psCargile
Registered: 09-2005
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Galactic map
A galactic map would be a huge undertaking that would swamp a single person for years. So if many are to contribute, we need to come to a consensus on how to approach doing it.
Frank has stressed that it needs to be in black and white. So I think its moot to argue for colors for the map proper. Different colored text wouldn't bother me.
Frank also wants it to be poster scaled and I have a problem with that in the Tool Department. I don't own a compass that can make a circle much over 6 in. radius. Plus I don't have a scanner that I can scan sections of poster-board. I don't know if special compasses can be bought to make exceptional large circles. I haven't ever had a need for one, so I've seen one or a template that large. Plus I believe that to get something scanned and printed at that scale would require spending money at a print shop, who may have a policy against single prints. I suggest that a website be created in conjunction with the poster scaled map. I can do the website design and writting, which should include an Overhead galactic map from which sectors and specials regions of interest can be linked and printed from gamers' very own household printers. You know, for the sake of convenience and all.
With that in mind we need to discuss:
1) The galaxy image to be used as the Overhead.
2) The Co-ordinate system and the coresponding grid system to be used keeping in mind that we are ignoring the thickness of the disc for the sake of clarity and simplicity. For unique regions in the Bulge or Halo, the GM would just have to improvise.
3) The distance a ship can travel in light-years for one hour using a Class One hyperdrive, by which we can derive the other durations.
4) Which current maps of reference we wish to cull for inaccurancies or contradictions.
5) The scattering of stars in a galaxy and the feasiblity of systems in the voids between arms.
6) Symbology used to denote items on the map.
7) Data that is pertinent to the gamer/user.
8) Anything else that comes to mind.
Addendum
This map is to be a guide for gamers and does not need to be astronomically correct with information like magnitude. It should be like a road map, complete with hazards and points of interest. It does not have to include stars' names because people are going to planets. It does not have to include all the stars in the galaxy.
Last edited by Lucas P, 9/17/2006, 12:46 pm
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1/21/2006, 8:23 pm
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Lucas P
Registered: 09-2005
Location: Canuckistan
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Re: Galactic map
for large circles, use a measured piece of string, pin at one end, and pencil at the other - solved.
as for everything else, I agree that it is a huge understaking andf that a concensus needs to be reached...and I agree that it would need it's own site.
I am not a map maker though, so I really would not know how to contribute.
Last edited by Lucas P, 1/21/2006, 8:29 pm
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1/21/2006, 8:27 pm
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psCargile
Registered: 09-2005
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Re: Galactic map
I like to have my light-year diameter circles precisly scaled. String is not worth the bother.
Last edited by Lucas P, 9/17/2006, 12:46 pm
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1/21/2006, 8:30 pm
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Grtak
Registered: 10-2005
Location: Michigan,USA
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Re: Galactic map
Fishing line would work as an alternative to string (less stretch).
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"You can call me GR" -GRtak
If people read this, they would not use more than two letters when addressing me.
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1/21/2006, 8:44 pm
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psCargile
Registered: 09-2005
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Re: Galactic map
A template or a scaled compass is what I will use if I do the Overhead. If they do not exist I either will not do the Overhead, or do it on something I can draw circles with a standard compass. This will be done with the same attention to detail and precision as a Deckplan and not done like a grade school project.
Last edited by Lucas P, 9/17/2006, 12:47 pm
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1/21/2006, 8:51 pm
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Quint89
Registered: 11-2005
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Re: Galactic map
I have a large plotter at work (I think about 4 foot wide max), if you have autoCAD or Illustrator draw what you need and I can plot them for you, It'll only cost a few buck to post (as long as you don't live in Russia or something like that)so thats not a worry...
Just about the whole thing could be done in CAD, no need for a scanner...
(if you don't have any drafting programm, let me know what you need and I'll take care of it).
Last edited by Quint89, 1/22/2006, 8:48 am
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1/22/2006, 8:44 am
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psCargile
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Re: Galactic map
Frank says he's going to post some reference material, so that should give us an idea of what we want and don't want.
I've been playing around with grayscale images in MSPaint and GIMP, which is a good free downloadable program I like because it can measure the distance between two points which will come in handy for travel time estimates.
I'm playing with grayscale mapping, coloring the galaxy a light gray, as a comparison study aganist Frank's ideal map which I feel will be cluttered with plethora of black lines. I realize a html version of the layered map we want will begin to comsume memory and bandwidth and monochromatic is the optimal way to have a lot of information at the smallest size.
I myself would like to see two small maps of the same area done monochromatic and grayscale for a file size comparison.
I think using a 3d program like AutoCAD or Rhino (which I have) would best be useful for the grid layout. We can make a grid with straight lines and concentric rings and be able to zoom into areas with out changing the thickness of the lines. Screen captures of zoomed in grids can be used for a transparent overlay for the map art, or as a background.
Last edited by Lucas P, 9/17/2006, 12:47 pm
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1/22/2006, 10:11 am
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Quint89
Registered: 11-2005
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Re: Galactic map
I think the better way would be to use a drafting program, as this will allow you to scale the drawing for printing with out any loss of quality... also you could place various things onto different layers so they could be turned on/off as needed (ie have territory /spacelanes/ names/ post offices all on seperate layers and then just have the parts you need turned on for printing, this will aslo make it really easy to add/change parts as needed).
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It was not certain what significance the ceremony held... but the formality was no less sacred for it being unintelligible.
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1/22/2006, 12:39 pm
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psCargile
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Re: Galactic map
That's good for printed versions.
But I'd like an website version too, and thus I'm restricted to what I have on my computer.
Last edited by Lucas P, 9/17/2006, 12:47 pm
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1/22/2006, 5:32 pm
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Re: Galactic map
