diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eb018be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+    "version": "0.2.0",
+    "configurations": [
+        {
+            "name": "Debug Client",
+            "type": "cppdbg",
+            "request": "launch",
+            "program": "${workspaceFolder}/build/client",
+            "args": [],
+            "stopAtEntry": false,
+            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+            "environment": [],
+            "externalConsole": true,
+            "MIMode": "lldb"
+        }
+    ]
+}
+
diff --git a/src/base/all.h b/src/base/all.h
index 52a86a0..c033289 100644
--- a/src/base/all.h
+++ b/src/base/all.h
@@ -331,6 +331,11 @@ typedef struct Dim2 {
   u16 width;
 } Dim2;
 
+typedef struct Pos2u8 {
+  u8 x;
+  u8 y;
+} Pos2u8;
+
 typedef struct Pos2 {
   u16 x;
   u16 y;
diff --git a/src/client.c b/src/client.c
index 6080b24..e0077f1 100644
--- a/src/client.c
+++ b/src/client.c
@@ -23,9 +23,17 @@
 #define GOAL_LOOP_US 1000000/GOAL_LOOPS_PER_S
 #define LOGIN_NAME_BUFFER_LEN 16
 #define PARSED_SERVER_MESSAGE_THREAD_QUEUE_LEN 16
-#define MAIN_GAME_TAB_COUNT (2)
 
 ///// TYPES
+typedef enum Tab {
+  TabDebug,
+  TabChat,
+  TabMap,
+  TabShip,
+  TabStation,
+  Tab_Count,
+} Tab;
+
 typedef enum Screen {
   ScreenLogin,
   ScreenCreateCharacter,
@@ -75,6 +83,8 @@ typedef struct ParsedServerMessage {
   u64 id;
   u64 server_frame;
   XYZ xyz;
+  Pos2u8 positions[STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT];
+  PlanetType planet_types[MAX_PLANETS*STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT];
   //Entity entities[PARSED_CLIENT_ENTITY_LEN];
   //u64 ids[PARSED_IDS_LEN];
 } ParsedServerMessage;
@@ -115,10 +125,11 @@ typedef struct GameState {
   LoginState login_state;
   MenuState menu;
   MenuState section; // for tabbing through selected "portions" of the screen
-  u8 choices[4];
   UDPMessage keep_alive_msg;
   UDPClient client;
   StringChunkList message_input;
+  StarSystem map[STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT];
+  Pos2 pos;
 } GameState;
 
 ///// GLOBALS
@@ -130,7 +141,7 @@ global u8 system_message_index = 0;
 global GameState state = {0};
 global OutgoingMessageQueue* network_send_queue = {0};
 global ParsedServerMessageThreadQueue* network_recv_queue = {0};
-global str TABS[] = {"Debug", "Speak"};
+global str TAB_STRS[Tab_Count] = {"Debug", "Chat", "Map", "Ship", "Station"};
 
 ///// FUNCTIONS
 fn ParsedServerMessageThreadQueue* newPSMThreadQueue(Arena* a) {
@@ -359,6 +370,16 @@ fn void handleIncomingMessage(u8* message, u32 len, SocketAddress sender, i32 so
   switch (msg_type) {
     case MessageNewAccountCreated:
     case MessageBadPw: {/*nothing to parse but the type*/} break;
+    case MessageStarPositions: {
+      u32 star_msg_size = 2+MAX_PLANETS;
+      for (u32 i = 0; i < STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT; i++) {
+        parsed.positions[i].x = message[1+(i*star_msg_size)];
+        parsed.positions[i].y = message[2+(i*star_msg_size)];
+        for (u32 ii = 0; ii < MAX_PLANETS; ii++) {
+          parsed.planet_types[i*MAX_PLANETS + ii] = message[(i*star_msg_size)+3+ii];
+        }
+      }
+    } break;
     case MessageCharacterId: {
       parsed.id = readU64FromBufferLE(message + 1);
     } break;
@@ -420,6 +441,15 @@ fn bool updateAndRender(TuiState* tui, void* s, u8* input_buffer, u64 loop_count
   while (next_net_msg != NULL) {
     msg_iters += 0;
     switch (msg.type) {
+      case MessageStarPositions: {
+        for (u32 i = 0; i < STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT; i++) {
+          state->map[i].x = msg.positions[i].x;
+          state->map[i].y = msg.positions[i].y;
+          for (u32 ii = 0; ii < MAX_PLANETS; ii++) {
+            state->map[i].planets[ii].type = msg.planet_types[i*MAX_PLANETS + ii];
+          }
+        }
+      } break;
       case MessageNewAccountCreated: {
         state->screen = ScreenCreateCharacter;
       } break;
@@ -445,6 +475,7 @@ fn bool updateAndRender(TuiState* tui, void* s, u8* input_buffer, u64 loop_count
   }
   
   // operate on screen-based input+state
+  bool user_pressed_tab = input_buffer[0] == ASCII_TAB && input_buffer[1] == 0;
   bool user_pressed_esc = input_buffer[0] == ASCII_ESCAPE && input_buffer[1] == 0;
   bool user_pressed_a_number = input_buffer[0] >= '1' && input_buffer[0] <= '9' && input_buffer[1] == 0;
   bool user_pressed_up = input_buffer[0] == 27 && input_buffer[1] == 91 && input_buffer[2] == 65;
@@ -458,6 +489,8 @@ fn bool updateAndRender(TuiState* tui, void* s, u8* input_buffer, u64 loop_count
       //// SIMULATION
       if (state->me.id != 0) {
         state->screen = ScreenMainGame;
+        state->menu.selected_index = 0;
+        state->menu.len = Tab_Count;
         break;
       }
       if (state->section.selected_index == 0) {
@@ -581,21 +614,25 @@ fn bool updateAndRender(TuiState* tui, void* s, u8* input_buffer, u64 loop_count
       // SIMULATION
       if (input_buffer[0] == 'q' || user_pressed_esc) {
         should_quit = true;
+      } else if (user_pressed_tab) {
+        state->menu.selected_index += 1;
+        if (state->menu.selected_index > state->menu.len) {
+          state->menu.selected_index = 0;
+        }
       }
+      Tab tab = state->menu.selected_index;
 
       // RENDERING
-      renderStrToBuffer(tui->frame_buffer, 5, 1, "Games typically would render something here...", screen_dimensions);
-      bool room_active = state->section.selected_index == 0;
-      u32 tabs_y = 1 + 2 + 2;
+      u32 tabs_y = 1;
       u32 tx = 2;
-      for (u32 i = 0; i < MAIN_GAME_TAB_COUNT; i++) {
-        u32 tab_len = strlen(TABS[i]);
+      for (u32 i = 0; i < Tab_Count; i++) {
+        u32 tab_len = strlen(TAB_STRS[i]);
         Box b = { .x = tx, .y = tabs_y, .width = tab_len+1, .height = 1 };
         drawAnsiBox(tui->frame_buffer, b, screen_dimensions, state->menu.selected_index == i);
-        renderStrToBuffer(tui->frame_buffer, tx+1, tabs_y+ 1, TABS[i], screen_dimensions);
+        renderStrToBuffer(tui->frame_buffer, tx+1, tabs_y+ 1, TAB_STRS[i], screen_dimensions);
         tx += (tab_len + 3);
       }
-      // draw the system messages box
+      // draw the tabs box
       u32 box_y = tabs_y + 3;
       Box box = {
         .x = 1,
@@ -603,11 +640,78 @@ fn bool updateAndRender(TuiState* tui, void* s, u8* input_buffer, u64 loop_count
         .width = screen_dimensions.width - 4,
         .height = screen_dimensions.height - box_y - 2,
       };
-      drawAnsiBox(tui->frame_buffer, box, screen_dimensions, !room_active);
-      if (state->menu.selected_index == 0) { // 0 is TABS[0] is "Debug"
-        renderSystemMessages(tui->frame_buffer, tui->screen_dimensions, box);
-      } else if (state->menu.selected_index == 1) { // 1 is TABS[1] is "Speak"
-        renderStrToBuffer(tui->frame_buffer, box.x+2, box.y+1, "You haven't heard anything interesting lately...", screen_dimensions);
+      drawAnsiBox(tui->frame_buffer, box, screen_dimensions, true);
+      switch (tab) {
+        case TabDebug: {
+          renderSystemMessages(tui->frame_buffer, tui->screen_dimensions, box);
+        } break;
+        case TabChat: {
+          renderStrToBuffer(tui->frame_buffer, box.x+2, box.y+1, "You haven't heard anything interesting lately...", screen_dimensions);
+        } break;
+        case TabMap: {
+          if (user_pressed_up) {
+            state->pos.y -= 1;
+          } else if (user_pressed_down) {
+            state->pos.y += 1;
+          } else if (user_pressed_left) {
+            state->pos.x -= 1;
+          } else if (user_pressed_right) {
+            state->pos.x += 1;
+          }
+          u32 xw = 4;
+          u32 yh = 2;
+          u32 x_off = box.x+((box.width - MAP_WIDTH*xw)/2);
+          u32 y_off = box.y+((box.height - MAP_HEIGHT*yh)/2);
+          for (u32 i = 0; i < MAP_WIDTH*xw; i++) {
+            for (u32 ii = 0; ii < MAP_HEIGHT*yh; ii++) {
+              u32 sysx = i / xw;
+              u32 sysy = ii / yh;
+              u32 bufpos = XYToPos(x_off+i, y_off+ii, screen_dimensions.width);
+              tui->frame_buffer[bufpos].bytes[0] = ' ';
+              if (state->pos.x == sysx && state->pos.y == sysy) {
+                tui->frame_buffer[bufpos].background = ANSI_WHITE;
+                tui->frame_buffer[bufpos].foreground = ANSI_BLACK;
+              } else {
+                tui->frame_buffer[bufpos].foreground = ANSI_WHITE;
+                tui->frame_buffer[bufpos].background = ANSI_BLACK;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+          for (u32 i = 0; i < STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT; i++) {
+            StarSystem sys = state->map[i];
+            u32 sysx = x_off + xw*sys.x;
+            u32 sysy = y_off + yh*sys.y;
+            // clear the render-grid for this "tile" position
+            for (u32 ii = 0; ii < xw; ii++) {
+              for (u32 iii = 0; iii < yh; iii++) {
+                u32 bufpos = XYToPos(sysx+ii, sysy+iii, screen_dimensions.width);
+                tui->frame_buffer[bufpos].bytes[0] = 0;
+              }
+            }
+            renderUtf8CodePoint(tui, sysx, sysy, "⭐");
+            renderUtf8CodePoint(
+              tui,
+              sysx +2,
+              sysy,
+              strForPlanet(sys.planets[0].type)
+            );
+            renderUtf8CodePoint(
+              tui,
+              sysx,
+              sysy +1,
+              strForPlanet(sys.planets[1].type)
+            );
+            renderUtf8CodePoint(
+              tui,
+              sysx +2,
+              sysy +1,
+              strForPlanet(sys.planets[2].type)
+            );
+          }
+        } break;
+        case TabShip: {} break;
+        case TabStation: {} break;
+        case Tab_Count: {} break;
       }
     } break;
     case ScreenLogin: {
diff --git a/src/lib/tui.c b/src/lib/tui.c
index 2b10d8c..86360bd 100644
--- a/src/lib/tui.c
+++ b/src/lib/tui.c
@@ -169,6 +169,38 @@ fn void drawAnsiBox(Pixel* buf, Box box, Dim2 sd, bool bold) {
   copyStr(buf[pos+1+box.width].bytes, use[5]);
 }
 
+fn void renderUtf8CodePoint(TuiState* tui, u16 x, u16 y, str text) {
+  u32 bufpos = XYToPos(x,y,tui->screen_dimensions.width);
+  Pixel* buf = tui->frame_buffer;
+  Utf8Character first_character_class = classifyUtf8Character(text[0]);
+  // if it's a single ASCII character
+  if (first_character_class == Utf8CharacterAscii && text[1] == '\0') {
+    buf[bufpos].bytes[0] = text[0];
+  // if it's a pair of ASCII characters
+  } else if (first_character_class == Utf8CharacterAscii && text[1] > 0 && text[2] == '\0') {
+    buf[bufpos].bytes[0] = text[0];
+    buf[bufpos+1].bytes[0] = text[1];
+  } else if (first_character_class == Utf8CharacterThreeByte) {
+    for (u32 k = 0; k < strlen(text)/3; k++) {
+      for (u32 l = 0; l < 3; l++) {
+        buf[bufpos+k].bytes[l] = text[l+(k*3)];
+      }
+    }
+  } else if (first_character_class == Utf8CharacterFourByte) {
+    for (u32 k = 0; k < strlen(text)/UTF8_MAX_WIDTH; k++) {
+      for (u32 l = 0; l < UTF8_MAX_WIDTH; l++) {
+        buf[bufpos+k].bytes[l] = text[l+(k*UTF8_MAX_WIDTH)];
+      }
+    }
+    // handle secondary bytes that didn't divide evenly
+    for (u32 k = 0; k < strlen(text)%UTF8_MAX_WIDTH; k++) {
+      buf[bufpos+1].bytes[k] = text[UTF8_MAX_WIDTH+k];
+    }
+  } else {
+    assert(false && "unhandled bullshit");
+  }
+}
+
 fn void renderUtf8CharToBuffer(Pixel* buf, u16 x, u16 y, str text, Dim2 screen_dimensions) {
   assert(strlen(text) <= UTF8_MAX_WIDTH);
   u32 pos = x + (screen_dimensions.width*y);
diff --git a/src/render.c b/src/render.c
index ce4f12b..0c56aaa 100644
--- a/src/render.c
+++ b/src/render.c
@@ -4,6 +4,26 @@
 #define MAX_SCREEN_HEIGHT 300
 #define MAX_SCREEN_WIDTH 800
 
+fn str strForPlanet(PlanetType type) {
+  switch(type) {
+    case PlanetTypeNull:
+      return "  ";
+    case PlanetTypeAsteroid:
+      return "🪨";
+    case PlanetTypeEarth:
+      return "🌎";
+    case PlanetTypeGas:
+      return "🪐";
+    case PlanetTypeMoon:
+      return "🌘";
+    case PlanetTypeStation:
+      return "\xF0\x9F\x9B\xB0 ";
+    case PlanetType_Count:
+      assert(false && "this should never happen");
+      return "";
+  }
+}
+
 fn str charForEntity(EntityType e) {
   switch (e) {
     case EntityStarSystem:
diff --git a/src/server.c b/src/server.c
index a74d415..a00869c 100644
--- a/src/server.c
+++ b/src/server.c
@@ -626,6 +626,21 @@ fn void* gameLoop(void* params) {
               writeU64ToBufferLE(outgoing_message.bytes + 1, account.id);
               outgoingMessageQueuePush(state.network_send_queue, &outgoing_message);
               printf("MessageCharacterId sent\n");
+
+              // TODO tell the client about the map
+              u32 star_msg_size = 2+MAX_PLANETS;
+              outgoing_message.address = sender;
+              outgoing_message.bytes_len = 1+(star_msg_size*STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT);
+              outgoing_message.bytes[0] = (u8)MessageStarPositions;
+              for (u32 i = 0; i < STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT; i++) {
+                outgoing_message.bytes[1+(i*star_msg_size)] = (u8)state.map[i].x;
+                outgoing_message.bytes[2+(i*star_msg_size)] = (u8)state.map[i].y;
+                for (u32 ii = 0; ii < MAX_PLANETS; ii++) {
+                  outgoing_message.bytes[3+ii+(i*star_msg_size)] = state.map[i].planets[ii].type;
+                }
+              }
+              outgoingMessageQueuePush(state.network_send_queue, &outgoing_message);
+              printf("%s sent\n", MESSAGE_STRINGS[outgoing_message.bytes[0]]);
             } else {
               printf("client tried to create a character when he already has one.");
             }
@@ -715,7 +730,7 @@ i32 main(i32 argc, ptr argv[]) {
   for (u32 i = 0; i < STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT; i++) {
     u32 planet_count = rand() % MAX_PLANETS + 1;
     for (u32 ii = 0; ii < planet_count; ii++) {
-      state.map[i].planets[ii].type = (PlanetType)(rand() % PlanetType_Count);
+      state.map[i].planets[ii].type = 1+(PlanetType)(rand() % (PlanetType_Count -1));
       switch (state.map[i].planets[ii].type) {
         case PlanetTypeEarth: {
           // TODO: roll the initial commodity counts
@@ -734,7 +749,9 @@ i32 main(i32 argc, ptr argv[]) {
         case PlanetTypeStation: {
           // a lot of ??? drugs?
         } break;
-        case PlanetType_Count: {} break;
+        case PlanetTypeNull:
+        case PlanetType_Count:
+          break;
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/shared.h b/src/shared.h
index a3d7619..e558bc2 100644
--- a/src/shared.h
+++ b/src/shared.h
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@
 
 ///// #define some game-tunable constants
 #define STARTING_DOWN_PAYMENT (10000)
+#define SHIP_DETAIL_COUNT (8)
 #define STAR_SYSTEM_COUNT (40)
 #define MAP_WIDTH (40)
 #define MAP_HEIGHT (10)
-#define MAX_PLANETS (16)
+#define MAX_PLANETS (3)
 
 typedef enum EntityFeature {
   FeatureWalksAround,
@@ -43,7 +44,6 @@ global str SHIP_TYPE_STRINGS[] = {
   "NX-400",
 };
 
-#define SHIP_DETAIL_COUNT (8)
 typedef struct ShipTemplate {
   ShipType type;
   u8 drive_efficiency;
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ typedef struct Commodity {
 } Commodity;
 
 typedef enum PlanetType {
+  PlanetTypeNull,
   PlanetTypeEarth,
   PlanetTypeGas,
   PlanetTypeMoon,
@@ -369,6 +370,7 @@ typedef enum Message {
   MessageCharacterId,
   MessageBadPw,
   MessageNewAccountCreated,
+  MessageStarPositions,
   Message_Count,
 } Message;
 static const char* MESSAGE_STRINGS[] = {
@@ -376,6 +378,7 @@ static const char* MESSAGE_STRINGS[] = {
   "CharacterId",
   "BadPw",
   "NewAccountCreated",
+  "StarPositions",
 };
 
 #endif //GAMESHARED_H