From: sl7sg@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.netrek
Subject: Netrek IIId, a real possibility
Date: 22 Nov 92 19:04:29 MDT
Organization: Utah State University


	A post a while back caused me to start thinking...ARRRRG-THE PAIN!!! 
sorry, as we were, the idea of three dimensional netrek is not to far fetched. 
By using the basic format of netrek II, it will only take a few *simple*
changes...  If you have seen StarRaiders, a computer game, you will be able to
understand the basics of what I am talking about.  I have made an ascii drawing
of the main window, to illustrate my cause;

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| .       Front view                 |                                        |
|                                    |                                        |
|                                 .  |                                        |
|                                    |                                        |
|                                    |                                        |
|                                    |             Galaxy map                 |
|         O            /             |                                        |
|                     ()  <- ship    |                                        |
|                      \             |                                        |
|              .                     |                                        |
|         .                          |                                        |
|                                    |                                        |
|                                    |                                        |
|                        .           |                                        |
| .                                  |                                        |
|                                 .  |                                        |
|------------------------------------|                                        |
|bottom| top  | side | rear  | side  |                                        |
|      |      |      |       |       |                                        |
|      |      |  R4  |       |      O|                                        |
|____________________________________|                                        |
|       normal stats                 |                                        |
|____________________________________|----------------------------------------|
                                                                              


	now comes the hard part, explaining a 2d ascii map, as 3d...To begin
with, I did not even attempt to map the galaxy map.  If any of you has ever
seen a real 3 dimensional map of space, within a sphere, with several planes
intersecting the sphere, you will understand (if you are serious about
programming this, I will send you a copy of several I have)  One of the planes
is in the center of the sphere (x axis), bisecting it somewhat horizontally.  
The plane is segmented into parsects, with the planets (and ships etc) 
corresponding onto this plane (via a dotted line, showing their height etc).  
There is no plane for the y axis, because the dotted line for each object, acts
as the y axis for that object.
	Now, this sphere will sit in the box, that the current galactic map
sits in.  If a person wishes to fly directly somewhere, it would be easiest to
lock onto that point, with the galactic map, and then fly there.  To really
confuse you, you can rotate the sphere, to get a better view of the galaxy,
from different angles.  This is done by clicking with the left button, in one
of the corners, where the sphere does not fit.  The sphere itself will not
rotate, but rather the planets, and objects will turn inside the sphere. 
Confused yet?

	The fighter window is configured with the primary view being to the
front, and the sub views showing the top, bottom, right and left sides, and the
rear.  These sub views are not as detailed, and only show the designation of a
ship, rather than the ship (such as r4, or "O" for a planet).  The main view is
more detailed, showing the actual ship, and space "dust".  To maneuver a ship,
simply click in the right direction, just as it is now.  The ship will turn in
that direction, with the other views adjusting accordingly.  Firing is the
same, by clicking in the appropriate direction etc.  The only other major
change I had in mind, was changing warp speed to impulse, and having warp be
different (essentially 25 for warp 1 etc)  You cannot fire from warp, or be hit
while in warp.

	I realize this is extrememly unclear, and makes no sense what so ever. 
I would love to program it myself, but my programming experience does not cover
too much.  Like I said before, If you are serious, I will send you everything I
have toyed with.  This idea will work, if somebody has the gumption to program
it.  (the main reason it hasn't been done yet-for the general public, is
because it would really only work well with a 3-button mouse...)

	If you want to contact me, e-mail to; sl7sg@cc.usu.edu, I will give you
my address then.


    Enjoy tearing it apart with multiple flames about how it cannot work;

			

		Brandon Gillespie
		   -currently as Lynx