T-Rex and mastadons or equivalent

[Drakon]

Hmmm, typically, predators will tackle prey up to three times their size, but only if the prey cannot hit back too hard. Mastodons might not be that agreeable to the Agambi, as between trunk and tusks, they do pack a wallop, and if they act like current elephants, attacking one may lead to the entire herd counterattacking.

In their native habitat, agambi eat large hadrosaurs. But cattle or baffalo should suffice, if mastadons prove too dangerous.

Also, you would have to watch the ratio of Agambi to mastodons pretty closely, as mastodons are not going to replenish losses that quickly. You also are going to need a fair amount of territory for the mastodons just to feed them, like no more than 4 or so per square mile of land, and mastodons were browsers, so that would be forest or mixed vegetation, not open grass land. I suspect that your duchess is going to want more Agambi than one every 10 or so square miles of ranch.

We will have to look at this more carefully, but at present we would need to build up to a self sustaining population, first before we start with the hunts and such. I am thinking at present about 36 agambi. There are huge areas of land on Lemish that could serve.

You might want two separate areas, one for the Agambi and one for the mastodons. Put something like buffalo or cattle or something going about 1,000 pounds or more for prey for the Agambi, and have them in open grassland, where you can support about 50,000 pounds of prey biomass per square mile, which still does not give you a high population of Agambi unless you assume a reptilian metabolism, and even then, you are looking at maybe 1 per 2 square miles, or 5 square kilometers. If it is more of a mammalian metabolism, then you will need up to 10 times as much area.

How does avian metabolism fit between mammals and reptiles?

If you are not otherwised engaged, I am sure the Lemishian Ministry of Conservation has a position open.

Nothing ever said raising big predators for fun is easy.

If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. And it wouldn't be any fun. The Baroness has put up with me for all these years, if she wants Agambi, she's earned them.

 

[rancke]

In their native habitat, agambi eat large hadrosaurs. But cattle or baffalo should suffice, if mastadons prove too dangerous.

If agambi belongs to a non-Terran biosphere, they won't actually be therapods¹ and they won't be dining on hadrosaurs¹ and mastodons². ('Cattle' has a second meaning of 'any kind of livestock' and 'baffalo' is a lovely name for an alien animal with a bit of a resemblance to a buffalo, so they are all right. )

¹ Even the Ancients would have had a tough time finding real therapods and hadrosaurs.

² Mastodons could theoretically have been transplanted to Whereverworld³ by the Ancients, but personally I don't like to use the Ancients any more than absolutely necesssary. YMMV.

³ Do I understand correctly that the agambi live on a different world than Lemish?​

​

Agambi would be something like therapodoids or pseudotherapods or quasitherapods.

If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. And it wouldn't be any fun. The Baroness has put up with me for all these years, if she wants Agambi, she's earned them.

And it's not like money is a problem, right?


Hans

 

[Timerover51]

In their native habitat, agambi eat large hadrosaurs. But cattle or baffalo should suffice, if mastadons prove too dangerous.

If their normal prey is hadrosaurs, mastodons might be a tad tough. You might want to consider either American Bison, or African Cape Buffalo for the prey animals. Both are big and tough, so would not be too easy, and also they would make nice hunting as well. Add a few mastodons for the river forest areas, or maybe some mammoth for the plains grazing. Another option would be giant ground sloths to spice things up.

We will have to look at this more carefully, but at present we would need to build up to a self sustaining population, first before we start with the hunts and such. I am thinking at present about 36 agambi. There are huge areas of land on Lemish that could serve.

I seem to recall that the minimum population size to avoid major inbreeding problems is around 75 or so. You might want to make it 100 as they mate for life, which limits genetic mixing, and go from there. Have one area set aside for your breeding population and then an area where the excess will be forced onto by territorial squabbles for your hunting.

How does avian metabolism fit between mammals and reptiles?

You would treat it as basically mammalian based on your description of the critter, so a 1 to 100 predator-prey biomass ratio. So figure about 30 prey per square mile, with 40 square miles per Agambi, so for a pair, think about 80 square miles, or roughly 200 square kilometers per pair, figuring on a conservative basis. I assume that you do not want crowding.

If you are not otherwised engaged, I am sure the Lemishian Ministry of Conservation has a position open.

Is this a job offer, and do I need to roll up a character?

I

If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. And it wouldn't be any fun. The Baroness has put up with me for all these years, if she wants Agambi, she's earned them.

Well, if she has a whole planet to work with, she should be able to manage more than enough room for Agambi, mastodon and mammoth, and quite a few other creatures.

 

[Drakon]

If their normal prey is hadrosaurs, mastodons might be a tad tough. You might want to consider either American Bison, or African Cape Buffalo for the prey animals. Both are big and tough, so would not be too easy, and also they would make nice hunting as well. Add a few mastodons for the river forest areas, or maybe some mammoth for the plains grazing. Another option would be giant ground sloths to spice things up.

Great ideas. I have not worked out Lemish's native species yet, that is on the to do list. But if there is nothing native, these are great ideas.

You would treat it as basically mammalian based on your description of the critter, so a 1 to 100 predator-prey biomass ratio. So figure about 30 prey per square mile, with 40 square miles per Agambi, so for a pair, think about 80 square miles, or roughly 200 square kilometers per pair, figuring on a conservative basis. I assume that you do not want crowding.

That would be 2 terrain hexes per breeding pair. Lemish has only about a million people spread out over the entire size 7 planet. Finding a place for them should not be a problem

Is this a job offer, and do I need to roll up a character?

Yes. I could use some help in working out the ecosystem of the planet, what plants and animals are around, what we can and cannot import.

Before you accept, you may want to check on Lemish's future history. There are some rough times ahead.

Well, if she has a whole planet to work with, she should be able to manage more than enough room for Agambi, mastodon and mammoth, and quite a few other creatures.

Our thinking as well.

 

[Timerover51]

Before you accept, you may want to check on Lemish's future history. There are some rough times ahead.

Is that the history of Lemish that shows up in the Traveller Wiki?

Yes. I could use some help in working out the ecosystem of the planet, what plants and animals are around, what we can and cannot import.

What you are doing is very similar to what I am doing for another planet, although I am going off of Earth's North American Pleistocene of about 300,000 years ago. I may add some European animals to that as well. Coverage for the rest of Earth is not that hard. Not sure if I will simply use present-day Africa for that. The South America-equivalent is colonized to an extent from North America, as the terraforming efforts were sort of interrupted.

Australia-equivalent does have some BIG wombats and of course, Tasmanian Wolves, aka Thylacine. Moas on New Zealand-equivalent, and Elephant Birds on Madagascar. And I did not forget the Dodo. Basically, the Ancients were turning this planet into a very large zoo, to see it develop with no humans around, and pretty much a permanent Ice Age.

That would be 2 terrain hexes per breeding pair. Lemish has only about a million people spread out over the entire size 7 planet. Finding a place for them should not be a problem

Your basic area should be about the size of Tsavo or Serengeti National Parks in Africa, so no problems at all finding room.

Give me a title and I will have at it with a character.

 

[Drakon]

Is that the history of Lemish that shows up in the Traveller Wiki?

Apparently that is just the beginning of Lemish's troubles. From other sources, I found out the following. (See post #40 in http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?t=30798&page=4 )

After the rebellion in 1116, things go to hell. The Vargr attack in strength, decide to make an example of Lemish and hit it pretty hard.

Then, in 1130, the Virus hits and wipes out a lot of people. I believe the entry in Travellerwiki refers to the beginning of this mess. I don't have the original DPG stuff to check further.

What you are doing is very similar to what I am doing for another planet, although I am going off of Earth's North American Pleistocene of about 300,000 years ago. I may add some European animals to that as well. Coverage for the rest of Earth is not that hard. Not sure if I will simply use present-day Africa for that. The South America-equivalent is colonized to an extent from North America, as the terraforming efforts were sort of interrupted.

Australia-equivalent does have some BIG wombats and of course, Tasmanian Wolves, aka Thylacine. Moas on New Zealand-equivalent, and Elephant Birds on Madagascar. And I did not forget the Dodo. Basically, the Ancients were turning this planet into a very large zoo, to see it develop with no humans around, and pretty much a permanent Ice Age.

As others have pointed out, it is doubtful the Ancients got ahold of these critters, but I do believe that similar environments will produce/evolve similar creatures. And while it is not technically correct to call them Therapods, however, adding an "oid" at the end of everything seems kind of silly and wasted verbage.

Your basic area should be about the size of Tsavo or Serengeti National Parks in Africa, so no problems at all finding room.

Give me a title and I will have at it with a character.

How does "Special Assistant Minister for Special Projects, Ministry of Conservation" sound? You would be answerable to the Minister for Conservation, at least for the time being. Salary and such will be discussed once we have the whole government budget worked out.

Worldbuilding is a lot of work

 

[Timerover51]

As others have pointed out, it is doubtful the Ancients got ahold of these critters, but I do believe that similar environments will produce/evolve similar creatures. And while it is not technically correct to call them Therapods, however, adding an "oid" at the end of everything seems kind of silly and wasted verbage.

As this world is being worked up for a novel that I am working on, it is for my own Traveller universe (so far), so if I say the Ancients picked them up and moved them, they did. Also, Grandfather is not quite as omniscient and omnipotent in mine either, and also plays with the truth a bit.

Also, I have the Bald Space Rovers of Andre Norton, circa 15,000 or so years ago, and some other ancient alien civilizations as well. Then there are the flora and fauna collectors mentioned in Beastmaster and Lord of Thunder by Andre as well. I am giving serious thought to adding Bertram Chandler "Kinsolving" planet as well. And if in my Traveller Universe, if you come across a planet called "Limbo", you might want to think twice, or maybe several times, before visiting.

In other words, I am not that terribly worried about following canon for what I do. However, if working with you, canon will be adhered too. You are a client. See signature.

How does "Special Assistant Minister for Special Projects, Ministry of Conservation" sound? You would be answerable to the Minister for Conservation, at least for the time being. Salary and such will be discussed once we have the whole government budget worked out.

Sounds fine. Sort of like Verkan Vall's "Special Chief's Assistant". I will work something up in terms of a character, and post it. I assume you want T5 data?

Worldbuilding is a lot of work

Tell me about it, better yet, do not tell me about it. I have been doing it for a while. Have a fantasy novel going too.

Note: As you are in Sunnyvale, next time I visit my son in Mountain View, maybe we could get together while he is working. However, have to meet him for lunch at LinkedIn. That cafeteria is to die for.

 

[rancke]

As others have pointed out, it is doubtful the Ancients got ahold of these critters, but I do believe that similar environments will produce/evolve similar creatures. And while it is not technically correct to call them Therapods, however, adding an "oid" at the end of everything seems kind of silly and wasted verbage.

It's the sort of thing I think scientists tend to consider important. After all, if agambi belong to a different biosphere, real therapods are more closely related to rutabagas than to them. Adding an '-oid' to 'therapod' turns it from being completely wrong to quite right¹ ('-oid' is a noun suffix that means ": something resembling a (specified) object or having a (specified) quality <globoid>" [Merriam-Webster].)

¹ 'Therapodoid does sound awkward, though, which is why I suggested a couple of alternatives.​

As for similar environments producing similar creatures, you are absolutely correct. Similar, not exact copies. After all, you can just take a look at the different creatures that have evolved in the same environment here on Earth. Ceratopses, hadrosaurs, stegosaurs, and ankylosaurs all evolved in the same environment² and even belonged to the same clade.

² Oh well, some of them may belong to different eras; I can't be bothered to chase down examples that all lived at the same time.​

So the plausibility of finding animals belonging to other biospheres that resembles therapods to a certain degree is high. The plausibility of finding one that looks just like a therapod rather less so. The likelihood of finding two different alien dinosauroids belonging to the same biosphere that looks just like two different Earth dinosaurs even less so.

Still, I'm sure taxonomers would be forced by the sheer number of different biospheres to reuse a lot of Terran nomenclature. There are probably kingdoms called Animalia in almost every biosphere and phylums like chordata in a lot of them. It's certainly quite possible that some taxonomer did decide to name an order of therapod-like animals from a differect biosphere 'therapoda'. And laymen might easily use the term without some sort of qualifier to distinguish them from Terran therapods.

That doesn't make the use of a more precise form silly, though. Just something most people might not worry about.


Hans

 

[Drakon]

While you are technically correct, which, according to the Number 1, Chief Bureaucrat on Futurama, is "the best kind of correct" and I am sure Imperial Ecologists and such will complain, I ain't gonna do it.

 

[Drakon]

In other words, I am not that terribly worried about following canon for what I do. However, if working with you, canon will be adhered too. You are a client. See signature.

Fair enough. For Lemish, I am trying to keep it as canonical as possible, with the hope that once I am done, the final product can be canon as well. But your project sounds intriguing.

Sounds fine. Sort of like Verkan Vall's "Special Chief's Assistant". I will work something up in terms of a character, and post it. I assume you want T5 data?

Yes. T5 data is preferred. This whole thing was started because of T5, seems only fair.

Note: As you are in Sunnyvale, next time I visit my son in Mountain View, maybe we could get together while he is working. However, have to meet him for lunch at LinkedIn. That cafeteria is to die for.

We can try. I will warn you that if your son works normal hours, I do too. But we'll see what we can do.

 

[rancke]

While you are technically correct, which, according to the Number 1, Chief Bureaucrat on Futurama, is "the best kind of correct" and I am sure Imperial Ecologists and such will complain, I ain't gonna do it.

That's entirely your choice, of course.


Hans

 

[Timerover51]

I think that under T5 I would qualify as a Scholar, with some rather odd abilities, such as Demolitions (or whatever it is under T5), decent with rifle and autopistol, along with black powder weapons, and a few other things. Have to figure this out.

 

[Drakon]

I think that under T5 I would qualify as a Scholar, with some rather odd abilities, such as Demolitions (or whatever it is under T5), decent with rifle and autopistol, along with black powder weapons, and a few other things. Have to figure this out.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

 

[Timerover51]

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

You never heard of "swamp blasting" for ducks?

Figure stats as 665DC7, unless you want to bump the Social Class up. History Scholar with say Jack-of-all-trades 2, Demolitions/Explosives 3, Slugthrowers 2. Fill in what you think is appropriate, still trying to figure out T5 Character Generation. Definitely know why I prefer Classic to the later stuff. Rules should go by the KISS principle.

 

[Drakon]

You never heard of "swamp blasting" for ducks?

Figure stats as 665DC7, unless you want to bump the Social Class up. History Scholar with say Jack-of-all-trades 2, Demolitions/Explosives 3, Slugthrowers 2. Fill in what you think is appropriate, still trying to figure out T5 Character Generation. Definitely know why I prefer Classic to the later stuff. Rules should go by the KISS principle.

Special Assistant Ministers should be at least 8, possibly as high as A. Barons are C, Knights are B which would be equivalent to Cabinet heads and First Secretary. Gentlemen are A's.

The Ministry of Conservation would be responsible for both departments of agriculture and interior, I am now thinking. I looked up my first draft of the bureaucracy and have both. I am thinking those should be combined, under a Ministry of Conservation.

From Robject website, I rolled up these:
Are any of these useful?

UWP: A79568C-C
Atmosphere: 9 (DM 1)
Gravity: Light (DM 0)

# C Num Type Sz Len Loc Spd STR END Weapon A__ F__ Sym Struc Kg AV E Tast
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 H 2 Grazer 8 750 Wlk 5 184 3 Sting F8 A8 T HBS-T-LL-LN-V 9919m 6 Y Off
2 O 2 Hunter 3 0.2 Wlk 5 57 4 Quill A11 F8 T HBS-T-LN-LL-A 0.1 8 Ord
3 C 2D Pouncer 4 0.75 Amf 5 24 2 Teeth AS AS+ B N-TBS-LL-WF-T 6.9 6 Ord
4 S 2D Reducer 4 0.75 Wlk 4 44 1 Spike A6 F6 R HBS-T-LN-LN-N 6.9 11 Y Off
5 P 1 Basker 6 7.5 Wlk 4 108 5 Peds No No B N-TBS-LL-LN-T 2k 11 Y Good
6 E --------- Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------

# C Num Type Sz Len Loc Spd STR END Weapon A__ F__ Sym Struc Kg AV E Tast
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 H 3 Grazer 4 0.75 Wlk 3 24 5 Spike F6 A6 A HBS-T-LN-LN-T 2.8 9 Good
2 O 1D+2 Gather 4 0.75 Wlk 3 56 3 Peds A7 F11 A N-TBS-LL-LN-N 6.5 12 Y Disg
3 C 3 Trapper 4 0.75 Wlk 3 76 1 Claws AS F10 T HBS-T-LN-LN-N 6.7 10 Ord
4 S 2D Intimid 4 0.75 Wlk 2 52 3 Peds A6 F5 T HBS-T-LL-LN-N 6.1 7 Bad
5 P 2 Collect 4 0.75 Wlk 1 116 5 Quill No No B HS-TB-LL-MM-T 4.9 6 Ord
6 E --------- Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------

# C Num Type Sz Len Loc Spd STR END Weapon A__ F__ Sym Struc Kg AV E Tast
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 H 1 Grazer 4 0.75 Wlk 1 64 1 Spike F7 A9 R N-TBS-LL-LN-N 2.6 9 Ord
2 O D*D Hunter 3 0.2 Wlk 2 21 6 Spike A9 F5 B HBS-T-LL-NN-N 0 2 Unu
3 C 2 Killer 4 0.75 Fly 5 12 5 Claws A10 F8 A HBS-T-WL-LM-P 4.8 8 Unu
4 S 1D+2 Reducer 1 7mm Fly 5 16 2 Thag A11 F8 B HS-TB-WL-LM-N 0 7 M Tast
5 P 2D Collect 1 7mm Wlk 5 1 1 Thag No No B N-TBS-LN-LN-N 0 6 M Tast
6 E --------- Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------

# C Num Type Sz Len Loc Spd STR END Weapon A__ F__ Sym Struc Kg AV E Tast
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 H 2 Interm 4 0.75 Wlk 6 64 2 Peds F10 A5 B N-TBS-LL-LN-N 3.6 2 Off
2 O 2 Gather 3 0.2 Wlk 5 24 6 Peds A5 F7 T HBS-T-LL-LN-N 0 7 Ord
3 C 1 Pouncer 8 750 Wlk 3 80 1 Claws AS AS+ B N-TBS-LN-LN-N 3036m 11 Tast
4 S 2 Intimid 3 0.2 Wlk 1 15 6 Peds A8 F6 B HBS-T-LL-LN-N 0 8 M Ord
5 P 2D Basker T 2mm Wlk 2 1 5 Sting No No B HBS-T-LN-LN-N 0 9 M Bad
6 E --------- Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------

# C Num Type Sz Len Loc Spd STR END Weapon A__ F__ Sym Struc Kg AV E Tast
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 H D*D Grazer 5 1.5 Wlk 5 60 4 Peds F9 A6 B HBS-T-LL-LN-N 37.1 7 M Disg
2 O 2 Eater 1 7mm Wlk 1 15 1 Peds A11 F8 B HBS-T-LL-LN-N 0 8 Disg
3 C 2 Trapper 3 0.2 Wlk 5 15 5 Claws AS F7 B N-TBS-LL-LL-T 0.1 7 Tast
4 S 2 Reducer 4 0.75 Fph 2 64 4 Peds A9 F10 T HBS-T-WL-FN-N 2.7 11 Y Good
5 P D*D Collect 8 750 Wlk 3 48 3 Spike No No B HBS-T-LN-LN-N 7695m 9 Off
6 E --------- Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------

# C Num Type Sz Len Loc Spd STR END Weapon A__ F__ Sym Struc Kg AV E Tast
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 H 2 Interm 3 0.2 Fph 5 30 6 Peds F5 A10 B HBS-T-WL-FN-N 0 7 Dlic
2 O 3 H-G 2 75mm Wlk 3 8 1 Sting A8 F10 B N-TBS-LL-LN-N 0 10 Unu
3 C D*D Killer 8 750 Wlk 4 80 6 Sting A8 F4 B HBS-T-LL-LN-N 10663m 7 Ord
4 S D*D Intimid 5 1.5 Wlk 1 15 4 Horns A10 F10 T HS-TB-LL-LL-N 38.3 5 M Ord
5 P 2D Basker 1 7mm Wlk 3 5 6 Peds No No A N-TBS-LL-LL-N 0 8 Dlic
6 E --------- Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------

# C Num Type Sz Len Loc Spd STR END Weapon A__ F__ Sym Struc Kg AV E Tast
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 H 1D+2 Grazer 1 7mm Amf 3 6 3 Peds F4 A4 B HBS-T-FF-FN-M 0 11 Exq
2 O 1 Hunter 6 7.5 Fly 6 42 1 Sting A8 F4 B HBS-T-WL-LN-T 2k 8 Tast
3 C 2 Chaser 4 0.75 Wlk 4 56 1 Sting A6 F7 A HBS-T-LN-LN-N 11.5 11 Y Ord
4 S 3 Intimid 1 7mm Wlk 5 14 2 Thag A7 F7 B HBS-T-LL-LN-T 0 5 Y Off
5 P 2D Collect 4 0.75 Wlk 2 52 3 Horns No No B HBS-T-LL-LL-T 3.8 3 M Disg
6 E --------- Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------

# C Num Type Sz Len Loc Spd STR END Weapon A__ F__ Sym Struc Kg AV E Tast
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 H 2D Grazer 3 0.2 Wlk 2 27 5 Antlr F8 A8 A HBS-T-LL-LN-N 0.1 4 Disg
2 O 1D+2 H-G 4 0.75 Wlk 2 100 6 Peds A8 F5 T HBS-T-LL-LN-N 3.4 9 Dlic
3 C 1 Chaser 1 7mm Wlk 2 12 4 Sting A6 F9 B HBS-T-LL-LN-N 0 3 Good
4 S 1D+2 Carrion 4 0.75 Wlk 4 56 5 Thag A6 F6 B HBS-T-LL-LN-N 3.6 11 Disg
5 P 1 Basker 3 0.2 Wlk 2 27 1 Sting No No T HBS-T-LL-LN-N 0 3 Y Dlic
6 E --------- Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------

# C Num Type Sz Len Loc Spd STR END Weapon A__ F__ Sym Struc Kg AV E Tast
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 H 3 Grazer 3 0.2 Wlk 4 60 6 Horns F6 A5 T HBS-T-LN-LN-N 0 5 Ord
2 O 1D+2 Eater 5 1.5 Wlk 1 85 3 Peds A8 F9 B HS-TB-LN-LN-N 38.9 6 Y Bad
3 C 2 Pouncer 5 1.5 Wlk 6 80 3 Claws AS AS+ R HBS-T-LL-LN-N 39.2 7 Unu
4 S 3 Carrion 1 7mm Wlk 5 12 5 Peds A10 F10 B HBS-T-LL-LN-A 0 7 Unu
5 P 3 Basker 1 7mm Wlk 6 15 2 Body No No T HBS-T-LL-LN-M 0 7 Y Off
6 E --------- Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Timerover51]

Give me a day or two to figure out these, so maybe send them to me a daledrr at yah()() dot com as a PDF table for easier reading.

By the way, what is the atmospheric taint of the planet? And how are the seas and land masses distributed? Are there polar oceans, in which case a large portion of the land masses are in the temperate and tropical zones? Also, given that this is apparently an M-Class star, how long is the year and what are the typical temperatures?

If the year is short, as I suspect that it is, with an M-Class star, then pretty much everything has to be in the tropical belt for any sort of sustained growing season. That will cut down on available land area for plants, and hence, animals.

Is the planet rotation west to east, or east to west, so I have some sort of idea where rain shadows might be?

 

[Timerover51]

Special Assistant Ministers should be at least 8, possibly as high as A. Barons are C, Knights are B which would be equivalent to Cabinet heads and First Secretary. Gentlemen are A's.

The Ministry of Conservation would be responsible for both departments of agriculture and interior, I am now thinking. I looked up my first draft of the bureaucracy and have both. I am thinking those should be combined, under a Ministry of Conservation.

Then make me social class 9, as I come from a middle class background, plus I am sort of a "Boffin". The stats are pretty much my real ones.

 

[Drakon]

Give me a day or two to figure out these, so maybe send them to me a daledrr at yah()() dot com as a PDF table for easier reading.

By the way, what is the atmospheric taint of the planet? And how are the seas and land masses distributed? Are there polar oceans, in which case a large portion of the land masses are in the temperate and tropical zones? Also, given that this is apparently an M-Class star, how long is the year and what are the typical temperatures?

If the year is short, as I suspect that it is, with an M-Class star, then pretty much everything has to be in the tropical belt for any sort of sustained growing season. That will cut down on available land area for plants, and hence, animals.

Is the planet rotation west to east, or east to west, so I have some sort of idea where rain shadows might be?

First and foremost, I am still working out several of the issues concerning the climate of Lemish. I will refer you to this thread
http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?t=30798
for what I have to date. Here is a map of the entire planet.
http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Gallery/index.php?n=1640
Central Lemish is where most of the settlers live, between Masus and Lusine.

Lemish is a moon of the gas giant Vangon. Vangon orbits inside the habitablity zone, and Lemish is tidally locked to Vangon. Because Vangon is inside the habilitabilty zone, its cloud deck will be water instead of ammonia, which makes Vangon brighter, reflecting more light. I have come to realize that this arraingment may complicate the enviromental factors and I need to use my artistic licence and fine tune the orbit to give you exact number. But ballpark looking at about 22 to 30 hours days, (i.e. Lemish orbits around Vangon) and 46 day years (Vangon orbits around star Ishan).

Out of the 11 to 15 hour daylight period, Vangon eclipses Lemish for about 4 hours each day. While the side facing Vangon has their day interrupted with an eclipse, the side facing away from Vangon has a normal daylight period. But the side facing Vangon will get the reflected light of the star, plus any blackbody radiation from Vangon. I am still working those numbers out.

All in all, I should have the orbits tweaked such that Lemish is a few degrees cooler than earth (288 degrees K). Not much, just enough the tropics would be barely tropical. Vangon has a very circular orbit, partly because I feel that would be realistic for an inner system gas giant, and 2 after working out the effect of the daily eciplise, Vangon's reflection and such, working out seasons is going to be a bit much.

So, 22 to 30 hour days, the near side getting a 4 hour eclipse every day, Temperatures slightly cooler than earth normal, and negligable seasonal variations. Gravity about .6, atmospheric pressure 2.25 (about) tainted with sulfur dioxide. But again, this is a work in progress.

 

[Timerover51]

Given the size of the planet and the dense atmosphere, the gravity seems a bit low. Also, how much atmospheric Oxygen is that in terms of percentage, as you might have to worry about oxygen poisoning?

As it is tidally locked to its gas giant, and is regularly eclipsed, I assume that it is in the plane of the system, with no axial tilt then, so no variation in day-night cycle, and no real seasons then. No rotation means no Coriolis Effect, so no hurricanes forming, which means basically line storms. I think that you should have some ice caps, but need to think about that a bit.

The side facing away from the gas giant will have normal day-night cycles, while the side facing the gas giant is going to be a bit strange. Eclipse in the middle of the day, and then a lot of light at night is going to make for interesting growing cycles and weather patterns.

Let me get out some things and work at it over the weekend. I will be teaching on Sunday afternoon in my historical board gaming class, so it might not be until early next week.

 

[Drakon]

Please, take your time, I am still scratching my head trying to work out the orbital parameters that will give us the climate we need.