The Third Dimension.
Okay, so I decided that since no one else would, I was going to devise a 3D
traveller universe. This would, mind you, use the same data, same politics,
etc., as normal traveller, but just sort of add some depth, if you will.
It's not perfect (I mean I made it up 10 hours ago), but I think it might
just have some promise.
Some minor rule changes would be required, if only to make wars, etc., work
out the same. FTL speed would be 30/Jump-n days per Pc, and standard jump
fuel would last a month. Oh, and there would be no more subsectors.
Distance between points is, of course [(x1-x2)^2+(y1-y2)^2+(z1-z2)^2]^(1/2).
If using a subsector grid, add 0.5 to all Y coordinates.
Okay, here it is:
Each sector is 8 Pc wide, 10 Pc long, and 16 Pc deep. Since ratios are the
same, relative position (sectors, that is) in standard maps is the same.
Coordinates have three digits (of course), ranging from 000 to 79F. If
desired, use a standard subsector grid, with the MT coordinates (0101, etc.)
being (0x0y), but adding one to x and y. Simply fill in all the filled
Z-levels in each hex (no room for starport type or name, I'm afraid).
To begin, each star in the standard MT form has a coordinate of (aabb), so
Mora/Mora would be 3142, so aa is 31 and bb is 34.
x=(aa-1)/4
y=(bb-1)/4
z=(x remainder) + 4(y remainder) IF Y IS EVEN.
z=(x remainder) + 4[3-(y-remainder)] IF Y IS ODD.
What this does is keep stars that are close to each other in a 2D universe
still close (within 4.25 Pc), though the problem is that stars which are
vertically adjacent in 2D will be 4 Pc apart a majority of the time.
Examples are:
Mora/Mora (3124) --> 752
Regina/Regina (1910) --> 426
Efate/Regina (1705) --> 41C
Darrian/Darrian (0627) --> 169
Chronor/Chronor (0304) --> 00E
The relative positions (in the spinward marches, anyway) for the first two
dimensions are pretty close.
Opinions?
-H