// SECTORS

Layout Conventions

For designers building sectors in the admin tool:

Station placement: Within the "inner third" of the sector. Players should be able to reach any gate from the station in a reasonable warp time. Stations should have visual landmarks visible from the dock view (the sector's signature object, or a planet in the background).

Gate placement: "Edges" of the sector - gates should feel like they're going somewhere, not like they're in the middle of existing content. Different gates in the same sector should be in different directions from the station.

Content zone spacing: Each zone should have enough space that entering one doesn't accidentally trigger another. Mob zones should not overlap trade lanes. Mining zones can be adjacent to combat zones (that's the point - players mining will have to fight).

Scale references: Nav points should be 2–10 minutes of travel from the station at cruise speed. Gates should be 5–15 minutes at warp. Content zones should feel like destinations, not just "turn left at the station."

Skybox direction: The sector's dominant star or light source should be placed consistently - upper-right or upper-left (not directly overhead or directly behind the camera). This gives depth without disorienting the player.

Last updated: 2026-04-14