Maps, theory discussion

[Cipher7071]

Topographically speaking, the torus is really the same thing as a spiral map, unless, of course, you break it into a C like you did in your sample map. It really does sound like you are looking for the topographical equivalent of a sphere.

edit:

Instead of thinking about it in terms of your common garden variety Earth-globe, try thinking about it in terms of a ploygonal solid with a system at each of the vertices. In other words, there doesn't need to be a clear-cut 'pole' system. Any vertex might be seen as a 'pole.'

First consider a cube, and what you would need to do to represent it in 2-D on your computer screen. Draw it on a piece of paper. The trouble then becomes the number of crossing warp-lines that this makes. A cube can be un-crossed without too much difficulty (try it!), but as the number of systems (vertices) increases the map will become too messy before you get anywhere near the number of systems in a large quadrant.

That's why the compromises are made. Hope this gives you some ideas.

[ January 19, 2004, 15:13: Message edited by: Cipher7071 ]