In my Travellercampaign I create my worlds using dice and imagination, but I´ve found H&E is great for generating world maps.
Also the extra detail is great for sparking the imagination. The one thing I dont get is how to read the temperatures worksheet.
As an example, the planet Norma C555555-7 (one year = 419 standard days, day + night = 26h) got these stats:
(I cut out some hexes to make the post shorter)
HEX BASE TEMPERATURE TEMPERATURE
ROW TEMPERATURE EFFECTS FOR HEX ROW
1 15 15 30
6 15 -10 5
11 15 -35 -20
AXIAL TILT HIGHEST
HEX SUMMER AXIAL TILT TEMP PLUS DAYTIME ORBIT ECC TEMP FOR
ROW PLUS FACTOR IN SUMMER PLUS PLUS HEX ROW
1 24 0,25 6 7 0,0 43
6 24 1 24 7 0,0 36
11 24 1 24 7 0,0 11
AXIAL TILT LOWEST
HEX WINTER AXIAL TILT TEMP MINUS NIGHTTIME ORBIT ECC TEMP FOR
ROW MINUS FACTOR IN WINTER MINUS MINUS HEX ROW
1 -40 0,25 -10 39 0,0 -19
6 -40 1 -40 39 0,0 -74
11 -40 1 -40 39 0,0 -99
Looking at hex row 1, I´d say the lowest and highest possible temperatures (43 & -19) implies great seasonal changes, possibly the sea will freeze in winter.
Besides deciding the approximate temerature for the time when the pc´s arrive, the climate and seasons will affect culture, architecture and probably other stuff.
I would really like to learn how to read these charts, not just this example. Any help is appriciated.
EDIT: the carts get weird when posted. I´ll try to fix that as soon as possible.
The mechanic is from DGP Grand Survey. I scanned the relevant section.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2640[/ATTACH]
OK I dug into it
from here
http://www.downport.com/wbd/World%20Details%20MT%20TXT.htm
See how it laid out
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2641[/ATTACH]
I need to see the complete world sheet to tell you why your temperature swings are what they are. It looks like you have a high axial tile with a long day night cycle which combines with the thin (atmos 5) atmosphere to produce large swings in temperatures.
The summer temperatures in the last column are the highest during the day
While the winter temperatures in the last column are the lowest during the night.
Quote from: estar;1048618I need to see the complete world sheet to tell you why your temperature swings are what they are. It looks like you have a high axial tile with a long day night cycle which combines with the thin (atmos 5) atmosphere to produce large swings in temperatures.
The summer temperatures in the last column are the highest during the day
While the winter temperatures in the last column are the lowest during the night.
Thanks!
So the highest temp is like the hottest ever midsummer noon, and the lowest is midwinther at midnight - is that right?
Are these temeratures supposed to be the hottest/coolest day of every year, or the record high/low measured in the history of the planet, or even the highest/lowest average temp for the hexrow, or something else?
I thought H&E was based on MegaTravellers World builders handbook but I´ll check out Grand survey now.
Quote from: zx81;1048630Thanks!
So the highest temp is like the hottest ever midsummer noon, and the lowest is midwinther at midnight - is that right?
Yes it is the hottest temperature recorded in summer. It not always midsummer because of climate lag. Just like the hottest temperature of the day is mid-afternoon not noon. The same for the coldest temperature.
Quote from: zx81;1048630Thanks!
Are these temeratures supposed to be the hottest/coolest day of every year, or the record high/low measured in the history of the planet, or even the highest/lowest average temp for the hexrow, or something else?
They are averages not record highs and lows.
Quote from: zx81;1048630I thought H&E was based on MegaTravellers World builders handbook but I´ll check out Grand survey now.
MT World Builder is in essence 2nd edition Grand Survey (combined with Grand Census).
I've never used Heaven & Earth, I've always done the work-ups by hand. How hard is it to learn? How easy is it to use? Where can I find the program to download?
Quote from: jeff37923;1048706I've never used Heaven & Earth, I've always done the work-ups by hand. How hard is it to learn? How easy is it to use? Where can I find the program to download?
Here:
http://www.downport.com/wbd/HEAVEN_&_EARTH.htm (http://www.downport.com/wbd/HEAVEN_&_EARTH.htm)
If I can work it out, you should have no problem.
Thank you estar! This really helps.
OK, I'm having a problem.
I've downloaded it, and when I try to run it, I keep getting an error message of "Component 'TWISTE~1.OCX' not correctly registered. File is missing or invalid."
Quote from: jeff37923;1048780OK, I'm having a problem.
I've downloaded it, and when I try to run it, I keep getting an error message of "Component 'TWISTE~1.OCX' not correctly registered. File is missing or invalid."
Look at this thread starting with the post I linked too
http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?p=393000&highlight=heaven+earth+installing#post393000
Try this first
QuoteFor Windows 7 64 bit, I just installed it, and then did a "Properties" on the main executable, and in the compatibility box set the compatibility to Windows XP SP3.
Quote from: estar;1048843Look at this thread starting with the post I linked too
http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?p=393000&highlight=heaven+earth+installing#post393000
Try this first
Yup, works when run as Administrator.
Wow, this thing has got some usefulness to it!
Man, I have to say, this is the sort of stuff I do not like about Traveller.
Well, its not like Traveller requires you to know the exact, scietifically correct temperature for every spot on the planet at a given time.
It´s just that even a subsector have about 40 WORLDS that the pc´s may or may not visit.
I use H&E mainly to generate world maps, but all the extra info is great for all those fringe worlds that I´ve got nothing special planned for,
or just haven´t had the time to write up yet.
Making up unique Sci-fi-worlds is fun, but after a while you may run out of ideas, and then H&E may give your imagination the fuel it needs.
Quote from: RPGPundit;1049111Man, I have to say, this is the sort of stuff I do not like about Traveller.
It there if you like it otherwise it can be ignored. Lots of room on E768976-8 to enjoy one's flavor of Traveller.
Quote from: zx81;1049126Making up unique Sci-fi-worlds is fun, but after a while you may run out of ideas, and then H&E may give your imagination the fuel it needs.
That the value of a good random generator. If you have an idea use it otherwise take advantage of the tools to fill in the blanks. Heaven & Earth is a very through generator.
Quote from: RPGPundit;1049111Man, I have to say, this is the sort of stuff I do not like about Traveller.
An interesting point here... Of the SFRPGS contemporary to Traveller that actually include much of any rules for interstellar navigation published through 1980 that I looked at (Flying Buffalo's Starfaring, Tyr Game's Space Quest, FGU's Starships & Spacemen, and FGU's Space Opera, and Traveller - I also looked at Space Patrol, Metamorphosis Alpha, and Gamma World as other SFRPGS but they don't include any rules for interstellar travel or world generation, Space Patrol includes "scenario generation" but it assumes landing on an earth type world - I didn't look at The Star Trek Adventure Game), only Starships & Spacemen and Traveller don't detail out star systems with at least stellar type.
So in it's initial form, Traveller I think actually downplayed "hard science" in setting up worlds, so I'm not sure your complaint is really fair about Traveller unless you buy into the mindset that everything that's been published for Traveller must be used.
Frank
Quote from: zx81;1049126Well, its not like Traveller requires you to know the exact, scietifically correct temperature for every spot on the planet at a given time.
No, absolutely. It's one of the things I like about it. If you want to obsess over starship design or tiny planetary details that are meant to emulate careful science.
But if you don't want that, you can just skip it. Ditto with stuff like trade rules (which I do like a lot).
Quote from: RPGPundit;1049452But if you don't want that, you can just skip it. Ditto with stuff like trade rules (which I do like a lot).
Plenty of Referees skip over Psionics in Traveller rules. Animals get ignored, too. Just use Earth animals on planets when asked if there's any.
Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;1049484Plenty of Referees skip over Psionics in Traveller rules. Animals get ignored, too. Just use Earth animals on planets when asked if there's any.
True. I've only used psionics in half the Trav campaigns I've run.
Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;1049484Plenty of Referees skip over Psionics in Traveller rules. Animals get ignored, too. Just use Earth animals on planets when asked if there's any.
Yes, but I´ve come to like the Animals rules.
If there are herds of 4D 24-ton omnivores roaming the planet, then thats going to affect most things on that world.
I have a question regarding Heaven & Earth, i already downloaded the HES files for the sectors from http://www.downport.com/wbd/HEAVEN_&_EARTH.html and the Foreven Sector file but i was wondering if there are other sector files out there. I searched on my own but was unable to find any. If someone can tell me where I can download additional sector files for Heaven&Earth i would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!
Quote from: jeff37923;1048863Yup, works when run as Administrator.
Wow, this thing has got some usefulness to it!
Hrrrm? yes! Been using this since 2003. I especially like the animals tables generator, the cultures, available cargos for sale, NPC Generator, Planet Industry generator, and Passenger Generator. Really sweet stuff for filling out details on a system.