Map Designing Thread.

[skigrinder]

I've always been disappointed with the way maps are created in SEIV.

The 256 system limit is way too small for single-player games with lots of AI (team mode).

I've tried (not too successfully) to compensate for this with the following SystemTypes.txt mods:
Create systems with a large number of planets.
Create planet objects with a large number of co-located moon objects.

This makes it more attractive to colonize locally and, therefore, makes the universe seem bigger.

Having more moons per planet is more realistic and makes planetary defense more possible.
However, each moon must be defined as a separate Tiny planet with a 'Same as X' position.
The work necessary to create a Jupiter-like planet with 10 moons is complicated and very error prone.

Has anyone successfully created a SystemTypes.txt file with these attributes?

Also, these multi-moon planet sectors look terrible on a combat map because the graphics are not designed for elegant moon placement.

Has anyone successfully created smaller Tiny planet graphics that would be more suitable for display as moons?

Warning - Futile wishful thinking follows:
It would be nice if moons were specified as a parameter in the planet specifications.
Moons could then be created at map generation time with random characteristics.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanx,
skigrinder