Universal Astro Profile
Created:One difficult task in Astro Empires is capturing the details of a base and reporting those details in an easy to read format. To remedy this, a 10-character code was developed called the Universal Astro Profile (UAP). The idea for the profile derives from the role-playing game, Traveller, which solved the problem of universal description of characters, vehicles and places using a series of universal profiles.
The Code Explained
The basic format of the code is [@ 0APPB-0BBB0 @]. In this notation, ‘0’ is decimal, ‘A’ is a letter, ‘P’ is a specific code, and ‘B’ is Base 34.
| Slot | Which orbit the base is in. | |
| A | Type | The astro type. See table below for mapping between astro type and code. |
| P | Production | The largest unit type it can produce, in two-letter code. See table below for mapping. |
| P | Capacity | |
| B | Occupation Value | Hourly revenue from occupation in tens of credits (dekacredits). |
| - | ||
| 0 | P-Rings | Number of P-Rings on the base. |
| B | Shields | D-Shields [0-9] or P-Shields [A-J]. |
| B | Turrets | Photon [0-9] or Disrupter [A-J] Turrets. |
| B | Command Centers | Number of Command Centers. |
| 0 | Jump Gates | Number of jump gates. |
Explanation of Base34 and codes is offered below. However, a translation of the code may help explain it until I figure out how to explain it myself. The following is an astro entry: [+[@5KHC4-1ABA3@]+] Based on this entry, we know the following:
- (5) The slot is 20.
- (K) The type is Rocky.
- (HC) The base can produce Heavy Cruisers.
- (4) The base generates 40 credits per hour during occupation.
- (1) The base has one P-Ring.
- (A) The base has one P-Shield. If it was a Deflection Shield, it woudl be 1 instead of A.
- (B) The base has two D-Turrets. If it was Photon turrets, it would be 2 instead of B.
- (A) The base has ten Command Centers
- (3) The base has Jump-Gate 3.
From reviewing the attributes of the UAP, you may notice this helps quickly note value of the base and its inherent defenses.
Astro Type Codes
| O Oceanic | |
| C Craters | R Radioactive |
| D Arid | T Tundra |
| E Earthly | W Magma |
| G Gaia | V Volcanic |
| K Rocky | X Toxic |
| L Glacial | Y Crystaloid |
| M Metallic |
What is Base34?
Base 34 is an extension of Base16 which lets us use a single digit as much as possible. Here is a mapping between Base34 and decimal.
| 0 | 0 | H | 17 |
| 1 | 1 | J | 18 |
| 2 | 2 | K | 19 |
| 3 | 3 | L | 20 |
| 4 | 4 | M | 21 |
| 5 | 5 | N | 22 |
| 6 | 6 | P | 23 |
| 7 | 7 | Q | 24 |
| 8 | 8 | R | 25 |
| 9 | 9 | S | 26 |
| A | 10 | T | 27 |
| B | 11 | U | 28 |
| C | 12 | V | 29 |
| D | 13 | W | 30 |
| E | 14 | X | 31 |
| F | 15 | Y | 32 |
| G | 16 | Z | 33 |
Color Coding
The Census uses color coding for key defense values. The color code is based on the best-practices in base defenses learned from the older galaxies. Specifically, UAP color coding assumes the following defenses as ideal—and are colored green in the UAP:
- Planetary Rings (2)
- Planetary Shields (2)
- Disrupter Turrets (3)
- Command Centers (15)
A minimal acceptable value is also present, and colored blue. Any other value is colored red.
- Planetary Rings (1)
- Planetary Shields (1)
- Disrupter Turrets (2)
- Command Centers (10)