This is essentially how system space already works, so yes, we CAN do that.

However, doing another scale (different from sector space, and different from normal system space) seems silly and unnecessary to me. It would be even worse if this were done for a SINGLE Map, of the Sol System. That would be very jarring and odd. I don't think that it's a viable solution.

I'm not entirely convinced by the argument "We're reaching the size limit of the maps already..."

I direct you to: Millennium City (Champions Online). That map is friggin' HUGE by comparison. And guess what? SAME ENGINE.

Would it not be possible for a solar system to be another sector space map? I mean sector space map (normal sector space map) to sol system (normal sector space map) to planet map (system map)? This would essentially give us the ability to fly from planet to planet then enter orbit as we get there.
Looking to the future and slightly off topic this would make for great system exploration or patrol missions.
But overall the easiest way is the approach Sol, give choice ESD or UPS an a warp to button once in system.

Some ideas for UPS:

Daily missions
Test drive a captured ship, ROM, KLI, Cardie, Oddysey (heh), "tactical evaluation of a new ship design" etc. Similar to how certain episodes have you driving a BoP. Could rotate the ship allowed weekly for variety,
throw in a carrier to expose ppl to them, demo to feds how much fun an advanced BoP can be, etc.

Use a shuttle to deliver components to ships in the docks (minigame to load the shuttle in some kind of order so the unload is as fast as possible)

Special mission, defend UPS from attack, prevent Xx from destroying ships in drydock a la Satellite repair daily, or make in a PvE/PvP map with Klingons.

Minigames for assembling/analyzing borg tech, assisting with ship design (trying to fit X into ship design using a sliding game, or pipes game)

Investiage potential spy or mole

DOFF missions, including new mission chains
Crafting chains for weapons/shields/engines/deflectors (With suitably long cooldowns)
Crafting missions for advanced ship batteries (shield+weapons, etc)
Fetching missions for parts/components
Analysis missions for weapons from other factions
Medical missions for construction accidents
Touring diplomats through the yards
Defense/patrol missions, with possible continuations into repelling minor attacks

I think it would be cool to develop your own prototype star ships... Don't know if this would be feasible or not, but the possibilities could be endless...

MIl is actually roughly the same size as our System maps.




Yes, I suppose that's possible, but is still awkward and weird. You now have a sector space map nested within another sector space map. That's not good, and would be confusing. And that would add another layer of map transitions to go from sector to ESD. i.e. Sector->Sol Sector->Sol System->ESD.

I really don't think there is a good way to get full system traversal without redefining our "system" maps by dumbing them down to something on the level of Mass Effect.

I see your point. I was thinking of Star Control 2 that did something similar to my idea, and thought it would be like changing sectors but to entire systems. Anyway you know the system better than most of us.

edit: Actually now that I think about it wouldn't my idea be akin to how the exploration cluster and nebula maps are setup but with defined maps inside? sector->expo map->system->ground map but sector->system->planet->ground.

lol make it a taxi service

wait for the shuttle to take you to UPS / ESD

That's why I thought of, but.... what would it look like?

I like to see a race track course around the sector where people clan race each other in fighters and shuttles.