I just posted a work of art in scenario/mod archive. Map8inprogress is map7a broken into 24 clusters artistically arranged. I did this today very reluctantly after four days of play testing showed that the AI could not cope with a maximum warp point linkage map. Besides taking up to three minutes per AI per turn after about turn 20, the map was covered in yellow territory conflict circles (empires systems to avoid maps). No AI was building colonies because their warships were being blown away in mutual conflict as soon as built. So the priority algorithm called for replacing warships rather than building colony ships. I did a ten turn check of this map8 with 20 empires loaded, Rage in Central home. The only conflict circles were in the Nexus, which was precisely what I wanted.

I withdraw my game challenge, because watching the AI the past few days has got me interested in race creation. I am going to spend the next week or two finishing up the map (only four of 15 nexus done). Then I am going to design a race which can survive and even prosper (against a human player) from a home in the nexus. My goal is to make it a tough game for even my experience level.

When I get the map done you might want to use it in a PBW game with the nexus owner given a 50 turn head start. That should be really challenging even against 19 other players. Hint - atmosphere nones not on warp points have five tech ruins, moons are for organics pop growth 40m/turn/colony while stars are for crystallines...
Helpful hint for map editor Users. When creating a moon, do NOT modify the name until you have done the other stuff. If you do it first, the name gets wiped entirely. If you do it Last, backspace deletes only one character at a time - what a relief!

Map editor wish list in no particular order after the first two :
1) As stated previously, I REALLY want a alphabetical sort option for systems in the add warp link. Last added is useful too, keep it as an option.
2) When a planet is added at the same location as another, default name to moon naming convention, not next planet.
3) Copy/paste planet with all moons from selected location to selected location, automatically renaming to next planet.
4) Copy/paste entire system with user specified name to specified location, modifying planet names etc automatically.
5) Copy/paste a star cluster with random system names created, modifying planet names etc to match.
6) Copy/paste from one map to another.
7) Random generation of planets and moons within a selected system adding another properly named each time selected (multiples 1,3,5,10), specifying the ranges as done in settings.txt.
8) Changing the default for a new planet to user specified default such as 150/150/150 optimal rather than 100/100/100 mild.
9) Shift entire star cluster tied to moving a system in the cluster.
10) Star cluster pattern library with auto select best configuration for existing warp links. Tough one, I know. I would be willing to make some patterns if credited.
11) Generate systemtypes specification mod file for a selected system.
12) Option to create the other end of a warp link automatically, placing it randomly in the destination system. Keep option to have one way warp points.
13) Option to show warp point names, grid etc on the map as in the game.
14) Option to have planet pictures automatically random select based upon planet type and atmosphere so it does not have to be specified EVERY SINGLE TIME.
15) Default warp point type to normal if not selected sidnhtbs EST.
16) Default sun to the first yellow star if not selected sidnhtbs EST..
17) If the planet type or atmosphere is changed without changing the picture, call for reselect the planet picture rather than ignoring the change.
Other than the above I LOVE the map editor. It beats the heck out of having to play just random generated quadrants.

That's about it off the top of my head. I have been up over 24 hours finishing the map star clusters, now I am going to get some sleep. If anybody else has some map editor wishes, post them here and I will send an email pointing to this thread (as though they are not already reading the Forum anyway)...