You can have newer players start out on the galactic rim, which would be sparse and flattened into a 2D shape. As the players develop & spread out (towards the center of the galaxy), they would enter the central 'bulge' of the galaxy.
This allows you to modulate the importance of the third dimension in line with the player's experience. It also allows you to introduce new strategic elements after the player gets accustomed to the basics of gameplay.
3D or 2D map system for MM 4x space game
I imagine this to be with periodic resets (think 3-4 months), so I'm not sure how much of an impact that would have. For a persistent game, it'd make good sense.
I don't recall any 3D space strategy that looked natural to me. I don't think that even 3D monitors would solve this, it's just that our minds work in 2D. We always face the "front" of enemy, watch over our "back" and have allies on "left" or "right". Expecting an ambush from "above" or from the "ground" is not natural (well, maybe from the above if you are hunting in a jungle, but still unlikely). Even when we pilot airships we are "hanging upside down" when making 180 degree rotation and we always compare our position to "horizon". With solo starship is not so bad (can always use sun as a horizon and you have only yourself to keep track of), but with multiple units... Our primal brains just aren't built for this.
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