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- Jan 22, 2014
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As you might know, since the universe update the game automatically generates names for systems. Those are composed of syllables specified in the file data/config/systemNames.syl. I took the liberty of taking a look at it.
The first thing to notice is that the file basically can be split up into three sections. There are lines starting with '-' (followed by a syllable), the syllable, and '+' (also followed by a syllable).
Operating under the (very safe) assumption that syllables where chosen in a way that makes system names sound very similar to those known to us from (i.e.) real life, it can be concluded that those lines starting with '-' denote prefixes ("capri", "pega", "alpha", "ome"), and those starting with '+' denote suffixes ("peia", "major", "ius", "frey"). Thus, the others should appear somewhere in the middle of generated names.
The next thing to notice are those "-/+v/c" things that can be found in some lines. We know that syllables are concatenated according to some yet unknown rules, I therefore conclude that these represent those rules. Since there are only the letters C and V to be found, I assume that these represent associations with consonants and vowels, respectively.
Looking specifically at the prefix/suffix specifications I noticed that the prefix specs only contain '+' associations, and the suffix specs only '-' rules. Conclusion:
Fun fact: According to my conclusions, these rules do indeed allow a system to be named "Gallifrey". ("-ga", "lli -v +c", "+frey -v")
Use this information to have system names themed to your favorite scifi universe, and let me know if it works out for you.
Unknown info:
The first thing to notice is that the file basically can be split up into three sections. There are lines starting with '-' (followed by a syllable), the syllable, and '+' (also followed by a syllable).
Operating under the (very safe) assumption that syllables where chosen in a way that makes system names sound very similar to those known to us from (i.e.) real life, it can be concluded that those lines starting with '-' denote prefixes ("capri", "pega", "alpha", "ome"), and those starting with '+' denote suffixes ("peia", "major", "ius", "frey"). Thus, the others should appear somewhere in the middle of generated names.
The next thing to notice are those "-/+v/c" things that can be found in some lines. We know that syllables are concatenated according to some yet unknown rules, I therefore conclude that these represent those rules. Since there are only the letters C and V to be found, I assume that these represent associations with consonants and vowels, respectively.
Looking specifically at the prefix/suffix specifications I noticed that the prefix specs only contain '+' associations, and the suffix specs only '-' rules. Conclusion:
- +v: syllable is followed by a vowel
- -v: syllable follows a vowel
- +c: syllable is followed by a consonant
- -c syllable follows a consonant
Fun fact: According to my conclusions, these rules do indeed allow a system to be named "Gallifrey". ("-ga", "lli -v +c", "+frey -v")
Use this information to have system names themed to your favorite scifi universe, and let me know if it works out for you.
Unknown info:
- Number of syllables used.
