Randomized stellar density

[RogerD]

Slowly working on my new universe, and thinking about larger scale random generation. What do you think about this simple system?

Each subsector's density is determined by die roll:

Die Roll	Density
1	Rift
2	Sparse
3	Scattered
4	Standard
5	Dense
6	Cluster (and -1 to rolls for star type and size)
7	Core

where the die rolls are:

• For a subsector in the spiral arm (or spur): 1D
• For a subsector in the galactic disc but not in the spiral arm: 1D-2
• For a subsector in the galactic halo: 1D/2. +1 to rolls for star type and size
• For a subsector in the core or bars of a barred galaxy: 1D/2+4
• For a subsector in a globular cluster: 1D/2+4 and +1 to rolls for star type and size
• For a subsector in an elliptical galaxy: 1D-1
• Extragalactic space is always extragalactic.

For iconography, just draw 0-6 stars on the large scale map where 0 is rift and 6 is core and give the sector a name. Not sure how to distinguish extragalactic from rift, but it doesn't come up much, so probably just get it from context.

Thoughts?

 

[tjoneslo]

I've found the subsector is too small an area for these kinds of switches in stellar density. If, for example you end up rolling rift / dense / rift / dense for your four subsectors it seems like a little whiplash. I would prefer to start with a larger area, say a sector or domain (4 sectors), and roll the density. Then roll for the subsector density as D3-2 (for example) or 1D-3 and add the density of the overall area. So a dense sector may have thinner or denser areas, but won't have a completely empty subsector.

 

[Dragoner]

After mapping out from Earth/Sol to 15 parsecs, 521 systems, most of it is in some sort of mini-cluster it feels like.