Using the game for RPG

[Dr_Bicinium]

Just a couple questions!

- I created in Universe Sandbox 2 a star system that i use for a RPG game, and i want to have an "orbit map" of it. There is an option to do a 1D chart with the semi-major axis, but the scale isn't practical, even with the uniform one. Moreover its weirdly sorted, and with a binary star it makes the exercise even harder... Did i miss something or can't i achieve that? For those who know, i aim something more or less like the system map of Elite Dangerous.

- I think it's in the boxes somewhere, but is the possibility to put user-made planet mapping still considered?

Sorry for my english, i hope i'm understandable... and thanks for your answers!

[Wehr Wulf]

IDK if this helps you but,
in the "View" button on the bottom of the screen you can press "Orbits" and itll show you all the orbits of the planets. You could pause the screen, zoom out, take a screen shot of the orbits...
I would assume this isnt what you want but its the only thing I could think of and nobody else answered :(

[Dr_Bicinium]

Yes, i wanted something more schematic-ish (as far as orbit view is not schematic... :D) and clear, but it's a nice possibility, thanks for pointing it!
The only small problem with this is that we have to zoom out a lot to see all the system, and it ends with just having name labels floating in the void. I'd like that the players could see what the planet looks like, and the chart tools appeared to be able to do it, but i can't find how.
Anyway, i may use this solution if there are no better ones. Thanks again for the answer!

[Uatu]

Can we get game controller mapping so navigation is like the Flight Sim in Google Earth Pro? Also, map the Time to game controller D-pad buttons.

[Dr_Bicinium]

Originally posted by Uatu:

Can we get game controller mapping so navigation is like the Flight Sim in Google Earth Pro? Also, map the Time to game controller D-pad buttons.

Hm... i think you should report this in a dedicated post. Since it has no relation to my original question, nobody interested in your feature will find it.

[Wehr Wulf]

Originally posted by Dr_Bicinium:

Yes, i wanted something more schematic-ish (as far as orbit view is not schematic... :D) and clear, but it's a nice possibility, thanks for pointing it!
The only small problem with this is that we have to zoom out a lot to see all the system, and it ends with just having name labels floating in the void. I'd like that the players could see what the planet looks like, and the chart tools appeared to be able to do it, but i can't find how.
Anyway, i may use this solution if there are no better ones. Thanks again for the answer!

I have an idea, but its stupid.....youve been warned.

Make a tiny galaxy. Yeah.....just have your normal galaxy on pause and go to tools->more->shrink system. Youll have to keep clicking it

this will proportionately shrink the distance between the objects. Now, when they start to get really close, just manually shrink each object by editting its mass. Take a planet that is 3 earths, and make it .5 earth for example. Eventually, you should have a mini system that fits into one frame.... The person looking at the finished picture will have no idea how big or small the galaxy was in the simulator. If you want, I could do it for you....just upload the system onto workshop, ill go nab it, and try and map it for you.

Other than that....go to reddit. Theres ppl on there that make graphic animations for ppl. A lot of the time for free too. They do it for practice or school credit and stuff. Just explain what you want

[Dr_Bicinium]

Wow, thanks a lot! It's actually not a bad idea, and it's at least a good workaround while we wait for a dedicated feature to be implemented!
I'll try that, thanks for thinking for me! ;)

[Wehr Wulf]

Yeah! more than happy to help

[solamon77]

I'm trying to do something similar. I'm trying to build a custom simulation of the Starfinder solar system using the maps in the Pact Worlds book, but I can't seem to figure out how to add custom textures to my planets.

[Dr_Bicinium]

It"s not possible for the moment. Maybe with messing with the game files, but i'm not even sure. I think i read somewhere that the devs considered adding custom textures, but i don't remember where. I hope they'll read this subject and keep us to date.

For the shrinked system, i tried and indeed it could have worked. Unfortunately the system i wanted to create is a binary star, and i ran into an apparentely common bug with the secondary star not keeping its parent. Then, with shrinking the primary system, the orbits started to mess a bit. And finally i wanted to be able to also see the moons. It's the best mean to have a basic and readable orbit chart, so that was a good idea, but it doesn't completely fit my needs.

I'll wait and hope that these features will be planned in the future. Thanks for the help, Xepheon!

[Wehr Wulf]

Originally posted by Dr_Bicinium:

It"s not possible for the moment. Maybe with messing with the game files, but i'm not even sure. I think i read somewhere that the devs considered adding custom textures, but i don't remember where. I hope they'll read this subject and keep us to date.

For the shrinked system, i tried and indeed it could have worked. Unfortunately the system i wanted to create is a binary star, and i ran into an apparentely common bug with the secondary star not keeping its parent. Then, with shrinking the primary system, the orbits started to mess a bit. And finally i wanted to be able to also see the moons. It's the best mean to have a basic and readable orbit chart, so that was a good idea, but it doesn't completely fit my needs.

I'll wait and hope that these features will be planned in the future. Thanks for the help, Xepheon!

Okay, sorry about wasting your time... I knew it was probably gonna be a long shot. I have the hacker mentality so Im always trying to find odd, out of the box workarounds to things.
You could always set the binary orbit of the stars then just pause the sim...im sure you know this but you can make tons of changes of the orbits and stuff while the game is paused... so you set up the binary star system while the sim is paused, if you make it so you can see the orbits it will look fine, youll just get the bug when you press play.

Anyway, it sounds like its still not quite what youre looking for...shoot.
Hope you get it figured out eventualy!!

[Dr_Bicinium]

You did give me some fresh ideas, and they are taking the best possibilities considering what i try to make with US2, but indeed i think it's not the best software for that. I saw another one called Astrosynthesis which seems to fit my purposes, so i may go for this one if there is no plans for these features in US2. Meanwhile my players will stick with hand-drawn orbit sketches and be happy with that if they don't want to see their ship's hull tear into pieces by unfortunately crossing the path of stealthy asteroids...

Thanks again for the help!