# 3D Galactic Map **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2026, 1:17pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375 "2026-04-10T13:17:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AuroraSteve](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/aurorasteve/32/96_2.png) [@AuroraSteve](https://aurora4x.com/u/AuroraSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 1:17pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/1 "2026-04-10T13:17:20Z")
I’ve been playing around with a 3D galactic map for known stars games. It doesn’t have the same amount of information as the 2d map, but it is good for visualizing the layout of different alien empires in 3D space and how connections might be made. You can zoom, rotate, drag and change the centre star for rotations. You can choose colours for alien races and show their controlled systems. Stabilised links are on/off. It’s experimental at the moment and not intended to replace the 2D map. It just allows a different perspective ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/1X/52da8a12d2b61d8bd4c8d06ee37c61c52320471d.png) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/1X/cdef80a75fd913dd091854d1a4cd77ff27843879.png) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/1X/62a2a1420b2640a19c3934e42d3d7b6e966643cf.png) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/1X/7580eac9255d0d427183b966cf5229bafce63f5d.png) ---
**Author:** ![AuroraSteve](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/aurorasteve/32/96_2.png) [@AuroraSteve](https://aurora4x.com/u/AuroraSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/2 "2026-04-10T13:25:56Z")
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**Author:** ![Kaiser](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/kaiser/32/849_2.png) [@Kaiser](https://aurora4x.com/u/Kaiser)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/3 "2026-04-10T15:40:22Z")
Absolutely a-ma-zing!!! Any chance that it will be implemented together the old view? ---
**Author:** ![Coleslaw35](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/coleslaw35/32/1002_2.png) [@Coleslaw35](https://aurora4x.com/u/Coleslaw35)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/4 "2026-04-10T15:40:22Z")
This is really, really cool! Is this something we will expect to see in a later update? ---
**Author:** ![AuroraSteve](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/aurorasteve/32/96_2.png) [@AuroraSteve](https://aurora4x.com/u/AuroraSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/5 "2026-04-10T15:48:16Z")
Yes, assuming it holds up to testing, it will likely be in v2.8. You can access it via a button on the normal 2D Galactic Map. This is intended as an extra view, not a replacement. ---
**Author:** ![serger](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/serger/32/961_2.png) [@serger](https://aurora4x.com/u/serger)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/6 "2026-04-10T20:12:55Z")
Looks great! I know it’s harder to represent much of useful information on a 3D map, yet maybe it would be possible to just switch color shemes of the systems with different “layes”. Like, switch from the colors of the system owners to: - Navy presence (blue - your dominance, green - allied, yellow - neutral, red - enemies, white - unknown) - Maint presence (white - maint base present in the system, blue - 1 JP from, green - 2 JPs, yellow - 3 JPs, orange - 4, red - path unknown or blocked) Maybe even with a second parameter indicator in a form of the size of the circle or halo (like - more Navy tons results in larger circle). ---
**Author:** ![AuroraSteve](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/aurorasteve/32/96_2.png) [@AuroraSteve](https://aurora4x.com/u/AuroraSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2026, 11:02am UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/7 "2026-04-11T11:02:07Z")
Yes, something on those lines should be possible. ---
**Author:** ![AuroraSteve](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/aurorasteve/32/96_2.png) [@AuroraSteve](https://aurora4x.com/u/AuroraSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 10:57am UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/8 "2026-04-13T10:57:09Z")
An update on the 3D work. I’ve decided to use a multi-coloured ring around systems to show locations. So the solid dots show colours for different selected alien races, plus a large yellow dot for the currently selected system (around which the map rotates). The circles around the dots show characteristics of the system. In this view, green means a population and blue means a maintenance location. Half green and half blue means both. ![3DView](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/2X/0/0e63a8cb389d9945cdd4137291e8c6319ca74131.png) This view adds unsurveyed and unexplored jump points. If all four were true, the circle would be split into four colours. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/2X/3/3af665479dcf4c4af1a122aeb3e236721092453e.png) ---
**Author:** ![serger](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/serger/32/961_2.png) [@serger](https://aurora4x.com/u/serger)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/9 "2026-04-13T13:50:24Z")
Looks marvelous! The only suggestion - make green colour a bit more greenish and/or blue one a bit more blueish, to make them easier to discrete. ---
**Author:** ![ChubbyPitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9c0ed/32.png) [@ChubbyPitbull](https://aurora4x.com/u/ChubbyPitbull)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/10 "2026-04-13T18:25:10Z")
I really appreciate you implementing and spending time on this feature, I enjoy building my universe in long games but I end up in an organization nightmare trying to make a 2D map with crossing jump-point link lines look right in a way I’m comfortable with. I think this 3D view adds a lot of versatility and would make it easier to visualize game universes for planning and story building. ---
**Author:** ![buczbucz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@buczbucz](https://aurora4x.com/u/buczbucz)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/11 "2026-04-16T17:37:47Z")
Quick suggestion: if currently selected system (around which the map rotates) is a large yellow dot, I think it would be best to avoid assigning yellow color to any of the alien races. ---
**Author:** ![AuroraSteve](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/aurorasteve/32/96_2.png) [@AuroraSteve](https://aurora4x.com/u/AuroraSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/12 "2026-04-16T18:10:40Z")
You can set the colours for each race yourself on the Intelligence window. ---
**Author:** ![nakorkren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b487fb/32.png) [@nakorkren](https://aurora4x.com/u/nakorkren)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 1:24am UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/13 "2026-04-21T01:24:00Z")
Hallelujah a 3D map! Also, this looks way, way better than my attempt. Nerdy question… how are you organizing the nodes? Force? ---
**Author:** ![Antonin1957](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Antonin1957](https://aurora4x.com/u/Antonin1957)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/14 "2026-04-21T01:52:15Z")
> [@AuroraSteve](#): > > This is intended as an extra view, not a replacement. That is good to hear. ---
**Author:** ![AuroraSteve](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/aurorasteve/32/96_2.png) [@AuroraSteve](https://aurora4x.com/u/AuroraSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 9:04am UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/15 "2026-04-21T09:04:08Z")
> [@nakorkren](#): > > Nerdy question… how are you organizing the nodes? Force? I have a calculation of the 3D point using rotations around the X and Y axes, then conversion of the 3D point to a 2D point, then display using GDI+. ---
**Author:** ![AuroraSteve](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/aurorasteve/32/96_2.png) [@AuroraSteve](https://aurora4x.com/u/AuroraSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 9:09am UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/16 "2026-04-21T09:09:54Z")
> [@Antonin1957](#): > > That is good to hear. Yes, the 3D map is good for visualizing potential jump point connections in 3D space, which I needed to find out where the three separate known sections of an alien Empire were likely to connect. It’s also interesting to see the 3D perspective of the galaxy. I also found out I had duplicated a star in the Known Stars database because two systems shared the same location 🙂 However, it is definitely not a substitute for the 2D galactic map - which is much easier to work with from a map comprehension perspective. Humans (in general) find working with 2D much easier, apart from a few specific 3D-only cases. ---
**Author:** ![Antonin1957](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Antonin1957](https://aurora4x.com/u/Antonin1957)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 2:34pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/17 "2026-04-21T14:34:29Z")
> [@AuroraSteve](#): > > it is definitely not a substitute for the 2D galactic map I get nervous when game designers decide to “go 3D,” because in my experience it means the gameplay is going to get watered down. I want games that offer deep, compelling gameplay. I just don’t need 3D graphics to slow down my computer. I can use my imagination to help create the story. I realize that many other people feel differently and want 3D graphics and music. ---
**Author:** ![Kristover](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/kristover/32/436_2.png) [@Kristover](https://aurora4x.com/u/Kristover)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/18 "2026-04-21T16:52:02Z")
I see myself using the 3D map as a curiousity but I will continue to primarily use the 2D map because of the note function. I make extensive use of the labeling function to define areas of operation, system notes, administrative boundaries, and other info. Heck, I wish there was the ability to draw lines and shapes on the map - I would probably do that do. Can’t do that with the 3D map. ---
**Author:** ![LuuBluum](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/luubluum/32/499_2.png) [@LuuBluum](https://aurora4x.com/u/LuuBluum)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/19 "2026-04-21T18:13:52Z")
My only disappointment is knowing that this will only work with the known stars and not random stars. Otherwise, looks awesome. ---
**Author:** ![LordPC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba9def/32.png) [@LordPC](https://aurora4x.com/u/LordPC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375/20 "2026-04-21T18:39:04Z")
Might motivate me to try my first known stars game in a long time. I wonder if for the random stars games Steve could just have a number generator roll 3 numbers (x,y x) and use them and the coordinates of the or originating system to generate the map. I am not sure but suspect the unknown stars/star system may be generated on the fly. If so whether a star was local or could be taking in to consideration and then the coordinate numbers could be scaled by that and added to the current position and for non local stars it could be scaled based on the total number of stars in the game settings the game could optionally us Sol or another designated point as center instead of the current star system. [Next page](https://aurora4x.com/t/3d-galactic-map/375.md?page=2)