There isn’t a great deal written about puzzle worlds; this is surprising. So here I try to tease out a bit. This could probably serve as the introductory text to a small supplement on the subject.
Imperial scientists and their antecedents have been studying the physical world for millennia, unlocking many of the mysteries they’ve encountered. Gravity, meteors, eclipses, and the like baffled early sophonts of Charted Space, presenting conundrums that invoked fear and fascination. As a civilization developed its methodologies for discovery they solved these early puzzles, advancing their understanding of the universe.
But no matter how sophisticated our scientists become, there’s always something that defies understanding, even in the modern day of the Third Imperium. There exist expressions of the universe that are beyond the capability of the best minds and resources of the Scout Service or Imperial Navy’s ability to comprehend.
“At least for the moment,” one of these scientists might quip.
Worlds that present such wonders are usually designated Puzzle Worlds, and receive either an Amber Zone or Red Zone classification by TAS.
Traveller5 tells us this about Puzzle worlds…
Pz Puzzle
Some aspect of the world (conditions, customs, laws, life forms, climate, economics, or other) is not well or easily understood by typical visitors. The world is a TAS Amber Zone.
For a world to be classified Pz the puzzling aspect that draws attention usually must be prevalent on the entire world, or of such intensity that it’s easily the most noteworthy aspect of the world. The “Fountain of Youth” rubrik is often used by the Scouts: the presence of a single “fountain of youth” on a world would undoubtedly pique the interest of several research agencies, but it would not be enough to earn that world the “Pz” designation. The presence of a system of such springs on a world would, however.
In cases where the puzzling effect can be directly attributed to an artifact and not an expression of the world itself, usually the world does not gain the Pz designation, although of course it may still earn an Amber or Red designation from TAS, and the same attention as above.
Sometimes only a particular zone – a certain geography, elevation, or site – shows the puzzling effect; the world’s population might live above the world in orbit, or otherwise out of the affected area.
A Scout or Navy authority can make an preliminary designation of Pz upon discovery and verification of a qualifying effect. Joint teams from these agencies and the TAS investigate such worlds as soon as practical to confirm the initial classification. In the case of a current Imperial member world where a puzzling effect is discovered, it is customary to inform the local ranking nobility first, in situations where this is practical and no immediate danger is perceived.
Besides serving as a general notification or alert that something is worthy of note about a system, the Pz designation also serves other functions with regard to travel, economics, and other business of the Imperium. For example, the Pz designation automatically places such worlds in “exception flows” of algorithms that determine economic forecasts. The same is true for AIs that map and describe migration or travel patterns. Puzzle worlds are treated as anomalies in such flows, and reclassifying a world already included in such forecasts can have major economic effects in the area.
Further, the Pz classification is required for certain types of bureaucratic efforts to be set in motion. Some agencies doing research or providing support might only do so when a world obtains a confirmed Pz designation.
Finally, the Pz designation can also serve as a triggering exception in Imperial Law, automatically setting into motion a re-negotiation of terms or status as an Imperial member world. Such conditions are often worked into the member world’s Imperial Charter; for example a current member world that receives a Pz classification for some reason might have its required taxes altered or eliminated, its established aid package altered, in extreme situations even have its member world status altered or annulled,
Conditions/effects
To earn a “puzzle” designation with regards to a particular condition or effect, a world ( or system ) must exhibit some effect or circumstance not easily classified or understood by Imperial science. Such an effect need not be dangerous, though if benign the world still receives an Amber Zone classification.
Once the “puzzle” condition is understood and its effects can be predicted and altered, the world might lose its Pz designation, although it still might retain its Amber Zone designation, or even be updated to Red Zone.
Customs/Laws
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Life forms
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Economics
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“Other”
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