In response to metlay:
Oops...Yes I had forgotten about the light-bending properties of blackholes,
and with a spaceship that can move over a wide area, it is quite probable
that they would be detected fairly easily.
> ... The problem with the
> current star system generation tables is that if they reflected the true
> population distribution of stars in the primary galactic medium, they'd bore
> the average gamer to tears, because on a 3D6 table you'd need to roll a 3 or
> an 18 to get anything other than a red dwarf ... it's unreasonable to ask
> Traveller for a "more realistic" star system population distribution
Yes I agree, however I was not discussing changing the star generation process
(which I would have left on the star generation list), rather coming up
with a reason for the generation as listed. I did want a sub table to
generate other stellar phenomanon used perhaps once or twice per sector.
The rules (scouts) even mention adding supergiants in at a very low density
(1 per sector or so).
My main points are/were:
1) Stars not represented correctly (2D, too many non-dwarf, no black holes...)
a) Assume all stars are projected into a plane. to get 2D board
b) a large number of stars are not mapped (usualy dwarfs) because of no
bodies in the system for bases/fuel.
c) Resultant stars provide density and composition we get from the star
generation tables. (I have a good reason for 2D as well which I haven't
brought up).
d) Add in other interesting stellar objects at a rate of a few per sector
(I like a lot of black holes myself...but see first paragraph).
e) this results in no changes to the maps (execpt where you want to mark
other stellar objects), nor to any rules, it is just a method of
perceiving the traveller universe so that it approximates ours more closely
(after all we have already assumed a 2D universe)
2) Obervation techniques don't seem to match today's standards.
a) Correct me if I'm wrong as I havn't dug up my Zhodani alien module, but
I believe that in the core exploration rules, you only get to see an
area 2-3 parsecs ahead of you.
b) if you subscribe to (1) above, identifying good stars may that difficult.
c) if not, (I was probably exaggerating when I said we could see the entire
imperium from one location.) but even the near star map at 50 ly radius
represents a circle with a 30 parsec diameter, which is approximately a sector
(24x40 parsecs). That is with tech 8 ground based telescopes, a good TL 15
scout in space with no light noise sould get at least 4 sectors. (double range)
d) additionaly as an jump-capable observer can more easily calulate positions
by virtue of being able to observe from different points (from Leonard)
-Dan
BTW I haven't received any mail ([email removed]) complaining, so I will
continue this discussion on the list.
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