Is the hex based world map property of Traveller, or do other game systems use it as well?
Hex based world maps
- Thread starter Blue Ghost
- Start date
Several others use similar. Space Opera used a variant of it, as did a couple others I can't bring to mind at the moment. The Icosahedral Projection is a "standard" map projection, but when used for earth, it's USUALLY not the straight line we see in Traveller products.
So it's not proprietary to the Traveller property.
A hex based map is not proprietary.
The exact TAS map form is.
It is all the layout stuff around the actual planet map that might get you into trouble.
If you want to create a map, you are probably safe.
If you want to steal the TAS form ... talk to a lawyer about how much needs to be filed off to make it not Traveller.
[I AM NOT A LAWYER. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE.]
Just what I understand from working with small press publishers.
HERE is one I created that I could use as a non-Traveller product (except for the Traveller names like "Biter").
I'll confer with a lawyer. I have a world map, and want to save myself headaches and extra labor both.
Were they the triad type of map, like Mithril and the rest?
There's nothing proprietary about a icosahedral map, hexes or otherwise.
TNE World Tamers Handbook has some filled in templates, I think the blank one might be in the Forms pack or something, I don't remember. That template is copyrighted. That specific rendition.
But the concept of projection mapping with a grid layover (whether hexes or squares or anything else)? No. That's a concept. Knock yourself out.
TNE World Tamers Handbook has some filled in templates, I think the blank one might be in the Forms pack or something, I don't remember. That template is copyrighted. That specific rendition.
But the concept of projection mapping with a grid layover (whether hexes or squares or anything else)? No. That's a concept. Knock yourself out.
Space Opera used icosahedral projection with hex grid.
I know I've seen two others as well.
The projection itself is 19th C.
Fuller's Dymaxion Projection is a variation which is unfolded differently - still 20 triangles, but broken so as to minimize continental separations. (Edit: 23 - he subdivides the triangle with the western tip of Australia, and the one with korea and southern japan... but it folds up into an icosahedron.)
Continuous hex grid tessellations are 6th C. Using them for game maps is 1960's.
I know I've seen two others as well.
The projection itself is 19th C.
Fuller's Dymaxion Projection is a variation which is unfolded differently - still 20 triangles, but broken so as to minimize continental separations. (Edit: 23 - he subdivides the triangle with the western tip of Australia, and the one with korea and southern japan... but it folds up into an icosahedron.)
Continuous hex grid tessellations are 6th C. Using them for game maps is 1960's.
I'm not familiar with 'Mithril' except as a rare mineral.
The 5mm hexagon pads were made by Gamescience. I think the MegaHex pages, about 20 inches by 30 inches, were sold by the company that made The Fantasy Trip.
Mithril was for double adventure one, Mission on Mithril, and it came with a primitive if functional hex based planetary map with a hex based legend.
Timerover51
SOC-14 5K
Mission to Mithril was also one of the two starter adventures included with Starter Traveller.
For a while, the world hexagon map was included on the cover of the mailer for the JTAS. I am not sure if I have any copies with that still on. If I remember correctly, permission was given to reproduce the map as needed for personal use.
The following statement of fair use is from Supplement 12 Forms and Charts
You can purchase the digital download for Supplement 12 from DriveThruRPG. I have both the hard copy version from when it came out and the digital download. I believe that the map also appears in the bound version of the Supplements. I would need to check my copy of that. Copies of the original booklet are also available online for purchase.
For a while, the world hexagon map was included on the cover of the mailer for the JTAS. I am not sure if I have any copies with that still on. If I remember correctly, permission was given to reproduce the map as needed for personal use.
The following statement of fair use is from Supplement 12 Forms and Charts
You can purchase the digital download for Supplement 12 from DriveThruRPG. I have both the hard copy version from when it came out and the digital download. I believe that the map also appears in the bound version of the Supplements. I would need to check my copy of that. Copies of the original booklet are also available online for purchase.
Timerover51
SOC-14 5K
I know the feeling.
I certainly get the same feeling about not being able to remember it all...
I have had to learn several languages in my lifetime and sometimes I just can't seem to remember certain words... I can remember them in three or four other languages, but not the one I need at the time... LOL
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
I learned Spanish in high school, 4 years, couldn't remember any of it other than hello, goodbye, count up to 20, etc. when I was in the Navy abut a year after I graduated. So I took Spanish 101 at university. The instructor said I did well. I remember slightly more of it these days, but not much more.
A few years ago, I was trying to learn Japanese, Comanche, and Spanish at the same time. Gibberish is what I speak when trying to say something not in English... apparently trying to learn more than one at the same time confuses my language memory map.
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Timerover51
SOC-14 5K
Is that available online and is it a Windows-only program, or will it run on a Mac?
It is a Java program, runs on mac just fine, except for running the webstart in Chrome.
It's one of 3 programs from the developer that may be useful.
For Old-School gaming, Hexographer is nifty. It does D&D-style overland hexmaps, and has an icosahedral template in the Pro version.
Dungeonographer is optimized for square grid dungeons. There is a sci-fi pack for the pro version.
Citiographer is optimized for dark ages to just pre renaissance towns and villages, and the pro version can be adapted for sci-fi.
Note that the line editing tools are unusual, and not compliant to any particular OS's standard command keystrokes/UI. Not hard, just different. They ARE consistent across the three programs.
All three have free use and paid pro versions.
What Aramis said. The company (Profantasy) also sells Fractal Terrains that creates a world map that is tunable with inputs and Cosmographer, which creates star maps that are printable. There is a fairly good system to give 3 dimensions to the maps, as well. I haven't' really used it much to make Traveller maps, but probably will once I get a group going. There are some spaceship design templates that look like they were taken out of the Traveller system, too. You may have to get some add-ons to do all that. I spent part of my yearly bonus on getting everything one year and so have lots of toys to play with.
