Fluff feature -> Freeform/Coordinate based FSD

[Thomas Jefferson Jones]

What if there were a system in place that allowed free coordinate entry for Hyperspace jumps.

This would let you translate to an empty spot of space on the galaxy map within your current jump range, and lock in the raw coordinates for a custom deep space destination.

This would be pretty useless as there'd be nothing there. You could send the coords to people you wanted to meet up with discretely, though once systems are in place to broadcast SC targets this would be easily done in-system as well.

Was looking through the DDF and didn't see any plans for this, and rightly so perhaps due to its lack of gameplay utility.

There's a post or two that touch on the idea in the Hyperspace DDF, but no response or followup.

So its a fluff feature, but it seems like something we *should* be able to do, just cause we're commanders of spaceships dammit and there's a cohesive representation of the galaxy out there.

What do you guys think, something you'd welcome? Or too pointless to think about?

 

[Lobstris]

I'm positive that this has been discussed before, and that one dev (Mike Evans I think?) popped up to say that it (passing coordinates to other players) was a nice idea for the long term. Few months ago now though...

 

[Hydrino]

Yes, even if only because, awesome.

Commanders might be able to map a new hyperspace jump route that way. Some systems could be dark and undiscovered for some weird reason. Rogue planets are thought to roam the galaxy as well, not tied to a star. IIRC I read about players having to discover new jump routes somewhere but that might just be to stars as current and not "empty space". Since jump drives target the largest mass in a system the rationale for being able to deliberately jump to a spot with nothing might not fit the desire mechanic. However, I can't think of another reason not to have free coordinate entry in the final release.

Sharing map info with friends is definitely on the dev list.