Space being made up of a loop of Systems makes no sense. Also put your Deneb system on the edge of Grey, connecting both Serco & Itani to Grey space.

Having a circular series of systems actually makes more sense than you realize, assuming the systems are situated around the super cluster at the center of the galaxy.

I'd agree if travel between them were traditional or if the connecting wormholes were manufactured. Since they are presumably natural and rare occurrences I am doubtful. I'm even more doubtful that a system be required to have two entry/exit points via wormholes.

Having things so neatly connected doesn't sit right with me. There should be a bit more randomness and dead ends so to speak. But then, this is just my personal preference for how things should look so I'm not going to push it beyond the initial suggestion as it's not one of the major fixes needed.

It isn't really a circle, it's just represented that way for the 2D map. An accurate map would drive you into gibbering madness.

There is actually much to be said for the known routes to be circular. It isn't much different from the routes that humans established on Earth. If something seems like a shortcut, most people will not attempt to improve it. Later on exploration and new routes, or random wormholes, can be added.

Personally, I'd like to see gray space expanded. Preferably 3x the gray systems with multiple possible paths through it.

"An accurate map would drive you into gibbering madness."

I disagree. I hate to reference "that other space based game" but... EVE has a 3d map and we all know how ridiculously easy that game is.

"like to see gray space expanded. Preferably 3x the gray systems with multiple possible paths through it."

+1 but when we have a larger player base. Right now it would be detrimental.

"Also put your Deneb system on the edge of Grey, connecting both Serco & Itani to Grey space."

+1

For me, reduce nation space to increase gray, and add another shortcut Deneb-gray. This allows nations to be safer than they are now, and makes most of action/profit to remain involve gray, as manufaturing, contraband, convoys... Why convoys inside nations, since they're supposed to be safe areas?

As I voted on similar topics before...

"an [sic] add another shortcut Deneb-gray."
-10 This wouldn't have much effect on anything except making profitable trade infinitely safer.

" This allows nations to be safer than they are now,"
-10 In all your time have you missed the point that NOWHERE is supposed to be safe? If you want safe, play Maple Story.

" and makes most of action/profit to remain involve gray,"
+10 This can be done without any of what you suggest here

" as manufaturing [sic], contraband, convoys... Why convoys inside nations, since they're supposed to be safe areas?"
For this I refer you to the point that NOWHERE is SUPPOSED to be SAFE. Also, because it is MARGINALLY safer than Gray... it is a good way for newbs and care bears to get xp/money without the constant dying.

We do need some systems-on-a-stick.
+1

I'll second what arf said, dead end systems that produce valuable stuff making blockades very much worthwhile.

+1 OP

"3D" Pfft.

-1 OP. All we need is just some more systems, maybe some more loops and branches that connect to the center circle.

I personally think we shouldn't create new once circles, but instead put the Grey systems almost between every Serco/Itani/UIT system.

E.g.

Deneb --> GR --> New Grey system 1 --> Bethesdee --> New Grey system 2 --> Sol 2 -- > New Grey system 3 --> Dantia -- > New Grey system 4 --> Pyronis --> New Grey system 5 --> Initros -- > Ukari

I completely disagree Pirren. Compare space with land in terrestrial national concerns. Would you really think any nation would think it was okay for neutral (or uncontrolled or ungoverned) nations to be interspersed all throughout its terrain? National control of any space requires contiguous connections; that's largely what has driven politics over the centuries. I would doubt things would change for humans in the near thousands of years hence which VO represents.

I believe it would be more efficacious simply to increase the number of gray systems significantly. This gives multiple routes through space, allows additional gameplay (in particular for some perhaps very deep gray systems), increases exploring opportunities for pilots (I particularly enjoy exploring space and mapping out systems - even if it is for my personal use). Yes, it complicates many situations, but I believe those complications will enhance, not diminish VO.

I would doubt things would change for humans in the near thousands of years hence which VO represents.

To control "a territory" on the Earth is not as easy as control whole Space System. The faction that controls it, should control and monitor every of 256 sectors in it. Otherwise this system could not be called controlled by faction space. It's possible that rogue hive, pirates or other factions destabilize system control.