Difference between revisions of "T5 Second Survey"

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[[File: Imperial Sunburst-Sun-IISS-Traveller.gif|right]]
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[[File:Comp-Prog-Dav-R-Deitrick-Starter-Trav-Page-16 16-July-2018a.jpg|right]]
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[[T5 Second Survey]] is an ongoing project that is overhauling and cleaning up of the world and stellar data published primarily in the 1980s and 90s for the ''Official Traveller Universe ([[OTU]]).''  
+
[[T5 Second Survey]] is an ongoing project that is overhauling and cleaning up of the world and stellar data published primarily in the 1980s and 90s for the ''Official Traveller Universe ([[OTU]]).'' This is a background article about game design. For the in-universe article by the same name, please see the ''[[Second Survey]]'' article.
−
* With the publication of the playtest version of the [[T5 Core Rules|Traveller 5th edition core rule book]] (2008), [[Don McKinney]], [[Robert Eaglestone]], along with [[Marc Miller]] engaged in a project to collect and update the known astrographic data. Since the original three members, others have joined and left this ongoing project.
 
−
* The T5 Second Survey project takes old data, rewinds back to just what was in AOTI, picks and chooses some later additions, then starts expanding the dataset with T5'isms and additional sectors. It is then shared online via TravellerMap and used as the basis for new products.
 
−
* This is a meta-story article about game design. For the in-universe article by the same name, please see the ''[[Second Survey]]'' article.
 
−
----
 
−
Traveller star maps have gone through three overlapping and very generalized time periods of development:
 
−
# [[Legacy Astrographic Data]] AKA [Initial Sectors (1977 to 2008)]
 
−
# [[Sunbane]] AKA [Generated Data (1985 to 1999)]
 
−
# [[T5 Second Survey]] AKA [Internet Era (1997 to Present)]
 
  
−
== Description (Specifications) ==
+
With the emergence of TravellerMap (2006), a team led by [[Robert Eaglestone]] (with Gruffty, Jim Fetters, Mike West, and others) identified and corrected consistency errors between Sunbane and AOTI astrographic data. [http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?t=5832 CotI Discussion Leading to T5SS], starting around page 16 (March 2006), and more or less done by page 40 (June 2006). This effort produced a report serving as an input to fixing those errors.
 +
 
 +
With the publication of the playtest version of the [[T5 Core Rules|Traveller 5th edition core rule book]] (2008), [[Don McKinney]], [[Robert Eaglestone]], along with [[Marc Miller]] engaged in a project to collect and update the known astrographic data. Since the original three members, others have joined and left this ongoing project.
 +
 
 +
The T5 Second Survey project takes old data, rewinds back to just what was in AOTI, picks and chooses some later additions, then starts expanding the dataset with T5'isms and additional sectors. It is then shared online via TravellerMap and used as the basis for new products.
 +
 
 +
 +
== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
 
This project has several goals:
 
This project has several goals:
 
# Update the astrographic data to the current Traveller 5th edition rules, including the new extensions.
 
# Update the astrographic data to the current Traveller 5th edition rules, including the new extensions.
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=== T5 Second Survey Adjustments ===
 
=== T5 Second Survey Adjustments ===
−
In order to make the collection of [[Legacy Astrographic Data|legacy astrographic data]] more consistent, the project took the approach of overwriting the the previous versions if the new changes made sense. The T5 Second Survey adjustments to the previous versions of data includes:
+
In order to make the collection of [[Legacy Astrographic Data|legacy astrographic data]] more consistent, the project took the approach of overwriting the the previous versions if the new changes made sense. While basing T5SS data on previously publications - to preserve the history of the setting - has generally been a consideration, revisiting and wholesale replacing developments done in ways we consider offensive takes priority.
 +
 
 +
The T5 Second Survey adjustments to the previous versions of data includes, but not limited to :
 
# [[Talk:Star|Fixing stellar data to match the current understanding of stars]]. Specific changes would be:
 
# [[Talk:Star|Fixing stellar data to match the current understanding of stars]]. Specific changes would be:
 
## Replace the dwarf (D) class [[star]]s with M class stars
 
## Replace the dwarf (D) class [[star]]s with M class stars
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## Fix the M class stars to a minimum of M4 if the world is habitable
 
## Fix the M class stars to a minimum of M4 if the world is habitable
 
# World generation changes include
 
# World generation changes include
−
## Increase the size of worlds with thin or better atmospheres to match the physics that small worlds can't hold atmospheres
+
## Increase the size of worlds with thin or better [[atmosphere]]s to match the physics that small worlds can't hold atmospheres
−
## Adjust the TLs of all worlds in the Imperium to be a maximum of 15
+
## Adjust the [[TL]]s of the worlds:
−
## Adjust the TLs and populations of worlds in several sectors to ensure each sector economy falls in a specific range of values
+
### All worlds in the Imperium to be a maximum of 15
−
## Apply automated tools to ensure UWP values are within T5 generation ranges, including the new Ix, Cx, Ex values.  
+
### Worlds with un-breathable atmospheres (tainted, trace, vacuum, exotic) to support the equipment required to keep the population alive.
−
# Trade code changes would include
+
### Adjust the TL and populations of worlds in several sectors to ensure each sector economy falls in a specific range of values
−
## Fix the trade codes to match the rules in the T5 Core Rules
+
## Apply automated tools to ensure UWP values are within T5 generation ranges, including the new [[Ix]], [[Cx]], [[Ex]] values.  
−
## Add the sophont codes to worlds where they are known
+
### [[Ix]] calculations note that the OTU has multiple base codes which mean the same thing from T5's perspective.  The most direct example is that S is used for Imperial scout bases and V for non-Imperial scout bases, but both codes refer to what T5 just calls a "scout base".  The full rule for Ix from base codes - with parentheses added to clarify the order of operations - is, "+1 Ix if the base codes (contain at least one of (D, W, and/or X)), and/or (contain at least one of (K, N, and/or T) and at least one of (C, M, R, S, and/or V))".
−
## Add the O: (owned worlds) or Mr notation to worlds that are Gov 6
+
## Trade code changes would include:
−
## Apply automated tools to verify the Trade codes are correct.
+
### Fix the trade codes to match the rules in the [[T5 Core Rules]]
 +
### Add the sophont codes to worlds where they are known
 +
### Add the O: (owned worlds) or Mr notation to worlds that are Gov 6
 +
### Apply automated tools to verify the Trade codes are correct.
 +
# Naming, including the names of sectors, subsectors, and worlds. Many of the names used outside of the Imperium were generated by one or another of various word generator programs. The review adjusts the names so they are reasonably pronounceable and do not contain, or are apparent synonyms with, any of a long list of offensive terms. Duplicate names are allowed and in some cases encouraged.
  
 
== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
 
== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
−
Traveller [[astrography]] is very difficult to document because it has had many overlapping periods about which even the direct eye witnesses and participants sometimes have profound disagreements. The legacy data is the interaction of the official publications, the work of the various Traveller licensees, and the fan works. Because these works fed into each other in various random ways, tracking the exact history of some of the data can be a difficult task. This author can only confess to having reviewed forty years of published materials, spoken with multiple former employees, authors, illustrators, and other participants and tried to piece the best history possible out of the mess. Long live, Traveller! {{Unpublished cite|author=Maksim-Smelchak}}
 
  
−
=== Internet Era (1997 to Present) ===  
+
====State of the Imperium (email from June 2, 2006)====
−
The internet era begins in the late 1990s. Traveller Publishers during this era are largely on their own in terms of astrographic data. Some publishers ([[Imperium Games]], [[QuikLink Interactive]]) generate their own data from scratch, others ([[Steve Jackson Games]]) use the existing published data with minor updates.  
+
An email from Don McKinney regarding the state of the sectors known in the Imperium and discussion the state of review at the start of the T5 Second Survey process.
−
# In 1998 and 1999, [[Freelance Traveller]] (1998), [[Downport]] (1999), and [[The Zhodani Base]] (1999) were all early sites which contained copies of the previous generated data and make attempts to collect and update the published data. This is a [[Traveller_RPG:Community_Portal#Fan_Sites|small set]] of the fan sites.
+
 
−
# In 1989, [[Joe Fugate]] uploaded the sector files to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=GEnie&oldid=46491582 GEnie] online service in 1989. This data is know also as the GEnie data (or GENII) for that reason. In 1994 these files were hosted on the Sunbane FTP server (<nowiki>ftp://sunbane.engrg.uwo.ca/</nowiki>, which is no longer available) by the then [[Traveller Mailing List|TML]] host [[User:Dcorrin|Dan Corrin]]. The original files are now collected in the {{HIWG}} archives.
+
These sectors are published, owned, or managed, and therefore aren't part of the regen process:
−
## All of the sector data published in [[Travellers' Digest]] and [[MegaTraveller Journal 03]] used this data. The data was used as the basis for the dot maps in [[Alien - Solomani & Aslan | Solomani & Aslan]] and [[Alien - Vilani & Vargr|Vilani & Vargr]].  
+
* Spinward Marches (Marc is taking suggestions)
−
## Shortly after being published, {{HIWG}} members updated and added to many of these sectors. They added names and stellar data to most of the data (missing in the original), and expanded upon the original thirty-five sectors.
+
* Solomani Rim
−
## The Sunbane data continues to be used widely by Traveller fans for their projects. The [[Hinterworlds Sector]] article in [[Challenge39|Challenge 39]] used the Sunbane data as its starting point. The data for the [[Domain of Gateway| Gateway Domain]] sectors was used as the starting point for [[Gateway to Destiny]]. It served as the basis for the [[T5 Second Survey]].
+
 
−
## The Sunbane data, as updated by {{HIWG}}, is distributed with [[Galactic]] and [[Heaven & Earth]], two of the most popular Traveller mapping programs. It forms the basis for numerous online maps. Many of the files at the [http://zho.berka.com/ Zhodani Base] web site use the data.
+
Massilia will largely remain as-is. Being published, I see a large portion of these systems as having amnesty, though some might be regeneratable without bothering people much.  
−
# In 2006, the [[Traveller Wiki]] (2006) begins to collect the data from the various sites and starts (2008) to publish the data in a more consistent fashion.
+
* Massilia (Some base codes fixed)
−
# Around 2008, with the publication of the playtest version of the [[T5 Core Rules|Traveller 5th edition core rule book]] (2008), [[Don McKinney]], [[Robert Eaglestone]], along with [[Marc Miller]] engaged in the [[T5 Second Survey]] a project to collect and update known astrographic data.
+
 
−
## The early work was done by Rob with [[Dan Burns|Dan "Far Trader" Burns]], gathering details, supplying and filling in gaps, then Don (with the help of [[Andrew Ford]] and [[Roger Howe]], aka "the Australian Specialists") picked up and continued working on the sectors within the Imperium, which was then reviewed by Marc and used for the rewards for the [[T5 Kickstarter]].
+
These are 'published' or managed, but I think Jim and I will check them and prepare them for regeneration anyway.
−
## [[T5 Second Survey]] was created as an update to the previous data sets including the most common one, the Sunbane set.
+
* Spica (Gruffty)
−
## FFE oversees the entire process.
+
* Deneb (Daryen?)
−
## A T5 Second Survey manual is part of an effort to somewhat standardize the chaotic system.
+
* Trojan Reaches (Daryen?)
−
## [[FFE]] has re-canon-ized some of the legacy data in this current, ongoing period.
+
* Reft (Daryen?)
−
# From the mid 2000's to the present, new products from Traveller licensees such as [[T20]] and [[MGT]] began start overwriting and expanding the data.
+
* Ley (QLI)
−
## Since 2009, most [[Mongoose Traveller]] [[OTU]] books have been produced using the data from this project. [[Ziafrplians Sector]] and [[Gvurrdon Sector]] have been done as part of the effort to supply baseline data for [[Mongoose Traveller]] projects.
+
* Glimmerdrift (QLI)
−
## As of April 2013, this project has all of the sectors with at least two Imperial worlds largely second-draft completed (some details, for example, owning worlds for some captive governments remain undetermined, and smoothing out inconsistencies in the stellar data).
+
* Gateway (QLI)
−
## Since 2014, [https://travellermap.com/ Traveller Map] serves as the publication source along with an interactive user interface. The T5 Second Survey began publication to Traveller Map in 2014.
+
* Crucis Margin (QLI)
 +
 
 +
Here are the ones we're done with.
 +
 
 +
19 [[Sunbane]] sectors which have been "primed" to where their data agrees with the AOTI baseline (and amnesty worlds have been marked) in order to regenerate them:
 +
 
 +
* Alpha Crucis (Jim)
 +
* Antares (Jim)
 +
* Core
 +
* Corridor
 +
* Dagudashag
 +
* Daibei (Jim)
 +
* Delphi (Jim)
 +
* Diaspora (Jim)
 +
* Empty Quarter (Jim)
 +
* Fornast (Jim)
 +
* Gushemege
 +
* Ilelish
 +
* Lishun
 +
* Magyar (Jim)
 +
* Old Expanses (Jim)
 +
* Reaver's Deep
 +
* Verge
 +
* Vland
 +
* Zarushagar
 +
 
 +
=== Selected T5 Second Survey Members ===
 +
This not comprehensive lists includes members, both past and present:
 +
# [[Joshua Bell]]
 +
# [[Dan Burns]]
 +
# [[Randy Dorman]]
 +
# [[Robert Eaglestone]]
 +
# [[Andrew Ford]]
 +
# [[Roger Howe]]
 +
# [[Thomas Jones-Low]]
 +
# [[Donald McKinney]]
 +
# [[Marc Miller]]
 +
# [[Maksim-Smelchak]]
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
{{Referral-Tree-Astrography}}
  
−
== References & Contributors (Sources) ==
+
== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
 
{{Advanced}}
 
{{Advanced}}
 
{{Sources
 
{{Sources
−
|S1= EXTERNAL LINK: [https://travellermap.com/doc/credits Trav-Map Credits]  
+
|S1= [https://travellermap.com/doc/credits Trav-Map Credits]  
−
|S2= EXTERNAL LINK: [https://travellermap.com/doc/about#related-sites-and-sources Trav-Map Sites & Sources]
+
|S2= [https://travellermap.com/doc/about#related-sites-and-sources Trav-Map Sites & Sources]
−
|S3= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
 
 
|S4= Author & Contributor: [[Joshua Bell]]
 
|S4= Author & Contributor: [[Joshua Bell]]
−
|S5= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[User:Maksim-Smelchak|Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]]
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 69: Line 111:
 
[[Category: Astrographic Dataset]]
 
[[Category: Astrographic Dataset]]
 
[[Category: Fan Projects]]
 
[[Category: Fan Projects]]
−
{{MET|Astrography}}
+
{{MET|Astrography|Community Resource}}

Revision as of 17:22, 22 August 2021

Comp-Prog-Dav-R-Deitrick-Starter-Trav-Page-16 16-July-2018a.jpg

T5 Second Survey is an ongoing project that is overhauling and cleaning up of the world and stellar data published primarily in the 1980s and 90s for the Official Traveller Universe (OTU). This is a background article about game design. For the in-universe article by the same name, please see the Second Survey article.

With the emergence of TravellerMap (2006), a team led by Robert Eaglestone (with Gruffty, Jim Fetters, Mike West, and others) identified and corrected consistency errors between Sunbane and AOTI astrographic data. CotI Discussion Leading to T5SS, starting around page 16 (March 2006), and more or less done by page 40 (June 2006). This effort produced a report serving as an input to fixing those errors.

With the publication of the playtest version of the Traveller 5th edition core rule book (2008), Don McKinney, Robert Eaglestone, along with Marc Miller engaged in a project to collect and update the known astrographic data. Since the original three members, others have joined and left this ongoing project.

The T5 Second Survey project takes old data, rewinds back to just what was in AOTI, picks and chooses some later additions, then starts expanding the dataset with T5'isms and additional sectors. It is then shared online via TravellerMap and used as the basis for new products.


Description (Specifications)

This project has several goals:

  1. Update the astrographic data to the current Traveller 5th edition rules, including the new extensions.
  2. Address several shortcomings in the generation of the data in previous versions, including stellar data and UWPs.
  3. Produce a consistent and known set of data for current and future Traveller publishers. All of the Mongoose Traveller books published since 2009 have used this data.

T5 Second Survey Adjustments

In order to make the collection of legacy astrographic data more consistent, the project took the approach of overwriting the the previous versions if the new changes made sense. While basing T5SS data on previously publications - to preserve the history of the setting - has generally been a consideration, revisiting and wholesale replacing developments done in ways we consider offensive takes priority.

The T5 Second Survey adjustments to the previous versions of data includes, but not limited to :

  1. Fixing stellar data to match the current understanding of stars. Specific changes would be:
    1. Replace the dwarf (D) class stars with M class stars
    2. Reduce the size of some giant stars (OBAF) to more reasonable sizes (GK)
    3. Fix the M class stars to a minimum of M4 if the world is habitable
  2. World generation changes include
    1. Increase the size of worlds with thin or better atmospheres to match the physics that small worlds can't hold atmospheres
    2. Adjust the TLs of the worlds:
      1. All worlds in the Imperium to be a maximum of 15
      2. Worlds with un-breathable atmospheres (tainted, trace, vacuum, exotic) to support the equipment required to keep the population alive.
      3. Adjust the TL and populations of worlds in several sectors to ensure each sector economy falls in a specific range of values
    3. Apply automated tools to ensure UWP values are within T5 generation ranges, including the new Ix, Cx, Ex values.
      1. Ix calculations note that the OTU has multiple base codes which mean the same thing from T5's perspective. The most direct example is that S is used for Imperial scout bases and V for non-Imperial scout bases, but both codes refer to what T5 just calls a "scout base". The full rule for Ix from base codes - with parentheses added to clarify the order of operations - is, "+1 Ix if the base codes (contain at least one of (D, W, and/or X)), and/or (contain at least one of (K, N, and/or T) and at least one of (C, M, R, S, and/or V))".
    4. Trade code changes would include:
      1. Fix the trade codes to match the rules in the T5 Core Rules
      2. Add the sophont codes to worlds where they are known
      3. Add the O: (owned worlds) or Mr notation to worlds that are Gov 6
      4. Apply automated tools to verify the Trade codes are correct.
  3. Naming, including the names of sectors, subsectors, and worlds. Many of the names used outside of the Imperium were generated by one or another of various word generator programs. The review adjusts the names so they are reasonably pronounceable and do not contain, or are apparent synonyms with, any of a long list of offensive terms. Duplicate names are allowed and in some cases encouraged.

History & Background (Dossier)

State of the Imperium (email from June 2, 2006)

An email from Don McKinney regarding the state of the sectors known in the Imperium and discussion the state of review at the start of the T5 Second Survey process.

These sectors are published, owned, or managed, and therefore aren't part of the regen process:

  • Spinward Marches (Marc is taking suggestions)
  • Solomani Rim

Massilia will largely remain as-is. Being published, I see a large portion of these systems as having amnesty, though some might be regeneratable without bothering people much.

  • Massilia (Some base codes fixed)

These are 'published' or managed, but I think Jim and I will check them and prepare them for regeneration anyway.

  • Spica (Gruffty)
  • Deneb (Daryen?)
  • Trojan Reaches (Daryen?)
  • Reft (Daryen?)
  • Ley (QLI)
  • Glimmerdrift (QLI)
  • Gateway (QLI)
  • Crucis Margin (QLI)

Here are the ones we're done with.

19 Sunbane sectors which have been "primed" to where their data agrees with the AOTI baseline (and amnesty worlds have been marked) in order to regenerate them:

  • Alpha Crucis (Jim)
  • Antares (Jim)
  • Core
  • Corridor
  • Dagudashag
  • Daibei (Jim)
  • Delphi (Jim)
  • Diaspora (Jim)
  • Empty Quarter (Jim)
  • Fornast (Jim)
  • Gushemege
  • Ilelish
  • Lishun
  • Magyar (Jim)
  • Old Expanses (Jim)
  • Reaver's Deep
  • Verge
  • Vland
  • Zarushagar

Selected T5 Second Survey Members

This not comprehensive lists includes members, both past and present:

  1. Joshua Bell
  2. Dan Burns
  3. Randy Dorman
  4. Robert Eaglestone
  5. Andrew Ford
  6. Roger Howe
  7. Thomas Jones-Low
  8. Donald McKinney
  9. Marc Miller
  10. Maksim-Smelchak

See also

Astrography Metadata

§ == ( Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information: ) == §

Astrography:

References & Contributors (Sources)

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.
Retrieved from "http://wiki.travellerrpg.com/index.php?title=T5_Second_Survey&oldid=660645"