Using the Scout book to create and survey systems/planets

[RevReese]

I got Scouts recently, and was reading the system design section, how do you use that? After the main world has been created using the core book? Does the scouts method just add orbital trajectories of your created planets? How would I use that in game - just to describe the orbits when the system is scanned? I have seen a lot of people designing really complex planets and systems and I was also wondering how they do that and ensure it all makes sense? I mean ensuring it is realistic and has relevant weather, creatures, and terrain. Also, how to do a system survey, scouts explains how In-Character but not how as in what would need to be rolled etc. how much information do you give out as a result of a successful sensor scan of the system/planet etc. Is it the better the roll, the more accurate the information? That would require every planet and system in your game to be mapped in fine detail wouldn't it? just in case the PC's scan it!. Already I would need a large folder of highly detailed information just for one system! or is that all part of the fun of being a referee? :wink:

Sorry for another barrage of questions, but this does seem to be the only and in any case the best source of help and advice anywhere!

 

[captainjack23]

I got Scouts recently, and was reading the system design section, how do you use that?
[snip]
or is that all part of the fun of being a referee? :wink:

I'm short on time, so here's the short answer first: It's part of the fun of being a referee !


As to the system generation system, it's more to give a framework for travel inside the system when the GM doesn't have it premapped. For instance: Where do we go for fuel ? Weird results, obviously, need to be used to either generate weird adventures, or be discarded.

As to planetside detail of temp and etc, if you don't have access to some of the older scoutish systems (GURPS, TNE,MT,even CT), go with what you know until the worldbuilders book comes out. Try the old dodge of describing it as "earthlike" , "Marslike" and then you can look up the data from any good basic astronomy source.

For me, the key is always, "don't map until you need to show" -that allows you to pay attention to here the players are, and keep the rest as stage props, awaiting conversion to simulations as needed.