Curious about the non-graphical star map

So, I was wondering how travelling to planets via the non-graphical star map would work? Suppose I am just starting the game and I haven't explored any planets yet.

- How will I be able to choose the first planet to explore?
- Via random coordinates?
- Or scannig for the closest planet in range?
- Will there be some kind of "planet or solar system scanner" available, maybe even via crafting?
- Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to introduce some kind of simple star map where I can see which planets I have already explored. This would for example be useful if I would want to colonize/explore a specific sector of the universe.

Just some thoughts ...

 

Well the game does start off with you crashing onto a planet but on the later part you do get hospitality of a space shuttle.

Do keep in mind it is a sandbox game which means the Dev has to unleash as much freedom as possible. And with that said there is a probability you can control a space ship to travel around the milk way with the use of a scanning machine to search for nearby planets.

As for gadgets to assist your adventure, I'm pretty sure the space shuttle peeps will be kind enough to provide em. Unless of course, they only do the crafting and you do the gathering.

So much thoughts Let's discuss!

 

Yea, I ask myself about what exactly is "non-graphical starmap" ever since I first read about it. I have no idea, but it makes waiting even more interesting (love surprises)

 

Non-graphical starmap eh? I wonder how are they gonna pull this one off. The only thing I can think of is a cut scene of them entering hyper space xD

 

well they said " Coordinates will always create the same world" so im thinking (could be 100% wrong here) "coordinates" is just a different word for "world seed" found in games like minecraft. and a "non-graphical map" sounds like a list of coordinates, but that is just what i believe.

 

@nic329 That's what I understood as well. It might be difficult to implement a graphical star map due to the game engine itself. Maybe we will be able to look for the closest planets etc from the non-graphical star map using a scanner or so (No, I am not obsessed with a scanner ). I wouldn't like traveling to planets using some kind of random coordinate or "seed" generator. I'm confident the developers think about that ...

 

maybe instead of a scanner just a way to search by certain parameters. (i want this terrain type, this size, this x or that y), then that would combine with the "seed" generator. i dunno that would be my best guess.

 

I thought what they meant by 'non-graphical' was we were gonna be given a list of coordinates or something.
I still would like a simple click-able map more.

 

This is what I think as well!

 

Hmmmm... Co-ordinates sound ok, but I think it should be accompanied by an interface; hopefully an MS-DOS looking interface
Maybe Like (except much better):

 

It will be by coordinates. You put in random numbers like you do with minecraft and seeds. You may end up in the middle of no-where, but sometimes you'll end up on a planet. Once you're on a planet, you put it into your log-gameboy-device-thingy-ma-doo, and go back to there whenever you want to.

 

Maybe something similar to Spore's star map , but you have to actually explore it and scan for stars.


It is a top down wiew of a 3D star map, I think we could adapt it to starbound, and make it look like what XAXIAN sugested, and ignore the colorful rings surrounding the stars, they are just other civs, the green area means that they are allies, that blue circle in the lower left is a incoming communication from a unknown civ, that white arrow leading to a star means that its your homeworld, and the green one means that that star system is buyable and the blue circle in the middle is the players movement range.
Sorry for the HUGE image

 

So, here's my proposal/concept of a star map. What do ya guys think? Its pretty self-explanatory ...



P.S. Plants ... anyone?

 

that looks pretty simple but at the same time isn't cluttered with stuff everywhere, very nice
personally, i don't mind if there is a graphical star map or not: but having one couldn't hurt either

however if there is no graphical star map, will it be similar to terraria's and minecraft's world selector?
im assuming you could just click "generate planet" or something similar unless its mandatory to type in random co-ordinates?

 

I think a mix is in order here! I am thinking maybe you enter a set of coordinates. ANY ol set of numbers will due. Utilizing the numbers the engine could seed a solar system. A random number of planets from 1-( X number). Any planets outside of a green ring are uninhabitable and can be used for just mining. I will keep this idea short and not go into details with those.

Then you simply move your cursor (or fly your ship or whatever) On the 2D top-down list to the planet and inspect it with basic scanning. It will tell you what the *LIKELY* difficulty is and what sorts of resources seem to ring the strongest on the planet. "Scanners pick up high amounts of nickel. They also pick up several motherloads of iron" but details will not be further. The scanning could give you a basic overview of the planet. What sort of habitats to expect and such.

This system feels like it would be relatively easy to implement (Compared to a -fully graphical interface-. It would be easier to implement a seed number designing the system than it would to fly on end to the coordinate locations. It would also make it easier to find the planets your friends have found rather than compared to the said flying on end to that coordinate list.

Just my scrambled ideas

 

indeed a mix, who wants to put in random numbers and end up in a level 100 planet?

 

The random numbers / seeds could be generated by taking into account your actual level. Or by entering a specific difficult range you'd like to find ...

I hope it will not be like in Terraria or Minecraft as that would strongly limit the gameplay experience (Exit --> Load another map, etc) and would, in my opinion, tear apart the concept of a space station and planetary exploration.

 

I agree there eve. I just hope something *similar* to my above suggestion is implemented at the least. It works, its clean, its simple. I will probably take it to the suggestion forum. I doubt id get a chance to ask Tiy, or another dev, about it myself (and would feel like a complete dork if i did get to... lol).

 

i lol @ guys who think theyre good and insert the highest difficulty

 

if there is a seed based map thing, I hope it uses hex

That reminds me of a joke:

Why do mathematicians get Halloween and Christmas mixed up?

Because 31 OCT = 25 DEC!