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Near Space

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Suggested Price $3.00
The area of space surrounding Sol warrants a proper sci-fi role-playing game adaptation. Indeed, many games adopted the region, either as a two-dimensional abstraction or as some representation of the real three-dimensional space. However, currently, there is little in the way of an up-to-date, concrete star-maps of Sol's immediate neighborhood for the various older-school sci-fi RPGs, such as the Cepheus Engine, 2d6 sci-fi games, and several other games utilizing a two-dimensional hexagon star-map. This product comes to remedy this issue.
This product provides a full Sol-centered, hexagon-based star-map, 20 parsecs by 16 parsecs in size - a "Quadrant" if you will. Additionally, it provides full Cepheus Engine (and 2d6 sci-fi SRD) data for the "main world" planets of each and every star involved, ready for you, the Referee, to colonize.
For your convenience, we also provide expanded Temperature rules for the included worlds, fully compatible with the Cepheus Engine rules, as well as a short overview of star spectral types.
We based these maps on real, up-to-date astronomical data, which we have abstracted into a two-dimensional hexagon grid where each hexagon is one parsec in width. We tried to make sure that the system data suits the data we have now – as of the summer of 2016 – about our stellar neighborhood, though abstracted, as noted above, for gaming use.
All maps, UWPs, and rule data in this product are fully open-content, as per the OGL. This means that you may take this data, and even the maps, and directly base your own sci-fi RPG product on them, even include the map or a modified version of it in your product. And yes, this includes commercial products as well!
This product includes two types of high-res maps as separate downloads. The first is a map including several hypothetical dim stars for the ease of gaming. The second is a map with only real, currently-known stars as of Summer 2016. Each of these maps comes in two versions - full-color and printer-friendly.
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Reviews (7)
Discussions (20)
Customer avatar
Michael L February 18, 2024 7:17 am UTC
PURCHASER
Have you looked over the data from https://exoplanet.eu/catalog? How does it compare with your data sets?
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Customer avatar
Omer J February 18, 2024 7:55 am UTC
PUBLISHER
The data I used is somewhat dated, from about 2009. I may update this product to modern standards eventually.
Customer avatar
Hans V April 26, 2022 4:32 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I love and hate this product!

I purchased it a while ago and just keep coming back to it: it just begs me to build my own ungodly mash-up of 2300AD, Hostile and Clement Sector ATU on it.

But the poor editing makes my head hurt... I'm not talking spelling and typos here, I don't care. But actual issues with the data.

So after spending a day off with this PDF, and my trusty old friends Excel and Wikipedia, and a gallon of coffee, here I a couple of remarks...

0106 "Alula Borealis": I assume you mean Alula Australis wich is actually 9pc away instead of Alula Borealis wich is is 120 pc away!

0201 "Beta Trianguli": Beta Trianguli is 40 pc away... What about Bera Trianguli Austalis wich at just 12 pc would fit the bill nicely.

0716 "WZ Canis Minoris": I can't find any WZ Canis Minoris, but there is a YZ Canis Minoris 6 pc from Sol... Typo?

1019 "Chi Orionis": there are two Chi1, and Chi2......See more
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Customer avatar
Omer J April 26, 2022 5:09 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
We will fix the product, many thanks for the information!
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Customer avatar
Hans V April 26, 2022 6:59 pm UTC
PURCHASER
No problem... I'd really like to know which system you meant with "G-180-060" and "Gliese 680"...
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Customer avatar
Hans V April 27, 2022 3:07 pm UTC
PURCHASER
For anyone interested here are the (mostly English) Wikipedia relevant articles for the stars/systems for which Near Star and Wikipedia use different designation...

NEAR SPACE DESIGNATION - (EN) WIKIPEDIA DESIGNATION
18 Ophiuchi - No specific article, search "18 Ophiuchi" in the "list of stars in Ophiuchus" article
82 Eridani - 82 G. Eridani
Proxima Centauri - Alpha Centauri (there is a Proxima Centauri article, but that's only one star of the Alpha Centauri system)
Alula Australis - Xi Ursae Majoris
Beta Canum - Beta Canum Venaticorum
Beta Trianguli - Beta Trianguli Australis
Chi Orionis - Chi1 Orionis
Eggen 372 - G 240-72
EI Canceri - G 9-38
G-180-060 - G 180-060 (on Dutch Wikipedia, couldn't find anything on the English site)
Gliese 183 - HR 1614
Gliese 250 - HD 50281
Gliese 293 - L 97-12
Gliese 33 - HD 4628
Gliese 680 - Gliese 680 (on Spanish Wikipedia, couldn't find anything on the English...See more
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Customer avatar
Omer J April 27, 2022 4:38 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Wow! Many thanks!
Customer avatar
Stephen N April 24, 2020 1:54 am UTC
PURCHASER
Moderately disapointed that Trappist 1 isn't on here! Just means I'll have to slip it in myself somewhere appropriate.
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Customer avatar
Omer J April 24, 2020 6:39 am UTC
PUBLISHER
It was quite a new discovery when we published Near Space. Will be added in the next revision.
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Customer avatar
Stephen N May 06, 2020 5:06 am UTC
PURCHASER
On a bit of closer inspection, looks like Trappist is JUST outside the purview of range this map offers. Which is actually kinda cool. Sort of a 'just off the map' kinda vibe to it.
Customer avatar
Alex T July 14, 2019 5:23 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I've just bought this, and very pleased with it. A while ago I started a Traveller (original rules) campaign but set in the space around Sol and this would have been great for that! Excellent piece of work.

Is there likely to be an update, reflecting the new exoplanetary discoveries made since publication?
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Customer avatar
Omer J July 15, 2019 6:42 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Thank you for your kind words!

We are indeed contemplating an update.
Customer avatar
Matthew H March 12, 2019 9:26 pm UTC
PURCHASER
So any chances of expanding the map. Was searching the internet to see if I could find something like it but didn't have any luck. Did find a list of the thousand closest solar systems but not a map. So any chance of an expansion to the closes thousand systems? I'm guessing the map would be a little larger :-)
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Customer avatar
Omer J March 12, 2019 9:28 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
This may be possible, i.e. expanding it into a full Sector, but remember that the further you go from Terra, the less known real stars are there, so most of the map will be fictional.
Customer avatar
David J May 08, 2017 1:38 am UTC
PURCHASER
How many (real) stars are mapped?
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Customer avatar
Omer J May 08, 2017 5:22 am UTC
PUBLISHER
I will check the exact count and get back to you.
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Customer avatar
David J May 09, 2017 5:09 am UTC
PURCHASER
It looks like 74 real systems and 22 "HSC" systems.
Customer avatar
Jeremiah E December 17, 2016 1:53 pm UTC
PURCHASER
This is an excelent product. I have been looking for a map like this and just about decided I had to make my own. Thank you!
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Customer avatar
Omer J December 17, 2016 1:56 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
You're welcome.
Customer avatar
K. A December 13, 2016 10:35 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hi. I loved your Near Space. One issue, though: I cannot find a listing for Centauri A (G2V) and Centauri B (K1V). They should be in the same hex as Proxima Centauri, I think.
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Customer avatar
Omer J December 13, 2016 10:39 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Thank you for your kind words!

As for Alpha Centauri AW and B, they are indeed in the same hex, with less habitable main-worlds orbiting them. In the next revision of Near Space, we will have three world icons in this hex.
Customer avatar
James J November 20, 2016 5:58 am UTC
PURCHASER
Very nicely done. Prior to this, I had used the SPI Universe / GDW Near Space for 2300 Maps.
I saw a few efforts at this about a decade ago, where people tried to map the actual distances using topology, and as it got farther away, it was pretty warped from reality.

Very cool different colors and formats and the pdf accompanying it is short and sweet.

This is a nice deal for those Traveller / Stars Without Number players to use for a near Terra Campaign.

The Hypothetical HSC stars are nice, since yes, it would take Jump 2 to get around.

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Customer avatar
Omer J November 20, 2016 6:08 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Thank you for your kind words! :-)
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Customer avatar
James J February 24, 2023 3:04 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Much respect to you and the crew for Cepheus Engine. In looking at this data 9 years later with Space Engine, assuming a flat galactic plane, with core to the north, (10s of thousands of light years), spinward to the left, and trailing to the right, all of these stars are off.

That said, unless you are a real stickler for accuracy, and I can say that 99% of Traveller DMs are not, this is a great map for the beginning referee to have a near stars flavor (using real names) for the local interstellar neighborhood.



Customer avatar
Rob R November 16, 2016 1:30 pm UTC
PURCHASER
So far, the only problem I'm seeing is that Epsilon Eridani and Keid occupy the same hex. I guess I could always dump one in favour of the other?
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Customer avatar
Omer J May 20, 2017 12:29 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
This is the problem of "flattening" space - you will have to delete some stars and shift others.
Customer avatar
October 12, 2016 11:06 pm UTC
PURCHASER
It is a great product. So now... Any thought of expanding out farther into the surrounding "subsectors," for subsequent add-ons?
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Customer avatar
Omer J October 13, 2016 7:43 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks!

We might possibly expand this to other susbectors, though keep in mind that the further you go from Sol, the less real-world stars you will have.
Customer avatar
Michael B September 13, 2016 5:29 am UTC
PURCHASER
Interesting to stumble upon something I never even realised I needed...A Traveller-style 2d hex map of the stars surrounding (real) Sol. This will be useful in most home-brew settings using 2d6 Science Fiction rules.

I'm happy to use this for campaigns set at any point in the future. It seems to me that even over thousands of years, most stars won't be moving appreciably if each "hex" is a parsec, ie 3.26 light years across.

Many thanks, and I'll be watching your future releases with interest.
MB
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Customer avatar
Omer J September 13, 2016 6:58 am UTC
PUBLISHER
You're welcome :-)

We are now working on another product for Cepheus/2d6 sci-fi product called Space Patrol. Fighting interstellar crime as in the Old Days... Coming Halloween 2016, fingers crossed. After that there are other VERY cool and exciting stuff being prepared for a Christmas release.
Customer avatar
Russ M September 12, 2016 11:54 am UTC
PURCHASER
The map is great. I need to convert all the system codes to WOIN catalog codes - definitely plan on releasing a version for NEW using the OGL content.
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Customer avatar
Omer J September 12, 2016 3:40 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks! Looking forward to see your version :-)
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Customer avatar
Russ M September 16, 2016 4:15 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I've uploaded the WOIN version. Actually, it's rather system free, as I decided against including planetary catalog codes on account of all that being mainly unknown.

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/193547/WOIN-Real-Solspace-A-Guide-to-our-Stellar-Neighborhood?cPath=266_22895

It doesn't credit you anywhere except for in the OGL itself at the back, as the OGL forbids me from referring to your product without written permission, but I'm happy to do so if you give the go-ahead.

I edited the hex map to remove planetary information, and to show the stars as their actual colours. The document refers folks to the N.E.W. core rulebook for the creation of planetary systems, but the star information is the same real astronomical information you used.
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Customer avatar
Omer J September 16, 2016 4:21 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks! I have just bought this :-)
Customer avatar
Jerry S September 11, 2016 6:24 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Great job - love this product!
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Customer avatar
Omer J September 11, 2016 7:30 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks!
Customer avatar
Gerald M September 11, 2016 2:52 pm UTC
PURCHASER
This is excellent work!!! I am again impressed... I can see doing something with this map in a homebrewed game.
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Customer avatar
Omer J September 11, 2016 4:11 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thank you for your kind words! :-)
Customer avatar
Cam K September 06, 2016 2:25 pm UTC
Do the stars use positional data straight from the star catalogs or are they time corrected? For example, if a star is ten ly away, is its position adjusted to be ten years in the future from its current, apparent position?
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Customer avatar
Omer J September 06, 2016 5:09 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I will check that with our experts and get back to you ASAP :-)
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Customer avatar
Omer J September 06, 2016 7:51 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
All the data we used was adjusted to 2000CE. Nothing was adjusted for a future state. Barnard's Star is an example will have moved quite a ways, but would still be in the same hex as the current map. We did consider adjusting for stellar drift, but after reviewing Barnard's Star we felt it was too much work without any real changes.
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File Last Updated:
September 05, 2016
This title was added to our catalog on September 01, 2016.