Re: Ever played using a grid map?
 

These players will get the .map file, so full knowledge of the map (if the map is loaded in the map editor). Or they could use it in another game, using an Ancient Empire.

Re: Ever played using a grid map?
 

Yes. This includes fully up to date information about atmosphere conversions, value/conditions changes, planet creation, ringworld/sphereworld construction, etc. If ruins are allowed, it also allows the player to find every unique tech ruins left on the map and immediately find out exactly which unique tech is in each ruins without having to colonize it first.

Re: Does \"allow map saving\" let players see whole
 

They get the whole map so they can see EVERYTHING layed out before them when they open it in the Map Editor. They'll get a chance to see the best systems for exploration and if other players, in a bout of roleplaying frenzy, renamed their home planet (I do it ALWAYS - no exceptions) to something race-specific, they can just search the Galaxy until they find the worlds in question.

edit: repaired bold code

Re: Does \"allow map saving\" let players see whole
 

Note that your homeworlds can be easily found (with full knowledge of the map, ie the Ancient trait) even if you do not rename them. You could simply sort all the planets in the game by mineral value, and look at the planets of the appropriate size and with all three resource values around the appropriate level.

In the case of standard homeworlds, you would look for Medium planets with three resource values around 100% (it is usually between 96% and 99%). There are very few such planets besides the homeworlds, and so they will likely all be homeworlds.

Re: Does \"allow map saving\" let players see whole
 

I'd forgot that. But perhaps that can be a part of "searching the Galaxy". Unfortunately, for some reason, my map editor seems to be slightly unstable (Ability 1 Type := Map Editor - Unstable) because I tried opening it once and I did something - can't remember what - and it "fatal error"ed out on me. It still works, but I now treat it with the utmost caution.