1. The layout is better. Some headings and spacers are added and charts are gathered together.
2. The various forms from the Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society have been added.
However, I have one difference that I honestly thought I imagined until I got my old books from my parent's home last month.
The original LBB had a a table for determining jump routes. You compared the starport types of two worlds to their jump distance and the result was a number to roll or exceed on a D6 for their to be a jump route.
| JUMP ROUTES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Pair | ----Jump Distance---- | |||
| Jump-1 | Jump-2 | Jump-3 | Jump-4 | |
| A-A | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| A-B | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| A-C | 1 | 4 | 6 | - |
| A-D | 1 | 5 | - | - |
| A-E | 2 | - | - | - |
| B-B | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| B-C | 2 | 4 | 6 | - |
| B-D | 3 | 6 | - | - |
| B-E | 4 | - | - | - |
| C-C | 3 | 6 | - | - |
| C-D | 4 | - | - | - |
| C-E | 4 | - | - | - |
| D-D | 4 | - | - | - |
| D-E | 5 | - | - | - |
| E-E | 6 | - | - | - |
Some points to note. The table is not linear on either access and only goes to jump-4 despite the tech including up to jump-6. This implies an assumed tech level that allows at least some jump-4 ships. B drives provide jump-4 on a 100 ton ship and H drives do for 400 ton ships. Drives up to H appear at tech level 10.
The chart emphasizes the importance of type A starports which automatically connect via established jump routes to adjacent starports of type-D or better and to those of type-E 83% of the time. Only C or better starports will establish jump-2 routes and even then at most half the time.
I don't know why this was dropped from the revised LBB but I'm glad to have it back. Like any random table it might create odd results. Still, figuring out why there is a jump-1 route running a series of D and E ports for five parsecs from an A port which doesn't even connect to an A port two parsecs away is just the creativity you want to spark.
I've never seen the version you're talking about, but that chart has been posted at least one other place. I think it's pretty dang great. Do the rules allow for jumping where there isn't already a route?
ReplyDeleteJeff, the jump lines are regular lines for scheduled service. They aren't a rules thing so much as a setting thing. If you want to go from Alderon to Babel if there is a jump route (or a series of routes) you can just pay the passage stated in the rules book and assume that you'll be there in a week.
ReplyDeleteIf there isn't, now you need to find a charter and who knows where that will lead.
Jeff, what would you think about LBB: Cover to Cover, original vs. revised"?
ReplyDeleteQuite interesting to speculate why a table like this was removed.
ReplyDeleteAbout J-6 lines, my guess is that it is not in the table, since GDW (even at this time) didn't think it would be economically feasible to run such a service.
@BeRKA: I always figured the jump-4 limit was to minimize the assumed tech. Using Traveller tech levels as soon as jump drive becomes available jump-4 is available.
ReplyDelete