I know that the universe is created completely when the game is launched, per the topology section of the XML. However, are the actual systems resolved (which stations are present and their locations) before the player first visits them? Furthermore, all of the sys functions refer only to the player's current system, is there a way to peek into other systems?
I ask, because the Wikipedia entry so recently created cites Elite as one of the inspiration for Transcendence. However, I've never once screamed in blind rage as I smacked into the docking bay of a station I was landing at. I was thinking about how Transcendence could be more like Elite, and aside from implementing a random chance of blowing up each time you dock, I figured that implementing a bit of an economy feel would help.
Most of it is easy enough, I can give stations a list of resources and finished goods and wire transports to run around delivering everything, but the "economy" would grind to a halt real fast if the economy was limited to one system.
Basically, as a test, I am trying to construct a 5 system loop that has a vaguely functional economy, but doing it without being able to see into the other systems makes it next to impossible.
