Talk:Main
Notes (2018)[edit]
Mains & Branches[edit]
Star systems on long (51 or more stars) mains. Frequently are separated into arms or branches for identification purposes.
Prominent examples include:
- Alike Main
- Alurzan Loop
- Antares Main originating in the Antares Sector
- Aslan Main
- Boötean Main
- Celepina-Jae-Tellona Link
- Corridor Main
- Dagudashaag Main
- Derri Main
- Dikhari Main
- Drinsaar Loop (Main)
- Florian Main
- Fulacin-Porozlo Route
- Ganad Main
- Gushemege Main
- Imaka Ring
- Imperial Road
- Khavle Main
- Laraa Main
- Liasdi Main
- Lishun Main
- Lishun-Menden Main
- Medurma Main
- Mendan Main
- Sabinar Main
- Sharshuda Long also known as Leyline
- Sindalian Main
- Snogsta Main
- Spas Main
- Spinward Main in the Spinward Marches
- Sydymic Main
- Sylean Main
- Tharrynra Main
- Thicket Run
- Ushamla Main
- Vegan Main
- Vilani Main
- Vland Main
Traces & Clusters[edit]
Star systems on smaller (5 - 50 stars) groupings. Most of these astrographic features are located in just one or two subsectors.
Traces & Clusters:
- Antarean Cluster
- Aramis Trace
- As on As cluster
- Azaremiid Cluster
- Bapar Cluster
- Beheld Cluster
- Berg Cluster
- Darrian Cluster
- Dodds Cluster
- Esperance Cluster
- Five Sisters Cluster
- Gaaku Cluster
- Gagaridir Trace
- Glean Cluster
- Iiradu trace
- Jewell Cluster AKA Jewells
- Katarulu Cluster
- Khastok Cluster
- Kinorb Cluster
- Mapepire Cluster
- Menorb Cluster
- Near Boötes Cluster
- Nimluin Cluster
- Ninlakim Trace
- Palique Cluster
- Paya Cluster
- Pilgham Cluster
- Querion Cluster
- Rhylanor Cluster
- Riverland Cluster
- Sabine Backwater (Trace)
- Scandia Cluster
- Shegimuud Trace
- Towers Cluster
- Vincennes Cluster
- Zeda Cluster
- Zukalis Cluster
Other:
- Alike Run
- Alurzan Loop
- Askigaak Corridor
- Beyerly's Path
- Bruia Diagonal Run
- Darrian Group
- Florian Corridor
- Florian Route
- Grudovo Pendant
- Hierate Route
- J-4 Gn'hk'r Jump Bridge
- J-5 Trans-rift Hierate Route
- Khipge Line
- Massilia Spur
- Metal Worlds
- Midway
- The Network
- Outback (Solomani Rim)
- Outrim Void
- Pact-Remnants Mainbridge
- Rhamsteppe-Mongrebi Access
- Rimward Link
- Sabine Backwater
- Saris-Yenisei Bridge
- Scotian Nexus
- Sisters' Reach
- Spinward Hinters
- Verge Connector
- Vilani Run
Origin of the terms (2016)[edit]
The first use of "Main" I've been able to find is in Library Data (N-Z) from 1983, in a reference to the Spinward Main.
The term Cluster shows up in the The Spinward Marches (referring to the Jewell cluster). And again in Library Data (A-M) under Glea (Glean Cluster, an unusually rich grouping of 16 Hiver-habitable worlds, mutually accessible by jump-I shipping). Library Data (N-Z) notes under Subsector that a synonym is "cluster", giving an approximate upper size on the term.
Later books (and non-canon references) make similar kinds of off-hand references to the terms "Main", "Branch", "Cluster", and "Trace". That is, the terms are used in names, like "Spinward Main" without any precise definition.
Based upon the existing known names and some of the references, I applied the separation at 50 system to distinguish between a Main (with branches) and a Trace or Cluster. As the latter two terms are never defined (just used), the wiki asserts they are interchangeable.
Since the smallest grouping of independent systems given a name in canon was between five and 10 systems, I asserted the smallest grouping was 5 systems. The list above gathered from the COTI group-mind may provide a non-canon version of a name for the smaller groupings.
Hi Thomas, I think we should change it to 2 to 50 then for the cluster/trace and 51+ for the main. What sayeth you?
- BTW, thanks for the research. It confirms my findings.
- Maksim-Smelchak (talk) 19:46, 19 July 2016 (EDT)
- I'll see if I can find some.
- - Maksim-Smelchak (talk) 22:04, 19 July 2016 (EDT)
As I was going through the process of getting the Empty Quarter into the Wiki, I arbitrarily picked four for a cluster and 30+ for a main.
- - Ssteve
There still is no definition for any of these astrographic features.
- So that works in the absence of definition.
- Technically a cluster or trace is two or more.
- Mains have no hard definition, bit would require a minimum of two stars. Hard to say.
- - Maksim-Smelchak (talk) 13:14, 4 January 2018 (EST)
- Just to add to the confusion. The Traveller Map Mains overlay defines three sizes of "Mains" you can highlight: small (6-10 worlds), medium (11-50 worlds) and large (51+ worlds). Tjoneslo (talk) 19:58, 4 January 2018 (EST)
Discussions (2015)[edit]
CotI Link: What does one call a J-2 jump "main"?
- Maksim-Smelchak (talk) 14:28, 19 July 2016 (EDT)
Notes (2015)[edit]
Collected ideas from CotI members:
- Access
- Arm
- Backwater
- Branch
- Bridge
- Circuit
- Cluster
- Connector
- Corridor
- Diagonal
- Expanse
- Gossamer
- Group
- Hinters
- Knot
- Line
- Link
- Loop
- Nexus
- Outlet
- Path
- Pendant
- Range
- Reach
- Route
- Run
- Scatters
- Space Lane
- Spur
- Spread
- Starlane
- Stream
- Sweep
- Tangle
- Trace
- Tract
- Trade Route
- Whorl
- Wisp
Greater Mains (Yellow)
- Star systems on long (50 or more stars) mains.
- Most multi-sector and single-sector mains are greater mains.
- High economic and trade activity (interstellar traffic).
Lesser Mains (Blue)
- Star systems on short (10 - 50 stars) mains.
- Many subsector mains are lesser mains.
- Moderate economic and trade activity (interstellar traffic).
Arms, Branches, Traces, Clusters & Others (Green)
- Star systems with few if any significant connections to any main.
- May be subsets of larger mains.
- Most of these astrographic features are located in just one or two subsectors.
- Low economic and trade activity (interstellar traffic).
Notes (2009)[edit]
If the various ship design systems are anywhere near accurate reflections of how ships are constructed in the OTU, mains have very little actual economic significance once jump-2 has been invented. For any distance greater than one parsec, Jump-2 and Jump-3 shipping is cheaper than jump-1 (A jump-2 ship costs more and carries less than a jump-1 ship of the same size, but it delivers two loads of cargo/passengers every time the jump-1 ship delivers one). The importance of mains may just be an 'urban myth' among the 99.999% of people who have no idea about the realities of star travel.
- Rancke 23:08, 6 June 2009 (UTC)
- It probably depends upon how much you believe the Type A free trader represents the true nature of the manner of trade in the Imperium. Like you said, urban myth.
- The nature of mains does explain the expansion of the First Imperium (see Vilani Main, Antares Main, and the Lishun-Menden Main, and a few more to rimward.
- Still, it was a cool map to make.
- Tjoneslo 23:39, 6 June 2009 (UTC)
- Actually, 'two deliveries in the same time' only works if the destination is at least two parsecs away. Remember, if the destination is only one parsec away both the jump-1 and the jump-2 ship still take 1 week to arrive. I would tend to think that a prosperous planet would tend to create prosperous economic colonies close to it, because of the long-term ease of trade. This would tend to make mains important as the Ri planets on it boost the economies of everything close to them. However, the random nature of Traveller world generation denies that this effect really exists. ~_^ --
- Rindis 20:08, 13 August 2009 (UTC)
- Actually, 'two deliveries in the same time' only works if the destination is at least two parsecs away. Remember, if the destination is only one parsec away both the jump-1 and the jump-2 ship still take 1 week to arrive. I would tend to think that a prosperous planet would tend to create prosperous economic colonies close to it, because of the long-term ease of trade. This would tend to make mains important as the Ri planets on it boost the economies of everything close to them. However, the random nature of Traveller world generation denies that this effect really exists. ~_^ --