Re: 3D mapping

From Bruce Pihlamae ...
>Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 08:35:33 +1000
>From: [email removed]
>Subject: Re: 3D Mapping
>
>
>3D mapping was discussed some time ago and somebody then pointed
>out that the 2D Traveller maps just weren't showing all systems
>but just the interesting ones.
>

  This has been my interpretation, too.  Keeps it simple so you
can spend more time adventuring.

  From what little I remember about stellar statistical distributions
the vast majority of stars are red dwarfs that have little or no
adventuring value in Traveller.  That and darker matter are what make
the jump calculations so difficult.

  Can anyone on top of matter distribution suggest a gaming reason
to include these systems in an adventure?


>If you take the 2D map in this light then you can treat JUMP
>drive as a 2D mechanism.  I tinkered with this idea back then
>and came up with some basic assumptions.
>
>The Traveller 2D maps are simply a 3D universe squashed flat and
>only showing interesting systems.
>
>A JUMP can only travel it's JUMP rating in 2D but in the 3D
>universe the source and destination may also be vast distances
>apart in a vertical direction.  This vertical distance does NOT
>affect the 2D distance that can be travelled.

  Good explanation as any!  Does anyone think it'll affect any
game mechanics or history?


Keith Thoms

- ---- Is it a rule that there is an exception to every rule?