Do you think it would be a good idea to be able to visit any of the maps/systems from the missions. but with the story elements removed.
this seems to be standard practice for most MMO's where the story is overlayed onto large exploration maps.
at present there are loads of cool places (guardian time portal for example) that are only visitable while in a mission.
I like to nip over to andoria every now and then. theres no reason to go there other than i just watched an epp of enterprise and i want to go see shans planet etc..
i think it would be really cool go to ura penthay(?) and get told to leave by the klingon guards.
or to goto cardassia prime for a bottle of kanar. these maps have already been made and are efectively locked after the mission is complete.
http://jupiterforce.org/showthread.php?27576-exploration