Post by Destecado on Dec 4, 2004 9:21:08 GMT -5
Some questions have been raised in the subsector forums as to why a good number of UWP system listings have planets that are for the most part lifeless balls of rock as the primary world of the Sector.
This most likely comes down to the fact that the parameters of the UWP statistical database are set up to locate planetary bodies which orbit within a stars habitable zone (at least the habitable zone for humans). Such a planet need not be condusive to supporting human habitation directly (no atmosphere, barren, etc.).
Not every system can or should have a habitable planet. There some systems that don't even have planets. Human habitation in some of these systems with barren worlds may take place in orbiting platforms or other facilities to take advantage of the mineral wealth on the planet or other planetary bodies within the system, but there will be some systems which are completely unoccupied.
Why then are they listed if they are not habitable to humans? Well because they are there. The Imperium claims juristiction of these systems to prevent other races from taking advantage of them. The systems may lay on important travel routes that ships doing a circuit of calculated jumps follow.
They can also serve as good rally points for organizing fleets. This is especially true for stars with no planets, since in many cases, their warp zone will be smaller that in systems with many planets and large populations. Another advantage is that because the system is empty, it will be fairly easy to see any enemy ships approching (and who would think to look for the fleet in an uninhabited system).
This most likely comes down to the fact that the parameters of the UWP statistical database are set up to locate planetary bodies which orbit within a stars habitable zone (at least the habitable zone for humans). Such a planet need not be condusive to supporting human habitation directly (no atmosphere, barren, etc.).
Not every system can or should have a habitable planet. There some systems that don't even have planets. Human habitation in some of these systems with barren worlds may take place in orbiting platforms or other facilities to take advantage of the mineral wealth on the planet or other planetary bodies within the system, but there will be some systems which are completely unoccupied.
Why then are they listed if they are not habitable to humans? Well because they are there. The Imperium claims juristiction of these systems to prevent other races from taking advantage of them. The systems may lay on important travel routes that ships doing a circuit of calculated jumps follow.
They can also serve as good rally points for organizing fleets. This is especially true for stars with no planets, since in many cases, their warp zone will be smaller that in systems with many planets and large populations. Another advantage is that because the system is empty, it will be fairly easy to see any enemy ships approching (and who would think to look for the fleet in an uninhabited system).
