Ship Direction heading. indicator

[Bluewind5]

I know about the "R" Key and the Zoominng feature. I just want something that tells me which way my ship is facing and show the whole system map without having to go into full screen mode. Maybe my first post wasn't clear enough.

I would like to be able able to change the directional indictor, if possible, from

0 degrees to letter N for North
90 degrees to letter E for East
180 degrees to letter S for South
270 degrees to letter W for West

The thing I'm trying to do is be able to fly around with the whole system mini map on, and see where I'm heading relative to the whole system wihtout having to switch back and forth between different map/radar views. On the mini mode my ship is just a dot and unless I go to full screen and zoom or change radar mode, I can't tell which way I'm facing. The ship heading is already indicated in degrees but for most games, I'm used to playing with compass directions, not angular degrees. When drivng around or giving directions, you don't tell someone go 0 or 180 dgrees on a north/south bound highway.

I guess there's no way to do this because it's probably hardcoded, but thanks for the suggestions and for trying to help.

[TurinTurambar]

Hey! Pretend you're a ship's captain! Don't be so analytical! When you pop into a system, do a quick "C" and orientate (is that a word?) yourself:"Hmmmm... The stars are here, the two red clouds are there, and here's another friggin asteroid belt...." Then just fly by "terrain association" like a pilot would have to do!

[cpt. taylor of the eclipse]

yeah, i navagate by the nebulae, mostly

the system scanners wont pick up planets? is there anyway to increase the base radar range?

[Ed Kolis]

Not that I know of; 75/150/300ls seem to be hardcoded ranges.

[Phoenix-D]

You can increase the range you detect things at, though. Its in playerstartingships and purchaseshipsplayer text files.

Note that if you give a radar range beyond 300ls, it will work but the zoomed-in view won't show you anything past it- you'll have to use the minimap or full screen map.