Problems of Planet Classification for Space Explorers

 There is a quandary in classifying planets that bridges the gap between science and science fiction... especially as it relates to roleplaying games.

First, there is no standard scientific planetary classification system in the real world.
Many systems have been developed or proposed by various space exploration and astronomical groups. For the gamer, these systems do not always work well, any way. Classifying a planet by mass alone leaves off many factors of planetary attributes. The Surdasky extrasolar planetary classification method is only for gas giants (the majority type of extra-solar planets discovered so far).

Secondly, some people like to use the Star Trek universe method of classification... you know the one where Earth-like planets are "Class-M" ones. The Traveller game world has its own system, too. This may work in some instances for Sci-Fi or gaming, but has little to do with the real world and it complex. There are even more complex Science Fiction planetary classification systems out there such as the type found here:  http://www.onewest.net/~dollan/ARCpclindex.html

SO, we see there are some problems and none is completely satisfying in the real world or in gaming.

I recently saw an article that brings the general classification of planets down to those commonly encountered in the galaxy. I was wondering if it could be used in "looser" science fiction games, where the many distinct attributes of a planet do not need to be tracked.

What do you think?

Image and article found here:
http://www.space.com/13828-alien-planets-kepler-telescope-infographic.html

Pulsars and Starship Navigation

In the real world, many astronomers believe that space travel could be navigated by fixing on the beacons of millisecond pulsars... extremely dense, fast rotating objects that give off radiation “pulses”. These objects could act like a light house... accurately timed points of reference in the galaxy which starships could use; cross-referencing hundreds of pulsars to pinpoint their location.

In the galactic troubleshooting roleplaying game X-Plorers (and others), pulsar navigation could be one of the standard methods of assuring safe, accurate space travel. Different reference points in space would make it hard to navigate by the visible star layout, because it changes as one travels. However, pulsars would be the anchoring point for accurate star travel.

Possible causes of navigational error leading to misjumps:
Unknown and uncharted space objects, such as magnetars, wormholes, black holes and other gravitational anomalies may be a mechanic whereby a Referee could induce a misjump upon a space ship or to increase/decrease its travel time. This factor makes charting all findings during exploration of great value to a crew and to others that will follow after them into these previously uncharted sectors of space.
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Jeff's Home Brew Jump Rules:
After a jump in space, a ship's computer recalibrates to ascertain precise coordinate location of all known pulsars. If a ship jumps again before the computer has had time to do this a Navigator is at a -2 modifier to their navigation skill roll. This could cause a “misjump” to a location that was not the one intended by the navigator. This takes 10 hours minus one per level of computer skill of the character doing the recalibration. Even if the skill level of a character is 10, a minimum of one hour is needed to jump without this penalty.

If a misjump occurs, roll a d6:
 1 Ship arrives d6x4 hours sooner at plotted destination. It has undergone a random hyper-jump!
2-5 Ship arrives at plotted destination d6 days late. The ship has been affected by a gravitational anomaly.
6 - total misjump! Ship arrives at a random destination.
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For galactic troubleshooters, not all of the dangers in space lie at the destination... getting there might be just as much as a hazard!

-Jeff

See these and other sites for more information on pulsars and their types:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45153814/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.TrlJ4nFGzs0
http://www.universetoday.com/49440/new-pulsar-clocks-will-aid-gravitational-wave-detection/
http://chandra.harvard.edu/xray_sources/neutron_stars.html

Check out X-Plorers! http://bravehalfling.com/page7.html