Resources for planet and star system building and mapping.
Jul 7, 2016 10:21:06 GMT
sevateem, Marnal, and 1 more like this
Post by Catsmate on Jul 7, 2016 10:21:06 GMT
Below are some tools and resources for generating, mapping and visualising planets and star systems that might be of use to gamers.
Cosmos II.
A guide written by Mark Peoples for the Alternity RPG. Very detailed and scientifically accurate.
Download link. [1.2MB PDF; 57 pages] Free for personal use.
The The SWN Sector Generator
Link.
Designed for the Stars Without Number system this is a webpage that generates a sector or space, the star systems and worlds within it and a number of NPCs. Along with corporations, alien species, religions and political organisations.
Not a lot of detail but useful inspiration.
Project AstroFly
Link.
A free software tool intended for educational use. It can generate star views (here’s what the view from Proxima Centauri looking towards Sol is like: www.astrofly.com/astrofly/Img/Example1_Described.gif)
Donjon Star System Generator
Link.
Another web tool to produce random (or semi-random) star systems. Designed for generic systems but there are also Traveller and Star Wars specific versions. There’s also a world generator.
The site also has random generators for plot seeds, people and names. And a downloadable fractal planet generator.
Celestia
Link.
The standard freeware space visualisation system. May consume large amounts of time. Available for Windows, Mac and Linux, there’s also a portable Windows version.
Scientifically accurate and includes all known extrasolar planets and up to two million mapped stars. Numerous add-ons.
ChView
Link.
A defunct but still useful tool inspired by C .J. Cherryh’s works. ChView was written as 3D visualisation tool for several thousand nearby (150 light years) stars
Heaven & Earth
Link.
Windows tool intended for the Traveller game. Abandoned but useful H&E generates details of planets, systems and sectors (in Traveller terms).
Digital Universe
Link.
Digital Universe was developed by the Hayden Planetarium as a 3D atlas of space, based on the most recent and accurate data available.
StarGen
Another tool to generate star systems. There are downloadable and online versions.
The Atomic Rocket Project has a good guide to RPG worldbuilding with lots of science and mathematics, and many links to tools and further resources.
Though it may be tool detailed for most Who games
Anyone have anything to add?
Cosmos II.
A guide written by Mark Peoples for the Alternity RPG. Very detailed and scientifically accurate.
Download link. [1.2MB PDF; 57 pages] Free for personal use.
The The SWN Sector Generator
Link.
Designed for the Stars Without Number system this is a webpage that generates a sector or space, the star systems and worlds within it and a number of NPCs. Along with corporations, alien species, religions and political organisations.
Not a lot of detail but useful inspiration.
Project AstroFly
Link.
A free software tool intended for educational use. It can generate star views (here’s what the view from Proxima Centauri looking towards Sol is like: www.astrofly.com/astrofly/Img/Example1_Described.gif)
Donjon Star System Generator
Link.
Another web tool to produce random (or semi-random) star systems. Designed for generic systems but there are also Traveller and Star Wars specific versions. There’s also a world generator.
The site also has random generators for plot seeds, people and names. And a downloadable fractal planet generator.
Celestia
Link.
The standard freeware space visualisation system. May consume large amounts of time. Available for Windows, Mac and Linux, there’s also a portable Windows version.
Scientifically accurate and includes all known extrasolar planets and up to two million mapped stars. Numerous add-ons.
ChView
Link.
A defunct but still useful tool inspired by C .J. Cherryh’s works. ChView was written as 3D visualisation tool for several thousand nearby (150 light years) stars
Heaven & Earth
Link.
Windows tool intended for the Traveller game. Abandoned but useful H&E generates details of planets, systems and sectors (in Traveller terms).
Digital Universe
Link.
Digital Universe was developed by the Hayden Planetarium as a 3D atlas of space, based on the most recent and accurate data available.
StarGen
Another tool to generate star systems. There are downloadable and online versions.
The Atomic Rocket Project has a good guide to RPG worldbuilding with lots of science and mathematics, and many links to tools and further resources.
Though it may be tool detailed for most Who games
Anyone have anything to add?
