BOOK 6: SCOUTS UPDATE
LAST UPDATE: 29 NOVEMBER 1997.

• reroll the orbital for any one of these conditions:
  • it is already occupied
  • it is designated an empty orbital
  • it exceeds the maximum allowed orbital number
  • it is prohibited by proximity to the star’s surface/interior.
• do NOT generate the body if no orbitals are available and reduce the GG or Belt counts accordingly (however, do not forget orbitals for companion stars either!)
• companion stars restrict available orbits—the two orbitals beyond the companion star are unavailable, and half the distance from the primary to the companion is the upper limit on orbitals around both stars (round fractions down). However, place all Terran worlds, Gas Giants, and Asteroid belts first, and then remove those from orbits swept out by stars. Also, companion stars use the maximum orbits roll of the primary, with an additional DM -2, and still limited by the half distance rule.
• if there are GGs present, place any belts immediately interior to the outermost GG as available and work inward.
• while there are still belts to place (in systems with GGs) and available orbitals to fill, place them in the immediately interior orbitals to the outermost belts as available and work inward.
• do NOT place belts in empty orbitals.
• asteroid belts, if placed beyond orbit 6 in a system, should be of a lower density due to the larger volume of space occupied, than would an asteroid belt further inward in the system. One of two options exist:
  • belt fragments (partial rings) of a similar density could be incorporated
  • do NOT place belts beyond orbit 6.
• while any orbitals remain after GG/Belt placement, generate worlds by the Inner, Outer, and Habitable Zone tables.
• orbitals beyond the outer stars of a mid-distance binary/multiple star system are centered upon the barycentre (center of mass) of the interior stars in the system.
• orbitals with planets that have eccentricities high enough to reach to outer orbitals may co-exist with other planets in those outer orbitals. Stars in such orbits sweep all outer orbits two orbitals past the farthest point in their orbits (apastron). Those orbitals become empty.
• for each orbital that has been populated with a planet, determine the fractional orbital approximation by 2D6-7 in terms of tenths of an orbital. For example, all rolls at orbital 5, a roll of 7 means the planet is approximately at 5.0, a roll 6 means approximately at 4.9, and a roll of 8 means approximately at 5.1. This procedure gives a possible range of from 4.5 to 5.5. If the planet is a gas giant, reroll die results of 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12.
  • A special case exists with this rule for orbital 0:

    Die Roll from above	A.U.		Die Roll from above	A.U.
    2	0.10		8	0.22
    3	0.12		9	0.24
    4	0.14		10	0.26
    5	0.16		11	0.28
    6	0.18		12	0.30
    7	0.20

• for each orbital that has been populated with a belt, determine the range of greatest density (that’s to say that other belt members may be found inside/outside of this range as well) by two rolls of 2D6-7. These rolls represent (similar to the planet’s approximation above) inner and outer diameters in terms of orbital distance where 80% of the belt member rocks are to be found.
• place wayward planets in the same manner as above, however only avoiding empty orbits, orbits empty due to star effects, or orbits beyond the maximum. Restrict orbit of the wayward planet when it is within 0.2 orbits of planets already placed. The wayward planet may have an orbit equal to or within 0.2 orbitals of an existing planet as long as it’s inclination allows it to be in a harmonic with the planet whose orbit it shares, i.e. it is well above orbital plane when near the other planet and only crosses the orbital plane when the other planet is far away. Alternatively, prepare for the generation of a new asteroid belt in the system. <G>

Wayward planets are so named due to the extreme nature of their orbits. They may have a high inclination which brings them into the normal planar realm of the star system only on rare occasions. Roll for the presence and quantity just as you would for Captured Planets in Scouts.

Wayward planets (if any) are placed in non-standard orbits. Roll 1D6 with a 6 result meaning the planet is a GG. If it is not a GG, the planet should be generated in accordance with the Zone characteristics tables above, based upon their position in the system. Roll for the orbital position as for any other planet. Next, roll a 1D6 with a 6 result meaning the planet is in a retrograde (reverse direction to the ecliptic plane where the majority of planets lie) orbit.

Irrespective of the result of the retrograde throw, also determine approximate orbital inclination (again, relative to the majority of planets) with at least two die throws. First, roll 1D6. A result of 1-5 is then multiplied by 10 degrees of inclination. A result of 6 on this throw calls for another 1D6 throw which is multiplied by 10 degrees and added to 30 degrees, ignoring the previous roll. The inclination may be further determined by generating 0-9. This result is subtracted from the base inclination, which is now in the range of 1-90.

If the orbit is retrograde, subtract the inclination from 181 to determine the final inclination. The possible ranges of inclination are now 1-180.

Second, roll 1D6 and on a result of 1-3:

• add 180 degrees to the longitude of the ascending node
• if the longitude exceeds 360 degrees, subtract 360 from the value

Finally, roll the planet’s eccentricity on the Stellar Orbital Eccentricity Table (below) and not on the Planetary Table.

Roll 1D6: on 1-5, roll 2D6-7 (-5 to +5) for inclination of orbit

on 6, roll 1D6, 1-3 is negative, 4-6 is positive inclination, then roll 2D6+3 (5 to 15, positive or negative)

For members of Asteroid Belts, roll 2D6 - 7, rerolling 2, 3, 11, or 12, to determine (-3 to +3) for inclination relative to the main belt. The main belt is determined as any world above with the exception of the initial 1D6 roll, i.e. always roll 2D6-7 for belts.

If the sign of the inclination is negative:

• change the sign from negative to positive
• add 180 degrees to the longitude of the ascending node
• if the longitude exceeds 360 degrees, subtract 360 from the value

A note on inclinations: There is no real difference between an orbit that is inclined +5 degrees and an orbit that is inclined -5 degrees (or 185 degrees) It is merely a difference in the longitude of ascension. The +5 differs in longitude from the other (-5 or +185) by 180 degrees. It is for this reason that I changed the Wayward Planets definition. I felt that this would simplify the orbital parameter generation, and use the same system in use in our solar system today.

Two more values (besides radius and inclination) are needed to properly place an orbit in space. Longitude (radial around the orbit from center) of the ascending node is the point where a planet, other than the mainworld, crosses through the ecliptic plane into the northern hemisphere. North is defined by using the right-hand rule for the orbit of the mainworld. The the mainworld’s orbit is of high inclination, then the spin of the main star of the system is used to define North, again by the right-hand rule.

The right-hand rule is defined by using your right hand, curling the fingers on the right hand toward the palm and extending the thumb upward. Your right thumb then points North.

The last orbital element needed to place the orbit in space is the longitude of the periastron [closest point to the star(s)] the planet orbits. Both the longitude of the ascending node, and the longitude of the periastron are expressed as numbers from 0 degrees to 359 degrees.

Use the following table of modifiers summing all applicable modifiers to be compared to a 1D6 roll:

	Starport (mainworld) A-D:	+2
	Government (mainworld) 7, A+:	+2
	Tech Level (mainworld) C+:	+1
	Tech Level (mainworld) 7-:	-3
	Law Level (mainworld) A+:	+1
	Population (secondary) 3-5:	+1
	Population (secondary) 2-:	+2
	Secondary world in Far System:	-2
	Captive Government (mainworld):	+p
	where p = secondary world population UPP

1D6	Non-Balkanized Mainworld	Balkanized Mainworld
Less than or equal to sum of modifiers above	Secondary Gov. 6	Secondary Gov. 7
Greater than sum of modifiers above	Standard Rules roll for Independent/Separate government	Standard Rules roll for Individual State in Balkanized System

Note:

• If the secondary population is 1-, Government 6 may used if the mainworld gov = 7.
• If the government is type 6, then use the Subordinate tables, otherwise the Law Level, Tech Level, Starport/Spaceport, and facilities are rolled by the standard rules like the mainworld. Some scouts have used the same government code of the mainworld in lieu of the type 6 coding of the subordinate world.
• If the secondary world has a population of 4- or a starport that is less than the starport type of the mainworld, the Spaceport table is consulted instead, and the Starport column is cross-indexed to determine the Spaceport. If the starport code rolled makes sense, then use that code instead.

Note:

DM +2 if population 6+
DM -2 if population 1
DM -3 if population 0 (with non-zero pop. multiplier)
DM -4 if population 0 (with zero pop. multiplier)

Subordinate Law Level

Subordinate law level is based upon the mainworld law level. Throw 1D6 -3 + mainworld law level. Less than 0 is 0. If population 0 and population multiplier is 0, then law level is 0.

Subordinate Tech Level

Subordinate tech level equals mainworld tech level minus 1. If Research Lab or Military Base present, subordinate tech level equals mainworld tech level. If subordinate tech level less than 7 and world atmosphere not 5,6, or 8, then make it tech level 7.

Subordinate Facilities

Subordinate facilities furnish reasons for settlements on worlds other than the mainworld in the system.

Farming:

In Habitable Zone, atmosphere 4-9, hydrographics 4-8, and population 2+.

Mining:

Mainworld classified Industrial, secondary population 2+.

Colony:

Government 6, and population 5+.

Research Lab:

see table at this link.

Military Base:

see table at this link.

Rift

(density 4%): Throw 12+ on 2D per hex in a subsector

Sparse

(density 16%): Throw 6+ on 1D (one die) per hex in a subsector

Scattered

(density 33%): Throw 5+ on 1D (one die) per hex in a subsector

Standard

(density 50%): Throw 4+ on 1D (one die) per hex in a subsector

Dense

(density 66%): Throw 3+ on 1D (one die) per hex in a subsector

Note:

Maximum Orbits

DM +4 if star size III
DM +8 if star size Ia, Ib, or II
DM -4 if star color M
DM -2 if star color K
if roll+DMs is less than zero, no planets

Gas Giant *

roll 1D: 3- is LGG, 4+ SGG

Planetoid Belts *

DM - (minus) # of Gas Giants in system

*

number of Gas Giants and Asteroid/Planetoid Belts are subject to the rules for determining orbitals.

Note:

DM +1 on all columns if star color is B or A

Note:

Naval Base

Do not roll if Starport C, D, E, or X

Scout Base

DM -1 if starport C
DM -2 if starport B
DM -3 if starport A
Do not roll if Starport E or X

Military Base

DM +1 if mainworld pop 8+
DM +2 if atmosphere equals/better mainworld atm
DM +1 if Naval or Scout base present
Do not roll if no population or mainworld is poor

Research Lab

DM +2 if mainworld Tech Level 10+
Do not roll if mainworld Tech Level 8-
Do not roll if no population

Note:

Tech Level

Sum DMs from table, and add to a 1D6 roll

Population 0

If no population, i.e. Pop=0, Pop. Multiplier=0, then Government, Law Level, and Tech Level are all 0

Changes

This table has only been modified/clarified for the extensions to the rules provided in this Update

Civilized modifiers

If the referee decides that the region is Civilized, roll two 1D6 rolls, and take the highest of the two numbers for the roll, then add DMs as usual

Note:

Interpolation

to determine the fractional orbital value, using either AU or MKm distances, subtract the two endpoints of the range of orbit, multiply that range by the fractional value being determined, and add that to the base range–for example, orbit 3.3 is (((239.3 - 149.6)*0.3) + 149.6) = 176.51 MKm is orbit 3.3.

Last Update: 29 November 1997.

Changes From: 29 November 1997.

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