I am starting to think about how the galactic map will be laid out. Bear in mind there will be no jump points so systems will have a fixed location on the map, although non-primary stars will orbit. The first question is whether I use real stars or random stars. In recent Aurora games I have always used real stars because it felt more realistic. For Newtonian Aurora, which is intended to be a little more realistic than standard Aurora, real stars seems an obvious choice. However, there is a problem.
The locations of real stars are in three dimensions, so they won't work out well on a 2D map. One option is a 3D galactic map, although I am not sure how useful that would be as 2D is usually a lot easier to handle. Even then, with a 3D galactic map and a 2D tactical map, translating from one to the other wouldn't be very easy. Which part of the system do you fly to before entering FTL if the destination system is above you? I don't even want to contemplate a 3D tactical map. BTW, I think FTL will involve something along the lines of Weber's honorverse where FTL speed depends on different bands of hyperspace, with higher tech FTL engines able to lift you into higher (and faster) hyperspace bands. Ships won't be able to enter FTL within the gravity well of a star or a planet. More on that in later posts.
Obviously with random stars then a 2D map is fine as systems would only have x,y coordinates and every game would be very different. However, then realism becomes an issue. Would it detract significantly from suspension of disbelief if Sol was surrounded by random stars. Or do I also generate a random home system too?
I suppose another factor that would be in favour of a random galaxy would be that players would have a degree of flexibility in how the galaxy was generated. High density, low density, spiral arm, ellipitcal, more useful stars such as type G or more realistic with a lot of red dwarfs
So I guess the question is: How important is having real stars in Newtonian Aurora?
Steve