Fixed circles, one link per jump: why travel works as it does
Published
Space in the game is a graph of fixed places. Here is why each rule is what it is. How it plays: Travel nodes.
Every place is a fixed circle, the same for everyone
Why: “Every point is a fixed circle, the same for everyone… only where each carrier sits inside them differs.” The circle is fixed to the place and does not move with the carrier: an early version that centred it on the carrier was reverted the same day.
Decided 2026-10-22 · scripts/main.gd _range_of(), _arrival_point()
Ships stop at the edge
Why: “the circle is the operation’s assigned area of operations”: the commander’s authority ends at its edge. Ships leave only by travel orders.
Decided 2026-10-22 · ship_spec.md, Command range
400 km radius in space, 100 km near the ground
Why: in space, a fighter at 500 m/s crosses from the centre to the edge in about 13 minutes. Near the ground the field is tighter so that terrain and masking matter: the horizon from 1 km up is about 113 km away (derived), and a fighter crosses in 3 to 4 minutes. The surface field is smaller “for the horizon and terrain, not for speed”. Both numbers are radii: 800 km and 200 km across.
Decided 2026-10-22 · scripts/main.gd SPACE_COMMAND_RANGE := 400000.0, SURFACE_COMMAND_RANGE := 100000.0
One link per jump
Why: “the map is a fixed graph of areas and links, and a jump moves one link… No range maths.” Distances run from 400 km to 384,000 km, so a range in km “would allow everything or nothing”. Longer routes are one order, but spool once per link.
Built 2026-10-23 · scripts/travel_node.gd graph(); main.gd links_of()
Nothing jumps through a body
Why: “a link Earth or the Moon hides (seen from the area’s centre) isn’t one.” That is why there is no L1 to low-orbit shortcut, no link from the Moon’s far side to L1, none between the Moon’s east and west points, and none between the two low-orbit points.
Built 2026-10-22 · scripts/main.gd can_travel_to(), _planet_blocks()
Out-of-sight icons are hidden
Why: “Out of sight = out of reach: hidden, not just greyed.” Travel is by icon only; there is no Up button.
Built 2026-10-22 · scripts/main.gd _update_geo_markers()
Arrive above or below, 10 km inside the edge
Why: a ship comes in right above or below where it was; if that is outside the new circle, at the nearest point of its edge, 10 km inside, for “room to move”. With one of ours already there, the arrival spot can be picked: the reason to send a scout first.
Decided 2026-10-22; aimed arrivals 2026-10-24 · scripts/main.gd ARRIVAL_EDGE_MARGIN := 10000.0
The heights of the places
Why: each place sits at a true height: geostationary at 35,786 km, low orbit at 400 km (“ISS height”), the surface areas at 25 km (“where jets take over”), Earth–Moon L1 at 326,400 km from Earth’s centre (“the gateway, Earth in view”), and high lunar orbit 10,000 km above the Moon (“the Moon’s answer to GEO”). The sources for these heights are on the geostationary, low orbit and L1 pages.
Decided 2026-10-22 · scripts/star_system.gd home.orbits