To answer your question: You can completely change the Starscape and remove any existing factions, replacing them with your own. Look at the Nexerelin Random Core Worlds mode for pointers, it's not too hard.
For my own input - you can safely ignore this:
Be aware of the following:
- This will need java code. A lot of it, and not the kind you can copy paste from other mods, either.
- You need to have artistic skills to make those ship and weapon sprites, code systems, add vfx and sounds.
- This is a total conversion idea. I'd estimate the required effort at around 1000+ hours because:
- You need to fill that galaxy to make it interesting. That means at least 3 or 4 custom factions, quest, relevant ships, weapons (unless you reuse vanilla), characters ect.
I do not wish to discourage you, just know that the best way to go about this is to find a team, pay them, and manage this as you would any other business project, because that amount of effort is not going to run off motivation and dreams alone unless you are immensely dedicated and find likeminded souls that share 100% of your vision.
If I had to do a large project like that, I'd do it like this:
Start by making a concept sheet. Write down what you want to make, how you want to make it, and most importantly why it is fun for the player and not just for you.
That concept sheet could contain:
Important:
- A baseline of your idea
- The specific gameplay implementation of each part of your planned features
- A short summary of why each feature is fun for the player
Less important:
- Technical implementation structure
- Required ressources
- Timeline
And once you are done with that (and looking at your idea, it'll probably be a 3k+ word essay), read it and really, really think on if you might want to start with making just the absolute core of that idea a reality instead of the whole thing.
I'm sure you have a specific feature in mind that is the basis of your idea and isn't quite as all encompassing as you laid it out.
That would be what I'd start with. Once you got that done, you'll know if the rest of your concept is feasible, and if you really want to do it - but you'll have created something at that point, and know what you can expect, so it'll be much, much easier to dive into modding proper.
Most importantly: Do not forget to have fun, and know that anything is possible if you are stubborn enough.
