Star Maps

[Shadow Reaper]

Anyone want to recommend a map with authority? I have had several over the years and they nearly always go missing after a year or two, and those that I have access to now contradict each other. Worse still is since players abscond with the SC logo regularly, there's no reason to trust which maps are right and which are wrong. So for instance, this map says there is a large jump point between Elysium and Vanguard, and nothing between Orion and Vanduul space:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a1/0d/5b/a10d5b458a0b2e9dd36e838683bd53e1.png

while this one (which appears less official) says what maps in the past have said, that there is no connection between Elysium and Vanguard, and Orion is on a large jump route inside Vanduul space.

https://external-preview.redd.it/5BS92lEexyWQO0dNOJbV3pYDos88Cjksww4wN-h-REQ.jpg?auto=webp&s=15727964f1b57b399b146b87ad0b6c04b4c629ca

I tend to trust the less trustworthy seeming of the two which is the latter. However, it does not explain how a pair of Vanduul Void Bombers gained entrance to Leir and destroyed the pionering base there. Are we to search Leir for a medium to large jump point?

There are MANY of these kinds of discrepancies between various maps, so who do we go to for real authority?

And while we're on the subject, I count about 85 star systems here. How are we going to release within 2-3 years with such a tiny fraction of these finished? Anyone recall an explanation of how CIG will catch this up? I'm a little annoyed the writing team is doing sideline fiction while the universe still needs explanation.

 

[Lorddarthvik]

Anyone want to recommend a map with authority? I have had several over the years and they nearly always go missing after a year or two, and those that I have access to now contradict each other. Worse still is since players abscond with the SC logo regularly, there's no reason to trust which maps are right and which are wrong. So for instance, this map says there is a large jump point between Elysium and Vanguard, and nothing between Orion and Vanduul space:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a1/0d/5b/a10d5b458a0b2e9dd36e838683bd53e1.png

while this one (which appears less official) says what maps in the past have said, that there is no connection between Elysium and Vanguard, and Orion is on a large jump route inside Vanduul space.

https://external-preview.redd.it/5BS92lEexyWQO0dNOJbV3pYDos88Cjksww4wN-h-REQ.jpg?auto=webp&s=15727964f1b57b399b146b87ad0b6c04b4c629ca

I tend to trust the less trustworthy seeming of the two which is the latter. However, it does not explain how a pair of Vanduul Void Bombers gained entrance to Leir and destroyed the pionering base there. Are we to search Leir for a medium to large jump point?

There are MANY of these kinds of discrepancies between various maps, so who do we go to for real authority?

And while we're on the subject, I count about 85 star systems here. How are we going to release within 2-3 years with such a tiny fraction of these finished? Anyone recall an explanation of how CIG will catch this up? I'm a little annoyed the writing team is doing sideline fiction while the universe still needs explanation.

While I can't help you with an accurate map, I do recall CiG talking about releasing with some random small number (10?) of systems, and adding them later.
They must have realized they were way behind schedule and had the money to hire a team at turbulent, who will now create complete systems alongside the core CiG team. So the pace will pick up supposedly.

Speculation: As for map discrepancies, I think it's intentional. CiG will vary the jump points based on the lore for the system. Lore will be finalized before they start making the star system for real, and will be adjusted to their needs based on what's already around and established in the lore, and what they want with the sysyem.
Also they do want us to look for jump points, it's supposed to be part of the exploration/info running gameplay and charting new ones carries value. So you will not see all jump points between systems on any official map.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

Yes well, I can't guess why CIG would make their own map wrong, given they have one. For instance, I have yet to see a map showing a medium jump between Leir and Vanguard, despite official lore is a pair of Void Bombers attacked Leir from Vanguard, and they certainly can't fit through the small jump corridor the maps show.

I actually try to stay current with the Lore on all the war and war torn worlds, and the data is not consistent enough to make sense of it. Do you think the discrepency is intended so players will look for other entrances into Leir from Vanduul space?

 

[Vavrik]

Official map is here:

ARK Starmap | Roberts Space Industries | Follow the development of Star Citizen and Squadron 42

Explore the Star Citizen universe in this 3D in-browser environment.

robertsspaceindustries.com

I don't think that is a final version that will never receive updates, but it's pretty much what the player maps are based on.

 

[Shadow Reaper]

Yeah. Last time I tried to load that it didn't work, but it's working now. Note that the only medium ingress the Vanduul have on the map to Leir is through 4 UEE systems, so there must be an uncharted, medium sized jump either direct to Leir or to an adjacent system.

 

[Stevetank]

Anyone want to recommend a map with authority? I have had several over the years and they nearly always go missing after a year or two, and those that I have access to now contradict each other. Worse still is since players abscond with the SC logo regularly, there's no reason to trust which maps are right and which are wrong. So for instance, this map says there is a large jump point between Elysium and Vanguard, and nothing between Orion and Vanduul space:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a1/0d/5b/a10d5b458a0b2e9dd36e838683bd53e1.png

while this one (which appears less official) says what maps in the past have said, that there is no connection between Elysium and Vanguard, and Orion is on a large jump route inside Vanduul space.

https://external-preview.redd.it/5BS92lEexyWQO0dNOJbV3pYDos88Cjksww4wN-h-REQ.jpg?auto=webp&s=15727964f1b57b399b146b87ad0b6c04b4c629ca

I tend to trust the less trustworthy seeming of the two which is the latter. However, it does not explain how a pair of Vanduul Void Bombers gained entrance to Leir and destroyed the pionering base there. Are we to search Leir for a medium to large jump point?

There are MANY of these kinds of discrepancies between various maps, so who do we go to for real authority?

And while we're on the subject, I count about 85 star systems here. How are we going to release within 2-3 years with such a tiny fraction of these finished? Anyone recall an explanation of how CIG will catch this up? I'm a little annoyed the writing team is doing sideline fiction while the universe still needs explanation.

I think I can answer that last part. Chris Roberts was asked about the many star systems and how he could have so many at launch. He said in an interview that we're not going to launch with 100 systems but instead 5-10.

Chris Roberts has ‘no intention of reducing the size of the Star Citizen universe’ | Massively Overpowered

massivelyop.com

We'll get all of the other systems eventually since each one is much more in depth than the original goal and takes much more effort to make.

So how is CIG going to make that many systems? They are hiring 100 people for making systems, locations, and building tools to make other developments faster recently in Montreal.

Turbulent Opens New Montreal-Based Studio For 'Star Citizen'

Turbulent is opening a Montreal studio focused on building star systems for Star Citizen, Cloud Imperium Games’ sci-fi MMO.

butwhythopodcast.com

 

[Lorddarthvik]

Yes well, I can't guess why CIG would make their own map wrong, given they have one. For instance, I have yet to see a map showing a medium jump between Leir and Vanguard, despite official lore is a pair of Void Bombers attacked Leir from Vanguard, and they certainly can't fit through the small jump corridor the maps show.

I actually try to stay current with the Lore on all the war and war torn worlds, and the data is not consistent enough to make sense of it. Do you think the discrepency is intended so players will look for other entrances into Leir from Vanduul space?

The whole concept of jump point sizes was up for changes, at least last time I heard about it there was some consideration about dropping the size thing and changing it up to make it more like a diffficutly-to-navigate type of system. I think they were considering doing this to make it more part of the gameplay where you would actually have to do something while traveling through the corridor, as presented X years ago at citcon. This system could make it difficult or impossible for larger, less agile ships to travel certain wormholes without significant damage or at all.
So while we have lore, it must be re-written as the gameplay changes, we just don't have the latest version of it yet.
As for these types of discrepancies, it very well might be intentional so ppl would go investigate. Or they just haven't gotten to updating it yet...

 

[Bambooza]

Yes well, I can't guess why CIG would make their own map wrong, given they have one. For instance, I have yet to see a map showing a medium jump between Leir and Vanguard, despite official lore is a pair of Void Bombers attacked Leir from Vanguard, and they certainly can't fit through the small jump corridor the maps show.

I actually try to stay current with the Lore on all the war and war torn worlds, and the data is not consistent enough to make sense of it. Do you think the discrepency is intended so players will look for other entrances into Leir from Vanduul space?

I am not sure they did. The links between systems shown on the star map are stable wormholes between systems that are well mapped and have a active jump gate like we saw in last years citizencon. Beyond this there is supposed to be unmapped worm holes as well as temporary worm holes that will open up for a limited time before collapsing again, both of which are suppose to be one of the primary roles of the Carrack and Endeavor. So it could easily be while there is a medium jump between Leir and Vanguard, the Void Bombers could have found a undocumented or temporary wormhole and used that. This also allows smugglers to bypass the scanning that happens at these jump gates by security personal.