Cartography

Overview

The universe of Frontier is represented by a series of nested hex grids.

All grids will likely have the same dimensions, for uniformity of coding. However, this can be relaxed if needed.

A hexagonal grid of hexagonal cells with a side length of 6 has 127 cells. Is that enough? It seems okay to start with.

Levels

From largest to smallest:

1. Universe
2. Galaxy
3. Cluster
4. System
5. Planetary Neighborhood
6. Planet

Universe

Not to be implemented yet.

Galaxy

Not to be implemented yet.

Cluster

This is going to be the initial starting map, a hexagonal grid of hexagonal cells with a side length of 6, for 127 cells. Each cell represents a system.

System

Initially, these will be atomic.

Eventually, the center cell will contain the system's star, and each ring of cells around the center cell will represent an orbit. Each orbit can be occupied by a single planetary neighborhood.

Systems are probably the first level that we'll want to consider making bigger. Six orbits around a star feels unnecessarily restrictive.

Planetary Neighborhood

The center cell will contain the planet, and each ring of cells around the center cell will represent an orbit. The orbit nearest the planet can be occupied by multiple artificial satellites (one per cell). Other orbits can be occupied by a single moon and zero or more artificial satellites. In the case of moons, consider the Lagrange points for artificial satellites.

Planet

This is a candidate for a map layout other than a hex grid (since hexes don't tile neatly onto a sphere).

Look into map projections like alternating triangles.