Lore Question: Galaxy Size

[w@ke_]

The Milky Way obviously has a lot (a LOT) more stars than can be reasonably simulated in Endless Sky. But the ES galaxy map sort of plopped down over an image of the Milky Way. So I'm wondering, is there anything in-game or otherwise that reconciles this? Like, maybe the idea is that only a tiny, tiny fraction of systems can be travelled to so the rest aren't rendered on the map? Or is it all just hand-waved? Or is it just A Wizard Did It Pug magic?

[Amazinite]

There's nothing in game that explains this, but it's been theorized that there are only so many habitable systems in the galaxy, and these systems have all been linked together by the Drak so that new species don't have to go through the trouble of checking hundreds of stars just to find a single habitable planet. Any uninhabited systems that are linked likely just act as bridges as there may be an upper limit to the size of hyperspace links.

[w@ke_]

Originally posted by Derpy Horse:

There's nothing in game that explains this, but it's been theorized that there are only so many habitable systems in the universe, and these systems have all been linked together by the Drak so that new species don't have to go through the trouble of checking hundreds of stars just to find a single habitable planet. Any uninhabited systems that are linked likely just act as bridges as there may be an upper limit to the size of hyperspace links.

That's along the lines I was thinking. Although you'd also have to apply that logic to jump drives and the 100-lightyear(?) system scanner, since IIRC those are explained as just needing a stellar body in their operating range.

Maybe the Drak just cleansed the galaxy of those useless systems. Or the Pug.
Aftrer all, you can't spell "Purge" without "Pug!" :P

[tirelessly eats rice balls]

Also doesn't explain why there would be links to uninhabited systems right next to an inhabited system, then another link to an inhabited system right nearby...

[Amazinite]

Originally posted by Pineapple:

Also doesn't explain why there would be links to uninhabited systems right next to an inhabited system, then another link to an inhabited system right nearby...

uninhabited =/= uninhabitable. Some systems are able to support life but just haven't been colonized.

[BobCosmonaut]

Planetless areas are ment to discourage new players from entering places with technology and ships out of their league, like Ultima Thule. This is in effort to not let people massacre the storyline. Few noobies will dare to travel through planetless pirate territory. This creates balance in the game.

[larrybagina]

Unhabitable systems would still be of benefit to other species; mining or terraforming being the obvious ones. Even dead systems could be turned into ringworlds.

If the Drak are purposefully keeping people out, I think there is a bigger reason. They could be incubating pre-warp species, it could be where they hide their civilization, there can be factories where they turn void sprites into Archons.
I've previously proposed there is an entire map of hyperspace links directly on top of the map we see with it's own separate species asking the same questios.

[Reaperrazor]

With the game still expanding and things such as hyperlinks still vasty underexplained (even better how is it all species have hyperdrives that can use these links AND look and function the same) this still a great mystery. Remember only a handful of human actually understand how the basic hyperdrive functions.

[jafdy]

Hyperdrives look and function the same because it is easyer to do than create a whole new set of sprites and stats and balence them.

[Reaperrazor]

Originally posted by jafdy:

Hyperdrives look and function the same because it is easyer to do than create a whole new set of sprites and stats and balence them.

Fair enough, but there could be some interesting lore to that.

[22144418]

You know, if the uninhabited systems are meant to do that, then it should take two jumps to get to inhabited wanderer systems from northern pirate areas. Not to mention that area houses leviathans and Bactrians, and probably falcons as well (can't tell due to bounty missions).

[jafdy]

Now that hyperdrive fuel usage can be changed it is on my to-do list, but there is quite a lot else on there as well.

[recneps]

The hyperdrives function the same because it's the simplest way to make it work.. The devices may look different, but they'd function the same. Much like a wheel and axle would work the same regardless of what species designed it.. They're designing devices to fit the laws they observe, and as the laws are universal, the basic devices responsible for interaction with those laws will be pretty much universal. Of course, as you go further out, things start to function and look differently. Cars can look vastly different, but still rely on the same wheel and axle.. Or instead of using wheels and axles for transportation, they could be used for doorknobs. Except it's still the same wheel and axle.. Like humans use hyperdrives in entirely different settings than wanderers. Human ships and wanderer ships are entirely different.. And then there's the hinted at hyperspace internet.