Starless worlds

[HanleyTucks]

This got me thinking:

https://www.space.com/rogue-exoplanets-record-breaking-haul

Might there be some starless worlds we could our in our subsector maps? A starless terrestrial planet is unlikely to be settled, but a gas giant might have a fuelling station or two. Its very existence might be a military secret since it could be advantage in times of war.

Thoughts?

 

[Spinward Flow]

I refer you to the TravellerWiki page for ... Calibration Point ...

 

[aramis]

I refer you to the TravellerWiki page for ... Calibration Point ...

CT AM Solomani, as well.

 

[whulorigan]

This got me thinking:

https://www.space.com/rogue-exoplanets-record-breaking-haul

Might there be some starless worlds we could our in our subsector maps? A starless terrestrial planet is unlikely to be settled, but a gas giant might have a fuelling station or two. Its very existence might be a military secret since it could be advantage in times of war.

Thoughts?

In GT: Sword Worlds (p.78, 79 - Bryn Avgrunn Base) there is one: "Kolsvart" at Spinward Marches 1128 - a small sunless Gas Giant.

 

[Spinward Flow]

In GT: Sword Worlds (p.78, 79 - Bryn Avgrunn Base) there is one: "Kolsvart" at Spinward Marches 1128 - a small sunless Gas Giant.

Definitely nothing recorded on TravellerMap for that one.

However, for a Jump-1/2 polity, such a resource would very likely be a closely guarded military secret since it would provide access from Narsil, Anduril or Orcrist to either Enos or Caladbolg for a surprise movement of ships and/or troops (or even colonists heading to District 268 if it came to that for a land grab). Without intel about the Calibration Point at Spinward Marches 1128, Imperial forces monitoring the Sword Worlds would not be expecting such a flanking move could even be possible.

 

[Dragoner]

This is pretty cool map of bodies in between the stars: https://www.deviantart.com/thobewill/art/The-Centauri-Highway-738041408

For my setting, I have stations often around a rogue being used as an intermediate jump point, some are marked on the maps, some not, only listed.

 

[Spinward Flow]

Linking without comment.

 

[GypsyComet]

My assumption is that there is no need to place them on the official maps, because they are numerous, ubiquitous, hard to find, and mobile.

You wouldn't be rolling for *presence*; you would be rolling to *find* one of the many.

IMO, only survey class densitometers can find them with any ease, and those are BIG installations even at TL15.

 

[Spinward Flow]

My assumption is that there is no need to place them on the official maps, because they are numerous, ubiquitous, hard to find, and mobile.

Well ... mobile in the sense that all of the stars in the galaxy are mobile. Most (most...) rogue planets are not going to be moving parsecs per decade, so in terms of map hexes they ought to remain "relatively stationary" on maps (successful astrogation to them, however, is a very different problem).

Note that a "rich" population of Rogue Planets in the galaxy (real universe and/or Traveller universe) where they are relatively numerous would certainly give the Exploration and Survey branches of the IISS "something to do" internally within the borders of the Third Imperium so as to continue updating navigation maps to account for potential jump navigation hazards.

In other words, the IISS needs to chart more than just (mere) star systems and keep those surveys updated.



And then you get into the notion that some of those Rogue Planets either were and even possibly still are Ancient Bases (ala Twilight's Peak) that survived the War of the Ancients simply be virtue of relative obscurity (don't pop your head up and you won't draw fire kind of notion).

And just like that ... Boom ... Adventure Shot.

 

[GypsyComet]

Well ... mobile in the sense that all of the stars in the galaxy are mobile. Most (most...) rogue planets are not going to be moving parsecs per decade, so in terms of map hexes they ought to remain "relatively stationary" on maps (successful astrogation to them, however, is a very different problem).

Mobile enough that the position plots from a decade ago may not be useful. Full data from carefully kept Scout records will let you get close, but the Scouts likely won't guaranty plots for very long out of caution. One under-predicted gravitational influence on a rogue will pull it beyond a civilian ship's ability to figure out where it went. New rogues will replace one ones over time as they drift in or out of the optimal midway points between systems, gather pirate attention as a calibration point, or prove to be dangerous in some other way. Similarly, some "retired" calibration rogues will become hideaways since pirates and other sorts will feel that no one is likely to trip over them by accident.

Several adventure seeds occur just in that process.

 

[daryen]

Calibration points were all over TNE. In the Regency Sourcebook, many were marked on the map directly. In the 1248 Spinward States, two were promoted to "system" status because of their importance to the Imperial Regency.

Also, in CT AM 8 Darrians, the Darrians have a super-secret military base located on a wandering comet in an "empty" hex.

But, really, I just assume literally every hex on the map can have one or more rogue planets/asteroids/comets somewhere in them. Basically, the referee is pretty much open to put them where need to support their plot and setting.

 

[Fovean]

Nice to see this idea getting some traction. For years IMTU world-gen I’ve used a dice roll based on subsector density to sprinkle rogue planets and sub-stars around the map after the star systems were placed. Whether they were “known” or not was a different matter.

 

[Spinward Flow]

Perhaps a better way to think of it is that our subsector maps show where the STARS are located ... presumably with planetary systems around all of them.

As soon as you realize that there's more than just stars out there in space, the task of exploration and survey suddenly gets a whole lot more interesting ...

 

[Condottiere]

You set up a Motel Six and a gas station.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Perhaps a better way to think of it is that our subsector maps show where the STARS are located ... presumably with planetary systems around all of them.

As soon as you realize that there's more than just stars out there in space, the task of exploration and survey suddenly gets a whole lot more interesting ...

So do the maps. Which changes the strategic picture from that which established the OTU.

Well, other than making the Battle of Two Suns (mentioned in the backstory to Adv. 1) less implausible...

 

[Spinward Flow]

Well, other than making the Battle of Two Suns (mentioned in the backstory to Adv. 1) less implausible...

Good catch!

 

[Vargr Breath]

You might find a lot of ships that disappeared because of mis-jumps in orbits around these worlds.

 

[Straybow]

Mobile enough that the position plots from a decade ago may not be useful. Full data from carefully kept Scout records will let you get close, but the Scouts likely won't guaranty plots for very long out of caution. One under-predicted gravitational influence on a rogue will pull it beyond a civilian ship's ability to figure out where it went. New rogues will replace one ones over time as they drift in or out of the optimal midway points between systems, gather pirate attention as a calibration point, or prove to be dangerous in some other way. Similarly, some "retired" calibration rogues will become hideaways since pirates and other sorts will feel that no one is likely to trip over them by accident.

Several adventure seeds occur just in that process.

I'm certain any survey would include vector data. Most stars are only going a hundred or so km/s relative to neighbors, and while a few rogues could be going much faster that shouldn't matter. No gravitational influence light years from the nearest star could change the vector by so much that it couldn't be found a decade later. Anything close enough to do so would be detected by the same survey that found the rock or iceball in question.

 

[BwapTED]

I posted an inhabited rogue planet some time back.
I drew on a magazine artcile for the science behind the idea.

 

[Fireforge]

So we have wandering "Death Stars" floating between the planets without anyone having a claim upon their ownership? I do like the basic idea of a floating gas station. A mega corporation sets up a rest stop between an area of of long jump gaps, providing, at a premium price, fuel, food, and a place to stretch your legs. Of course, if your local or not so local free wheeling 'salvage' experts happen to be nearby to help you with your unplanned needs of saving yourselves from your damaged ship, well you can see how things can go from there. As to the straying of the rogue astronomical body, the universe should have the equivalent to a series of space buoys that can attract the attention of any nearby ships. This would allow for there to be the equivalent of salvage / towing vessels. Basically, the jump engines are huge in order to pull someone to the local repair bay. As to the refills, how about a hydrogen ram scoop ? In addition, the corporation sets up a couple of large versions of the x boats to shuttle back and forth with supplies and extra fuel. Not so much something for the players to operate, but makes for some fun set ups to create the cantina from Star Wars, or Rick's place from Casablanca, fill in your local watering hole's name here. Someplace that you might find those who are a bit out of luck, or to whom an accident left them separated from the ship they were travelling on. If you think of some of the modern hotel / motel chains, they have made many multi-millionaires from providing even basic services to those traveling to different destinations. As to the presence of other organizations, that is up to the landlord (GM). This could include some small companies building items with a high risk of causing major problems if something goes wrong on a planet's surface. Or a small naval outpost to help with pirate suppression. That is of course left to the fertile imagination of the GM and the players.