Traveller: Some Formats for Writing Up Worlds...

Good Afternoon, All:

In the upcoming supplement Flynn's Guide to Azri Drakara: Covenant of Discipline, I would like to provide an overview of the capital world of this interstellar "psionic theocracy". I'd prefer to stick with something that is roughly one page in size, and provides an adequate amount of detail for sparking multiple adventure ideas. I've started the process by analyzing two different resources for world write-ups: the description of Zhodane in the Classic Traveller Alien Module 4: Zhodani and the free Gypsy Knight Games product, Quick Worlds 20: Atargatis. I am also looking at the one-page world capsules in the old MegaTraveller adventure Knightfall.

From the Classic Traveller Alien Module 4: Zhodani, you can see something akin to the following arrangement of information:

SYSTEM NAME
Brief descriptive sentence.

STELLAR DATA
Describe the star(s).
World Orbital Data: Describe orbital data.

WORLD DATA
Describe the world's physical data.
World Social Data: Describe the world's social and technology data.

SATELLITE NAMES
Describe world's satellites.

THE INNER SYSTEM
Describe the worlds of the inner system.

THE OUTER SYSTEM
Describe the worlds of the outer system.

WORLD NAME
Describe world's geography and topography.
Climate: Describe world's climate.

If you look at the free Gypsy Knight Games product, Quick Worlds 20: Atargatis, you'll see something like the following:

SYSTEM NAME
Basic Stats
Extended World Profile

System Details

Inner System Diagram

Physical Data
Atmospheric Details
Hydrographic Details
Geographic Details

World Map

Population Details
Government Details
Legal Details
Technology Details
Trade Details
Base Details

Cultural Details
Planetary Calendar/Timekeeping

Population Center Details

And finally, the One Page approach from the MegaTraveller adventure Knightfall:

SYSTEM NAME
Basic Stats
Primary: Stellar data details in a statblock format.
World Name: Planetary data details in a statblock format.

Library data capsule (two column format)
World map in this section as well

Inner System and Outer System orbital maps

Obviously, the more data you put in, the more room the write-up is going to take. That being said, I think that I'm most easily going to get what I want if I use the more nostalgic format found in the Classic Traveller Alien Module 4: Zhodani. Still, the One Page approach really strikes a chord with me because of the One Page Manifesto. I'll keep digging away at it and post some thoughts here for your consideration.

In the meantime, if you have any suggestions, comments or constructive feedback, you are always welcome to leave a comment.

With Regards,
Flynn