[Athenor]

The trick I've seen with any reference to FTL travel is that unless the ships are actually measuring distance in light years per jump (Ala Battletech), the jump nodes are placed such as to make an interesting plot, or even picked at random.

A good example is the game Fading Suns, which uses a very similar style of space map as FreeSpace 2... In essence, the distances mean nothing, and the planets are linked by set jumps.

This frees up the author from having to be 100% accurate with true distances and space limitations on a map, although it also inadvertantly makes it nigh-on impossible to crete a "true" map.

Also, using hyperspace gates or the like introduces the theory of "lost" planets, and it is a heavily used plot device whenever planets are such linked.

[ph03n!x77]

I guess what i'm trying to do with a realistic distance map for the movie / game (whatever it is gunna be) Is not somuch distance doesn't matter but time rather doesn't matter. With Hyperspace travel it has been theorised, acording to realativity, that it either would take no time for the the traveler and time in real space would pass normally (Ie "Wing Commander the Movie" style) or it would take time to travel in hyperspace but it would appear instantanious to the observer in real space (Ie "Contact" style). I think I am going for the latter so it might take a while for the travelor but it would be instantanious in real space. So basically i'm trying to get everything authentic down to the no sound in space and writing the events to fit the actual locations.

[Mr_Blastman]

If you want something similar to what he's described, Independence War 2 comes the closest to that, as any game I have ever played (though I never played elite so it may be closer).

[CP5670]

Mission Critical (awesome '95 adventure game) has a 3D starmap at one point in the game that appears to be pretty accurate as far as the distances go.

[watsisname]

If you want to get real good and accurate information, you can try Celestia.  (Google search it, should be among the first results).  You could use it to find distance, direction, and loads of astronomical information for stars and planetary systems, even galaxies.  You can even simulate travel to other stars and planetary systems, in real-time and 3D.
The problem is that I'm just not sure if that would help you with what you're looking for or not.  Oh well, good luck with your project.

[ph03n!x77]

I've tried Celestia... It gives distances but no angles/bearings (that i know of) or X,Y,Z coords. It did however give me a rough gestimate as to where earth is supposed to be in the milkyway. I found a program named "stereo stars" which is fairly helpful but its still isn't what i need but it will o for now. Sadly most of the stars we know of are local (ie. in the orion wing).

[Dan1]

Just recently I was going through an old hard drive and found some very detailed maps.  These aren't official maps and a good large percent is custom but it looks good.

This was originally Su-tehp's for the "Rock and the Hard Place" Campaign which I dunno if it ever got off the ground or not.

Here's a link to where you can download them if you want.

http://www.savefile.com/files/8803753

[Ferret]

Oh yes that's way better than the other one that's in that help file.
Thank yoooou!

[Charismatic]