many secondary worlds are going to be needing sufficient tankage for 100-1000 Tc (Cargo Tons, 1Tc=1Td or 10 mt, whichever gives more) per day.If I may, allow me to give this thread a little nudge with the following.[snip]
I think all said and done, either XBS-Type C and XBS-Type B would have much to support the Express Boat Network as well as the surrounding spaceways.
[...] I also see X-boat Stations serving much in the way as did chartered inns-taverns in Medieval England and Europe.
[...]
having a well or oasis of sorts along an otherwise lonesome road is a good indicator of potential nonetheless.
This is possible, but not guaranteed as you say. It's also possible that that role is typically filled by the Traveller's Aid Society -- for example, if and where they supply the void left by the defunct Octagon Society.
Also, I can see these two different organizations trying to cooperate at times. And other times, perhaps they are mildly antagonistic -- but maybe then only when egos are involved, as I can't see them philosophically opposed.
In 1102 Emperor Strephon instructed the Scouts to begin drawing up meticulous plans for the complete overhaul of the entire X-boat network according to the following guidelines:
¤ All sector capitals to be connected to Capital with the fastest routes
possible using jump-6.
There is an flaw in this plan. The sector capitals also need to be connected to each other.
As I said, the plan needs elaboration, but even so, problems of this nature are likely to crop up anyway. One answer, though sadly not one that's any use for your automation purposes, is that once a problem with the generic instructions is spotted, those responsible for the implementation of the project can apply to the emperor, or his designated representative with an Imperial Warrant, and apply for leave to amend the scheme to fix the problem. After all, it's not like these routes will be generated by an automatic process.An extreme, but not only, example of this would be Usdiki (Gushemege 1015), the sector capital, and Vland (Vland 1717), both sector and domain capital. There is no direct connection between these two. The official route runs Vland -> Capital (59 parsecs, 10 jumps), then Capital -> Usdiki (75 parsects, 13 jumps). Whereas the most direct route is 58 parsecs or 10 jumps.
Quite right. I've held off on replying to your previous post because I wanted to improve the plan first, but I suppose I might as well do it on the fly. Yes, the plan is quite obviously inadequate. Not only must the sector capitals be connected with neighboring sector capitals BTFRP1, subsector capitals should also be connected with neighboring subsector capitals BTFRP.
Also, I would want to designate a lot more worlds as important. For instance, in Regina subsector both Roup and Feri IMO rates an X-boat connection in their own right (as do Efate and several other worlds), and Special Circumstances qualifies Kinorb for a link as well2.
As I said, the plan needs elaboration, but even so, problems of this nature are likely to crop up anyway. One answer, though sadly not one that's any use for your automation purposes, is that once a problem with the generic instructions is spotted, those responsible for the implementation of the project can apply to the emperor, or his designated representative with an Imperial Warrant, and apply for leave to amend the scheme to fix the problem. After all, it's not like these routes will be generated by an automatic process.![]()
Why? X-boat routes are not tracks laid in jumpspace. They are just X-boat stations witin four (or six) parsecs of each other and the expressed intention to send an X-boat from one to the other at certain intervals.The downside of too many worlds on the list is you start violating the "by the fastest route possible" requirements.
But I'm not assuming that every link is served daily. I'm assuming once per week for the least links (tertiary? quartenary?).Assuming each link is served daily - each link is thus 14-16 (depending upon safety margins) craft. If connect each point to all within range, adding one point to the side of a linear route adds not one ship, not 14, but at least 28. Adding a second, adds another 42. (we're now up to 110 ships minimum for daily service on 5 worlds). Very rapidly, you MUST stop doing "all in range" and go to exploded star networking as a simple function of cost control due to the exponential nature of network node increases.
Not exponentially. There's a fairly low limit to how many "un-connected" X-boat stations there will be within four parsecs of any single station.The fundamental issue is still one of needing an exponentially increasing number of links.
Not exponentially. There's a fairly low limit to how many "un-connected" X-boat stations there will be within four parsecs of any single station.
Hans
(Emphasis added).Compared to hub-and-spoke, yes, exponentially. In a hub and spoke, each world generally has one link; the system has one fewer than the total worlds. It's MUCH more efficient for distribution.
If you have a hub and spoke with 3 worlds served from the hub in reach of each other, a hub needs a total of three links. With a web, you have 6 links; add a 4th, it goes to 10.
(Emphasis added).
The underscored is where your assertation fails. Only a few stations will be within reach of other stations that are not already on your hub-and-spoke network.
Hans
Even 2 is 3 links in web vs 2. And, given a median range between significant worlds of 3Pc, a J5-J6 web is going to have an average of 18 worlds.
At 4 Pc distance, it still is running about 10-12 worlds. DO THE MATH.
It gets real ugly really quick.
A hub and spoke does mean the occasional world makes 4 hops instead of 2... but it's the most cost effective distribution for governance, and for dissemination of central information, provided the arms of the primary level run to major points of importance, and then the spur hubs come off of those.
Umm, compared to the cost of a single dreadnought squadron, either option is still small potatoes.