Official World Maps

[MikeinBallard]

It takes most of an afternoon to get one planet done to my tastes (terrain/greenery/desert blending, coastal waters, etc.). If I want to get the nightside lights correct, that's the evening; pun intended.

 

[Hyphen]

"And it was the evening and the morning; and that was the first day."

(While else is one of the foremost system generators entitled "Heaven and Earth"???

<g, d & r>

 

[Hyphen]

'Course, the next thing in this thread is for someone to ask for a list of all the UNOFFICIAL world maps...

 

[DickNervous]

'Course, the next thing in this thread is for someone to ask for a list of all the UNOFFICIAL world maps...

Well, since you brought it up.....

 

[Aramais]

That would be "get it published by an OTU publisher with Marc's approval". At the moment, that means FFE or Mongoose for all practical purposes.

Don't forget Greylock...I haven't used it yet, but I still have a license.

 

[Aramais]

I don't have any investment in the map of Dyrnwyn (I didn't have anything to do with any of the maps, except one, which had all my work ignored, and was flipped 180 degrees and used for a different world. I still feel badly about that.)

But, anyway, no personal investment even if it was in GT: Sword Worlds. But I feel that an extremely good reason is needed to ignore canon of which you are aware. Not just that the new version is a bit better; it has to be a quantum leap better. Otherwise it's not worth the disruption it introduces.

(Note: It's different if the old version is flawed. In such a case it should be changed to eliminate the flaw as quickly as possible.)


Hans

Well, my reasoning was multifactored.

First and foremost, I have permission to note details from GURPS products (and did). However, I did not seek permission to specifically re-use art, including maps. With due respect, it took me a number of communications to get the first level of permission.

Second, I felt that the map provided did not provide for a likelihood of an environment earthlike on the sunward side, frozen on the other. AT the same time, I had become aware of some interesting research findings on heat currents in the oceans of Earth, and how they factor into climate control. I made a semi-educated guess about what might work to give the environment suggested by the remainder of the text and information. Into this, I considered the likelihood (based on statements in several sources) that Grandfather or other Ancients fiddled with this planet, as well as others in the Sword World area.

I considered all of that more than sufficient.

Despite this, I then made CLEAR in the text that another map was available (well, I think I did -- I'm never sure about what I may have cut in the last savage effort to keep it within the page count), leaving the option there. GURPS users were/are not required to accept my map over the map in SW.

Note that this was a decision I did not make lightly. I was advised by an absolutely unimpeachable Canon adviser that GURPS SW was a credible source on the Sword Worlds as a whole.

 

[rancke]

Second, I felt that the map provided did not provide for a likelihood of an environment earthlike on the sunward side, frozen on the other.

Odd. Paul consulted with a professional astronomer about the world writeups. But I suppose professional astronomers make mistakes too.

AT the same time, I had become aware of some interesting research findings on heat currents in the oceans of Earth, and how they factor into climate control. I made a semi-educated guess about what might work to give the environment suggested by the remainder of the text and information. Into this, I considered the likelihood (based on statements in several sources) that Grandfather or other Ancients fiddled with this planet, as well as others in the Sword World area.

I considered all of that more than sufficient.

That's all right as far as it goes (Note that I'm not qualified to judge if you are right about the flaws, but if you are, changing the map was the right thing to do). It falls under the case I noted for changing flawed canon. But it should include an explicit decanonization of the bit that is being fixed. To have two different canon maps of the same place is just messy.


Hans

 

[aramis]

Don't forget Greylock...I haven't used it yet, but I still have a license.

I thought Circque was in the OTU...

 

[Aramais]

I thought Circque was in the OTU...

It is. I miswrote my intention, which is that Greylock remains authorized to publish further material.

 

[Aramais]

Odd. Paul consulted with a professional astronomer about the world writeups. But I suppose professional astronomers make mistakes too.


That's all right as far as it goes (Note that I'm not qualified to judge if you are right about the flaws, but if you are, changing the map was the right thing to do). It falls under the case I noted for changing flawed canon. But it should include an explicit decanonization of the bit that is being fixed. To have two different canon maps of the same place is just messy.


Hans

Well, Hans, I will never satisfy your criteria for mapping...we had similar discussions over my map of Regina for Imperiallines, on which we differed about things I omitted, deserts with slightly different borders, etc. I'm just going to be philosophical about our disagreement on my overall rationales for decisions made.

 

[Aramais]

It is. I miswrote my intention, which is that Greylock remains authorized to publish further material.

Yes, I will consider submissions for Traveller material. My license is for T5, so all material must be consistent with T5 background and mechanics.

 

[rancke]

Well, Hans, I will never satisfy your criteria for mapping... we had similar discussions over my map of Regina for Imperiallines, on which we differed about things I omitted, deserts with slightly different borders, etc.

No, we didn't have a similar discussion about your map of Regina. This one is about deliberately changing a map (or any other piece of canon) to something entirely different. The one about the map Regina seemed to be about making small changes and not feeling that it mattered.

See, I do think a hex more or less of desert and the location of a city matters. And I'm afraid I just can't be philosophical about our disagreement on that score.

The omissions are a different matter. I was trying to help you make your map the best possible game aid it could be, but if you feel the omissions improved it, then that is your call; that I can be philosophical about.


Hans

 

[Aramais]

No, we didn't have a similar discussion about your map of Regina. This one is about deliberately changing a map (or any other piece of canon) to something entirely different. The one about the map Regina seemed to be about making small changes and not feeling that it mattered.

See, I do think a hex more or less of desert and the location of a city matters. And I'm afraid I just can't be philosophical about our disagreement on that score.

The omissions are a different matter. I was trying to help you make your map the best possible game aid it could be, but if you feel the omissions improved it, then that is your call; that I can be philosophical about.


Hans

Rather than argue with you, I'm going to say, "Enjoy your views."

 

[Redcap]

Speaking of mapping, has anyone got the calculations to determine world hex sizes? I thought there was a formula, but I'm stuffed if I can find it!

 

[Redcap]

Apparently I had a brain the size of a peanut when I wrote the above. Basic geometry is the key, and a little maths (a calculator helps). D'oh.

Perimeter (circumference) of a circle (P) = π · D
where:
D is the diameter of the circle
π is Pi, approximately 3.142

Since there are 35 hexes along the middle line - the circumference - of the world map, it follows that the circumference, when divided by 35, equals how wide every hex on the map will be. Which brings us to the list below...

Thus, for each world size 0-C, the hex sizes in miles (you wanted it in kilometres?! Do your own conversions! ) are as follows:

Size = Circumference = Hex Size
1 = 3142 = 89.7
2 = 6284 = 179.5
3 = 9426 = 269.3
4 = 13648 = 389.9
5 = 15710 = 448.8
6 = 18852 = 538.6
7 = 21994 = 628.4
8 = 25136 = 718.2
9 = 28278 = 807.9
A = 31420 = 897.7
B = 34562 = 987.5
C = 37704 = 1077.3

I sincerely hope this helps another addle-minded nitwit fool like me at some point in the future

 

[atpollard]

I believe that T5 went with a uniform 500 km hex and a variable number of hexes per side of each triangle.

 

[Redcap]

Hmm. That would make at least 12 (twelve) different map sizes!

I can see the thinking behind it, mind, but seems a bit like swatting a fly with a tank, somehow

 

[atpollard]

Hmm. That would make at least 12 (twelve) different map sizes!

I can see the thinking behind it, mind, but seems a bit like swatting a fly with a tank, somehow

I saw the advantage the other way around ...
... once you get below the planetary map scale, the 500 km wide (one hex) regional map and 50 km wide local maps and 5 km wide encounter maps for an adventure can be easily re-located to any world as needed for an adventure.

 

[aramis]

Hmm. That would make at least 12 (twelve) different map sizes!

I can see the thinking behind it, mind, but seems a bit like swatting a fly with a tank, somehow

15, actually, as T5 accounts for worlds to size 15. Oh, and it has a size 18 for Gas Giants. (rolled size 10 is 9+1d6.)

Distribution

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

A 10

B 11

C 12

D 13

E 14

F 15

1/36

2/36

3/36

4/36

5/36

6/36

5/36

4/36

3/36

2/36

1/216

1/216

1/216

1/216

1/216

1/216

 

[Redcap]

15, actually, as T5 accounts for worlds to size 15. Oh, and it has a size 18 for Gas Giants. (rolled size 10 is 9+1d6.)

SNIP TABLE