Talk:Surveys

Test Case: New Intrasystem Surveys

Intrasystem surveys are completed by vessels as they approach the target star system, usually within the Oort orbit of that system. The survey takes 1d10 days, usually to the maximum length when there are indications of additional planetary bodies not fully identified. The ship typically does not need to enter the system in order to complete the survey.

Part 1: Maximum Number of Planets

4. Intrasystem Survey – 1d10 days (Part 1)

A. Main Sequence Stars	Roll for number of planets:
O (Blue)	none
B (Blue-white)	3d6
A (White)	3d6-1
F (Yellow-white)	3d6-1
G (Yellow)	3d6-2
K (Orange)	3d6-2
M (Red)	3d6-2
B. UV Sequence Stars	Roll:
	3d6/2 (and all are charred rockballs)
C. IR Sequence Stars/Blackholes	none

Part 2: Bode's Law

Bode's Law is a hypothesis that the bodies in some orbital systems, including Sol's, orbit at semi-major axes in a function of planetary sequence. In other words, it can be used to determine how far out from a star each planet would orbit.

Step 1: The first orbit lies at a distance of (1d6*0.1) astronomical units (AU) from the star, regardless of star class. Therefore, around any given star, the first orbit could lie anywhere from 0.1 to 0.6 AUs from the center of the star's mass. This distance (D) is also used in determining the orbital distances of all other planets.

Step 2: Each star applies what is referred to as Bode's Constant (B) to the formula. As the word 'constant' suggests, the B value, once determined, does not change (within that system). For M-class stars, B is always 0.2. For all other star classes, it can be (equally) 0.3, 0.35 or 0.4, randomly determined.

Step 3: The following formula is applied to each sequential orbit, in order to determine its distance (in AUs) from the star:

Orbit 1: D

Orbit 2: D + B

Orbit 3: D + 2B

Orbit 4: D + 4B:

Orbit 5: D + 8B

Orbit 6: D + 16B:

Orbit 7: D + 32B:

Orbit 8: D + 64B:

Orbit 9: D + 128B:

Orbit 10: D + 256B:

Orbit 11: D + 512B:

Orbit 12: D + 1,024B:

Orbit 13: D + 2,048B:

Orbit 14: D + 4,096B:

Orbit 15: D + 8,192B:

Orbit 16: D + 16,384B:

Orbit 17: D + 32,768B:

Orbit 18: D + 65,536B:

Part 3: Assigning Orbits to Zones

Each orbit falls into one of four zones: in the first, the red zone, the heat and gravity of the star prevent any planets from forming at all. Planets form in the the next three zones (yellow, green, blue) according to the conditions that exist in each one. Past a certain point, the outer boundary, the star’s gravity is no longer strong enough to form or hold planets. Per the following table, if an orbit falls within the red zone (measured in AUs) or past the outer boundary, consider it empty. For all others, note which zone it falls in.

Star Class	Red	Yellow	Green	Blue	Outer Boundary
B	< 5.5	5.5 - 27.4	27.5 - 37.4	37.5 - 2,690	> 2,690
A	< 0.8	0.8 - 2.5	2.6 - 4.2	4.3 - 130	> 130
F	< 0.4	0.4 - 1.2	1.3 - 2.1	2.2 - 68	> 68
G	> 0.2	0.2 - 0.5	0.6 - 1.0	1.1 - 32.4	> 32.4
K	< 0.08	0.08 - 0.25	0.26 - 0.42	0.43 - 14.4	> 14.4
M	N/A	0 - 0.025	0.026 - 0.042	0.043 - 1.6	> 1.6
D	N/A	0.08 - 0.25	0.26 - 0.42	0.43 - 25.6	> 25.6

Part 4: Planet Classes per Zones

Reference: Planetary Classifications

Yellow Zone

Roll 1d100	Planet Class
01 - 07	A
08 - 14	B
15 - 21	C
22 - 28	D
29 - 40	E
41 - 46	J
47 - 49	K
50 - 82	N
83 - 85	Y
86 - 00	Z

Green Zone

Roll 1d100	Planet Class
01 - 03	A
04 - 06	B
07 - 09	C
10 - 24	D
25	E
26 - 27	F
28 - 30	G
31 - 35	H
36 - 43	I
44 - 50	J
51 - 60	K
61 - 65	L
66 - 77	M
78 - 82	O
83 - 87	P
88 - 91	Q
92 - 93	S
94	T
95 - 00	Z

Blue Zone

Roll 1d100	Planet Class
01 - 02	A
03 - 05	B
06 - 11	C
12 - 39	D
40	E
41 - 42	F
43 - 45	G
46 - 58	I
59 - 66	J
67 - 71	K
72 - 76	L
77 - 79	N
80 - 85	P
86 - 91	S
92 - 94	T
95 - 00	Z

Determining Orbital Durations (Years)

1. Determine base mass:

Stellar Mass

Star Types	Solar Masses
D (White dwarf)	0.36
B (Blue-white)	4.4
A (White)	2.1
F (Yellow-white)	1.3
G (Yellow)	0.94
K (Orange)	0.57
M (Red)	0.331

2) Add or subtract 1d10% from base mass for specific mass.

3) Compute the orbital period using this formula: P = sqrt((D^3)/M), i.e., square root of D³ divided by M, where:

• P = period in standard years (to third decimal); also list (in parenthesis) standard days (converted as by multiplying years by 365.24, to first decimal).
• D = Distance, in AUs (as pre-determined by planetary surveys)
• M = specific mass of star

Determine Rotation Durations (Days)

1) Roll 2d6-2 for base hours.

2) Apply this formula: P = 4(B) + 5 + (M/D), where:

• P = period in total hours (to second decimal)
• B = base hours
• M = star's specific mass
• D = Distance, in AUs (as pre-determined by planetary surveys)

3) If the final result is greater than 40, there is a 50% chance it has no rotation (i.e., "tidal locked").

Determine Temperatures by Zone

1) Roll high temperatures (Fahrenheit) for each of the following zones:

• Class H (Desert):
  • Polar: 5d12-5
  • Temperate: 40+5d8
  • Tropical: 60+5d10
  • Equatorial: 85+5d10

• Class K (Adaptable):
  • Polar: 4d20-135
  • Temperate: 5d12-130
  • Tropical: 5d8-85
  • Equatorial: 5d10-65

• Classes L (Marginal) & M (Terrestrial):
  • Polar: 4d20-10
  • Temperate: 5d12-5
  • Tropical: 40+5d8
  • Equatorial: 60+5d10

• Classes O (Pelagic):
  • Polar: (4d20-10)+15%
  • Temperate: (5d12-5)+15%
  • Tropical: (40+5d8)+15%
  • Equatorial: (60+5d10)+15%

• Class P (Glaciated):
  • Polar: 4d20-100
  • Temperate: 4d20-65
  • Tropical: 4d20-40
  • Equatorial: 4d20-10

2) Roll low temperatures for each of the following zones:

• Class H (Desert):
  • Polar: 5d12-10-2d4
  • Temperate: 35+5d8-2d4
  • Tropical: 60+5d8-2d4
  • Equatorial: 85+5d8-2d4

• Class K (Adaptable):
  • Polar: 4d20-2d4-145
  • Temperate: 5d12-2d4-135
  • Tropical: 5d8-2d4-85
  • Equatorial: 5d8-2d4-60

• Classes L (Marginal) & M (Terrestrial):
  • Polar: 4d20-20-2d4
  • Temperate: 5d12-10-2d4
  • Tropical: 35+5d8-2d4
  • Equatorial: 60+5d8-2d4

• Classes O (Pelagic):
  • Polar: (4d20-20-2d4)+15%
  • Temperate: (5d12-10-2d4)+15%
  • Tropical: (35+5d8-2d4)+15%
  • Equatorial: (60+5d8-2d4)+15%

• Class P (Glaciated):
  • Polar: 4d20-80-4d8
  • Temperate: 4d20-40-4d8
  • Tropical: 4d20-20-4d4
  • Equatorial: 4d20-20-2d4

Determine Landmasses and Bodies of Water

If water = 100%, only "small incidental islands" exist.

If water makes up 50-99% of the planet's surface, use the following formula and then check the table for the results:

((water% / 10) x 3) + 1d6, rounded

Water-rich worlds

Result	Major Continents	Minor Continents	Major Islands	Archipelagoes
16	2d6+1	1d6-1	3d6-3	2d6
17	2d6+1	2d6-2	3d6-3	2d6
18	2d6+1	3d6-3	3d6-3	2d6
19	2d6	1d6-1	3d6-3	2d6
20	2d6	2d6-2	3d6-3	2d6
21	2d6	3d6-3	3d6-3	2d6
22	1d6	1d6-1	3d6-3	2d6
23	1d6	2d6-2	3d6-3	2d6
24	1d6	3d6-3	3d6-3	2d6
25	1d6-1	1d6	3d6-3	2d6
26	1d6-1	2d6	3d6-3	2d6
27	1d6-1	3d6	3d6-3	2d6
28	1d6-2	1d6-1	3d6-3	2d6
29	1d6-3	1d6-2	3d6-3	2d6
30	1d6-4	1d6-3	2d6	2d6
31	0	0	1d6-3	2d6
32	0	0	0	Only archipelagoes
33	0	0	0	Only archipelagoes
34	0	0	0	Only archipelagoes
35	0	0	0	small incidental islands
36	0	0	0	small incidental islands

If water makes up 1-49% of the planet's surface, use the following formula and then check the table for the results:

((water% / 10) x 3) + 1d6, rounded

Water-poor worlds

Result	Major Oceans	Minor Oceans	Small Seas	Scattered Lakes
1	0	0	0	small incidental lakes
2	0	0	0	small incidental lakes
3	0	0	0	scattered lakes
4	0	0	0	scattered lakes
5	0	0	1d6-3	2d6
6	0	0	2d6-3	2d6
7	1d6-4	1d6-3	3d6-3	2d6
8	1d6-4	1d6-3	3d6-3	2d6
9	1d6-3	1d6-2	3d6-3	2d6
10	1d6-3	1d6-1	3d6-3	2d6
11	1d6-2	1d6-1	3d6-3	2d6
12	1d6-2	2d6-2	3d6-3	2d6
13	1d6-1	1d6-1	3d6-3	2d6
14	1d6-1	2d6-2	3d6-3	2d6
15	1d6-1	3d6-3	3d6-3	2d6
16	1d6	2d6-2	3d6-3	2d6
17	1d6	3d6-3	3d6-3	2d6
18	1d6	1d6-1	3d6-3	2d6
19	1	1d6-1	3d6-3	2d6
20	1	2d6-2	3d6-3	2d6
21	1	3d6-3	3d6-3	2d6

Determine Populations

Base Populations

The base population calculation only applies to the following classes of worlds: C, D, G, H, K, L, M, O, P, Z.

1) Assign 1 point for each indication of abundance of a particular resource:

• Normal Metals: 85 or higher
• Special Metals: 3 or higher
• Radioactives: 6 or higher
• Gem Stones: 6 or higher
• Industrial Crystals: 3 or higher

2) Assign the following points for the respective Atmospheric Densities:

• None: 0
• Trace: 1
• Thin: 2
• Standard: 3
• Thick: 2

3) Assign the following points for the respective percentages of Water Area:

• 0%: 0
• 1-59%: 1
• 60-90%: 2
• 91-99%: 1
• 100%: 0

4) Assign the following points for the respective Climate:

• None: 0
• Arctic: 0
• Temperate-Cool: 1
• Temperate-Warm: 2
• Tropical: 1
• Desert: 0

5) Total these points together for the Affinity Score.

6) Determine the Base Capacity based on the Civilization Scale Rating of the current population. If the planet is uninhabited, assume a Rating of 0:

Base Capacity Table

Rating	Base Capacity
0	10,000
1	100,000
2	500,000
3	600,000
4	700,000
5	2.5 million
6	5 million
7	7.5 million
8	10 million
9	15 million
10	20 million
11	optional

If the Scale Rating is 11, then the GM decides as to what the actual Base (as well as Current) Population will be.

7) Find the assigned Affinity Modifier on this table:

Affinity Modifiers Table

Affinity Score	Modifier
0	0.25
1	0.5
2	1
3	2
4	4
5	8
6	15
7	30
8	60
9	125
10	250
11	500
12	1,000

8) For the Diameter Modifier, divide the planet's diameter by 12,742 (Earth's own diameter) and square the result. (Ex: a planet with a diameter of 28,600 kms would have a Diameter Modifier of 5.02: 28,600 / 12,742 = 2.24 rounded; 2.24² = 5.02 rounded.) For Class Z (Asteroid Belt), the Diameter Modifier is 50, representing the breadth of choices for potential living surfaces.

9) To determine a planet's Base Population, multiply the Base Capacity by the Affinity and Diameter Modifiers.

Current Populations

The previous section determined the base population of a world, establishing the capacity of a world to be self-sustaining, existing on the world without over-consuming the present resources. However, as is evident, world's don't naturally restrict the populations of their intelligent species and the capacity to sustain a species with the world alone is often overrun. As such, these determination rules do allow for over-population, which leads to potential problems to be solved, or tensions to run amuck--reducing the population with a problematic solution.

1) To determine the Current Population of a homeworld (i.e., the starting world of an independent species), multiply the Base Population by 10 and divide with the result of a roll of 2d6+3.

2) If a minor planet (of another species) is found during exploration of a sector, it is presumed to not have a population in excess of the planet's Base Population: multiply the Base Population by 10 and divide with the result of a roll of 1d6+3. Re-roll if the population exceeds the allowed Base Population.

Also roll 1d100 to determine at what level of economic development the planet exists:

• 01-10: Major Industrial World (Minor Industrial World, if population less than 3 billion)
• 11-70: Colony (Minor Industrial World, if population over 1 billion)
• 71-00: Other (Colony, if population over 100,000)

Population Increase

Populations increase by 25.53% every 10 years (or 2.3% annually); therefore, presuming no catastrophes or other population-changing events occur within a given time period, increase the population by the given amount.

Planet Classes & relevant data

Class A (Orbits: yellow, green, blue)

• Diameter: 1,000 to 3,200 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 1d20 * 4 days
• Atmospheric Density: trace
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: 0
• Resources: -

Class B (Orbits: yellow)

• Diameter: 1,000 to 3,200 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 1d20 * 3 days
• Atmospheric Density: 35% none, 65% trace
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: 0
• Resources: -

Class C (Orbits: green, blue)

• Diameter: 1,000 to 3,200 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 1d30 days
• Atmospheric Density: frozen
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: Table 7A
• Resources: Table 8H(3)

Class D (Orbits: yellow, green, blue)

• Diameter: 1,000 to 3,200 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 1d30 days
• Atmospheric Density: 65% none, 35% trace
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: Table 7A
• Resources: Table 8H(2)

Class E (Orbits: yellow, green, blue)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: (2d10+14) * 3 hours
• Atmospheric Density: Table 8F
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(2)

Class F (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: 1d20 (as %)
• Rotation Period: (2d10+14) * 2 hours
• Atmospheric Density: Table 8F
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: Table 7A
• Resources: Table 8H(4)

Class G (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: 1d60 + 20 (as %)
• Rotation Period: (2d10+14) * 1.5 hours
• Atmospheric Density: Table 8F
• Climate: Table 8G
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(1)

Class H (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: 1d20 (as %)
• Rotation Period: 2d10+14 hours
• Atmospheric Density: 65% thin, 35% standard
• Climate: desert
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(1)

Class I (Orbits: blue)

• Diameter: 10,500 to 55,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: (gas planet formula)
• Surface Area: -
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 1d8 + 12 hours
• Atmospheric Density: -
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: 0-8 (then Table 7b)
• Resources: -

Class J (Orbits: green, blue)

• Diameter: 55,000 to 900,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: (gas planet formula)
• Surface Area: -
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 1d6 + 7 hours
• Atmospheric Density: -
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: 3d6 (then Table 7b)
• Resources: -

Class K (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: 0
• Rotation Period: 2d10+14 hours
• Atmospheric Density: thin
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(1)

Class L (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: 1d20 + 20 (as %)
• Rotation Period: 2d10+14 hours
• Atmospheric Density: Table 8F
• Climate: 33% tropical, 34% temperate – warm, 33% temperate – cool
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(1)

Class M (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: 1d60 + 20 (as %)
• Rotation Period: 2d10+14 hours
• Atmospheric Density: Table 8F
• Climate: Table 8G
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(1)

Class N (Orbits: yellow, green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 2d10+14 hours
• Atmospheric Density: extremely thick
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(4)

Class O (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: 1d20 + 80 (as %)
• Rotation Period: 2d10+14 hours
• Atmospheric Density: Table 8F
• Climate: 33% tropical, 34% temperate – warm, 33% temperate – cool
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(1)

Class P (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: 1d60 + 20 (as %)
• Rotation Period: 2d10+14 hours
• Atmospheric Density: Table 8F
• Climate: arctic
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(1)

Class Q (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 3,200 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: 1d60 + 20 (as %)
• Rotation Period: 2d10+14 hours
• Atmospheric Density: Table 8F
• Climate: varies
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-5) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(1)
• Note: no sentience rolls

Class S (Orbits: yellow, green, blue)

• Diameter: 900,000 to 4,160,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: (gas planet formula)
• Surface Area: -
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 1d6 + 5 hours
• Atmospheric Density: -
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: 4d6 (then Table 7c)
• Resources: -

Class T (Orbits: yellow, green, blue)

• Diameter: 4,161,000 and 5,200,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: (gas planet formula)
• Surface Area: -
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 1d6 + 3 hours
• Atmospheric Density: -
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: 1d8 - 5 (then Table 7d)
• Resources: -

Class Y (Orbits: green)

• Diameter: 1,000 to 10,000 kms (% of Earth)
• Gravity: ((1d10+5)/10) * %E
• Surface Area: 510,075,000 * G
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: 1d6+14 hours
• Atmospheric Density: 30% thick, 70% extremely thick
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: (1d6-3) (all Class D)
• Resources: Table 8H(4)
• Note: no sentience rolls

Class Z (Orbits: yellow, green, blue)

• Diameter: -
• Gravity: -
• Surface Area: -
• Water Area: -
• Rotation Period: -
• Atmospheric Density: -
• Climate: -
• No. of Satellites: -
• Resources: Table 8H(2)

Notes:

1. rework zone planet options (Table 4)
2. rework Table 6 to reflect depicted satellite ranges per planet class
3. confirm/correct Resources (Table 8H(1-4)) match the planet classes' current status