Question of Traveller Mapping Software

[Kilgs]

First off, I know little about Traveller. I meddled with it and all its little black books about 18 years ago. It was too complicated then so we played a real "loose" version of it.

That feel for it has stayed with me and I never followed up on the game. I have been jonesing for a space game that has the "feel" for what I want and... it's looking like it might be Traveller.

So, my question here is:

What software will allow me to create Traveller starmaps with custom data?

I love the starmaps (Sector/Quadrant/Domain etc) for Traveller. I am a serious map nut and really want to emulate the style, if not the content. I like the map symbols, scale etc.

However, it seems that most of the software out there randomly populates the maps. I would like to manually create my maps. Is there software that can do this?

(I do own CC2)

Thanks!

 

[TheEngineer]

Hi !

Guess any Traveller starmap software allows You to enter manual data.
Anyway, as You are a CC2 owner, I would perhaps enter the data in Galactic's format and use gal2cc to generate the map in CC2.

Regards,

TE

 

[Valarian]

Peter Trevor's Traveller Universe allow import of data, or manual placing of data. There is currently no way of automatically generating systems. The data import can be tailored to suit.

I believe that Galactic 2.4 has both automatic generation of systems, or manual placing of systems. It also can import data, using it's own format.

... or there's the import in to CC2. The Cosmographer add-on also has templates and symbols for system input.

 

[Merxiless]

Use galactic, then gal2cc2.

Very nice.

 

[Elv]

Originally posted by Merxiless:
Use galactic, then gal2cc2.

Very nice.

You know, it amazes me that after all this time the most popular Traveller mapping software for a Windows machine is a DOS program. I have to agree, though; Jim did such an excellent job on it nothing else matches (Heaven & Earth came closest).

I'm also pleased that so many people recommend Gal2CC, despite its limitations. No promises, but if anyone wanted an update to that, what is your top priority? CC3 output? Graphical interface? More control over what the results look like?

John

 

[Mickazoid]

Also - since you specifically asked for mapping software with that Classic Traveller look-and-feel, here's my script:

http://www.TravellerRPG.com/cgi-bin/Trav/CotI/Discuss/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=44;t=000350

If you've got some basic Mac OSX/Unix scripting know-how, you can use SectorMaker, which uses sec2pdf, 'SW4' and a set of other files to generate near-exact canon LBB 'look-and-feel' maps. You can generate random sectors, modify the sector files and re-run them through the mapper for all the customization you might want.

 

[Merxiless]

Sen~or Wood:

I assume you are the author of gal2cc? Fantastic job!

All I would ask for is that the output look like "Spinward Marches" Style, as much as possible. i.e., I can run a sector, and it looks like it came from Marc's art department, black and red, and grey.

It pretty much does that, already, as far as I recall. I haven't played Traveller in a bit over a year.

I'll take a look at it again, but I just remembered;

The ability to run it from more than a command line interface, a la a tool that would allow me to browse for a .sec file (perhaps from a VB Gui) would be really nice.

Additionally, the ability to make a variant small size, small font output, for large-scale mapping would be a real big bonus, for me personally, but I don't know how much time it would take...probably not worth the effort-

In the flavor of the 4 X 4 block of subsectors, printed out on a single 8 1/2" by 11", such that stars are black dots, and jump routes are shown, with the letters for the ports atop the system dot, etc. etc.

This was originally shown as one of those IISS-style forms, in the Megatraveller books:

P. 86 Referee's Companion, Megatraveller OR, even better...

"Filled Out" , inside front cover, Megatraveller Player's Manual. (in that case displaying the Spinward Marches.)

Something like that would aid me, personally, very much, especially for making my campaign wall display compact, neat, and organized.

I think some others here could benefit, also.

 

[Elv]

Originally posted by Merxiless:
Sen~or Wood:

I assume you are the author of gal2cc? Fantastic job!

Thanks! I'm juggling so many irons in the fire at the moment that I'm not going to make any promises, but I am thinking about doing some more work on it. When I get to it I will at least consider your suggestions!

John

 

[PVernon]

John,
I think CC3 compatability would number one. Profanacy posted the Cosmographer compatability test to the playtest group today so there may be a modual soon. I have it but have not played with it yet.

 

[PVernon]

The CC3 compatability version of Cosmographer has been released. See your registration page at Profantacy to download it. There has been no word on when Cosmographer 3 will be even worked on. the "3" versions of the CC2 add-ons are mostly graphic additions so at this point all of the Cosmographer programing has been updated to CC3 standards.

 

[roninkelt]

Any new news on the gal2cc front? I'm getting a traveller game going again in anticipation of the Mongoose Traveller release.

 

[Elv]

Any new news on the gal2cc front? I'm getting a traveller game going again in anticipation of the Mongoose Traveller release.

Sorry, my life at the moment is virtually 100% work and family - I've actually popped into the forums for the first time in a month tonight. This situation will continue until at least the end of the year. 8-(

John

 

[inexorabletash]

One more option for the "I have sector data and want a render":

http://www.travellermap.com/post.htm

Still a work in progress - the web form doesn't give you any control over the options (you'd have to make your own page to do that), but you can still get spiffy renders of custom data.

You can get routes/borders/labels by specifying XML formatted metadata as a second attachment. (Sorry, no MSEC support.)