I like the idea, but as others have pointed out: fuel.



Quite apart from regular fuel usage (currently fuel for the entire jump is consumed at start; would not be difficult to change the code to consume on arrival, or to reimburse partial fuel on misjump if they're reworking the jump mechanic anyway), what about people who have supercharged their drive (either through a NS/WD cone or via Jumponium) and are part-way between very distant systems. (EDIT1)Not only is the fuel gone, but also the boost.(/EDIT1)



You do NOT want to strand a player with the only option being suicide, EVER (unless it is the players' fault..). While for a lot of people that would only be an inconvenience (minor to major), for an explorer it would mean the loss of EVERYTHING up to that point.



There are ways around it - as I said, partial fuel reimbursement; instead of dropping half-way between systems you drop randomly in the area, but close enough to a system that is within range (and scoopable), etc.(1)



The other issue, that's also already been pointed out, is one of coordinates. Currently you are -always- in a valid system(2). It would presumably require quite a lot of work to change the mechanic to allow you to be in "interstellar space" with valid galactic coordinates, but no system-name.





(1)Having just thought on this more - perhaps ships could have "emergency beacons" which can be activated in interstellar space. This would allow someone else (ie, a Fuel Rat) to drop into their interstellar coordinates to rescue them. Of course, anybody with the right sensor equipment could also.. ie, pirates, aliens, ...



(2)I have no idea how the "hyperdictions" work - what does the system-map show?