Planetoid
Planetoids are the worldlets of a Belt. The Population, Government, and Law Level represent the general level throughout the Belt. TINY
- An astronomical body too small to be considered a planet.
- The Universal Planetary Profile (UPP) uses a world size of 0 to designate a asteroid belt.
- Please also see ringworld, rosette, sphereworld.
Description / Specifications
Generally any object less than 500 kilometers in diameter is considered to be a planetoid, although it may be called a moon if it is a satellite of a planet.
- For the purposes of distinction, the term asteroid belt is used to describe a planetoid belt which forms the main "world" in a stellar system.
Planetary Characteristics
The term planetoid belt refers to a belt of minor planets when another belt or world is the main world in a system.
- Asteroid and planetoid belts typically hold between 1,000 and 10,000 asteroids or planetoids each.
Probably Planetary Orbit & Climate
No information yet available.
History & Background / Dossier
Planetoids generally cluster together in planetoid belts which encircle a star.
- These belts have a number of possible origins. For example, a planet may have failed to coalesce during the formation of its star system. It is also possible that a planet has been torn apart by tidal forces, leaving a path of scattered debris.
Planetoid Hulls
Some classes of spacecraft utilize planetoid hulls: these are noted as being Planetoid vessels. Denser nickel-iron planetoids are preferred, though some vessels use carbonaceous bodies. Most commonly, a chunk of material of a suitable size, density and internal structure is cut from a larger donor planetoid body. It is then towed to a shipyard and hollowed out, typically through the use of fusion tunneling.
- Only a limited percentage of the volume of a planetoid hull is usable: the remainder forms the structure of the hull. However, this structure affords the vessel integral armor. A Buffered Planetoid retains more of its natural structure, giving it better armor.
The surface of the planetoid may be sculpted. This may be done to give the vessel a more conventional layout, particularly if it is to be carried aboard a larger vessel such as a Carrier or a Fleet Tender. It may also be sculpted to disguise it, making it seem like a natural body.
Final War Artifacts
Finally, many belts in and around the Third Imperium were formed by "planet-buster" weapons used in the Final War. These weapons used technologies with capabilities far beyond anything that TL-15 science can produce. It is widely thought that highly advanced antimatter weapons might have been one of those technologies.
References & Contributors / Sources
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- 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.
- Martin Dougherty. A Guide to Star Systems (Mongoose Publishing, 2015), TBD.
- T5: Core rules
- External Link: Beowolf's Libary Data Website
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science