Oolite Bulletins

https://web.archive.org/web/20201128191 ... st-4422497
or just
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/e ... st-4422497

Hexadecimal:
w0 = 1234 = 12, 34
w1 = 5678 = 56, 78
w2 = 9abc = 9a, bc

might be converted to

Decimal:
w0 = 18, 52
w1 = 86, 120
w2 = 154, 188

and then entered on https://web.archive.org/web/20250406063 ... veMap.html
or just
http://bit.ly/OoliteInteractiveMap2
by clicking the "Galaxy Seed" button,
each in reverse order as: 52, 18; 120, 86; 188, 154,
and, afterwards, the "Apply" button,

to yield Chart(s) 9 (to 16)
as it (they) would appear in Elite Plus.

*

https://web.archive.org/web/20250406071 ... _recipe.29
or just
https://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Oolit ... _recipe.29

The first bullet point under the "Goat Soup" heading points to a spreadsheet:

http://bit.ly/OoliteGalaxiesSpreadsheet

which I've downloaded without any problems, despite whatever security warnings my browser might have given.

On the Galaxy Data worksheet, in cells C3 to E3, w0 = 1234, w1 = 5678 and w2 = 9abc can be entered directly as is, to replicate the data from the Oolite Interactive Map.

According to  The Eight, ArcElite apparently assigns the following names to each of the charts, in order from 1 to 8: Santaari, Colesque, Lara'tan, Angiana, Proximus, Solans, Jaftra and Xrata.

I am interested in suggestions and justifications for a similar name for Chart 9. Once we have a good list of suggestions, we might run a voting poll...?

I'll start.

"Sawyer", after Chris Sawyer of Microprose who first programmed Chart 9 into Elite Plus.

...Or "Nenino", after Raan Nenino, Professor of Astrometric Studies at Rexebe University, who proposed remapping the topology of a suitably-modified Hyperdrive in order to travel to a farther location in the Milky Way Galaxy, the ninth chart (according to cmd. Drew Wagar's speculative fiction "Nine", which he finally collected into the  Alien Items anthology). Yes, Prof. Nenino supposedly experienced some difficulties, and I do not agree with all his statements, but his is the first name of which I am aware who supposedly actually deliberately attempted to reach Chart 9.

...Or some combination/variation of "PhantorGorth" and/or "Cooper" and/or "Pleb", who first presented suggestions for Chart 9 on cmd. Paul "PhantorGorth" Cooper's Oolite Interactive Map, linked in the previous post.

...Or "Darrenc", after cmd. Darren "darrenc" C. who, according to either of the first two links in the previous post, (1) apparently first reverse engineered Elite Plus to determine the probability of reaching Chart 9, and who (2) determined the actual chart-seed numbers, and who (3) created a patch of the Elite Plus .exe file which permanently incorporates Chart 9 into the long-range jump cycle around GalCop Space.

Personally, I'm rather partial to "Darrenc", because, as far as I know, cmd. darrenc has contributed the most to the commOonity so far in making Chart 9 as accessible as possible to all, and I'm of the opinion that the name "Darrenc" sort of seems to feel as if it fits in a little bit better with the style of the other ArcElite chart names... in my subjective estimation.

... Although, come to think of it now, "DarrenGorth" or "PhanDar" or a similar combination might be more representative due to cmd. PhantorGorth's equally-significant contributions to the commOonity in making the viewing of all charts and the associated chart-data more accessible to all. ...And because we do not yet have a name with a central capital in the list. ... I think I now actually like "SawPhanDar" the best, incorporating a reference to Chris Sawyer's initial contributions as well, in chronological order.

I am interested in any and all other suggestions and justifications, and even in reasons as to why other suggestions might not be suited.

Thank you for your kind consideration and participation in this regard.

user2357 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 12, 2025 9:34 am

I am interested in suggestions and justifications for a similar name for Chart 9

Maybe iI'm not the best person to answr this but in the present absence of others...

Personally speaking, I don't like any of the names, of any of the galaxies. Bad start I know but please bear with me.

What they have in common for me is that they all sound like other things.
Santaari - Santorini
Colesque - Coalesce
Lara’tan - Bhutan
Angiana - Angina
Proximus - a spot of Latin?, proxinmal to what exactly?
Sol / Solans - this one isn't even disguised in its first name
Jaftra - Jaffa
Xrata - Errata, suitably enough for the 'last' galaxy

However tenuous that might seem, it presents an unfortunate word association in my head at least which to me suggests someone looked around their desk in search of inspiration in a hurry.

In a more encouraging vein, if there is no apparent consistency to what went before then why restrain yourself? Maybe just find one that sounds right to you. I don't think you'll get one that everyon'es happy with. Or you could even rename the lot yourself, then you could introduce a consistency of your own, not dissimilar to the path you were taking in coming up with a name for galaxy 9.

e.g. G1 Sanrata (hybrid of first and last names from original set)
G2 Cesawyer (from Chris Sawyer but less maundane sounding)
G3 Nenino (not a common name to my knowledge)
G4 Darrenc
G5 Belp (pleb backwards)
G6 Coomap (Cooper's map)
G7 Gorth
G8 Phandar
G9 Resu (and why not acknowledge yourself while you're at it )


Now if it were me, which it isn't/wasn't, then I'd have named them after mythological realms, for some consistency with the real world naming of planets. Elysium anyone?

Redspear wrote: ↑Sat Apr 12, 2025 5:41 pm

What they have in common for me is that they all sound like other things.
Santaari - Santorini
Colesque - Coalesce
Lara’tan - Bhutan
Angiana - Angina
Proximus - a spot of Latin?, proxinmal to what exactly?
Sol / Solans - this one isn't even disguised in its first name
Jaftra - Jaffa
Xrata - Errata, suitably enough for the 'last' galaxy

I agree almost 100%, I wouldn't have got Bhutan from Lara'tan (which is dopey because of the apostrophe), and also I'm reminded of Sontarans from Doctor Who, as well as Santorini, for the first. But yes, they're a zero effort bunch.

Don't be weak, just call 'em all Wildeblood's Empire, sector X, or whatever the equivalent is in your household. You know it makes sense.

Thanks, guys!

TBH, I don't like much of what ArcElite tries to do with history either... It's even more inconsistent and nonsensical than how Mr. Holdstock described a Hyperjump in TDW, p. 7, par. 10 to p. 8, par. 3. ...But, since the chart names were apparently officially approved by the powers-that-were, perhaps they should be left untouched (except for trying to find some explanation for why they are so ... lazy and sloppy and cheap).

Personally, I was rather surprised when I first discovered that the chart names did not seem to follow a similar naming scheme as the individual planetary-systems did. Then I remembered that the only consistent naming-system of all the planetary systems in this region of Space, as accepted by the GalCop Government, had been determined first by indigenous Insectoid astronomers, and us Human colonials only came afterwards, marking out the greater GalCop charts, and naming those eight original regions.

After the first eight charts had finally been explored, mapped and colonised, these Human names for the regions (as presented by ArcElite) were introduced as a celebration of the event. However, the other eight, indigenous species-classes petitioned to have each chart-name translated into one of their own tongues or dialects. Eventually, after long debate, their proposal was ratified, and the names were finally, officially changed: Dochla, Dlatshov, Rongzza, Nuzziblag, Nga'a'keom, Donglaro, Ig'ur'ezga and Leda'oz'ang, in order from 1 to 8. However, the proposal had been debated for so long that original records of which names were translated into which languages had been lost, and, since the case had finally been settled, no attempt was made to determine the historical details of the matter again. ...Except that I vaguely recall that the Insectoids apparently proposed the name of either Chart 5, 7 or 8, but I forget where I heard that. Apparently, some factions refused to accept these names, and that might be how the old names got into ArcElite. Besides, who actually remembers these names? It's easier just to remember the numbers any day.

However, due to all this history, I do not feel that I have the authority to rename existing, historical names. ...But I would not be averse to some OXP(s) renaming the charts.

If it were up to me to propose a name for the new Chart 9, though, I'd still go for "SawPhanDar", for my reasons stated in a previous post; whether it might be decided that the other charts be renamed, or remain as they are. ... I like how it also doesn't quite sound like the rest, as if it was added on afterwards -- as Chart 9 actually was. ...And it is a rather Human-sounding name also... Afterall, us Humans haven't had the chance to name a chart yet.

user2357 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 12, 2025 9:34 am

According to  The Eight, ArcElite apparently assigns the following names to each of the charts, in order from 1 to 8: Santaari, Colesque, Lara'tan, Angiana, Proximus, Solans, Jaftra and Xrata.

I am interested in suggestions and justifications for a similar name for Chart 9.

Have you considered cracking open the Galaxy Names OXP, and seeing what it says?

user2357 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 6:58 am

Therefore, I do not feel that I have the authority to rename existing, core lore; lazy, sloppy and cheap as it might be. ...But I would not be averse to some OXP(s) renaming the charts.

I hereby bestow upon you the title of "Maintainer of the Galaxy Names OXP".

Gee, whizz, oh, goody, wowzer!

A member of the Dark Side has offered me one of their cookies! (...and I haven't even started playing yet, never mind installing any OXPs... )

I shall endeavour to do my utmost to honour this ... errr ... honour ... that has been bestowed upon me.

I have downloaded the Galaxy Names OXP, and have constructed a ver. 2.0. I would very much appreciate a master taking a look at my homework, and giving me some guidance as to how to proceed, please.

(I like the "crossing the mountains" name for Chart 9 in that old Human tongue that was included in ver. 1.0; I think it was rather appropriate for the information available at the time. However, now that we have some more detail about the developmental history of the Elite Plus Chart 9, and the persons who made significant contributions to facilitating its accessibility, I've increasingly convinced myself that "SawPhanDar" might be a better way to go, referencing Chris Sawyer, Phantorgorth and Darren C. ...unless someone can provide an even more historically-grounded justification for another name, or suggest a better combination of the three names under consideration.)

Where's the "like" button on Redspear's post?

(Is that one of Terry Gilliam's Monty Python animations?)

What a pair of ungracious a%@#&*$.
I take it back. We'll go with Wildeblood's Empire, after all.

user2357 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 4:27 pm

(Is that one of Terry Gilliam's Monty Python animations?)

Yes!

Wildeblood wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 5:01 pm

What a pair of ungracious a%@#&*$.

It was more than one pair

user2357 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 2:22 pm

I have downloaded the Galaxy Names OXP, and have constructed a ver. 2.0. I would very much appreciate a master taking a look at my homework, and giving me some guidance as to how to proceed, please.

Well, given you aren't currently playing, it would seem moot to suggest testing it to see if any errors turn up in the log. Feel free to pass a copy over to me for a once over. If it all parses and compiles, I can update the download manager.

phkb wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 7:46 pm

..Feel free to pass a copy over to me for a once over. If it all parses and compiles...

It's nine lines of descriptions.plist

Then again, after 12 years don't expect me to remember whether or not I included that mystery semi-colon that causes so much bother to Cholly.

At the moment, I've added a ReadMe.txt historical note in the OXZ's top-level folder, I've updated the version number and added a "maintainer" line in the manifest.plist, and I've updated the OXZ filename to "oolite.oxp.Wildeblood.galaxy_names.2.0.oxz", to include the version number.

I would like some instruction on (1) how this should actually have been done (if my fiddlings are non-standard), and (2) how and where to upload it, please.

(TBH, I'm a bit lazy to take the daunting plunge down the OXP rabbit-hole of all the bb threads and wikipages just for these two points.)

user2357 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 14, 2025 6:13 am

At the moment, I've added a ReadMe.txt historical note in the OXZ's top-level folder, I've updated the version number and added a "maintainer" line in the manifest.plist, and I've updated the OXZ filename to "oolite.oxp.Wildeblood.galaxy_names.2.0.oxz", to include the version number.

I would like some instruction on (1) how this should actually have been done (if my fiddlings are non-standard), and (2) how and where to upload it, please.

(TBH, I'm a bit lazy to take the daunting plunge down the OXP rabbit-hole of all the bb threads and wikipages just for these two points.)

Where did it download from, do you know? If it's one that's stored on the wiki, don't change the filename, we can just upload a new version over top.

I found it:

https://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/File: ... es_1.0.oxz

If you don't have a wiki login, just add it as an attachment here, and I'll move it.

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