The only thing is that you can bung in hundreds of systems - but to make them interesting enough to a) Fly in
b) Want to fly in
c) Stay in

takes time, and lots of time.

Systems require a great attention to detail, and immagination in the layout to make them playable. You could simply churn out hundreds of systems in a few minutes, but to populate the bases, add and check the missions work, check all the details of wrecks, zones etc etc. It takes a long long time. Also - systems can prove to be very buggy, so it requires someone with alot of time to create the systems and make them interesting enough to play in!

To have a more then few new systems you have to look at:

1) Freelancer Massive Addon - over 20 new systems, including story only ones.
2) WTS World - about 10 new
3) TNG, Babylon 5, other big mods - 5 or something about

To have a real adventure in a new system try The Pinball, the one system which will take you hours to play.

Have fun,


Tygrys

Was on a buisness trip over these past few days and I had this very same idea. I was wondering if there was anyone out there just making new, strictly Freelancer...(no Babylon 5; Star Wars; Star Trek etc....) systems to explore, play and stay in? No big massive mods, but simple systems to add to the existing game?

I figured that new system mods, could be created, and intergarted in to the existing game as simple system expansions. Example: I created The Wyoming Territory for my personal game. Located it outside, next to, the Colorado System and use it as a home for Trent. Nothing special since it's just for me. But...think, if modders created systems, with all the fun stuff with it, then systems could be played and used at will by players looking for a personalized game expansion.

All of us could create new systems for ourselves, but it's just no fun if you know all the about that system and it's playablity. However, if we created systems and swapped them about, then we could have a small level trade section for new system game expansions. Think of it as trading cards and building the ultimate playable deck. It would, could, make the game grow in size, without detracting from a strickly Freelancer game environment.

Frankly, we all know that the ships make the game fun, but it's the systems that make the game interesting.

I know it's a "thought in process" ramble, but do all kinda get the idea?

Chips: I felt the same way mate, I think i pulled it off with Ringworld. At least to some extent.

Lots of mods have lots of systems added them. My own mod adds hyperspace to link several primary systems and several new systems together. Not sure how the others work in this area but im sure they are exciting.

Reynen talked about a system he called a Nexus, he had some pretty good plans for it. Not seen it since it was finished though.

Giskard

Respawn, the Home of the Hostile Universe Mod

Giskard.

Nexus - big place, with not alot of detail in it. Reynen focused on making four bases (they are good bases though) and based the system around the shadows and capships encounters - which are more than ample!! There are lots of them. However, apart from that, and the sheer size of the system, i haven't found anything else. However, it has been made the center of their mod, and there are enough missions to keep everyone there. It is a sparse system, but with enough to keep you going basically. However, i think the fact that you can jump to one heck of alot of systems from their adds to its popularity. Stick that system in the sticks, and people would go still (like i said, there is enough to keep you there for a while), but it wouldn't be the big thing of the mod anymore.

Ringworld is a fantastic system. You know i love it. That is the system that finally persuaded me to make systems by hand and learn how to do it, so i cannot thank you enough!

Now - i love making systems, its just the pressure of making mods once you let people know about them that is hard.............and as we all know, systems take time!

Agreed chips, systems and making systems is just awsome, it's really really cool to see a system you made by hand from scratch come to life *even with the debugging * and even cooler to have other players play it and hear the feedback about it. *one of the huge reasons why beta testing is such a big deal with my terra empire mod and i'm happy to say is back underway again * is it easy to do, hell no! But it soo nice and rewarding! For all of you wondering or curios about how many systems my Terra Empire mod will have it's like this, phase one *currently on* has one new system *new alpha centauri*, phase two adds another system *again just one* New Vega, and also makes some changes to the alaska system to make it apart of the mp experince. And finnaly phase three will add at least 4-5 new systems *terra empire systems*

As to the question about stickly freelancer, this is freelancer, this mod is an add-on expansion mod. *any other words it adds to, not changes whats already there* of course you all can find out more and how the betas going on the site. But back to on topic I'm really looking forward to starting to make my next system, I have learned so much, but like you said chips it is time consuming to do it right. *lord knows I still have a lot to refine and add to the NAC system, not to mention each phase will be adding a bit more here and there to each system* in the end I think it will be worth it, and I hope the players feel the same way

Just my thoughts

James "Quickshot14" Greenwood<br>
QSD (Quickshot14's Domain http://qsd.rgprod.net)<br>
Also Home of QFL & QWC (Quickshot's Freelancer & Warcraft 3 Site)

Edited by - Quickshot14 on 15-11-2003 03:24:54

good systems seem to take forever