MGT v3.2 playtest doc question - World Design

[Abslom_Daak]

I think I must be missing or over-complicating something here, and hopefully someone with a lot more experience than I can shed some light.

From pp 168 Atmosphere:

The Atmosphere characteristic measures the type of atmosphere present, and is determined by rolling 2d6-7 and adding the planet's Size. Under most circumstances, a planet cannot have an Atmosphere score greater than twice its Size.

The Atmosphere tables on this page have a range of 0 to +12

O.K. so no problem, roll 2 D6 and subtract 7, giving a possible range of -5 to +5 before modifying this value using the planet's size previously rolled, which uses 2D6-2 (0 to +10 range)

Hypothetical roll 1:
----------------------
Size: (4+5)-2=7
Atmo: ((6+5)-7)+7= 11

Hypothetical roll 2:
-----------------------
Size: (6+5)-2=9
Atmo: ((6+6)-7)+9= 14

Hypothetical roll 3:
-----------------------
Size: (1+1)-2=0
Atmo: ((1+1)-7)+0= -5

Both rolls #2 and #3 above are well out of the range provided on the Atmo tables, and I might assume that one could round-up or down here to 12 and 0 respectively, but I hate to assume when other tables that can generate values out of range clearly state "12+" or "2 or less" when this condition can occur.

Any guidance is appreciated.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Any value below Zero is treated as Zero.

For values above 12, that was a problem with the original books as well.

Values up to 15 are possible, but only up to 12 were shown in the book.

Later Traveller books added values up to 15.

No idea what the final version will look like, but I hope it includes the values for 13 to 15.

One of the threads here gives those values and meanings as well as a suggested alternate.

 

[Abslom_Daak]

Any value below Zero is treated as Zero.

Good enough, I was assuming that, but the last time I actually played or was exposed to Traveller before last month was in 1979, and that was only twice.

For values above 12, that was a problem with the original books as well.

Values up to 15 are possible, but only up to 12 were shown in the book.

Later Traveller books added values up to 15.

No idea what the final version will look like, but I hope it includes the values for 13 to 15.

One of the threads here gives those values and meanings as well as a suggested alternate.

If that is the case, it appears I am finding what appear to be numerous calculation holes and/or incomplete guidelines like this in the playtest document. Hopefully these were addressed prior to retail release, but sadly, I won't be able to find out for sure until the PDF version comes out, as dead-tree publications are of no interest to me.

I am presently developing automation tools encompassing all aspects of character, NPC world and sector/subsector design, and when you start plugging the existing numbers into cold and unfeeling software and relational database functions, the holes start to expose themselves rather quickly, and software more stubbornly insists on resolution than a live player or GM might. :wink:

 

[Border Reiver]

Atmospheres in the retail version go to 15.

 

[Abslom_Daak]

Atmospheres in the retail version go to 15.

If you don't mind me asking, do you happen to know if they actually added a way to calculate World temperature that explains how to correctly use the orbit modifier? Presently there are 2 tables and a reference to needing to roll 1D6 (assumed to be used for temp result), and no real method described how to roll for the orbit modifier, it's table is also missing the column normally present for a dice roll result.


pp 169 GMT playtest doc

Add the planet's Atmosphere score to the orbit modifier, then roll
1d6 and consult the world temperature table.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I don't think the basic version of world gen will use orbital positions. I think it will be more like Classic Traveller, LBB3.

The Scouts book, due out later this year, will probably have the full star and system generation methodology.

 

[Border Reiver]

What we have now is the assumption that all basic worlds will be found in the habitable zone and that you can now roll 2D6 with modifiers to produce a temperature from -51°c to 81°c.

I'm sure further info will be in a later publication.

 

[Abslom_Daak]

What we have now is the assumption that all basic worlds will be found in the habitable zone and that you can now roll 2D6 with modifiers to produce a temperature from -51°c to 81°c.

I'm sure further info will be in a later publication.

Hopefully, so, because assuming is bad, and so is having all the planets existing within the habitable zone. I am at a loss if this assumption is correct however, to explain why it says explicitly to use the table without explaining how to do it.

as I move further along, another issue is the following for Gas Giants:

pp 165 MGT playtest doc

Gas Giants: A star system may have one or more gas giant planets (similar to Jupiter or Saturn). ..........

Gas giants are relatively common. As indicated on the system contents table, throw 10+ for a gas giant not to be present in
the system. If one is present, mark the system hex in accordance with the world format

I don't seem to be able to find the specific table this is referring to, is this also something "coming soon" or is already fixed in the dead tree version? Specific information for these would seem important since they are (at the very least) a source of fuel.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I think it started out as a table to tell you how many gas giants were present in the system and later went to just a YES/NO roll (10+ for NO).

 

[FallingPhoenix]

the dead tree version

Hee hee. For some reason that wording tickles my funny bone...

FP, skeptical environmentalist.