I've been happy with the Random Maps

I think Orbits would be awesome. It would give an entirely new layer of strategy.

Exploration is okay at this game. Sure it isnt as deep as other games but I have learned first hand what good intel can do in a game. You have to keep scouts going(cause they often run into the Pirate base and die) or else you can end up with very messy battles where you thought you had an advantage based on two minutes ago.

For those that don't have the beta, when you select a given scenario no two games are the same in terms of exploration. Random planets, asteroids, belts, plasma storms, special planet bonuses, starting positions, environmental aesthetics, and more are generated per game so you always get a unique experience every time. There are also a number of random map options (phase lanes not preset) for various size games. There are many more to come.  Bascially you have the choice of playing a carefully constructed map with random components, or a completely random map. We'll have more info on custom maps in the future.   

Will we ever get an optional type menu like in beta 2 where we can choose how many starting resources, pirates or no pirates, stuff like that?


Its not?

They are calling it a 4XRTS, but the majority of it is RTS, the 4X factors a little more subdued.

The 4x factor isnt subdued. Its the Roleplaying element of Sins that is subdued. Most 4x games take the form of a Roleplaying 4x game where they bombard you with imagery and tons of almost pointless things to tinkle with ,that makes you immersed and feel like you are controlling the wellbeing of people in space. Sins has all the 4x elements but takes the form of a Strategical 4x game and bombards you with more strategical and tactical options .Thus losing a planet isnt going to make you cry a river because 90 million people perish , but you will be pissed you lost a tactical position and a credit income source.

I think the combination of random maps complete with customised ones from beta 2 and the new special ones with some particular design or function will provide a nice variety.

I have to look at koscs (?) map, but apparently there is also the possibility of creating custom stuff, so if that is halfway simple, everyone can mod the maps the way the like them, maybe with extremes in anomalies, asteroids, ice, volcanic, terran worlds and so on.

plus, and this will likely also come at some point: different game modes like kill the flag ship, hoard most ressources, king of the hill ( or whatever, king of the sun).

just one more thing: the first worlds from your homeworld are almost always asteroids, right? I can imagine that if it keeps being asteroid - planet - asteroid it could get repetive. but actually, I probably need more game practice and see more maps, because with the many new planet types now in, it should not be such a big problem anymore. ( really like the different effects of nebulas, ion clauds, gas giants and so on.)

edit: yet one more thing, the temporary phase lanes (i.e. only work some of the time due to some odd physical configuration) sounds interesting, if the intervalls are longer and a bit unregular. you could get a warning a short time before the status changes.

they aren't going to be possible as far as I can tell, once a lane is created it just can't magically disappear from the code...