Trade Map Key
This page is a key to the pdf sector trade maps included with some sectors. The maps are largely unadorned. The trade routes are calculated in the following manner:
Each world is given a World Trade Number (WTN), a relative ranking of economic influence on outside worlds. It is based upon the world's population and starport. Larger worlds with poor starport facilities have less influence than smaller population worlds with better starports.
For each pair of worlds a Bilateral Trade Number (BTN) is calculated. This is a ranking of the volume of trade between these two worlds. It takes into account distances, allegiances of the worlds, and other economic factors. The BTN numbers on these maps range from 8 to 12, representing the most active routes.
Each world on the map is placed on a hex grid and given four lines of information.
- The first line is the Universal World Profile in standard format.
- The second line is the world name.
- The third line consists of:
- A two or four character Allegiance Code
- A + for a subsector or empire capital or a * for a sector capital world, or blank if neither.
- The count of Gas Giants in the system, between 0 and 5
- The fourth line has a number with four digits These are:
- Digit #1. The world's WTN in e-hex format. The calculated WTN is doubled, as shown in the sector data file.
- Digit #2. The world's incoming trade, as a BTN value in e-hex.
- Digit #3. The port's transient trade, as a BTN value in e-hex.
- Digit #4. The size of the port on the world. A log scale value from 0 (the smallest) to 7 (the largest) as generated from GURPS Traveller: Starports p. 59.
The values of the incoming and transient trade BTN values can be converted back to credit values by looking up the value in the table on p.16 of GURPS Traveller: Far Trader. As calculated there are no half steps (e.g. BTN 5.5).
Some worlds are marked with an amber or red circle. The Amber Zone worlds (or Zhodani unincorporated worlds) have some cautionary element to them. The Red Zone worlds (or Zhodani Forbidden worlds) are forbidden to Traders. Trade routes will avoid these worlds for this reason.
Example #1:
- Bangwe (world)
- D78A302-A
- ImDd 2
- 5083
Example #2
- Malory (world)
- C420774-7
- ImDd 3
Trade Routes
The trade routes on the map are shown as colored lines, each color representing a trade volume category. The trade route colors and their meaning are as follows:
If there is no line between two worlds, it means that there isn't enough trade to reach the BTN 8 requirements. There may or may not be a regularly scheduled ship or two between the worlds. One or two ships, probably free traders, provide service between the worlds.
Sector Economic Data
The trade generation system also calculates a number of additional data points for each world. This data is stored with each sector under the <sector page>/economic page. The columns of the data files and their meanings are as follow:
- Hex
- Position in the sector
- Name
- Name of the world
- UWP
- Universal World Profile - Basic Statistics as copied from the generated values on TravellerMap
- {Ix}
- The Importance ranking of the world as generated from the T5: Core rules on p. 435.
- WTN
- The World Trade Number as generated from GT: Far Trader, but multiplied by 2. So a listed WTN of 5 becomes WTN of 2.5 when referencing the table on p. 16 of GURPS Traveller: Far Trader.
- GWP(MCr)
- The Gross World Product (in MCr) as generated p. 14 of GT:Far Trader.
- Trade(MCr)
- The volume of trade coming into and leaving the world (in MCr) per year.
- Passengers
- Number of passengers entering and leaving the world per year, as generated by the rules on p. 17 of GT: Far Trader
- RU
- Resource Units as generated from the T5: Core rules on p. 435, and as updated according to errata.
- Build Cap
- Starport capacity for constructing starships (in Tons) as generated from Trillion Credit Squadron.
- Army
- The size of the standing army on the world, as generated from GURPS Traveller: Ground Forces
- Port
- The size of the port on the world. A log scale value from 0 (the smallest) to 7 (the largest) as generated from GURPS Traveller: Starports p. 59.
- SPA pop
- Star Port Authority employee population, as generated from GURPS Traveller: Starports p. 65.





