Lit The Essential Atlas and Galactic Cartography: Official Discussion

It's possible, but it's also worth noting that the Terrabe sector has been identified as a Freestanding subsector, which was the term used to designate places on the very edge of the map outside "official" borders. Actually, to be more accurate, the Wook claims they're "a term to designate the independent sectors that were not part of the galactic government," which might explain why Jedha is described as an "occupied" moon.

 

I'd add- just because the Empire controls Jedha doesn't necessarily imply that all the space between that world and Known Space is also occupied. Space is big and vast, it's possible that Jedha's ancient history and remote location makes it more like an island on the ocean vs. being part of a contiguous landmass.

--Adm. Nick

 

@jasonfry I've been thinking about this for a while: should they ever hire you to write a new Essential Atlas, don't you think it'd be a better idea to make it into several volumes? I mean... You'd have Volume I as a "core" book, containing everything there is to know at the time of its release, and then, every three year or so, a new volume would come up, containing descriptions of additional planets and moons, their respective grid placements and, if need be, new system/sector maps.

Yeah, basically, that's what you did with the Online Companion, but in print. Of course, that would be more expensive and ambitious, but the good thing is that print books cannot be taken offline. Online-only is the bane of reference. Also, releasing additional volumes would be, in my opinion, a better solution than having "updated" or "complete" releases -- because we all know they never stay up to date or complete for very long.

Anyway, I'm probably just dreaming here, but I needed to tell you all the same. (BTW, I'm so glad that you managed to sneak a map into Tales from Vandor!)

 

I second this.

 

That would be awesome -- SIGN ME UP! -- but I suspect something of a nightmare for bookstores, readers, etc. And let's face it, "supplement to map book about made-up galaxy" is getting dangerously deep into niche products.

That said, I have thought about a new-canon Atlas, should Dan Wallace and I ever have the good luck to revisit the book. If you look at Atlas 1.0, most of Part I still works -- the "how the galaxy works" material. To keep it friendly for casual fans, you'd want to expand Part II -- the planet profiles -- to include everything from the films and the major TV worlds. (Including Polis Massa this time, which I still can't believe we forgot.) Part III -- the history -- is what I'd rethink to avoid tying storytellers' hands. My instinct would be to cover big/broad historical trends rather than zero in on specific non-movie campaigns -- offer, say, a survey of galactic exploration, a snapshot of the early galaxy, etc. The "movie maps" still work, definitely. Then I'd explore a couple of areas related to movie/TV material in detail -- say, Hutt Space, Mandalorian Space, etc. And top it off with an updated appendix.

Not too different than Atlas 1.0, I guess, just making sure the history stuff is more tightly bound to something on-screen or so broad that a casual fan is willing to dip in rather than retreating in terror.

And you'd want to wait at least until the ST is done, of course.

But the Vandor note brings up something I'm really happy about -- there's a map in that book that's basically a more-detailed version of the one in the Solo guide. The official guides and Visual Dictionaries have all included maps, and those maps are the same as the Atlas map. So the Atlas's legacy is still pretty solid.

And I haven't stopped logging new star systems or trying to figure out where they go -- new canon's contributed nearly 700 of them. I'm not doing that for my health, but because I have faith that the online appendices and regional sector maps etc. will get updated/continued when the time is right and there's something logical to hook them to.

 

With that in mind at least a Vol 1 and Vol 2....followed by some addendums when there is sufficient information provided in Movies, TV and books.

I have been saying since the canon reboot that there is a lot in the old Atlas...and the Essential Guide to Warfare...about galactic history that can be brought over pretty much intact without contradicting the Movies/TV in any way.

 

The name of the Outer Rim water planet that is home to the Colossus in Star Wars Resistance has been revealed: Castilon
https://www.starwars.com/databank/colossus

 

Probably a bit too much to ask, but is there any way you could share what sources you haven't logged so we could help log others moving forward? If not , no worries, we appreciate what you do all the same!

 

For the new Canon, have you thought about placing planets in completely different areas? I know that Scipio was changed, but has Disney told you to keep everything the same or are you allowed to change it as much as you wish?

 

I'm tripping over "allowed" a bit because everything I suggest goes through LFL for approval.

Starting over map-wise would have been an interesting idea, particularly given old fan flashpoints like the extent of the Unknown Regions, but LFL already chose not to go that route -- the decision to use the same map in new canon was theirs. Given that, I wouldn't propose wholesale changes and if for some reason I did, LFL would say no.

The Scipio change would have happened even without the Legends/new canon decision. I don't kick myself for the faulty placement because at the time Scipio just seemed like a stray reference and not a future setting for stories. I suspect if that situation came up again there'd be more guidance from Story Group and we'd leave its placement undefined. Which from my perspective is a positive change whether you're crafting stories or filling in lore.

Hope that helps!

 

@jasonfry Was it you who decided to introduce Thape as the Dai Bendu homeworld? If so, why not Ando Prime?

 

@jasonfry

Any chance you could give a rough placement for the Mirrin Prime or Gatalenta? They are on my list of unplaced NR worlds and I am dying for map placements.

Also- how crazy is it that in October this thread turns 13 YEARS OLD. Good Lord, it seems like only yesterday you and Dan Wallace were chatting with all of us about placements, ideas, concepts, etc. This might still be the best thread I've chatted in. No offense to my beloved Fleet Junkie thread, but this thread tends to avoid scaling and size arguments.

--Adm. Nick

 

Kesh was another example of making a placement before the storytelling was finished. It's too long ago to recall the exact details, but I placed it based on one clue and had to move it based on a much more detailed reference in a later story in the same series.

No recollection of Thape. I suspect that was Dan. Before my conversion experience with The Weapon of a Jedi I tended to leave Force stuff to a collaborator if I could.

Sorry, can't do on Mirrin Prime or Gatalenta. But think I placed them both for an upcoming something.

Yeah, this thread has relatively few hills people choose to die on. Which is a relief.

 

An upcoming something?

Will this something provide donation opportunities for your beer & mortgage fund?

—Adm. Nick

 

Since this thread is active again, here is my current list of New Republic members in the new canon:

Core Worlds
Alderaan
Chandrila
Corellia
Coruscant
Ganthel
Harloff Minor
Hosnian Prime
Kuat
Velusia

Colonies
Abednedo
Commenor
Devaron

Inner Rim
Birren
Cona
Riosa

Mid Rim
Ando
Bothawui
Contruum
Ithor
Kashyyyk
Malastare
Naalol
Naboo
Nakadia
Orinda
Ottega
Roche
Tarsunt
Uyter

Outer Rim
Akiva
Anthan Spire
Arkanis
Askaj
Bespin
Comra
Daxam IV
Jelucan
Mon Cala
Nag Ubdur
Pamarthe
Quermia
Rodia
Sullust
Taris
Vashka
Virgillia
Yavin IV

Unknown Placement
Ashaftan (species)
Candovant
Frong
Gatalenta
Hevurion
Lonera
Mirrin Prime
Orish
Torphlus
Ubardia

Potential Members/Controlled Systems
Garel
Lothal
Mykapo
Onderon
Pantora
Telaris
Ord Pardron

*****
I'd say that the locations of Mirrin Prime (a key NR base), Gatalenta, and Lonera are the ones I'd love to see placed most. The former because it's close to the borders of First Order territory, the latter two because they seem to be very prominent members of the New Republic Senate.

If I'm missing any or anyone thinks I list some in error, let me know!

--Adm. Nick

 

I assume the Tico homeworld of Ottomok Prime falls in the "is definitely getting placed officially sometime so I can't talk about it" camp? I've got an RPG campaign I'm working on that could include a visit there, and I'm right now chalking it up as "somewhere in Wild Space." I'd be happy to hear if you have a more specific hunch, though.

 

In WotC's Unknown Regions they write that the Blazing Chain "is commonly encountered within the galactic disk and surrounding cloud" and I was wondering where/what is the galactic disk and surrounding cloud, because I could not find any information on the Wook?

 

Galactic disc: all the galaxy between the Core and intergalactic space, in a narrow plane - where most of the stars are.

"Surrounding cloud" - the halo region - everything above and below the galactic plane - which is mostly a bunch of globular clusters.

 

Looking back, it really has been quite a magical thread. So many awesome discussions and interactions between regular board members and VIPs. The very best that message boards have to offer!

—Adm. Nick

 

Fittingly, my copy of Bomber Command just arrived today, and I see that we have placements for both Otomok AND Refnu (and thus, Atterra). I certainly have a clearer sense of where the First Order's borders were now. Great work as always, @jasonfry!

 

I would suspect that, after the Centrist Secession, First Order worlds were littered across the galaxy. This would give FO ships a reason to travel outside the old Remnant. If they only used old ships for operations around isolated worlds like Arkanis, they could easily pull a "nothing to see here. See? Only old ISDs that haven't been drydocked in three decades. No reason to worry about us!"