Mobile World

A Mobile World is a world capable of moving under its own power. Essentially, a planet or planetoid that is a spaceship; alternately, a spaceship large enough to qualify as a world. Does not have to be a starship, though those are not disqualified.

• It is a highly advanced, rare, and most often technological planet or world type.

Description (Specifications)

The exact cutoff varies, but there is general agreement that merely using a planetoid as a spaceship hull is insufficient. The defining characteristic is size or mass. A planetoid hull spaceship with a diameter of 500 kilometers (the dividing line between "planetoid" or "planet") would certainly qualify, while one with a diameter of only 1.0 kilometer would not, according to most sources.

Planetary Characteristics

There are two competing schools of thought regarding mobile worlds.

1. One postulates that, if they existed, they would be more spaceship than world, and would generally be laid out like the largest civilian ships known, just much larger. (...It is difficult to imagine a military purpose for such a large ship, other than destroying entire worlds, which seems too inefficient and wasteful for a civilization capable of building such a titanic object.)
2. The other boils down to, "start with world, add massive engines", suggesting that the majority of the architecture would be whatever the world was prior to being made mobile; this has been depicted numerous times as a feature added to a tent world, with some heat and light source to sustain life on the planet when it is removed from its original system.

In both cases, a lack of known examples leads to speculative design.

Probable Planetary Orbit & Climate

Not applicable. By definition, a mobile world could insert itself into any orbit its crew desired, and presumably would be able to generate its own climate.

History & Background (Dossier)

There are many legends, rumors, and the odd Old Spacer's Tale of mobile worlds, as well as fictional portrayals. As of 1105 there are no proven and documented instances in Charted Space, though there have been observations of certain other parts of the galaxy which could be explained by the presence of one ore more mobile worlds (...among other theories).

Legends of the Sky Raiders

No information yet available.

The Yaskoydri Experience

The Yaskoydri Technocracy claims to have been invaded by one circa 250. As of 1105 the records are in less than pristine shape, even at the time there was debate as to its designation, and the ship was completely destroyed by sending it into a star (obliterating any primary evidence), so many suspect this may have merely been a large ship and not truly a mobile world.

Image Repository

No information yet available.

References & Contributors (Sources)

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This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Marc Miller. Worlds and Adventures (Game Designers Workshop, 1977), TBD.Marc Miller, Robert Eaglestone, Don McKinney. Worlds and Adventures (Far Future Enterprises, 2019), TBD.
• Marc Miller. Scouts (Game Designers Workshop, 1983), TBD.
• Marc Miller. T5 Core Rules (Far Future Enterprises, 2013), TBD.
• EXTERNAL LINK: Beowolf's Libary Data Website (defunct)
• Author & Contributor: Adrian Tymes
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science