TRAVELLE.DOC

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                        TRAVELLER WORLD GENERATION.....
                                Version 2.3
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                          TRAVELLER WORLD GENERATOR


                                  VERSION 2.3

                          Copyright   :
                                       NOLLAIG O`hAIRTNEADA
                                                             1994.



                        Based on a game by GDW.



Background :
 This program was started December 1992 .The current version was revised
31/01/94 .
The program is based upon the World Generation System used in GDW`s
Traveller games ,mainly MegaTraveller. I assume it is compatiable with
Traveller-The New Era and the original Traveller ,though I`m not sure as I
do not have a copy of the current or original editions.

Any feed back will be helpful. See the end of the file for details.

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Instructions.

1.  Upon loading a requester will ask :
       Path - xxx
          Do you wish to change path ?

    [ where xxx indicates the path name + file name . ]
    This path is the path + filename for the saved planet.
    To change it answer 'y' and then ,at the prompt, enter
    your desired path.

 EG To save to the directory 'TRAV' on the C: drive as TRAV.TXT :

 c:\trav\trav.txt

 The path will be saved under TRAVELLER.DAT   .

 Note : to change path the current TRAVELLE directory must be write enabled.


2. Determining NATURE.
 This choice will determine the starport size probabilities.
 Note- in the current and later editions you can manually determine
 the starport type [ first seen in V 1.4 ].To do this enter 'y' at the prompt.

 Manually determining starports :
  You will be given a list of all starport types + their descriptions.
  To make your choice simply enter your choice at the prompt.
  If you enter an invalid starport you will be asked to enter again.

3. The computers bit.
 When either you or the computer have determined starport type the
 computer will then automatically process the rest of the data.
 In later versions it may be possible to manually determine them.
 It will determine :
 World Size       : between 1 and 10.
 Atmosphere       : the Atmos type. Between 1 and 15.
                    Value depends on World size.
 Hydrographics    : the "wetness" of a planet.  Again between 1 and 15.
                    Dependent on both world size and Atmos.
 Population       : the Pop of the planet.  Between 1 and 10.
 Government       : the Gov of the planet.  Dependant on population.
                    Between 1 and 15.
 Law              : law level.  Dependant on Gov.  Between 1 and 20.
 Technology Level : The relative technological advanceness of the planet.
                    dependant on all factors above.
                    Between 1 and 20.

 Most values are recorded in Hex form.
 Law + Tech are in DODecimal form. [ie between 1 and 20 :
 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J .]

 Trade Classifications :
  Ag -Agricultural produce.
  As -Asteroid.
  Ba -Barren.
  De -Desert.
  Fl -Fluid.
  Hi -High population.
  Ic -Ice Planet.
  Ind -Industrial.
  Lo -Low pop.
  Na - Nonagricultural.
  Ni - Non Industrial.
  Po -Poor planet.
  Ri -Rich planet.
  Va -Vacuum world.
  Wa -Water world.

 Pop Mod .:-the population modifier of the planet (in game terms).
 Gas Giants :-the number of gas giants in the system.
 Planetoid Belts :-The number of planetoid belts in the system.
 Travel Zone :-the relative safety of travelling in system :
  G - Green - safe.
  A - Amber - warning avoid if possible.
  R - Red   - Avoid at all costs.

  [ Based on the latest TAS sources.]
  [ TAS - Travellers Aid Society.]

 Bases :
  Naval base - The Imperial Navy has either a dock or a fully functional &
               developed sation complete with shipyards,planetary defence
               systems and patrol cruisers etc.

               Note : in non-human worlds ( and, indeed, non-Imperial
               human worlds, including, possibly, most worlds in TNE )
               the Navy will be NON IMPERIAL .

  Scout base - Either a waystation or a large survey base of the Imperial
               Scout Service.Both include docks for imperial scouts and
               the, most likely, a mail service.
               ( Again may be Non-Imperial. See note under Naval Base. )


  Non military base - Probably a commercial centre or research
               centre. May include orbital stations as well as ground
               based activity.


4.  Your Inputs :
    Once all that has been processed you will be asked to name the planet.
    To do this just type in the name (13 characters or less) at
    the prompt.

    Once named you have to determine the Hex Location of the system.
    If using TRAVELLER or MEGATRAVELLER simply pick an occupied but
    non-detailed Hex and enter it's value. [Eg: use the map in the
    Boxed MegaTraveller game as an example .]
    If you are not using TRAVELLER or MEGATRAVELLER then make one up, or
    use one based upon the system you are using the output for.

5.  UNIVERSAL WORLD PROFILE. [ UWP ]

    This is the standard way of displaying data in TRAVELLER.
    The standard for worlds is given below + an explanation of
    what each character means.


    1           2   3456789 10 11   12           13-16

    Earth     00000 A768A7B-E A  M Hi Ind Na Ri Wa 241G


    1.Name of the planet.
    2.It's Hex Location.
    3.Starport size.
    4.World Size.
    5.Atmosphere.
    6.Hydrographics.
    7.Population.
    8.Government.
    9.Law level.
    10.Tech level.
    11. Bases :
        A -Both Naval and Scout present.
        N -Naval only.(excludes non-military.)
        S.-Scout only. ( ditto ).
        M -Non-military.

    12.Trade Classifications.
       Recorded codes are present and applicable.
    13.Population Modifier.
    14.Gas Giants.
    15.Planetoid Belts.
    16.Travel Zone.


 6.Saved File.
  The computer wil write to the designated path/file the following details :

  Starport
  World Size
  Atmosphere
  Hydrographics.
  Population.
  Government.
  Law Level.
  Technology Level.
  Presence of bases.

  Trade Classifications.
  Population Multiplier.
  Gas Giants.
  Planetoid Belts.
  Travel Zone.

  Universal World Profile.


 7. The End.
  And that's it....

 8. Problem Solving, sort of....
   What if the program doesn`t work ?
    Firstly make sure the two TPU files are present.
    I`m not sure if they`re necessary but it usually won`t work without them.
    The above note is only applicable to certain computers in certain
    labs of a certain University...
    Secondly make sure TRAVELLE.DAT is writeable to.
    If in doubt copy all files to the C: or D: drives and run from there.
    Thirdly....well I can`t think of another obvious problem, yet.
    Though it is a good point to make sure your machine is turned on ( most
    programs don`t run otherwise.....) that it`s a PC ( An Amiga wont accept
    such bad assembly ) and that you`re alive. Its hard to run programs
    otherwise.

 9.Notes + Appendix.
   The system is meant to be used with the TRAVELER or the MEGATRAVELLER
   RPGS by GDW but with a little work can be converted to any other game.

   Note : I have yet to see a copy of The New Era rulebook so I have
   no idea if it is compatable. It should be but.....

   Future versions should include manual manipulation of all data.
   Another version being worked on includes the MEGATRAVELLER
   system generation to generate whole solar sytems + The 2300 AD
   system generator doing the same thing in a more complicated way.
   [ Note still under work.....
    Most of my time was taking up writing a Star Trek RPG ]
   [ Note 2: on hold as I`m converting the program into C and then onto
   the AMIGA. ]

   Anyone with any ideas for future programs : Character Generation,
   different RPG systems etc... ?

   [ New Note :
        Due to projects exams etc... no new work has been done..
        I am currently designing a traveller general thingy
        which should include character Generation, Planet/Colony
        generation and System generation. ]
   [ New Note 2 :
        Again been put on hold until I purchase TNE rulebook...]

   If you have any suggestions ,spot any bugs etc then contact me,
   either in person (almost all term in the CA lab) or by network-

                     [email removed]
    This email address is correct at time of writing ( 24 Feb 1995 )

   NOTE : CHANGES THROUGH THE VERSIONS :

     VERSION 1.0 : The basis for the program. Only input was the
                   NATURE of the system. No GRAPHIC Frills.

     VERSION 1.1 : The HEX bug was allegedly fixed. This bug kept returning
                   the wrong ASCII value for the DODecimal values.
                   Somehow HYDRO`s Hex value slipped through undetected.

     VERSION 1.2 : Another Bug, which caused the output file to
                   occasionally be cut in half, was fixed.

     VERSION 1.3 : The option to change save paths was added.

     VERSION 1.4 : The user was allowed to manually determine STARPORT
                   type. TRAVELLE.DOC was updated.

     VERSION 2.0 : The "GRAPHICS" were added. This changed the look from
                   the DOS screen to the Multi-Coloured mess you now
                   load.

     VERSION 2.1 : One or two more niggles were ironed out.
                   These were mainly to do with Y/N options and got rid
                   of one or two loopholes.

     VERSION 2.2 : Introduced a CREDIT / INTRODUCTIONs page.
                   Also Hydrographic`s Hex formula was corrected.
                   TRAVELLE.DOC was updated again.
                   [ 30/11/93 ]

     VERSION 2.3 : Another Bug was found and shot. This one kept messing
                   up the manual input for the Strport Type.
                   TRAVELLE.DOC was once again updated.
                   [ 31/01/94 ].
                   [ Current Version .]

    FEBRUARY 1995 : Posting it on the net...

                   No copies of the back versions are known to exist.
                   I have not kept any copies. So don`t bug me for them.
   [ Note : I found a copy of version 1.4 on floppy !!!!!!!!
     Will be kept for sentimental sake only, so don't bug me.]

   [ Written in PASCAL. Source code may be available if I`m in a good mood. ]

   This Program is COPYRIGHT 1995 NOLLAIG O`hAIRTNEADA.
   The material used within is based upon the World Generation System
   of MEGA TRAVELLER ,which is Copyright of GDW ( I think ) .
   The use of this material is not intended as a challenge to their copyright.
   This program may be distributed freely as long as all 3 files are provided:
              TRAVELLE.EXE
              TRAVELLE.DAT
              TRAVELLE.DOC [ This file ] .

   Originally distributed Virus free.
   I accept no responsibility for any virus found with the program.
   The program should work, but in the [un]likely event that it doesn`t
   I accept no responsibility for any damage done whatsoever.
     So, for example, if you`re running this program in Iceland
   and it causes your computer to crash, resulting in your fuse box blowing
   which in turn causes a nearby transformer to explode causing a semi-dormat
   volcano to erupt and thus destroying all of Iceland, I cannot be
   blamed. So there............

   The RAPIER
      aka
   Nollaig O`hAirtneada '95.