts of a system.  The downside is that this leads to less strategic play, and the potential for ambiguity - esp. when planning ambushes or jumped to the edge of a system.

What does everyone think?

(I'm ok either way.  I get a kick out of creating new star systems in detail, but I am ok with simpler versions for the sake of gaming).

You could present both. The simple version on a quick scan, the detailed version with a more in depth scan or maybe just if a player asks for it.

In reply to Kplu (msg # 10):

Could you post the star map legend and the star map in the same place?  The legend (and sample map) is here on RPol, but the map for actual play is over on ObsPortal.

Thanks!

I'll try to do something soon...  I can only have one map on Obsidian Portal since I don't have a premium account.  I can try posting it as an image to the wiki...