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New big blank subsector maps
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New subsector mapping tool
Alex Schroeder has made a very nice subsector mapping tool. 
The interface is simple, and it produces nice looking svg maps.
IE might have problems showing the map. 
Firefox will work fine. 
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Merry X-Mas
Merry X-Mas and a Happy New Year!
Map made using Traveller Map Post Function.
Click map for larger version!
Gryla 1724 A464663-9 S Ag Ri 613 Im Befana 1729 C325669-6 212 Im Fouettard 1822 BA87655-9 N Ag Ri 512 Im Jultomten 1824 B4748AD-6 N 224 Im Vixen 1826 A458756-E Ag 404 Im Joulupukki 1829 C661547-4 Ni 204 Im Zwarte Piet 1921 B657102-8 N Lo Ni 123 Im Prancer 1924 E73A233-8 Lo Ni Wa 314 Im Vertep 1930 B877532-A S Ag Ni 314 Im Olentzero 2021 E7A0334-5 De Lo Ni 412 Im Dancer 2023 B98A255-A Lo Ni Wa 223 Im Dasher 2024 C67A644-9 S Wa 224 Im Santa 2025 A946AAA-E N Hi In Cp 234 Im Sinterklaas 2027 B97A558-B Ni Wa 502 Im Comet 2124 C9A8353-A S Fl Lo Ni 323 Im Cupid 2126 A410437-A Ni 100 Im Pere Noel 2128 C386566-8 S Ag Ni 114 Im Pelzebock 2130 E99488B-3 702 Im Donner 2222 C000644-A S As Na 413 Im Blitzen 2223 C310202-7 S Lo Ni 325 Im Krampus 2322 B7C1201-B S Fl Lo Ni A 103 Im Hanstrapp 2323 BAE8533-A 2 Fl Ni 112 Im Schmutzli 2324 B564340-7 Lo Ni 300 Im Rudolph 2326 X352655-1 Po R 100 Im Buzebergt 2328 A464200-A Lo Ni 315 Im Ruprecht 2422 C350651-8 De Po 235 Im Ded Moroz 2424 A371454-C N Ni 223 Im
The idea for this was from a popular post on the facebook Zhodani Base page. This version is updated with a few ideas from the comments at facebook. So running an idea at facebook, before posting it at the base is quite useful. If You want to be able to influence the posts at the base, you should join the Zhodani Base facebook page.
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What makes a subsector popular?
After asking about the preferred subsector in the Spinward Marches on facebook and on CotI we can see what the online community think. From the results I have created a color coded chart for popularity. More green is more popular.
Here we can see that the most popular subsectors are District 268 and Regina.
The reason for District 268 seems to be that it has lots of independent backwater worlds, that are great for adventure, and are close to the Imperium and the Sword Words so that there also can be some interstellar diplomatic intrigues.
For Regina, a good reason is that the players and referees feel at home here. A lot has been published for this subsector. The first adventure (The Kinunir) started here.
Another slightly less popular subsector is the Sword Worlds. Who does not like this subsector, partly borrowed from H. Beam Piper? Rhylanor and Jewell are also popular. Probably since these are close to Regina, and also have published adventures within them.
The least popular subsectors are Lanth, Lunion and Mora. Lanth is quite divided. Its worlds more feels like they are part of Rhylanor, Vilis and Regina subsectors. Lunion and Mora are quite ordinary, and does not really have the interesting features that the popular subsectors have.
What lessons can we learn from this (if we want to create an interesting subsector)?
- There should be some backwater independent worlds.
- There should be 2 or more interstellar states quite close.
- There should be obvious adventures.
- There should be a place that can feel as home.
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A Vargr Subsector – Uksoulez Subsector
Using the ideas form the previous post, I wanted to make a Vargr subsector. I used my random subsector generator and selected Vargr as race and backwater as settlement. Everything else was using the default settings. Using this subsector I also wanted to try the new print style at TravellerMap.
I must have been very lucky. On the first try a very nice subsector was generated. I only had to move three worlds to make room for the names of the Interstellar States.
There are backwater independent worlds and 2 interstellar states here. Lets find the adventure and the place called home. To do so we need to invent some background for this subsector. Lets say that the Tingoeg Union is an expansive Vargr State, and that the Kague Territory is the reaction to that. To stop the Tingoeg Union expansion a charismatic Vargr called Kague united a number of planets. That was 100 years ago. Now these 2 states have fought a few wars, and there is currently a cold war going on. The independent planets are part of a neutral zone.
Adventure can then be found in lots of places in the subsector. Some ideas;
- At Unaets (2119) the PCs can help the Kague Territory can set up a spy station.
- Ozadzugh (2114) is balkanized. Tingoeg Union and Kague Territory support different nations. The PCs can spy or fight in wars.
- Dzaloukh (1720) has tech-level 0. Has there been a war here? The PCs can help survivors.
- A J-1 ship can reach lots of worlds in both interstellar states. The PCs can trade and do other jobs using their old J-1 trader.
- Gnuengarr (2014) is a low tech world with almost no atmosphere. The PCs can ship supplies here, and someone might try to stop them.
A place called home might be Uksoulez (2013). It’s a high population world where the PCs might know some people that can help them or can employ them. An alternative might be Dourtsuen (2214).
Map made using Traveller Map Post Function.
Click map for larger version!
All ideas from the previous post are now fulfilled. There are a number of backwater independent worlds. There are 2 interstellar states. There are obvious adventures. Finally, a place that can feel as home has been suggested.
Oeghaeg 1711 B452566-8 Ni Po 104 Vk Arorarrgh 1712 C87A257-7 Lo Ni Wa 112 Vk Ksoerorzou 1713 E445200-5 Lo Ni 623 Vk Unueghz 1714 E7B3430-3 Fl Ni 125 Vk Ouloe 1716 B99825A-8 G Lo Ni 133 Vk Oengous 1719 D332576-5 Ni Po 103 Va Dzaloukh 1720 X777541-0 C Ag Ni R 403 Va Oughadhksars 1813 C663334-4 C Lo Ni A 122 Vk Sugkhueg 1814 E536564-3 Ni 401 Vk Urrghkhoe 1816 C526879-6 113 Va Unkaerrg 1817 E735368-6 Lo Ni 822 Va Vikhue 1820 X578000-0 Ba Lo Ni R 014 Va Oennou 1915 E8C7435-5 C Fl Ni 201 Vk Gungoul 1916 C79255A-5 C Ni 203 Va Kaghzdagz 1918 C523220-9 Lo Ni Po 922 Va Koenkhou 2012 D623201-6 Lo Ni Po 103 Vk UKSOULEZ 2013 C328973-7 G Hi In Cp 813 Vk Gnuengarr 2014 E211332-4 Ic Lo Ni 215 Va Gnikath 2017 C363313-8 Lo Ni 104 Va Norzsoeng 2018 D444442-6 Ni 121 Va Arrkhaedhte 2019 D545235-7 Lo Ni 411 Va Dhaengors 2111 E546676-2 C Ag A 120 Vk Ngadhul 2112 E655434-3 C Ni 104 Vk Ozadzugh 2114 D58167C-1 A 124 Va Utar 2115 C100545-A Ni Va 124 Vt Ugoeg 2116 B403875-7 G Ic Va 123 Vt Udzallorz 2117 C7A4202-5 C Fl Lo Ni 124 Vt Unaets 2119 X461000-0 Ba Lo Ni R 003 Va Akhsaz 2120 C471778-4 724 Va Aksgviks 2211 C120355-8 De Lo Ni Po 822 Va DOURTSUEN 2214 C464964-6 Hi 800 Vt Gourzoer 2217 E200755-4 C Na Va 204 Vt Vousnoe 2219 C8A7676-6 G Fl 435 Vt Ksonoelar 2311 E5A26AD-2 Fl A 113 Va Uenguz 2312 D346778-3 G Ag 102 Va Aror 2315 C300420-6 C Ni Va 100 Vt Oekkso 2318 E664798-6 Ag Ri 935 Vt Aegaesarz 2319 E00059C-5 C As Ni 534 Vt Gallkno 2320 C494877-4 122 Vt Anoel 2411 X326543-5 C Ni R 100 Va Aszaer 2412 D68A120-5 G Lo Ni Wa 511 Vt UEVAE 2413 C6569DD-8 Hi 414 Vt Korrarz 2414 C94A100-7 G Lo Ni Wa 200 Vt VONGOR 2416 D553A79-8 G Hi Po 205 Vt Oetuedall 2417 D672330-3 Lo Ni 710 Va Aghenaerr 2419 C655677-3 Ag 203 Vt
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Eire Subsector
Happy St. Patrick’s Day 
Map made using Traveller Map Post Function.
Click map for larger version!
I hope this will be more useful than the Merry X-Mas Subsector.
I do think that this almost follow the rules for popular subsectors from a previous post. We have some backwater worlds, but they are not independent. We have 2 interstellar states. We have obvious adventures, and also a place called home. Dublin for some of us, Armagh for Eamon, and maybe somewhere else for someone.
The obvious adventures can be taken from the news (old and new) about Ireland.
This leads me to my suggestion of 4 races in this subsector. They should represent the Celtic, the Norse, the Protestants and the Catholics (or Old and New English). The lazy could use Humaniti, Vargr, Aslan and Bwaps or any other Traveller races that might fit. The more ambitious may want to invent their own races. An interesting scenario would be if the Humans represent the Celts. Then this will be in the far far future, when Humaniti have been driven away from their home-worlds to this cluster at the edge of the galaxy. Another interesting scenario could be if the Humans are the latest (New English) invaders. Then there might be some interesting moral dilemmas about the genocide of the original inhabitants of this cluster.
One thing to note about the map is that the towns and villages that are not in the map are still there as secondary populated worlds. E.g. Banbridge is a planet in the Armagh System. In the empty systems within the borders, there might be deep space objects.
Clifden 0106 E635420-3 Ni 213 Re Dingle 0109 B579444-7 Ni 214 Re Westport 0205 B432578-A N Ni Po 220 Re Tralee 0208 C74A630-7 Wa 223 Re Bantry 0209 C000512-B S As Ni 103 Re Ballina 0304 C0006AA-7 As Na 114 Re Castlebar 0305 E585662-2 Ag Ri 123 Re Galway 0306 C66979A-6 S Ri 300 Re Ennis 0307 B76A685-7 Ri Wa 301 Re Clonakilty 0310 EA7A501-A Ni Wa 104 Re Donegal 0403 E300454-7 Ni Va 414 Re Loughrea 0406 C589567-5 S Ni 224 Re Limerick 0407 C888873-6 Ri A 124 Re Mallow 0408 D529300-8 Lo Ni 412 Re Cork 0409 B310889-B N Na 224 Re Strabane 0503 C577634-7 Ag 223 Em Enniskillen 0504 D440688-6 S De Po 124 Em Longford 0505 D774656-5 S Ag 123 Re Athlone 0506 C767611-3 Ag 124 Re Clonmel 0508 C310666-9 S Na 224 Re Youghal 0509 E433553-5 Ni Po 234 Re Derry 0602 CABA89C-5 Fl Wa A 323 Em Omagh 0603 B42069A-7 2 De Na Po 223 Em Mullingar 0605 B56867A-8 Ag Ri 213 Re Portalaoise 0606 C796631-3 S Ag 125 Re Kilkenny 0607 C84979A-4 110 Re Waterford 0608 B644767-5 2 Ag 304 Re Coleraine 0702 C734656-5 603 Em Ballymena 0703 C653786-4 Po 102 Em Armagh 0704 E9C2645-4 Fl Rs A 204 Em Drogheda 0705 C6367BG-8 A 100 Re DUBLIN 0706 A657A8B-C 2 Hi Cp 133 Re Wicklow 0707 D661536-2 S Ni 405 Re Wexford 0708 E895686-6 Ag 102 Re Larne 0802 E524665-6 223 Em BELFAST 0803 A7449D9-C 2 Hi In 804 Em
One suggestion was to do this using Irish names. In my opinion, these are too long to fit on the map, so I just present the data here. You might try for yourself if you think you can make a pretty map of this.
An Clochán 0106 E635420-3 Ni 213 Re An Daingean 0109 B579444-7 Ni 214 Re Cathair na Mart 0205 B432578-A N Ni Po 220 Re Trá Lí 0208 C74A630-7 Wa 223 Re Beanntraí 0209 C000512-B S As Ni 103 Re Béal an Átha 0304 C0006AA-7 As Na 114 Re Caisleán an Bharraigh 0305 E585662-2 Ag Ri 123 Re Gaillimh 0306 C66979A-6 S Ri 300 Re Inis 0307 B76A685-7 Ri Wa 301 Re Cloich na Coillte 0310 EA7A501-A Ni Wa 104 Re Dún na nGall 0403 E300454-7 Ni Va 414 Re Baile Locha Riach 0406 C589567-5 S Ni 224 Re Luimneach 0407 C888873-6 Ri A 124 Re Mala 0408 D529300-8 Lo Ni 412 Re Corcaigh 0409 B310889-B N Na 224 Re An Srath Bán 0503 C577634-7 Ag 223 Em Inis Ceithleann 0504 D440688-6 S De Po 124 Em An Longfort 0505 D774656-5 S Ag 123 Re Athlone 0506 C767611-3 Ag 124 Re Baile Átha Luain 0508 C310666-9 S Na 224 Re Eochaill 0509 E433553-5 Ni Po 234 Re Doire 0602 CABA89C-5 Fl Wa A 323 Em An Ómaigh 0603 B42069A-7 2 De Na Po 223 Em An Muileann gCearr 0605 B56867A-8 Ag Ri 213 Re Port Laoise 0606 C796631-3 S Ag 125 Re Cill Chainnigh 0607 C84979A-4 110 Re Port Láirge 0608 B644767-5 2 Ag 304 Re Cúil Raithin 0702 C734656-5 603 Em An Baile Meánach 0703 C653786-4 Po 102 Em Ard Mhacha 0704 E9C2645-4 Fl Rs A 204 Em Droichead Átha 0705 C6367BG-8 A 100 Re BAILE ÁTHA CLIATH 0706 A657A8B-C 2 Hi Cp 133 Re Cill Mhantáin 0707 D661536-2 S Ni 405 Re Loch gCarman 0708 E895686-6 Ag 102 Re Latharna 0802 E524665-6 223 Em BÉAL FEIRSTE 0803 A7449D9-C 2 Hi In 804 Em
Eire Subsector with UWPs and names in both languages. – pdf file
The idea for this was from a popular post on the facebook Zhodani Base page. This version is updated with a few ideas from the comments at facebook. So running an idea at facebook, before posting it at the base is quite useful. If You want to be able to influence the posts at the base, you should join the Zhodani Base facebook page.
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Subsector E of Pliabriebl sector
I found a new subsector at Traveller Map. I am sure it wasn’t there a few days ago. Now we can have a look at subsector E of Pliabriebl sector. There was no news about it at the Traveller Map blog (yet). If you look at the credits for this Sector, you can see that it is Marc Miller that has mapped this subsector.
The reason for mapping this subsector must be that in the very successful Kickstarter project for Traveller5 you will get your name “laser-carved on the alabaster cliffs overlooking the Sea of Mists on Ecalpemos (Pliabriebl 0411) after the crucial Battle of Shadows against the Black Fleets” if you invest $25 or more. I am also looking forward to reading more about the Shadows and the Black Fleets as well…
Subsector E of Pliabriebl sector – Created using post function at Traveller Map.
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Eire Subsector – Free pdf
This year’s St. Patrick’s Day Contest was the last one. Now I have put all ideas (by BeRKA, Randy, Friz and Facebook fans) for this ATU into one free pdf-file. I hope you find it fun and useful.
At least it is something that you can use for a special St. Patrick’s Day gaming session. Don’t forget to bring a few cans of Guinness!
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Merry X-Mas
Merry X-Mas. All contest entries of the 76 Patrons contest 2014 have now been posted.
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Origo Point Subsector
One of the more popular pages at the Zhodani Base is the Random Subsector Generator. With the help of the generator, some text editing and the post function at Traveller Maps I created this subsector.
I was inspired by Point Central from the Valérian Comic, Ambassador of the Shadows (and others). I thought it was an interesting idea with a place where different cultures could meet. Babylon-5 is a similar place. I was also inspired by the planet Rubanis from the Valérian comic Les Spectres d’Inverloch (and others). It was because of Rubanis that I decided to make Origo Point a planet.
Anqesaa 0912 A7A49AC-B N Fl Hi Cp 103 Qs Qalin 0914 B100799-9 N Na Va 223 Qs Sytenqar 0915 E665478-4 Ni 123 Qs Rekrob 0918 B6109EF-B N Hi In Na 122 Kr Ainkru 0919 E621423-8 Ni Po 423 Kr Ilqar 1012 D98A245-9 Lo Ni Wa 224 Qs Seronoq 1013 B4348A7-C 213 Qs Saqura 1014 C9A7266-5 Fl Lo Ni 300 Qs Eserakro 1018 A200720-D Na Va 710 Kr Sakry 1019 D841143-2 Lo Ni Po 333 Kr Ytikron 1020 E433878-3 Po 613 Kr Qudkado 1112 D868435-7 Ni 123 Qs Fareque 1114 A77979B-C N 103 Qs Insakra 1117 A4339DE-D N Hi Po Cp A 114 Kr Tedkrafa 1118 E745220-6 Lo Ni 303 Kr Wobbakru 1120 A9D9567-B Fl Ni 304 Kr Udqalus 1212 C9887CB-6 Ag 503 Qs Origo Point 1215 A625A77-F N Hi In Cp 103 Na Utikrux 1220 B500323-7 Lo Ni Va 022 Kr Bajuro 1311 A65649D-D Ni 411 Jl Corudja 1314 A999789-D N Cp 724 Jl Piririxus 1318 A78A98C-D N Hi Wa Cp 510 Px Bijesai 1412 B2109CD-C N Hi In Na 002 Jl Jokat 1413 E652664-2 Po 202 Jl Donalos 1415 X866000-0 Ba Lo Ni R 024 Na Udizazas 1416 X463000-0 Ba Lo Ni R 222 Na Erpax 1418 D000516-6 As Ni 323 Px Vetropexe 1419 C526455-6 Ni 412 Px Onsanpox 1420 A20089C-A N Na Va 113 Px Hedjalos 1511 E965100-7 Lo Ni 213 Jl Juselon 1513 E688210-3 Lo Ni 212 Jl Apmanini 1516 X647000-0 Ba Lo Ni R 014 Na Slapexane 1518 B677AEH-9 Hi In A 424 Px Trirupexur 1520 C646224-5 Lo Ni 111 Px Najonla 1611 C775551-5 Ag Ni A 611 Jl Rojule 1612 D100244-7 Lo Ni Va 614 Jl Mavejalia 1613 A5208B6-C N De Na Po 703 Jl Rajbilus 1614 C000326-8 As Lo Ni 412 Jl Nepsyx 1619 B899200-A N Lo Ni A 403 Px
This subsector is located in an ATU. The story is that this was a volume of space that was dominated by humans a long time ago. Donalos was the capital of the Donalosi Empire. The ruling class was lazy and let computers and robots run more and more of the administrative functions of their empire. The resistance finally came up with a plan to turn the robots against their masters by reprogramming them. A war that devastated the three central plants followed.
All trade in the Donalosi Empire collapsed. Planets had to manage on their own. One planet called Chorkos was a bit better at this. This was the planet that later became known as Origo Point.
Chorkos had a few advantages. One was that it had great engineering schools. Another one was its position in the Old Empire that meant that the small trade that still existed often passed Chorkus. Another advantage from its position was that they could salvage equipment, ships and records from the three central planets.
Now a few hundreds years after the war, a number of pocket empires has been founded. Four of them borders Origo Point. Origo Point is still strong enough to prevent any other power from dominating their planet. The diplomats of Origo Point has invited the other powers to form a sort of Galactic United Nations to promote trade and peace in the galaxy. All other powers has agreed to this idea, and agreed to guarantee the safety and independence of Origo Point.
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Draft and FASA style
When sending the results from the Random Subsector Generator to TravellerMap (to render the maps as pretty images instead of ascii or java) you can now chose Draft and FASA style for your generated map.
The Draft style is similar to the draft of the original Spinward Marches.
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Subsector from a Map
I have been asked how I made the maps of Lancaster and Chambersburg Subsectors. In this post I will describe how I did it.
(I have also done the same for Ireland. I work on a version of Denmark and south Sweden.)
First I find the area I want to map on Google Maps (or any other map). I zoom to the level I like. 10-20 towns (or places) in the area is about right. Make a screenshot of this.
I use a transparent subsector map that I have made using quickhex.
I use a good image editor that can handle layers. (I use GIMP, which is free.) Then I open my screenshot and place the transparent map on top of it as a layer. (I can move it a bit until I am happy where the towns are in the subsector.) This is what it could look like.
Now I know where all my main planets will go in the subsector.
Now open a good text editor. (I use Notepad++) I write down the name and hex of the main planets like this (for Chambersburg Subsector).
Thurmont 0517 Frederick 0519
These planets are in subsector E. I determine the offsets for the hex-numbers based on what subsector in the sector I want it to be.
When I have written all of my main planets like this, I zoom in on the map (at google) to find some additional backwater planets to add to the subsector. 20-35 worlds in a subsector works fine.
Then I will have something like this:
McConnellsburg 0115 Union Rock 0211 Shade Gap 0212 Burnt Bases 0213 Martinsburg 0218 Hager's World 0317 Charles' Planet 0320 Chambersburg 0414 Waynesboro 0416 Newburg 0513 Thurmont 0517 Frederick 0519 Newville 0612 Emmitsburg 0616 Carlisle 0713 Gettysburg 0716 Airy Rock 0719 Duncannon 0811 New Oxford 0815 Westminster 0817
Next step is to fill up the planets with dummy data.
This is something I do since I think it makes editing easier, and allows me to use the post function at Traveller Map before I am finished. It will give me an early view of what I am building. (With a good text-editor like Notetab++, it is possible to copy and paste columns of data.)
McConnellsburg 0115 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Union Rock 0211 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Shade Gap 0212 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Burnt Bases 0213 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Martinsburg 0218 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Hager's World 0317 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Charles' Planet 0320 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Chambersburg 0414 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Waynesboro 0416 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Newburg 0513 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Thurmont 0517 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Frederick 0519 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Newville 0612 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Emmitsburg 0616 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Carlisle 0713 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Gettysburg 0716 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Airy Rock 0719 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Duncannon 0811 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa New Oxford 0815 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Westminster 0817 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa
All worlds get the same UWP and a scout-base and an Amber Zone. I do this to make it easy to see that I have typed in everything correctly and make it easy to see any changes.
Then I use the post function at Traveller Map.
I copy and past my data into Sector Data. Then, select the correct Subsector. Click preview. It may look like this.
I know what everything in the UWP stands for, but I know that some Traveller players don’t. A description of the UWP can be found here or here or in the rules (e.g. CT Book-3).
First I usually edit the Size, Atmosphere, and Hydrographics numbers.
If I know something about a place then I can use that information.
If I don’t I usually click on the name on the place on Google Maps or look it up at Wikipedia and look at the images.
Is it a wet or dry place? Does it look polluted? I want to get a feel for the place. This is a very subjective process.
I think McConnellsburg look a bit average.
Mt Union (that I renamed to Union Rock) looks dry.
McConnellsburg 0115 E544200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Union Rock 0211 E100200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa
Repeat for all worlds. Remember the rules. A value cannot change more than plus/minus 5 from the previous value (for the first three after Starport). The most common result is that it doesn’t change, the next common result is that it just changes by 1 point etc. (Except if planet size is 0, then atm must be 0, and if atm is 0,1 or A+, then hydro will have a DM of -4.)
Don’t worry about getting it correct now. We will use a tool later that will help us correcting our errors.
Next we look at population, government and law-level.
For population the numbers from the traveller rules cannot be used. Then the population will be too small and there will never be any pop 8+ worlds.
I have used this table instead. (Just like the Traveller rules for population, this table is logarithmic.) I look up the population of the place, village town or city by clicking on it in Google Maps or looking it up in Wikipedia.
real population pop number <500 0 500 - 1k 1 1k - 2k 2 2k - 5k 3 5k - 10k 4 10k - 20k 5 20k - 50k 6 50k - 100k 7 100k - 200k 8 200k - 500k 9 >500k A
Just like the atmosphere and hydrographics value, the following values (government and law-lavel) should not change more than 5 from the previous. The same value again or just a small change should be most common.
Note that some government codes will have a special meaning that may be problematic. Then use another value.
The two that I find to be most problematic are:
Gov code 6 means that it is a colony and owned by another planet.
Gov code 7, means that the planet is balkanized.
Then pick a law level. Now the worlds should look something like this:
McConnellsburg 0115 E544223-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Union Rock 0211 E100344-7 S Ni A 123 Pa
Tech-level and starport are also quite subjective.
I look at the images of the town. What do I know about the town. Does it look hi-tech (Modern houses, new cars) or does it look low-tech (Old houses, tractors, horses).
Is the town on an important road? Then the world is probably on the same important space-route. That will also increase the tech-level.
Is there a maximum tech-level. Reserve that for the best high population worlds.
If the population is 0, then tech-level is 0.
A good starport may indicate that the world is important. If it is on a route, it should have a better starport so that it at least can sell refined fuel. (starport C).
If the population is 0, then starport is usually X.
Also note that according to the rules some things affect the tech-level. A good starport, high population and un-breathable atmospheres means a higher tech-level. With a religious dictatorship the tech-level is lower.
Set a tech-level. Don’t worry if it is not correct according to the rules. We will correct it later.
Now, the six first world of Chambersburg subsector looks like this:
McConnellsburg 0115 E544223-3 S Ni A 123 Pa Union Rock 0211 E100344-5 S Ni A 123 Pa Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 S Ni A 123 Pa Burnt Bases 0213 X200000-0 S Ni A 123 Pa Martinsburg 0218 C433547-6 S Ni A 123 Pa Hager's World 0317 C766689-8 S Ni A 123 Pa
Look in the rules for the rules for bases. Put Naval Base only on A and B starport worlds. No Scout Base on E and X starport worlds. (Most likely on D least likely on A.)
Put bases where they are needed, but try to follow the rules.
Example form Chambersburg Subsector:
Hager's World 0317 C766689-8 S Ni A 123 Pa Charles' Planet 0320 D665455-5 Ni A 123 Pa Chambersburg 0414 B767687-A N Ni A 123 Pa
Zones, where to add them? The rules are unclear about this. I like to add some zones in a sub-sector since it makes it more colourful. (Somehow, it also inspires me to write adventures.)
I put automatic Red Zones on all starport X and population 0 worlds. Does another world need a Red Zone? Have I read (in Wikipedia or in the news) anything bad about that Town? Do I need a Red Zone for my adventure? (A secret, or a plague, or a war.)
I put Amber Zones on some worlds that need that for various reasons. In Lancaster Subsector I have three.
Two of these worlds was in scenarios in Season-1 of the adventures of starship Notorious. Hampstead is Amber Zoned since it has a bug that shouldn’t be to spread to other planets. Intercourse is low tech world rules by a religious cult.
In Season-2, the crew will visit Intercourse again, but will also visit the third Amber Zone in the Subsector. Hershay is balkanized and there are small-scale conflicts (over chocolate.)
Example from Chambersburg Subsector:
Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 Ni R 123 Pa Burnt Bases 0213 X200000-0 Ni R 123 Pa Martinsburg 0218 C433547-6 Ni 123 Pa Hager's World 0317 C766689-8 S Ni 123 Pa Charles' Planet 0320 D665455-5 Ni 123 Pa Chambersburg 0414 B767687-A N Ni 123 Pa Waynesboro 0416 D344521-3 Ni A 123 Pa
A final touch before using the post tool again is to add the Trade Code “Cp” to the Capital. (It will make the name of the world red.)
Chambersburg 0414 B767687-A N Ni Cp 123 Pa
Now use the post tool (using Scale 64) to see what the subsector looks like.
The PBG code at the end of the line represent a Population modifier, number of Belts, and number of Gas-giants.
The population modifier is a number that the base population should be multiplied with. Random numbers could be used, but that will break Benford’s Law. Using logarithmic random number would be better. But the best thing would be to use the real population numbers of the town and apply them logarithmically.
Confused? Lets say that the population is between 10k and 20k. We have already assigned this as a pop-5 world.
If the population is right in the middle (here ~15k), then the modifier should be 3. If the population is one-third from the lower value (here ~13k), then the modifier should be 2. If the population is one-third from the higher value (here ~17k), then the modifier should be 5. Then extrapolate, or do the maths.
The only exception, a population of 0 should have a modifier of 0.
For belts there are a number of rules. Some are very time-consuming. Adding 1-3 belts is fine. Is more or less needed for my adventure? Then, I use that number.
For gas-giants, the rules say that 1/6 of the systems should not have a gas-giant. To make the subsector interesting, try to figure out where there should not be any gas-giants. Where it should be expensive to refuel, etc. For the other worlds 1-4 gas-giants is fine.
For allegiance code. Use two (or four) letters that represent the political entity that the world belongs to.
Try the poster at Traveller Maps again. Now try using size 128.
Next thing to do is correcting codes and TL and other things that may be wrong according to the rules.
We now have a number of worlds that we know have the wrong trade code and maybe other errors as well.
Burnt Bases 0213 X200000-0 Va Ba R 030 Pa Martinsburg 0218 C433547-6 Ni Po 802 Sv Hager's World 0317 C766689-8 S Ga Ri Ni Ag 722 Md Charles' Planet 0320 D665455-5 Ni Ga Pa 102 Sv Chambersburg 0414 B767687-A N Cp Ni Ag Ga Ri 112 Pa Waynesboro 0416 D344521-3 Ni Ag A 120 Pa
Now go to the Traveller Map Sector Data Checker.
To avoid confusion with too many errors, copy and paste one line at a time into the lint tool. Un-select, “Hide TL Errors”. Then click “Check”.
For Shade Gap I get an error like this:
Hint: Parsing as: SEC (Legacy) Warning: Missing code: Wa, line 1: Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 Ni R 012 Pa Warning: Missing code: Ba, line 1: Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 Ni R 012 Pa Warning: Extraneous code: Ni, line 1: Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 Ni R 012 Pa 0 errors, 3 warnings.
I correct by adding Wa and Ba and removing Ni.
I check again and get no errors found.
I repeat the procedure with every line until the subsector is error free.
Now we have an error-free subsector that looks good in the poster-tool, except that there are no routes or borders.
At the poster page, there is a field for Meta Data. That is what we will create now.
First we use the border maker.
Add the subsector and click calculate borders. (Try claim edges.) Click on the map to add additional hexes. Copy and save the metadata.
It could look something like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Sector>
<Borders>
<Border Allegiance="Md">0119 0218 0217 0317 0417 0517 0616 0717 0817 0718 0719 0618 0519 0419 0320 0319 0218 0119 </Border>
<Border Allegiance="Pa">0014 0115 0214 0213 0212 0211 0312 0412 0513 0612 0712 0811 0812 0813 0814 0815 0716 0615 0516 0416 0316 0216 0215 0115 0015 0014 </Border>
</Borders>
</Sector>
Now use the Route Maker.
Add the subsector. Click on the map to add some routes. Save the metadata, It could look something like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Sector>
<Routes>
<Route Start="0213" End="0513"/>
<Route Start="0713" End="0513"/>
<Route Start="0713" End="0716"/>
</Routes>
</Sector>
Now the metadata from routes and borders should be merged. Cut out the Borders section from the borders meta and paste that into the routes meta before the routes section. It will look something like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Sector>
<Borders>
<Border Allegiance="Md">0119 0218 0217 0317 0417 0517 0616 0717 0817 0718 0719 0618 0519 0419 0320 0319 0218 0119 </Border>
<Border Allegiance="Pa">0014 0115 0214 0213 0212 0211 0312 0412 0513 0612 0712 0811 0812 0813 0814 0815 0716 0615 0516 0416 0316 0216 0215 0115 0015 0014 </Border>
</Borders>
<Routes>
<Route Start="0213" End="0513"/>
<Route Start="0713" End="0513"/>
<Route Start="0713" End="0716"/>
</Routes>
</Sector>
Now try this in the poster function again and using the metadata. Does it look fine (except that borders and routes are gray)? If not, (it is easy to mess up borders) then redo the previous two steps.
The only thing that is left now is to assign colors to borders and routes.
Add a style sheet section before the borders section of the meta. In the style sheet section, specify the RGB colors for borders and routes. The final metadata will look something like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Sector>
<Stylesheet>
border.Pa { color: #000099; }
route.Pa{ color: #00CC00; }
border.Md{ color: #990000; }
route.Md{ color: #00CC00; }
</Stylesheet>
<Borders>
<Border Allegiance="Md">0017 0117 0217 0317 0417 0517 0616 0717 0817 0917 0918 0919 0920 0921 0821 0721 0621 0521 0421 0321 0221 0121 0021 0020 0019 0018 0017 </Border>
<Border Allegiance="Pa">0008 0109 0208 0309 0408 0508 0608 0709 0808 0909 0910 0911 0912 0913 0914 0915 0916 0816 0716 0615 0516 0416 0316 0216 0116 0016 0015 0014 0013 0012 0011 0010 0009 0008 </Border>
</Borders>
<Routes>
<Route Start="0912" End="0713"/>
<Route Start="0414" End="0713"/>
<Route Start="0414" End="0317"/>
<Route Start="0218" End="0317"/>
<Route Start="0519" End="0317"/>
<Route Start="0519" End="0621"/>
<Route Start="0218" End="0020"/>
</Routes>
</Sector>
Now we have a pretty map that could look like this:
Using some image editing (I use GIMP) I can make it look like this:
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Eire Subsector – Free pdf
This year’s St. Patrick’s Day Contest was the last one. Now I have put all ideas (by BeRKA, Randy, Friz and Facebook fans) for this ATU into one free pdf-file. I hope you find it fun and useful.
At least it is something that you can use for a special St. Patrick’s Day gaming session. Don’t forget to bring a few cans of Guinness! 
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Merry X-Mas
Merry X-Mas. All contest entries of the 76 Patrons contest 2014 have now been posted.
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Origo Point Subsector
One of the more popular pages at the Zhodani Base is the Random Subsector Generator. With the help of the generator, some text editing and the post function at Traveller Maps I created this subsector.
I was inspired by Point Central from the Valérian Comic, Ambassador of the Shadows (and others). I thought it was an interesting idea with a place where different cultures could meet. Babylon-5 is a similar place. I was also inspired by the planet Rubanis from the Valérian comic Les Spectres d’Inverloch (and others). It was because of Rubanis that I decided to make Origo Point a planet.
Anqesaa 0912 A7A49AC-B N Fl Hi Cp 103 Qs Qalin 0914 B100799-9 N Na Va 223 Qs Sytenqar 0915 E665478-4 Ni 123 Qs Rekrob 0918 B6109EF-B N Hi In Na 122 Kr Ainkru 0919 E621423-8 Ni Po 423 Kr Ilqar 1012 D98A245-9 Lo Ni Wa 224 Qs Seronoq 1013 B4348A7-C 213 Qs Saqura 1014 C9A7266-5 Fl Lo Ni 300 Qs Eserakro 1018 A200720-D Na Va 710 Kr Sakry 1019 D841143-2 Lo Ni Po 333 Kr Ytikron 1020 E433878-3 Po 613 Kr Qudkado 1112 D868435-7 Ni 123 Qs Fareque 1114 A77979B-C N 103 Qs Insakra 1117 A4339DE-D N Hi Po Cp A 114 Kr Tedkrafa 1118 E745220-6 Lo Ni 303 Kr Wobbakru 1120 A9D9567-B Fl Ni 304 Kr Udqalus 1212 C9887CB-6 Ag 503 Qs Origo Point 1215 A625A77-F N Hi In Cp 103 Na Utikrux 1220 B500323-7 Lo Ni Va 022 Kr Bajuro 1311 A65649D-D Ni 411 Jl Corudja 1314 A999789-D N Cp 724 Jl Piririxus 1318 A78A98C-D N Hi Wa Cp 510 Px Bijesai 1412 B2109CD-C N Hi In Na 002 Jl Jokat 1413 E652664-2 Po 202 Jl Donalos 1415 X866000-0 Ba Lo Ni R 024 Na Udizazas 1416 X463000-0 Ba Lo Ni R 222 Na Erpax 1418 D000516-6 As Ni 323 Px Vetropexe 1419 C526455-6 Ni 412 Px Onsanpox 1420 A20089C-A N Na Va 113 Px Hedjalos 1511 E965100-7 Lo Ni 213 Jl Juselon 1513 E688210-3 Lo Ni 212 Jl Apmanini 1516 X647000-0 Ba Lo Ni R 014 Na Slapexane 1518 B677AEH-9 Hi In A 424 Px Trirupexur 1520 C646224-5 Lo Ni 111 Px Najonla 1611 C775551-5 Ag Ni A 611 Jl Rojule 1612 D100244-7 Lo Ni Va 614 Jl Mavejalia 1613 A5208B6-C N De Na Po 703 Jl Rajbilus 1614 C000326-8 As Lo Ni 412 Jl Nepsyx 1619 B899200-A N Lo Ni A 403 Px
This subsector is located in an ATU. The story is that this was a volume of space that was dominated by humans a long time ago. Donalos was the capital of the Donalosi Empire. The ruling class was lazy and let computers and robots run more and more of the administrative functions of their empire. The resistance finally came up with a plan to turn the robots against their masters by reprogramming them. A war that devastated the three central plants followed.
All trade in the Donalosi Empire collapsed. Planets had to manage on their own. One planet called Chorkos was a bit better at this. This was the planet that later became known as Origo Point.
Chorkos had a few advantages. One was that it had great engineering schools. Another one was its position in the Old Empire that meant that the small trade that still existed often passed Chorkus. Another advantage from its position was that they could salvage equipment, ships and records from the three central planets.
Now a few hundreds years after the war, a number of pocket empires has been founded. Four of them borders Origo Point. Origo Point is still strong enough to prevent any other power from dominating their planet. The diplomats of Origo Point has invited the other powers to form a sort of Galactic United Nations to promote trade and peace in the galaxy. All other powers has agreed to this idea, and agreed to guarantee the safety and independence of Origo Point.
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Draft and FASA style
When sending the results from the Random Subsector Generator to TravellerMap (to render the maps as pretty images instead of ascii or java) you can now chose Draft and FASA style for your generated map.
The Draft style is similar to the draft of the original Spinward Marches.
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Subsector from a Map
I have been asked how I made the maps of Lancaster and Chambersburg Subsectors. In this post I will describe how I did it.
(I have also done the same for Ireland. I work on a version of Denmark and south Sweden.)
First I find the area I want to map on Google Maps (or any other map). I zoom to the level I like. 10-20 towns (or places) in the area is about right. Make a screenshot of this.
I use a transparent subsector map that I have made using quickhex.
I use a good image editor that can handle layers. (I use GIMP, which is free.) Then I open my screenshot and place the transparent map on top of it as a layer. (I can move it a bit until I am happy where the towns are in the subsector.) This is what it could look like.
Now I know where all my main planets will go in the subsector.
Now open a good text editor. (I use Notepad++) I write down the name and hex of the main planets like this (for Chambersburg Subsector).
Thurmont 0517 Frederick 0519
These planets are in subsector E. I determine the offsets for the hex-numbers based on what subsector in the sector I want it to be.
When I have written all of my main planets like this, I zoom in on the map (at google) to find some additional backwater planets to add to the subsector. 20-35 worlds in a subsector works fine.
Then I will have something like this:
McConnellsburg 0115 Union Rock 0211 Shade Gap 0212 Burnt Bases 0213 Martinsburg 0218 Hager's World 0317 Charles' Planet 0320 Chambersburg 0414 Waynesboro 0416 Newburg 0513 Thurmont 0517 Frederick 0519 Newville 0612 Emmitsburg 0616 Carlisle 0713 Gettysburg 0716 Airy Rock 0719 Duncannon 0811 New Oxford 0815 Westminster 0817
Next step is to fill up the planets with dummy data.
This is something I do since I think it makes editing easier, and allows me to use the post function at Traveller Map before I am finished. It will give me an early view of what I am building. (With a good text-editor like Notetab++, it is possible to copy and paste columns of data.)
McConnellsburg 0115 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Union Rock 0211 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Shade Gap 0212 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Burnt Bases 0213 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Martinsburg 0218 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Hager's World 0317 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Charles' Planet 0320 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Chambersburg 0414 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Waynesboro 0416 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Newburg 0513 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Thurmont 0517 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Frederick 0519 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Newville 0612 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Emmitsburg 0616 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Carlisle 0713 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Gettysburg 0716 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Airy Rock 0719 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Duncannon 0811 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa New Oxford 0815 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Westminster 0817 E200200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa
All worlds get the same UWP and a scout-base and an Amber Zone. I do this to make it easy to see that I have typed in everything correctly and make it easy to see any changes.
Then I use the post function at Traveller Map.
I copy and past my data into Sector Data. Then, select the correct Subsector. Click preview. It may look like this.
I know what everything in the UWP stands for, but I know that some Traveller players don’t. A description of the UWP can be found here or here or in the rules (e.g. CT Book-3).
First I usually edit the Size, Atmosphere, and Hydrographics numbers.
If I know something about a place then I can use that information.
If I don’t I usually click on the name on the place on Google Maps or look it up at Wikipedia and look at the images.
Is it a wet or dry place? Does it look polluted? I want to get a feel for the place. This is a very subjective process.
I think McConnellsburg look a bit average.
Mt Union (that I renamed to Union Rock) looks dry.
McConnellsburg 0115 E544200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Union Rock 0211 E100200-7 S Ni A 123 Pa
Repeat for all worlds. Remember the rules. A value cannot change more than plus/minus 5 from the previous value (for the first three after Starport). The most common result is that it doesn’t change, the next common result is that it just changes by 1 point etc. (Except if planet size is 0, then atm must be 0, and if atm is 0,1 or A+, then hydro will have a DM of -4.)
Don’t worry about getting it correct now. We will use a tool later that will help us correcting our errors.
Next we look at population, government and law-level.
For population the numbers from the traveller rules cannot be used. Then the population will be too small and there will never be any pop 8+ worlds.
I have used this table instead. (Just like the Traveller rules for population, this table is logarithmic.) I look up the population of the place, village town or city by clicking on it in Google Maps or looking it up in Wikipedia.
real population pop number <500 0 500 - 1k 1 1k - 2k 2 2k - 5k 3 5k - 10k 4 10k - 20k 5 20k - 50k 6 50k - 100k 7 100k - 200k 8 200k - 500k 9 >500k A
Just like the atmosphere and hydrographics value, the following values (government and law-lavel) should not change more than 5 from the previous. The same value again or just a small change should be most common.
Note that some government codes will have a special meaning that may be problematic. Then use another value.
The two that I find to be most problematic are:
Gov code 6 means that it is a colony and owned by another planet.
Gov code 7, means that the planet is balkanized.
Then pick a law level. Now the worlds should look something like this:
McConnellsburg 0115 E544223-7 S Ni A 123 Pa Union Rock 0211 E100344-7 S Ni A 123 Pa
Tech-level and starport are also quite subjective.
I look at the images of the town. What do I know about the town. Does it look hi-tech (Modern houses, new cars) or does it look low-tech (Old houses, tractors, horses).
Is the town on an important road? Then the world is probably on the same important space-route. That will also increase the tech-level.
Is there a maximum tech-level. Reserve that for the best high population worlds.
If the population is 0, then tech-level is 0.
A good starport may indicate that the world is important. If it is on a route, it should have a better starport so that it at least can sell refined fuel. (starport C).
If the population is 0, then starport is usually X.
Also note that according to the rules some things affect the tech-level. A good starport, high population and un-breathable atmospheres means a higher tech-level. With a religious dictatorship the tech-level is lower.
Set a tech-level. Don’t worry if it is not correct according to the rules. We will correct it later.
Now, the six first world of Chambersburg subsector looks like this:
McConnellsburg 0115 E544223-3 S Ni A 123 Pa Union Rock 0211 E100344-5 S Ni A 123 Pa Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 S Ni A 123 Pa Burnt Bases 0213 X200000-0 S Ni A 123 Pa Martinsburg 0218 C433547-6 S Ni A 123 Pa Hager's World 0317 C766689-8 S Ni A 123 Pa
Look in the rules for the rules for bases. Put Naval Base only on A and B starport worlds. No Scout Base on E and X starport worlds. (Most likely on D least likely on A.)
Put bases where they are needed, but try to follow the rules.
Example form Chambersburg Subsector:
Hager's World 0317 C766689-8 S Ni A 123 Pa Charles' Planet 0320 D665455-5 Ni A 123 Pa Chambersburg 0414 B767687-A N Ni A 123 Pa
Zones, where to add them? The rules are unclear about this. I like to add some zones in a sub-sector since it makes it more colourful. (Somehow, it also inspires me to write adventures.)
I put automatic Red Zones on all starport X and population 0 worlds. Does another world need a Red Zone? Have I read (in Wikipedia or in the news) anything bad about that Town? Do I need a Red Zone for my adventure? (A secret, or a plague, or a war.)
I put Amber Zones on some worlds that need that for various reasons. In Lancaster Subsector I have three.
Two of these worlds was in scenarios in Season-1 of the adventures of starship Notorious. Hampstead is Amber Zoned since it has a bug that shouldn’t be to spread to other planets. Intercourse is low tech world rules by a religious cult.
In Season-2, the crew will visit Intercourse again, but will also visit the third Amber Zone in the Subsector. Hershay is balkanized and there are small-scale conflicts (over chocolate.)
Example from Chambersburg Subsector:
Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 Ni R 123 Pa Burnt Bases 0213 X200000-0 Ni R 123 Pa Martinsburg 0218 C433547-6 Ni 123 Pa Hager's World 0317 C766689-8 S Ni 123 Pa Charles' Planet 0320 D665455-5 Ni 123 Pa Chambersburg 0414 B767687-A N Ni 123 Pa Waynesboro 0416 D344521-3 Ni A 123 Pa
A final touch before using the post tool again is to add the Trade Code “Cp” to the Capital. (It will make the name of the world red.)
Chambersburg 0414 B767687-A N Ni Cp 123 Pa
Now use the post tool (using Scale 64) to see what the subsector looks like.
The PBG code at the end of the line represent a Population modifier, number of Belts, and number of Gas-giants.
The population modifier is a number that the base population should be multiplied with. Random numbers could be used, but that will break Benford’s Law. Using logarithmic random number would be better. But the best thing would be to use the real population numbers of the town and apply them logarithmically.
Confused? Lets say that the population is between 10k and 20k. We have already assigned this as a pop-5 world.
If the population is right in the middle (here ~15k), then the modifier should be 3. If the population is one-third from the lower value (here ~13k), then the modifier should be 2. If the population is one-third from the higher value (here ~17k), then the modifier should be 5. Then extrapolate, or do the maths.
The only exception, a population of 0 should have a modifier of 0.
For belts there are a number of rules. Some are very time-consuming. Adding 1-3 belts is fine. Is more or less needed for my adventure? Then, I use that number.
For gas-giants, the rules say that 1/6 of the systems should not have a gas-giant. To make the subsector interesting, try to figure out where there should not be any gas-giants. Where it should be expensive to refuel, etc. For the other worlds 1-4 gas-giants is fine.
For allegiance code. Use two (or four) letters that represent the political entity that the world belongs to.
Try the poster at Traveller Maps again. Now try using size 128.
Next thing to do is correcting codes and TL and other things that may be wrong according to the rules.
We now have a number of worlds that we know have the wrong trade code and maybe other errors as well.
Burnt Bases 0213 X200000-0 Va Ba R 030 Pa Martinsburg 0218 C433547-6 Ni Po 802 Sv Hager's World 0317 C766689-8 S Ga Ri Ni Ag 722 Md Charles' Planet 0320 D665455-5 Ni Ga Pa 102 Sv Chambersburg 0414 B767687-A N Cp Ni Ag Ga Ri 112 Pa Waynesboro 0416 D344521-3 Ni Ag A 120 Pa
Now go to the Traveller Map Sector Data Checker.
To avoid confusion with too many errors, copy and paste one line at a time into the lint tool. Un-select, “Hide TL Errors”. Then click “Check”.
For Shade Gap I get an error like this:
Hint: Parsing as: SEC (Legacy) Warning: Missing code: Wa, line 1: Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 Ni R 012 Pa Warning: Missing code: Ba, line 1: Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 Ni R 012 Pa Warning: Extraneous code: Ni, line 1: Shade Gap 0212 X89A000-0 Ni R 012 Pa 0 errors, 3 warnings.
I correct by adding Wa and Ba and removing Ni.
I check again and get no errors found.
I repeat the procedure with every line until the subsector is error free.
Now we have an error-free subsector that looks good in the poster-tool, except that there are no routes or borders.
At the poster page, there is a field for Meta Data. That is what we will create now.
First we use the border maker.
Add the subsector and click calculate borders. (Try claim edges.) Click on the map to add additional hexes. Copy and save the metadata.
It could look something like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Sector>
<Borders>
<Border Allegiance="Md">0119 0218 0217 0317 0417 0517 0616 0717 0817 0718 0719 0618 0519 0419 0320 0319 0218 0119 </Border>
<Border Allegiance="Pa">0014 0115 0214 0213 0212 0211 0312 0412 0513 0612 0712 0811 0812 0813 0814 0815 0716 0615 0516 0416 0316 0216 0215 0115 0015 0014 </Border>
</Borders>
</Sector>
Now use the Route Maker.
Add the subsector. Click on the map to add some routes. Save the metadata, It could look something like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Sector>
<Routes>
<Route Start="0213" End="0513"/>
<Route Start="0713" End="0513"/>
<Route Start="0713" End="0716"/>
</Routes>
</Sector>
Now the metadata from routes and borders should be merged. Cut out the Borders section from the borders meta and paste that into the routes meta before the routes section. It will look something like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Sector>
<Borders>
<Border Allegiance="Md">0119 0218 0217 0317 0417 0517 0616 0717 0817 0718 0719 0618 0519 0419 0320 0319 0218 0119 </Border>
<Border Allegiance="Pa">0014 0115 0214 0213 0212 0211 0312 0412 0513 0612 0712 0811 0812 0813 0814 0815 0716 0615 0516 0416 0316 0216 0215 0115 0015 0014 </Border>
</Borders>
<Routes>
<Route Start="0213" End="0513"/>
<Route Start="0713" End="0513"/>
<Route Start="0713" End="0716"/>
</Routes>
</Sector>
Now try this in the poster function again and using the metadata. Does it look fine (except that borders and routes are gray)? If not, (it is easy to mess up borders) then redo the previous two steps.
The only thing that is left now is to assign colors to borders and routes.
Add a style sheet section before the borders section of the meta. In the style sheet section, specify the RGB colors for borders and routes. The final metadata will look something like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Sector>
<Stylesheet>
border.Pa { color: #000099; }
route.Pa{ color: #00CC00; }
border.Md{ color: #990000; }
route.Md{ color: #00CC00; }
</Stylesheet>
<Borders>
<Border Allegiance="Md">0017 0117 0217 0317 0417 0517 0616 0717 0817 0917 0918 0919 0920 0921 0821 0721 0621 0521 0421 0321 0221 0121 0021 0020 0019 0018 0017 </Border>
<Border Allegiance="Pa">0008 0109 0208 0309 0408 0508 0608 0709 0808 0909 0910 0911 0912 0913 0914 0915 0916 0816 0716 0615 0516 0416 0316 0216 0116 0016 0015 0014 0013 0012 0011 0010 0009 0008 </Border>
</Borders>
<Routes>
<Route Start="0912" End="0713"/>
<Route Start="0414" End="0713"/>
<Route Start="0414" End="0317"/>
<Route Start="0218" End="0317"/>
<Route Start="0519" End="0317"/>
<Route Start="0519" End="0621"/>
<Route Start="0218" End="0020"/>
</Routes>
</Sector>
Now we have a pretty map that could look like this:
Using some image editing (I use GIMP) I can make it look like this:
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Florensa Subsector
One of the more popular pages at the Zhodani Base is the Random Subsector Generator. With the help of the generator, some text editing and the post function at Traveller Maps and some editing using Gimp, I created this subsector.
I made this subsector to try out the region xml-tag that is used at TravellerMap for nebulas. But then I liked the subsector that I have made, so I decided to make it prettier using an image of a real nebula.
The Florensa Nebula is in the center of the subsector. This nebula is a navigational hazard. (Add +2 for misjump to/from Florensa and +1 for misjump to/from any of the six surrounding hexes.)
Three interstellar powers are present in the subsector. The Portuna Federation, the Caponiana Free State, and the Elekto Zardom.
All three interstellar powers have signed an agreement that have defined the Florensa Nebula as a space preserve. No ships are allowed to go there except for scientific missions.
Short Write-Ups:
SILESTINA B6889BC-B
Silestina is the local capital of the Portuna Federation. Trade in illegal gems from the Florensa system has attracted lots of settlers. The planet is ruled by Duke Ostretto who is not very popular and that have risen the law-level to C to protect himself.
Florensa X000000-0
At Florensa there is a thin asteroid belt orbiting a neutron star at 80 AU. There are a few research stations in the belt. These stations observe the neutron star and the nebula. The stations are usually unmanned.
In some areas of the Nebula, there are lots of valuable minerals. It is possible to find gems like Diamonds or Sapphires. There are also noble metals like Platinum, Gold, Iridium, and Osmium. Some radioactive can also be found.
In a few locations in the nebula, 2000-year-old (non-human) mining equipment have been found. Due to micrometeorites and radiation, these doesn’t work anymore, but they seem to have been more advance than what any of the current interstellar powers can produce.
PALERIA B500964-B
Paleria is the local capital of the Caponiana Free State. Trade in illegal gold from the Florensa system has attracted lots of settlers. Paleria is controlled directly from Caponiana.
ARMIONA B000979-B
Armiona is working as some kind of local capital of the Elekto Zardom. Armiona is a huge asteroid belt and each asteroid have its own government. There is no central control. Trade in illegal radioactives from the Florensa system has attracted lots of settlers.
@SUB-SECTOR: Florensa SECTOR: Sadobi # #--------1---------2---------3---------4---------5------- #PlanetName Loc. UPP Code B Notes Z PBG Al #---------- ---- --------- - --------------- - --- -- Seelio 0107 E654564-6 Ag Ni 321 Pf Signes-3 0205 D100277-5 S Lo Ni Va 323 Pf Silestina 0206 B6889BC-B N Hi Cp 224 Pf Alkmesis 0208 C454775-8 S Ag A 122 Na Salora 0210 X000000-0 As Na R 325 Na Ekardina 0306 C878244-4 S Lo Ni 223 Pf Roxandory 0307 D510210-5 S Lo Ni 723 Pf Herlina 0310 X667000-0 Lo Ni R 324 Na Ornalda 0402 C100355-8 S Lo Ni Va 800 Ez Armenete 0408 D520646-2 De Na Po 513 Cf Irisek 0409 E634424-3 Ni 123 Cf Yurstea 0410 D797235-7 S Lo Ni 302 Cf Isaraston 0501 C000776-6 As Na 503 Ez Koronia 0503 C424110-A S Lo Ni 903 Ez Florensa 0505 X000000-0 As Ba Lo Ni R 000 Na Paleria 0508 B500964-B N Hi In Na Va Cp 132 Cf Ludoran 0510 E542425-2 Ni Po 723 Cf Frington 0601 X9B4000-0 Ba Fl Lo Ni R 024 Ez Annelope 0602 C110125-7 Lo Ni 124 Ez Armiona 0703 B000979-B As Hi In Na Cp 314 Ez Bavardina 0706 E524200-9 Lo Ni 813 Cf Euphelene 0707 B10065A-9 Na Va 223 Cf Restriam 0708 E69A665-8 Wa 624 Cf Rhodica 0709 X679000-0 Ba Lo Ni R 034 Cf Ullacin 0801 D210132-4 Lo Ni 122 Ez Harmula 0804 C649420-7 Ni 103 Ez Clorian 0809 D695330-3 S Lo Ni 811 Cf
Other Versions:
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Subsector SKA-1979
On this day (19 October 1979) , 40 years ago, the albums One Step Beyond… by Madness and the album The Specials by the Specials were released. (Read more here.) This is an ATU subsector map I made to celebrate this:
#--------1---------2---------3---------4---------5------- #PlanetName Loc. UPP Code B Notes Z PBG Al #---------- ---- --------- - --------------- - --- -- Bedders 0913 B788130-9 Lo Ni 134 Ll Buster 1015 B562595-6 S Ni 401 Na Dekker 0915 C472579-6 S Ni 120 Na Barso 1012 C642574-5 Ni Po 602 Ll Jerry 1017 A620463-9 2 De Ni Po 510 Ck Kix 1113 E566583-7 Ag Ni 205 Ll Roddy 1118 E320651-8 De Na Po 110 Ck Suggs 1414 A542134-8 N Lo Ni Po 403 Ll Chas 1214 E575200-3 Lo Ni A 102 Ll Neville 1218 C764567-8 Ag Ni 200 Ck Woody 1312 B986347-7 N Lo Ni 414 Ll Terry 1416 A366200-E N Lo Ni 110 Ck Lynval 1317 D568574-2 S Ag Ni 103 Ck Brad 1320 B588233-9 N Lo Ni 124 Ck Chrissy 1512 B542433-7 N Ni Po 602 Ll Horace 1517 B49A78A-D N Wa 704 Ck Dread 1615 X59A888-1 Wa R 804 Na
A Message to You, Rudy
Do the Dog
It's Up to You
Nite Klub
Doesn't Make It Alright
Concrete Jungle
Too Hot
Monkey Man
(Dawning of A) New Era
Blank Expression
Stupid Marriage
Too Much Too Young
Little Bitch
You're Wondering Now
One Step Beyond
My Girl
Night Boat to Cairo
Believe Me
Land of Hope and Glory
The Prince
Tarzan's Nuts
In The Middle of The Night
Bed and Breakfast Man
Razor Blade Alley
Swan Lake
Rockin' in A?
Mummy's Boy
Madness
Chipmunks Are Go!
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Subsector Generator Update
I have updated my Random Subsector Generator with a new “race“.
If you select Zork, you will get a subsector with planet names that are inspired by an intrepid space explorer in a very small ship (that usually crashes.)
I have used 1:st order Markov Chains to create the new names. (Higher order create too few names since we start with so few planets.)
From the comic, I also guess that the planets should be quite small and that the tech level is high. So without creating illegal values, I have added a small bias for this.
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