Okay you aren't locked into mission based maps.
Maps are dynamic and can be accessed outside of missions.
Handy for upgrading your team and Mothership.
SW1 mission then map.
SW3(English) Open universe to get everything better before moving onto next mission and you can max things out like pilots and equip, before moving onto the next mission. Grinding systems/maps.... I hope that is more explanatory.
You can be filthy rich with maxed ut pilots in templar gunslinger, before you get to the Grey hair Pilot. The use your other two maxed out pilots to guide him through leveling as body guards.
One missile defense in the squad and the other stealth in the squad with "Grey Hair" as the leader to get the XP.
To max out to gunslinger.
SW2(English) is similar to this.
SW1 any ship for any pilot just the $$$$ stop you.
SW3(English) When you rank up your pilots you get access to new ships.
So I think you need to be ace before you get Templar gunslinger.
$$$$ Count tooo.
SW2(English) is similar to SW1.
Several new ships which my favorite is the Templar gunslinger outside of the mothershp mod.
New motherships to go through with missions, with new heavy weapons for "aimed fire"....
I think SW! is the training wheels version.
I think SW2 was the pinnacle with its station based missions.
I think SW3 was an interesting upgradable expansion.
I think the Mods for SW3 Have been the best I have seen to be able to get what you want.
I think SW4 would have been better again, but got canned.
Why not let modders finish it?
So I am modding SW3 to do away with the freedom killers and possibly add in some pirate playability.
Pirate missions? Babble elsewhere.