09-24-2009, 01:18 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
I've been tinkering around with the world creation system in Gurps: Space, which is a lot of fun but takes forever.
I've been working on two approaches to make it easier which I wanted to share. Using Calc, the Open Office version of Excel I've been creating a spreadsheet which automatically builds a system. I'm up to step 23 of the advanced worldbuilding system. The question I wanted to ask is whether I can give this spreadsheet away here on the forums or if that has copyright issues. (It just gives raw data without interpretation so you really do need a copy of Space for it to make sense). Also, after noticing some patterns emerging with the spreadsheet, I've created a much simpler version of the advanced worldbuilding system, which creates an entire solar system of planets that you can develop using the basic worldbuilding system. It's not as accurate or detailed as the advanced system, but if you prefer the ease of the basic system you can use this to build an entire star system with just the basic system (steps 1-14). This is still a work in progress, so any feedback is welcome so that I can improve this system. The Simpler System Each star has 12 orbital slots. If it's a main sequence star with its inner radius determined by mass then this is what you'd get if you automatically selected 1.7 for each orbital ratio. You may lose some of these slots based on companion stars. For each step, select an option either deliberately or using whatever random chance method seems best. Step 1: Select Number of Stars and Companion Type. Single Star One star without any companions. Generate a set of planets with a full set of orbital slots. Close Binary Two stars that are quite close to eachother. There are no planets nearby due to the forbidden zone, but a set of objects can orbit the pair at a greater distance. Only generate one set of planets and remove the first 1d6 slots. Distant Companion Two stars that orbit eachother at quite a distance. Their Forbidden Zones have no effect upon each other. Generate two full sets of planets. Medium-range Companion Two stars orbit eachother with their planets in between. Their Forbidden Zones prevent outer planets from forming in each system. Generate two sets of planets but subtract 1d6 of the outer slots from each. Close Binary with Distant Companion Generate one set of planets, subtracting the first 1d6 slots, for the close binary pair. Create a complete second set of planets for the distant companion. Close Binary with Medium-range Companion Generate one set of planets, subtracting the first 1d6 slots, for the close binary pair and 1d6 of the outer slots from the forbidden zone of the nearby companion. Create a second set of planets for the medium companion but subtract 1d6 of the outer slots. Medium Trinary Three stars circle eachother at medium distance. They each develop their own set of planets but the outer ones tend to be missing. Generate three sets of planets but subtract 1d6 of the outer slots from each. Distant Trinary Three stars that are close neighbours, but don't interfere in eachother's business. Generate three sets of planets. Step 2: Select Temperature for each Star Hot High luminosity as compared to its mass. This is typically seen with older stars or with F type stars. Medium A medium system enjoys a nice ratio between luminosity and mass. It provides a spectrum going from warmer worlds nearer the sun out to cold planets in the far orbits. You tend to see this more with G type stars. Basically it's an Earth/Sol like system. Cold High mass compared to luminosity. You'll generally have colder planets. This is typically seen with younger stars or M type stars. Step 3: Fill the Orbital Slots Pick a planet type, empty slot or asteroid belt to go in each slot. If it's a terrestrial world, then you can select from the following options. Slot 1 Hot: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Chthonian), Large (Chthonian) Medium: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Chthonian), Large (Chthonian) Cold: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Chthonian), Large (Chthonian) Slot 2 Hot: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Chthonian), Large (Chthonian) Medium: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Chthonian), Large (Chthonian) Cold: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Chthonian)*, Large (Chthonian)* Slot 3 Hot: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Chthonian), Large (Chthonian) Medium: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Chthonian)*, Large (Chthonian)* Cold: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Greenhouse)*, Large (Greenhouse)* Slot 4 Hot: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Greenhouse)*, Large (Greenhouse)* Medium: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Greenhouse)*, Large (Greenhouse)* Cold: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Greenhouse)*, Large (Greenhouse)* Slot 5 Hot: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Greenhouse)*, Large (Greenhouse)* Medium: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Garden/Ocean), Large (Garden/Ocean) Cold: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Garden/Ocean), Large (Garden/Ocean) Slot 6 Hot: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Garden/Ocean), Large (Garden/Ocean) Medium: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Ice)*, Large (Ice)* Cold: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Ammonia or Ice)*, Large (Ammonia or Ice)* Slot 7 Hot: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Ice)*, Large (Ice)* Medium: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Ice), Large (Ice) Cold: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Ammonia or Ice), Large (Ammonia or Ice) Slot 8 Hot: Tiny (Rock), Small (Rock), Standard (Ice), Large (Ice) Medium: Tiny (Ice/Sulfur), Small (Ice), Standard (Ice), Large (Ice) Cold: Tiny (Ice/Sulfur), Small (Ice), Standard (Ice), Large (Ice) Slot 9 Hot: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Ice), Standard (Ice), Large (Ice) Medium: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Ice), Standard (Ice), Large (Ice) Cold: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Ice), Standard (Ice), Large (Ice) Slot 10 Hot: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Ice), Standard (Ice), Large (Ice) Medium: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Hadean), Standard (Hadean), Large (Ice) Cold: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Hadean), Standard (Hadean), Large (Ice) Slot 11 Hot: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Hadean), Standard (Hadean), Large (Ice) Medium: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Hadean), Standard (Hadean), Large (Ice) Cold: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Hadean), Standard (Hadean), Large (Ice) Slot 12 Hot: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Hadean), Standard (Hadean), Large (Ice) Medium: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Hadean), Standard (Hadean), Large (Ice) Cold: Tiny (Ice or Sulfur), Small (Hadean), Standard (Hadean), Large (Ice) *Can be terraformed to Standard or Large (Garden) Step 4: Develop the planets Develop each of the planets using the basic worldbuilding system. (Steps 1-14) |
09-24-2009, 01:30 PM | #2 | |
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Oklahoma City
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Re: Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
There are a couple of these already out there; from http://www.sjgames.com/general/gm-aids.html
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The Art of D. Raymond Lunceford, The Daniverse: Core Group Annex The Daniverse Game Blog Last edited by Gigermann; 09-24-2009 at 01:53 PM. |
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09-24-2009, 04:07 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Re: Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
I'd certainly be interested in an updated version (I was building something similar myself). I believe all the versions mentioned are for 3rd edition. The 4th edition Space is built differently, so a new version would be nice.
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09-24-2009, 04:33 PM | #4 | |
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oz
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Re: Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
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Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat. Last edited by Agemegos; 10-30-2010 at 07:28 PM. |
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09-24-2009, 04:49 PM | #5 | ||
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oz
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Re: Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
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Create a character generator or other game aid?The forum referred to no longer exists. Finally, one of the rights of an author under copyright law is not to have his work distributed in a garbled form. This is why I do not distribute my Excel instantiation of the GURPS Space starsystem generator. I couldn't get the spacing on moons to come out right, I corrected some acknowledged but officially uncorrected errata, and I added a few calculations (such as the level of visible illumination) that are not in the original. So I would legally need explicit permission to distribute mine. The above permission only seems to me to apply to a faithful and complete instantiation.
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Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat. Last edited by Agemegos; 10-30-2010 at 07:29 PM. Reason: added my .sig |
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09-24-2009, 05:57 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Oklahoma City
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Re: Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
Quote:
__________________
The Art of D. Raymond Lunceford, The Daniverse: Core Group Annex The Daniverse Game Blog |
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09-24-2009, 07:52 PM | #7 |
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oz
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Re: Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
Do. The planet and system generation sequence in GURPS Space 4th ed. is fantastic. It has this really clever forwards-or-backwards feature that allows you to either start with a planet and establish its context, or start with the context and generate the planet. And its scientific detail and accuracy are unparallelled (except for a few uncorrected errata concerning tides and rotation, on p. 117).
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Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat. Last edited by Agemegos; 10-30-2010 at 07:30 PM. |
09-24-2009, 11:47 PM | #8 | |||
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Re: Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
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I'll remember that though and keep any 'personal touches' out of the version for distribution. Quote:
I've also purchased Astrosynthesis recently, which is an amazing program. It has its own internal star system generator, which with the right plug-ins provides its results in GURPS statistics. However, as good as all of these are, no one so far seems to have made and distributed just an automation of the 4th edition Space System. |
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09-25-2009, 12:43 AM | #9 |
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oz
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Re: Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
Mine will do a thousand systems in two minutes. But as I said, I couldn't manage the rules for placing of lunar orbits without using macros, and I chose to correct some errata.
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Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat. Last edited by Agemegos; 10-30-2010 at 07:30 PM. |
09-25-2009, 01:13 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Re: Simplifying Gurps Space world creation
I'm not up to the lunar orbits yet, sounds like it may be a daunting prospect. So far the hardest part I found was placing the planetary orbits. I hope the satellites aren't much more difficult.
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Tags |
space, system generation |
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