Jumphole Overhaul

[Karlotta]

Activity needs to be focused into certain systems, so that players find players to interact with more easily. Travel times towards and between active areas should also be made shorter. This can be done without removing any systems or any other content by changing jump hole connections so they focus travel along certain "highways":



The figure on the left spreads activity equally (therefore making player interaction overall more unlikely), while making long travel distances longer and some short distances shorter.

The figure on the right focuses activity towards the systems that connect the most routes (thereby making player interactions overall more likely), while also making long travel distances faster and some short distances longer. The jump holes can also be moved within the systems to amplify the desired effects.

Therefore, the figure on the right is the model that should be followed when interactions are too infrequent like they are now.

CURRENT MAP



PROPOSED MAP
(Work in progress, please suggest changes)


The proposed map focuses activity onto certain routes and systems (highways and activity hubs), while intentionally draining others of activity by making them unattractive as travel-through locations (unlawful hide-outs, backwaters, and "remote" places.

What is changed?

The map:

-adds/restores jump holes to make travel along certain routes faster to make travel along and towards highways faster. (o41-theta, theta-delta, alpha-t37, coronado-t23, dauphine-iledefrance, Tuhoku-oMu, s15-delta )

-gives certain faction stronghold systems more direct links to activity hubs and highways. (Omega 49, 52, and 58)

-removes jump holes that allow traders to avoid "highways". (New Hampshire - Bremen link, Kepler-Cassini-Alberta, Colorado-Ontario, Texas-Kansas-Vespucci-Magellan, Nagano-T37, Tottori-T44, Edinburg-Orkney, s21-osigma, s59-s21)

-does not remove ANY content, does not undo ANY past lore (jump holes are intended to be unstable), and does not require ANY system changes apart from jump holes.


How is Lore affected?

Jump Holes were altered so changes dont affect lore (for example no Gaul popping up in the Omegas and Omicrons). If you find something that conflicts with lore, please point to and discuss concrete examples. Vanilla jumpholes were left unchanged (or restored to vanilla status) because they're the most embedded in lore.

Because jump holes are unstable by nature, changes are easily explained by large scale sub-space alterations caused by the hyper-gates the nomads are building, without necessity to undo any past lore.

Gate connections weren't changed because they require more dev work and affect lore more. Exceptions are two gate changes were made in Gallia, which would require some renaming of lanes and gates without the need to remove, add, or move lanes or gates.


How will this affect the Economy?

Although this may seem counter-intuitive at first, it's NOT necessary to re-balance any commodity prices before implementing the changed jumpholes into the game:

-If one route becomes too fast and lucrative and gets over-used, it grows activity and thereby interaction, and can always be changed AFTER that happens.

-If one route becomes impossible or less lucrative in the new map, it was probably a route that was good at avoiding all interactions. Removing some trade routes (especially the no-interaction ones) will concentrate their activity onto the more active ones, leading to more interactions.

I'm pointing this out because things need to be focused towards more interactions SOONER (like... the next update soon) rather than LATER (like changes needed in 2010 were implemented in 2013, and changes needed in 2013 were made in 2016).


What about more reaching jumps that actually affect the Story Line?

Some people proposed links between nomad worlds and more far away houses. I included (in purple) possible links, although I think they may affect lore and story-line too much at this moment. They could also lead to omicron Iota instead of Major.

If you see any problems with the proposed map give exact examples and propose exact solutions.

I'll update the map as recommendations come in.

Vanilla map for reference:

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