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194


******Subspace Static Week 7 Year 194******  [Recruit]

TU changes

Player response has been pretty negative on TU changes. As a result nothing will be changed until an alternative scheme can be put together. I will keep you posted. A couple of players have asked that the FET be 'capped'; that is no new players are allowed to join it. This I am not going to do for the following reasons:
The FET are nowhere as big as everybody makes out.
The FET is large and efficient due to the skill of its leading players. I refuse to penalise them for doing a good job.
3. I refuse to dictate what affiliation a new player must join. He will just drop out if forced to play what he does not want to.
4. The new rulebook with its revised descriptions should help make the less popular groups more popular. Many at present suffer because their rulebook descriptions are a bit naff.


******Subspace Static Week 11 Year 194******  [Recruit]

Confederate Assault

CIA forces have launched a ground assault against IMP St Petersburg. This was apparently in an attempt to reclaim debts owed the CIA by the IMP. A single CNF ship, the 'Karma', moved into St Petersburg's space square and was fired on by Imperial vessels. CIA ships moved to defend the 'Karma', though the battle was inconclusive.
The battle above the planet has apparently continued, with more IMP and CNF ships joining in and some fleeing the area.

Pirate Assault

It has been reported that RIP ships attacked and boarded an unarmed FET battlecruiser in the vicinity of the planet Mandy. A further RIP ship was destroyed by the colony Thermopyle whilst trying to take off from the same planet. It is unclear exactly what the RIP were trying to do on the planets surface, but it is unlikely tat they threw away a supra freighter for nothing.

Fredericksnager Falls

The GTT colony in Inferno has fallen to Flagritz forces after a savage three week bombardment. The IMP have recently made peace with the Flagritz, but it deems unlikely that they will just stand by and let human colonies be wiped out in this manner. What the GTT will do, if anything, remains to be seen. They certainly made no move to defend the colony before it fell.

Blockade Busted

IMP ships blockading the RIP colony of Barbary Coast fired on the two RIP ships that were seen trying to leave. An assortment of Confederacy ships, including BHD, CNF, Rat and DIE ships that 'just happened' to be in the area fired on the IMP vessels in 'defence' of their piratical allies. The Imp were, by all report, 'soundly trashed'.
It is believed that a number of IMP battlecruisers were boarded by the RIP, further increasing their potential to do harm.
This looks likely to cause wide scale war.

******Subspace Static Week 12 Year 194******  [Recruit]

Confederacy Supports Pirates

Over the last few weeks the Confederacy affiliations, with the exception of the CIA, have openly shown that they are in support of the RIP. Firstly a large Confederacy fleet helped the pirates to break an Imperial blockade over the pirate colony Barbary Coast in the Misre system. This left a number of Imperial ships derelict. FET ships who later came to aid were shot at, and one was destroyed.

If this were not enough, the CNF itself has been supplying troops to a RIP ground party that is, as I write, assaulting an FET colony in the Ruin system. That the colony has held out against such assaults for the last three weeks is only due to the skill and determination of the defenders and it looks likely that the colony will fall.

The open support that has been offered to the RIP has got back to the EEM HQ in the core Empire and its Chairman, Gerald P Quickelshank, make an extremely long and turgid announcement which is paraphrased below:

'The open support of outlaws of all kinds, including the RIP, cannot be tolerated. Though the EEM remains neutral in any conflict between the Imperial and the Confederacy, it must step in when such a conflict goes beyond the bounds of political war. The RIP is the enemy of trade and the enemy of the EEM.
'Were the conflict in Ruin to have been initiated by the CNF via a legitimate position then there would be no case for this office to intervene. The assistance given to the RIP in Misre is completely reprehensible and as such must be punished.
'Forthwith, I have instructed the governor of EEM Thorn to withhold all trading rights from all Confederacy ships except those of the CIA, which took no part in any RIP supporting attack. With this one exception no Confederacy ship will be allowed to dock at EEM Thorn and no upgrades will be available. This embargo will be left on a case basis when the injured parties inform me that restitution has been made.
'I would like to point out again that these measures are not aimed at the Confederacy in particular and will be levelled at any affiliation aiding the RIP.' Meanwhile, in response to the threat posed by the Confederacy/RIP alliance, the FET PD Ahad 'Dubious' Jones has announced an exclusion zone around all of his affiliations colonies. Henceforth any Confederate affiliation other than the CA entering orbit will be fired upon.

War over Windward

The CIA assault on St Petersburg seems to have ground o a halt. The few CIA ships in orbit were beaten off by a much superior IMP fleet. Though a state of war between IMP and CIA still exists in the Windward space square and on the planets surface, it looks like all is winding down.

Viceroy Claims Capellan Periphery

The new Imperial Viceroy has claimed the whole of the Capellan periphery in the name of the Emperor. He has stated that any Confederacy ship or colony found within the periphery will be posted. With the recent decimation of the IMP fleet this could be hard to live up to, but it is only responding in kind to similar dictates by the CNF Prelate Thebian D'Kerrigan.

******Subspace Static Week 13 Year 194******  [Recruit]

Hardpoint to Close

The EEM has noted that, for security reasons, their colony on Dogleg known as Hardpoint will be closed to all but trainee starcaptains as of week 20.

RIP Bounty

The EEM has announced that it will pay a 10000 stellar bounty to any starship captain responsible for the destruction of any pirate vessel. 100000 will be paid for the termination of the Pirate King himself.

New Harmony Church

The NHC is coming to the periphery in order to set up a centre for meditation and prayer on a hospitable world. The church desires a world with a breathable atmosphere and a good food source and transportation of 1000 colonists and 48BCM to that world. The church is willing to to pay up to 1 million stellars for the right location and transportation there.
The church is noted for its production of artworks of a religious nature and healing stones which are in great demand in the Core empire.
A representative of the church will wish to view all potential worlds before deciding which to choose. The final decision is expected to be reached by week 30.
Apply at Hypso or thorn where a representative of the church may be met.

More Drivel from the Ref

New Turns

A new turn form is soon to be available for BSE. These will be submitted on special turncards which will be circulated to you when the scheme starts.
These cards will have space for 10 orders only and special actions and surface explorations will not be permitted on them. They will, however, only be charged at 2.50. A 140TU turn on the same card, with the same order limit, will cost 4.00.
You will be free to use the cards of ordinary turn sheets, which will be charged as per normal. You can swoop between cards and sheets with the same position as you see fit. This is basically in order to allow players to submit turns that are easier to process at a cheaper rate.
Only turns on these cards, or on a fax of them, will be eligible for the discount.
The cards will be sent out as soon as they are printed with your turns. You may use them once you have got them.

'It's Not Fair'

This is the theme of many letters I have had over the year or so I have run BSE. These letters always focus on either how powerful another affiliation is or how weak your own one is. Frankly, they are tedious. There has also yet to be one with much more than a shred of justification in it. This is not because the player concerned is stupid, but because he only knows one side of the story.
The nature of BSE makes it a varied and complex game. There are many interactions between positions, both player and non player every week and many of these change circumstances within the game. This means that very little in the game is static and very little open to absolute referee control.
The game world was set up by KJC and new elements have been introduced by me. Those elements have always been balanced and the original set-up was fair. The original set-up of the Confederacy was comparable with the state of the Empire at the time.
This set-up has subsequently been altered by the players. The DTR was almost wiped out by disastrous play by the PD at the time and as a result is a very weak affiliation. Letters from the DTR PD saying 'It's not fair, we are very weak', however they are dressed up, do not cut a lot of ice because the DTR get itself that way.
I have picked on the DTR unfairly. I have had letters from almost every affiliation in a similar vein. In almost every case the writer has listed the things he wants me to give him to make up for this terrible unfairness and/or a list of rule changes to give him a fighting chance. I had thought I would paraphrase a few of them here, but there are just too many and some of them are just too embarrassing for those involved.
Please remember that there are two sides to every story and you probably only know one of them. Not so long ago everyone was complaining about how tough the Flagritz were. I have toughened them up and given them to player control Just ask them about how powerful they are. You only ever see your own disadvantages and other players advantages.
In short, the game is very complex evolving organism. You make your own breaks I do not give anything away. If someone is doing better than you it is because they are smarter, or luckier or have been at it longer. And the person who you think is doing better than you is probably writing in even now to complain about how powerful YOU are.
In future and 'It's not fair letters' will be answered through subspace static in an open manner, point by point. If you do write in this vein, make sure you are right, or you are going to look mighty silly. I think this will help everyone put their position in the game into perspective.
Sorry about that, I know most of you know all that anyway, and I am as guilty as the next man when I play games.

******Subspace Static Week 14 Year 194******  [Recruit]

Freedom City

A colony between Imperial and Confederacy space and a long standing sore to the empire has been assaulted and shelled by a force of 14 Imperial star destroyers. FET, DNF and SSL ships in the area were also fired upon and destroyed. Some RAT ships were presumed present but somehow escaped combat.
The colony was the personal property of Dodgy Dave Munroe, an entrepreneur who set up Freedom City as a neutral trading point where anything and everything were considered as legal as long as they did not interfere with business. Despite the colony flouting Imperial law, it took more than 15 years for the IMP to launch an assault on it, perhaps due to the renown of Munroe's top pilot, an individual known only as 'Hunter'. Hunter is believed to be a psychic capable of tracking any ship and taking it out. (S)he flies a custom ship called the 'Slipstream'.
Perhaps, also, Dodgy Dave's relation by marriage to the FET Chief Exec, his appearances at Samuel's court and that he is reputed to be the only man to be 'made' by the SSL Godfather and remain outside the family may have added to his survivability. Neither Munroe nor Hunter were caught in the attack. Munroe is known to be the only private individual to control an Instellar Freighter, that being the kind of ship used by the EEM to trade between the Peripheries and the core Empire. Only six exist, five of them being EEM. The tale of how Munroe got one is a saga in itself.
It is believed he has evacuated, possibly to the Capellan or Darkfold periphery, and there will no doubt intend to start up trading again, using his connections with the core empire to smuggle back a variety of illegal substances.
The EEM has posted a 10 million stellar reward for Dave, dead or alive. 1 million rides on Hunter.
The Emperor has issued a statement indicating that Munroe has been 'hounded out of known space' and that he matter should be allowed to rest at present.

Confederate Reparations

Confederate Prelate and Bad Boy of the peripheries Thebian D'Kerrigan has announced his willingness to make amends following his blatant co-operation with the pirates in Misre. He is believed to have made 3 Battleships available to the IMP.

New Ship Classes

The head of the Imperial Shipyards on Earth has announced that he is willing to release Frigate designs to the Imperials. Following this announcement a number of other groups and affiliations have made similar offers so that most affiliations seem likely to receive access to some new class of ship. All of them, unfortunately will need 7 shipyards to build Further details will be announced next week.

Fallow ground

Both the IMP and FET have announced limited declarations of war, against Confederacy ships, within the orbit and space square of the planet Fallow. Fallow is an important source of thorlium ore and it looks like a bit of claim jumping has been going on at the instigation of the DIE.

Proof-reader Dies in Bizarre Accident

The proof-reader for Subspace Static, Gordon Gombola, was killed today. A large group or irate journalists grabbed him where he sat drinking coffee in our Hypso offices and demanded to know exactly what he did for a living. They pointed out that he was certainly not a proof-reader as 'Static' is always riven with spelling and typing errors.
Unable to offer an explanation for this state of affairs, Gordon tried to flee, only to fall from a window and die in the oceans of Utopia, 411 floors below.

******Subspace Static Week 15 Year 194******  [Recruit]

Detinus for Sale

The EEM has announced its willingness to part with what is left of the colony Detinus. This primarily consists of a large number of colonists, plus a few troops. Whoever takes over the colony must be willing to guarantee the freedom of the colonists and it will not be sold to FET or IMP. Offers of over 1 million stellars are being considered.
The EEM would also like to remind everyone that Hardpoint will be closed to non trainee starcaptains from week 20. No Hiport will be found here.

Rubis Price Rise

The Kastorians have announced that the cost of enhanced landing software at Rubis will rise from 10000 to 30000 stellars n week 20. They would also like to warn people that any affiliation attempting to copy this technology will be considered hostile and banned from yank.

Isolated Skirmishes

There have been skirmishes involving DIE ships and colonies in the Capella periphery. Reports indicate that the DIE has an 'open' contract on the FET to which they have responded by posting any DIE ships seen in the Capellan periphery. The IMP is known to have posted a DIE colony, Outreach, which is in the Capellan periphery, though it is not publicly known where at this time.
This is in addition to the 'state of war' currently in existence around Fallow.

EEM Embargo

The EEM embargo on certain Confederacy affiliations is still in force. The EEM has announced that the Imp has been unreasonably intractable on this point and will be setting its own reparation levels in week 16 if no settlement is reached. Officials indicated that the IMP were trying to use the embargo to force Confederacy ships out of the Capellan periphery and that this was not the spirit the embargo was intended in.

Ref Waffle

The new turncards should be with you together wit a sheet detailing how that effect the prices. Although the new system officially started in 1/4/94 the new prices do not apply unless turns are sent back on the cards themselves: no 'backdating' will be allowed. The new ship classes have been slightly delayed because of my somewhat busy schedule and my having had a couple of days off. They should be with you next week when I have worked out the hull configurations.
You can expect some delays due to the bank holiday. I worked both days, so this should not be so bad, but as there was no post the turns were late going out.
I still get an awful lot of turns with no names/position numbers/account numbers on them. Please make sure all of these section are filled out on your turns or they may not get processed.

One 'It's not fair' from Simon Gough. He says it is not fair that IND starcaptains do not get promoted. Well, Simon, as you are not part of an organisation that has hanks it is quite difficult to get 'promoted'. Furthermore it is totally your choice to be independent. There are plenty of affiliations around to choose from and many of these will let you do 'your own thing'. I agree that some part of promotions also reflects experience. Most of it, I would suspect, represents training. I am sure that captains are busy brushing up on procedures, as supplies to them by their affiliation. Nobody is going to bother briefing a loner.
Being an independent is hard and I do not recommend it. You should always join an affiliation, even if you go your own way within it. If you want to be IND then you have to suffer the consequences. If may not be fair, but it is your choice.


******Subspace Static Week 16 Year 194******  [Recruit]

Ship Design Imminent

The new ship designs, to be released by the core Empire and Confederacy, should be available to Periphery affiliations within the week. A full rundown of these ship types will be available in a special supplement to be released via sss in the very near future.

War Called Off

The FET would like to announce that they did not declare war in the orbit of the planet Fallow. We have to apologise for this piece of miss-reporting, but it was Gordon's fault anyway. The IMP, happy with the results over Fallow, have called the whole thing off. Reports are coming in that an IMP/FET/SMS task force has heavily hit a trio of DIE ships ver the planet Egghead. This underlines the IMP policy of posting any DIE ships found within Imperial space. It is commonly believed that DIE has a blanked contract against the IMP and FET.

EEM Sanctions

The EEM directorate has announced that it will lift sanctions against the CNF as it considers its debt paid off. They have further fixed the reparations payable by other affiliations as 50000 stellars each to IMP and FET. Sanctions to be lifted upon payment. CIA is excluded from this as no sanction were levied. RAT as no need to pay FET as Ahab Jones dismissed the debt to them.
This fixing follows an attempt by the IMP Viceroy to force Confederacy vessels out of the Capellan periphery using the sanctions as a threat. EEM Director Quickleshank stated that 'the EEM will not be used as a lever is periphery power struggles. Our only concern is the destruction of the pirates'.

******Subspace Static Week 17 Year 194******  [Recruit]

This is mostly 'out of game' type news this week.
New Ship Designs Released


From the naval architects of Empire and Confederacy has come an assortment of new ship types which affiliations will be able to build or perform upgrades to. These upgrades can only be done at affiliation shipyards of class 7 or higher. They follow all the usual rules for upgrades. A shipyard must authorise the hulls etc. Ships not of the affiliation performing the upgrade may be upgraded in this manner: you can 'trade' upgrade ships. None of these upgrades are available at Hypso: they are player controlled only.
The ship class, affiliations which can build them and configurations are listed below. There are special abilities which pertain to some classes which are detailed underneath the list.

Indiaman class 16 4-75-17 GTT
Frigate class 17 20-58-20 IMP, CNF, DTR
Predator class 22 16-32-20 RIP, DIE
Belter class 25 8-22-12 SMS
Free Trader class 26 6-40-15 AFT
Courier class 27 10-39-15 SSL
Deep Explorer class 28 9-28-18 FET
Infiltrator class 29 10-25-18 CIA
Templar class 30 13-45-15 BHD
Runner class 31 4-32-17 RAT
Hulk class 32 8-35-9 DNA


The Indiaman is the only one of these ships which is merchant class.
The Belter may perform sector GPI for 7TU only
The Free Trader may jump for 15TU
The Courier may be considered to have 200 extra jammers
The Deep Explorer is considered to always be carrying bio and physics labs for exploration purposes
The Infiltrator can cloak itself for 6TU
The Runner, in the hands of an affiliation which can cloak as a special, may cloak itself for 12 TU.
The Templar can carry 20 lifeforms per life support.
The Hulk, being a thrown together heap needs only a class 1 starport to be built.

Please also note that class 35, the Flagritz Scout, will not be called Scout explorer and that 36, Flagritz Baseship is just to be called Baseship. This is to allow them to be used by other aliens in the future. The name change will only apply to ships started from now on. The FGZ are not to be given new ship types, and after deliberation, I do not believe that they ever shall be.
The above classes have been considered in depth. I will not enter into 'It's not fair' discussions regarding them as they are meant to reflect the nature of your affiliation and balance your special abilities. [note that some were changed...]

It's Not Fair

Thomas Moe, of the DIE, was jumped in his three unarmed ships whilst in the orbit of Egghead and pretty much wiped out by a huge IMP/FET/SMS fleet. Thomas is rather upset about this (understandably) and has said 'I will not sit idle and let either you (the GM) or the offending parties get away with this travesty.' He goes on to suggest I use his letter in this column, so I am.
Thomas says he should not have been attacked. His first point is that he was nowhere near the 'warzone' around Fallow. He is correct, and this is not why he was attacked. He goes onto say that he was not posted and that there was no grounds to do so. Here he is wrong: he was posted and there were grounds.
The DIE had recently been stealing outposts. The IMP and FET also had reason to believe that the DIE had a contract against all IMP and FET ships. I am fully aware of how they came to this conclusion, though I think it should remain secret.
A policy of posting DIE ships in the Capellan periphery was thus begun in the interests of self defence, I allowed this posting. Three of the ships posted belonged to Thomas. He may not have been involved directly in any of the things the IMP/FET/SMS wanted to stop, but as a member of the DIE he was suspect and thus liable for posting. This was not a declaration of war against the DIE, as only those ships which were sited in the Capellan periphery were posted.
Thomas argues that he was 'defenceless'. Anyone who has played the game knows that any ship can become armed very quickly, or set up hostile colonies or ground parties. It is a sham that Thomas has been blown up as he himself did very little to deserve it. The only thing I would say is that as a member of a group of mercenaries which had for some time shown themselves to be opposed to the IMP both by word and deed it is fairly na've to think you can swan around IMP space and not get shot at.
Please not that I have only dealt with the game RULES here. In game actions and objections have to be done,....well....


******Subspace Static Week 20 Year 194******  [Recruit]

Massive Assault on Outreach

A massive attack, consisting of over 30 GTT, FET and IMP vessels assaulted the DIE colony of Outreach in the Adamski system. The governor of this colony has repeatedly protested that he has Imperial permission to be there but has been unable to produce any evidence of this. It seems likely that his protestations will now end as he is unlikely to have survived the total destruction of his colony.

KAS Considering Offer

The Kastorians are currently said to be considering an offer made my GTT Commercial Director Reggie Perrin that might well be the answer they are looking for. Undecided as yet, the colony at Rubis remains as it is.

EEM Business

The EEM would like to point out that Hardpoint is now closed to any non trainee starcaptain. Detinus has also been provisionally sold to the GTT, though it will not be handed over officially for a week or two. It will keep its current market until then.

Stuff and Nonsense

I am on holiday from the 7th to the 17th of this month in order to go to the London PBM Con and to TSR's Gencon at Camber Sands. Hopefully I will see some of you at one or both of these events (Yes, I know it is a dull excuse for a holiday, but I just don't have a life).
As such Kevin will be doing the turns. As he is not au fait with everything that is going on you might find the odd turn is delayed until me return.

Some of the political printouts run off today (6th May) were corrupted. As such a very few of you, with very high political numbers, may not receive printouts. Sorry folks.


******Subspace Static Week 27 Year 194******  [Recruit]

A new issue of the Intergalactic News for June is now available. A cope should be enclosed with your turn but if not please ask for a copy. It seems that not all players in BSE received a copy of the May/June issue of KJC News. If this applies to you, again ask for your free copy.

It looks like there is going to be a prolonged train dispute in the UK. As most mail is moved around the country by train this is going to mean delays in deliveries. However, the Royal Mail say that they are going to move much more by road so we will have to wait and see what happens. First signs do not look very promising for UK mail. Overseas mail does not seem to be effected and in fact could be improved. We have had a letter collection from our office at six o'clock at night delivered by noon the following day in Oslo!

******Subspace Static Week 29 Year 194 (part missing)******  [Recruit]

New Harmony Church

The NHC has accepted a very low bid for the creation of it's colony, which will be within the Capellan periphery. It is willing to consider offers from Darkfold affiliations for alternative sites provided that a low fee can be arranged.

******Subspace Static Week 36 Year 194******  [Recruit]

Colony Seeks Governor

The Ex SSL colony Corleone, located on the planet Degus in the Capellan system is appealing for a governor. The colonists clam that the SSL has abandoned them and are calling for someone to take over who will actually supply the colony.
The colony is on the site of an old equipment dump left behind by early periphery explorers and the colonists state that they have exploited this completely ad are set up for rapid and sustained growth.
Applications should call in person to Coreone and make the colonists an offer. The EEM would like to point out that an affiliation may only own two colonies in the Capellan system and so this offer is not open to the FTT and GTT. Obviously only Imperial affiliations need apply.

New Harmony Colony Founded

The first NHC colony has been founded in the Capellan periphery. Its location is not yet public knowledge, but the colony will be buying monks (which are available from Hypso) and selling heaven stones....which Hypso is buying.
The church asks that no BHD vessels call and that their vows of pacifism be respected.

Postcards from the Edge

I am back from my holiday and yes, I had a really good time. Sorry for any small delays that might have happened whilst I was absent.
The big subject for debate seems to be the CIA destruction of the shipyards at Jax. A large amount of slightly erroneous information has circulated about this. To make a few things clear:
Jax was NOT at SC level 9 when the attack was ordered.
The chance of the order working was very small.
The chance of it working again is even smaller. As with all things in BSE, the first time something is tried it benefits from a 'surprise' element. People watch out for it in the future.
Several players have commented that massive amounts of explosive must have been used to destroy the yards. I suggest these people take a reality pill; small amounts of explosives in the right place can bring a huge structure crashing down. A large number of modules were salvaged by the governor.
It is not purely a CIA prerogative to do special actions with agents. Anyone can. The agent hiring is the CIAs SOLE special ability. When they use it, people complain. When the FET used their special some time back to take a DTR colony, people complained. I have not seen the CIA complain because the IMP use their combat advantage to blow them up. The CIA have complained about the IMP ability to put up their security level at little morale loss and thus pretty much invalidate the only thing that the CIA can do. The CIA have some justification in this, though not enough that anything will be changed.
I would like to note that if anyone has any complaints about the game please send them my way and I will deal with them. It is often that the player cannot see the whole picture and is jumping to conclusions. More commonly it is that out and out lies spread by a number of players get treated as true by others.
Please remember: if I do not know anything about things you are worried about then I can do nothing to explain or remedy the situation.
Enough ranting. One last point, to those of you on CompuServe. My address is a personal one, not a work one. Mail send there MIGHT get replied to, but if it does it is on my own time, and my own bill. You are probably better communicating with me via the PBM FORUM. I get about 20 mailings (boy I'm popular) a day from various sources and replying to BSE (work) is at the bottom of the list!

Game Updates

As of this Friday (2/9/94) we have implemented the new program for BSE. This will mean a number of changes which are now in effect.
Most obviously, the printouts have changed. They look rather good as they are (they have been changed to HPLJ mode from Epson to take advantages of the capabilities of the laser printer), but will be further updated to put more graphics in the turn response.

Planet maps have likewise been updated and now broadly show the type of terrain present in each sector. The terrain is divided into water (including shallows, mud, marsh and sea), vegetation (grasslands, forest, jungle etc) urban and 'rock' (everything else). To narrow the types of terrain down further you will still need to map a sector. We will soon add routines which show where colonies are on the planet map too.

Some printouts will look odd for a couple of weeks. This is because 'between turn' adjustments are written to a text file and then printed out when the turn is run. Because the text file has been fed Epson stuff before, and is now printing n HPLJ mode, you will find that some turns will have large blank spaces between printing. This will soon sort itself out and is pretty much unavoidable. No information will be lost to you.

Colonies short of food have had their death rates corrected: starving populations will decrease much faster. Sorry for not warning you about this one: it was unavoidable. Anyway, you should have fed your people properly!
Death rates are now expressed as a percentage.

Colony levels 9 and 10 are now working properly and you can build class 9 and 10 shipyards, assuming that you wanted to. The ICM costs of shipyards double as the level increases: class 9 is 1280 ICM and class 10 is 2560 ICM.
Gambling complexes have been changed in two ways: the odds now slightly favour the colony, but positions have a small chance of making a big win (the colony should still make a profit overall). The morale benefit from gambling complexes has been increased. When a ship pays for maintenance at a colony the colony gets the 250 stellars paid for maintenance. The colony does not get the money paid to the crew (obviously).

The description given out to ships landing at a colony is now printed on the colony turn. One political position in each affiliation may be picked as 'recruitment officer'. He will get a lost of all trainee start-ups in the last month. The PD should write in and select a political position to gain the list.

******Subspace Static Week 39 Year 194******  [Recruit]

Imperials Board CIA Trader

Imperial forces have boarded a CIA trader that was at rest in the SSL colony Al Dante. The CIA have claimed that the IMP have given them the right to 'service their outposts' in the Capellan systems. The IMP claim that the CIA have used this as a blanket excuse for all sorts of nefarious actions within the Capellan Periphery. Whoever is right, it is a fact that the IMPs are now in possession of a CIA supra freighter.

Stuff 'n Nonsense

BSE should have an automated accounts procedure from next week. This will mean that all funds for KJC games are held on a central account. KJC in general gives a 10% bonus to all payments of 50 pounds or greater. For BSE the bonus has previously been given at 45 pounds, but this will now have to be increased to 50 quid, in line with the other games. If you have a standing credit card debit of 45.00 pounds I will try to increase it automatically to 50 so tat you can get the bonus. I may miss you, however, so it would be just as well if you wrote in to say you want your debit increased.

Reaction to the new look turns has been good. Some of you may still be getting the odd turn which is interspersed with great chunks of empty paper. This will dwindle away in time.

The September issue of IGN should be enclosed with this turn. It if is not then drop me a note. If you are reading this after the end of September then we are probably out of IGN.


******Subspace Static Week 40 year 194 - 26th September 1994******  [Recruit]

Justin has left KJC and so I, Kevin Cropper, will be doing the turns for a while. Justin was going to be leaving BSE in any case to work on a new game we were going to begin writing. This project has now been delayed.

The game turn around or the actual game itself should not be effected unless you are in the middle of some complex plot. Please bear in mind when doing special actions that the previous replies will have been done by Justin and while I have an idea as to what was going on I might not know the whole picture.

My aim for BSE is to sort out all the remaining small bugs, finish the new rulebook, produce an affiliation booklet and then heavily promote BSE. I want BSE to be the flagship game of KJC. For the record I see BSE as a power game, not a computer assisted role-playing game.

If anybody has any thought son how the game can be improved or should be changed drop me a note. I can be contacted at KJC on the normal number.


******Subspace Static Week 41 Year 194 - 1st October 1994******  [Recruit]

Both sides in the dispute around the Alien Artefact seemed to want peace this week but an Imperial vessel moving into the orbit around the planet spotted a ship on the IMP posted list and opened fire. The orbiting CIA Pocket Battleship Empress Sarah gave supporting fire to its attacked sister vessel. Fire further IMP vessels then joined the battle but although several other CIA ships were in the vicinity, they chose to stay out of the battle. In the skirmish, several vessels took minor damage with the exception of the IMP vessel which started the fight. This ship was directed. Further battles look to be certain but both sides seem to want to keep this a limited war area - possibly!

The SSL colony Corleone (2273) in Capella has been looking for a new colony governor (owner). Any interested parties please get in touch by the end of week 43.

***Game News***

New programs were added at the end of last week which tidied a few more bits up. From now on, reminder messages will be printed on turns when the latest Intergalactic News (IGN) is out, similarly with KJC news. This should stop people missing them. The current issue is September and you should already have a copy. If not please ask for one. Along with this, there are a few other things which we have sorted out, most of which will go unnoticed. The main one is that when you land on a planet surface (not in a colony) you will be told the terrain type of where you have landed.

Now that we have much bigger ships in the game, we have changed shield factors for colonies slightly. Previously they were; the first 100 shields were worth 20 each, the next 100 were worth 10 and the third 100 were worth 5 with the rest worth just 2 each. We have changed the third stage so that the 5 points stage increases to 201 to 1000 shields with any over this worth 2.

One quick thing we plan on adding in the next couple of days is a symbol for a Hiport. You will then be able to tell at a glance which colonies have hiports and which do not.

Quite a few people do not seem to know the numbers for the new affiliations. They are:
RIP=17, FGZ=26, DNA=66, CNF=65, CIA=64, DIE=62, BHD=63, RAT=61, IND=14

Please use these numbers if you want to put them on your starport/enemy lists. Thanks.

There is a new ship set-up form for starting extra ships. One should be enclosed.

I have been thinking of changing the week dates for BSE so instead of starting the new week on Monday, it starts on Thursday. At the moment, we run the colonies Friday dinner so turns which arrive Saturday are presumed to have arrived Monday. If the new week started on Thursday, we would process Thursday first post, do the battles, colonies and political printouts if due, and then have the rest of Thursday and Friday to get the held over turns processed. This should mean that you get your turns back for the weekend instead of the middle of the week. It would also be better for us as Monday/Tuesday are the busy days with the other games as that is when the weekend post hits us. Let me know what you think.

Research - this seems to be the main area of concern. At the moment, colonies produce research points from what are effectively special complexes. I personally favour changing the rules so that a research centre is a specific starport complex. The number you could build would depend in the size of your colony and each one you add would cost more than the previous one. Sort of like a single complex wool be like a husband and wife research team but as you increase the size of the unit, you have administration and high equipment costs so it costs progressively more. On the plus side you could then have five instead of four different things produced from your special complexes.
The number of different restricted items which could be produced from a colony could be based on the colony size, not restricted to three. Also, the number of research points which an item costs should b based on the item, not a general 1000. If you have any thoughts on research, please let us know.
One thing which we have added, is a record for what a colony is researching. If you own a colony and you are researching an item could you let me know what it is (with proof please!) so I can register it. Thanks.

Finally, thanks to all the people who have been in touch to wish me luck. There is certainly a lot which need to be done but we'll get there.

 
News
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Don't forget to include your account number in the message.
 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

Solo claim swings back and forth

The situation in Solo appears to be getting even more heated. First the NHS dropped 600,000 troops to contest the system and then the DTR answered with enough troops of their own to trump the NHS claim. The NHS found yet more troops, taking the contesting claim up to 750,000 and once again the DTR answered, bringing Solo back under DTR control. Now the NHS have had a look down the back of the sofa and found yet more troops, taking the contesting claim to a massive 900,000 trained troops. We wait to see if the DTR have an answer to this. We can only guess where all these troops are coming from, but what is clear is that the established affiliations clearly have far larger armies than many thought.
 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

NHS attempt to claim Solo away from DTR

In a shock move the NHS have contested the Solo claim with a huge garrison of 600,000 trained troops. In a move that nobody saw coming, especially as it was unknown the NHS had such a large force of troops to draw upon, the NHS seem to be provoking a response from the DTR. Currently there has been no word from the DTR in how they are going to deal with this claim jumping, although rumours are that they are pretending the Solo claim doesn't really matter to them and so action is unlikely. However this may be a smokescreen and we may yet see the DTR's powerful fleet cause havoc in the system of Solo, which has for a long time been an important junction and fought over by many different factions.

DNA Chairman TonTon resigns

The following communication has been leaked from the DNA to the GTT's PD.

Greetings CEO Fox.
It regrets me to have to inform to you that the DNA nation state will be renouncing its claim on Aladdin system following a ceremony planet side, shortly.
However, it gives me great pleasure to have to inform you that these ceremonies are being planned by Vladimir Tavikovitch, the South Road Traffic Coordinator. He is also responsible for all DNA and .ore. assets in the Outer Naplian (Capellan) periphery so if there are any further issues, please take it up with him.
For any and all other matters, please forward your request directly to the DNA directorate services at NexusID: DNA people.
The Foreign Ministry objects one last time to your illegal claim jump of Aladdin, but we realise it is time to de-escalate.
Normally i would sign off with Naambta, but doing so would be hypocritical. Let me say good riddance instead.
I hereby resign in protest!

Chairman TonTon,
Foreign Minister, DNA
cc: Directorate Services personnel coordinator - !urgent resignation!


DTR threaten WMB with fines for multiple breaches of DTR Law

Lady Sylvansight of the DTR has issued a fine of 1,000,000 stellars to the Wimbles for multiple breaches of DTR Penal and Territorial Law. This seems a very brave move of the DTR to risk upsetting the huge and warlike WMB when they also have the rival NHS Solo system claim to deal with. No word has been recieved yet that the Wimbles are going to pay, but if the formidable WMB warfleet is seen heading for the DTR home systems we will know what their thought are on the matter. The DTR and WMB fleets going head to head would be a sight to behold.

*** Affiliations ***

AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy
BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten
CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA
DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people
DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker
DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown>
FCN Falconian Republic (70) – Graspien
FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Kr'Shan
FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer
FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn
GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox
HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility
KRL Krell (30) - Namica
KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn
KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor
MOH Mohache (73) – Listens
NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts
NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ
SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM
WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz

* Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active
** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.

NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS
Inactive: ANT, COD, BHD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,

*** Submissions ***

By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous.
 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

DNA and GTT clash over Aladdin system claim while Pirates look on.

The GTT have this week launched an attack on the DNA outpost in Aladdin, in what appears to be little more than a turkey shoot. Around 100,000 GTT Naplian Startroopers attacked the DNA position to remove the rival system claim. Reports indicate the DNA garrison were taken by surprise and lost control of the base in the first few hours of the fighting. The base has since been reflagged from [Free Naplian Capital] Peaceful Protest to [Loyal Naplian Capital] DNA claim Ended so it's fair to say there was a clear message being sent by the GTT. We have been waiting for the DNA leadership to comment but so far they have been unusually silent. No doubt when they have crawled out from under their desks they will have something to say on the matter.

While this attack was going on several pirate ships were also seen in Aladdin, according to the GTT in what may be true or may be a diversion, with reports of a pirate GP and scout being destroyed while a 150HH pirate warship slipped away and escaped from incoming anti-pirate patrols.

Secret meeting of the EEM

A recent communication intercepted by one of our top reporters today made us aware of a meeting of the EEM. This is underway in a top secret location called Black Pool, which sounds suspiciously like the lair of a pirate band. After pulling in many favours, we were able to identify some of the attending members. On the bases that they won't be named we were able to find out some slight information of the subjects to be discussed at the meeting and one thing is for certain, there could be huge impacts to the lives of everybody living in the galaxy. Details to follow. When the shadowy figures of the EEM come together with the top political players in a pirate base the possibilities are endless!


You are never more than 6 systems from a RAT 🐀

A new saying has arisen in the bars and spaceport of starbases throughout the many peripheries; you are never more than 6 systems from a RAT.

It is understood that this saying originated in Yank and spread by trade vessels to peripheries far and wide. Many starbases have heightened their security and added additional sensors and locks to various entry points including foul and grey water outfalls. Beer and drug stocks are undergoing increased proofing to avoid the critters gaining entry and consuming the stockpiles.

Will this present as a new plague of proportions never before seen or is this some simple urban myth being spread for the amusement of some mischievous entity? Who knows, but to be certain... check the shadows.

 
This year we will again be returning to the Briardene Hotel. They were welcoming, the bar didn't run out of beer pre-covid and there was room for quiet chats. Along with Wetherspoons there is the Victoria just down the road (Sam Smiths - last time beer was around 2 shillings per pint and a full round was less than £10).

Mostly drinking beer and talking toot though we have a good few things on the agenda.

Bookings are done directly with the hotel. Book by phone and say that you are with KJC Games

Briardene Hotel
Telephone: +44(0)1253 338300
All staff should be able to deal with the booking but if there are any problems ask for Tracy (manager) as she dealt with all our foibles in previous years.
 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

Dog days are over

With the fall of the DEN and the implosion of their home territory as the AFT, DTR and GTT moved in, it was unlikely the Dewiek would rise again. The DWP gave the species a little hope with the Dewiek Pocket Periphery kept under lock and key. But news has reached us of the AFT's penetration of this private area of space that's been locked down. With a base and claim in one of the three visible systems it seems that the end of the Dewiek is near. A once noble and aggressive race, determined to make an impact on the galaxy is now little more than a species that lives under the command of others. A sad end to a once powerful species that used to control a significant part of known space.

Pirate activity continues

Yet more reports of pirate activity have been received, one from the WMB, losing a freighter in Solo and another from the FET who reported they had engaged and hit the attacking pirate ship with several weapons before it managed to make off with it's prize. Hopefully the pirate ship took significant damage and will now be out of action for some time. The Corewards periphery seems to have been plagued with pirates recently and many travellers would welcome a break from attacks.


MEK incursion into Corewards

The FET and GTT have mounted a joint venture into Nog-Kesri to tackle a MEK force. It isn't known where they have come from, with the only other MEK ships seen so far being located in the Orion Spur. The lack of a known link between where they have appeared in Corewards and the Orion Spur has caused some concern among planetary populations as who knows where they could turn up next! Fortunately the combined FET/GTT task force dealt the MEK a heavy blow and the threat has been eradicated. But we all know this is unlikely to be the last we hear of the MEK in Corwards and we would encourage ship captains to keep a keen eye on thier sensor screens when travelling near Nog-Kesri.

 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

  • CIA freighter fights off overwhelming pirate forces

  • Fin Saine media broadcast, What is Hot in the galaxy?!?!

  • MEKlan forces attack in Corewards Arm


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    *** Inter Galactic News ***

    Aladdin faces ongoing DNA/GTT tension

    The tensions between the DNA and GTT in the Coptuv system recently spilled over into the DNA system of Aladdin. A significant party of GTT ground troops has reinforced one of their bases in the system and claimed it, forcing the system claim into turmoil as the DNA finds itself under threat of losing the system. With the DNA chairman asking for help, several affiliations have been seen sending ships to evacuate any in the local population that want to escape the GTT. But so far not a shot has been fired and despite the AFT, FEL and DTR assistance no reisistance to the claim jump has been encountered so far. It remains to be seen if the DNA and it's friends will scatter before this hostile take over or put in a last minute counter claim to thwart GTT intentions.

    Increasing pirate activity

    Recent reports indicate a new surge in pirate attacks with the AFT and GTT reporting ships lost. Knowing how some don't like to advertise losses we wouldn't be surprised if this is the tip of the iceberg. Reports passed to us show the ship PIR Scavenger running ID 43174 and another ship of the same name running ID 68668 have both been in action with successful boarding attempts. It's unknown whether these are seperate ships or the same ship reregistered, but our information suggests that it would be hard for these pirates to cover the space where these attacks happened with just one ship. One thing is for sure, be on your guard as open space is not as safe as it once was.


    GCE ships loitering in deep space

    After the fall of the GCE and a lot of their assets being shared or purchased it was thought that the affiliation was no more. Yet deep space scans indicate that there is still a significant number of GCE warships holding station in deep space between Coptuv and Yank on the transport route into the Corwards Arm. Nobody knows what these ships are up to and why they are still flagged GCE, but our best guess is that are captains either awaiting new orders or owners after the fall of the GCE command structure.


    *** Affiliations ***

    AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy
    BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten
    BHD Brotherhood (63) - de Molay
    CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA
    DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people
    DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker
    DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown>
    FCN Falconian Republic (70) – Graspien
    FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Kr'Shan
    FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer
    FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn
    GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox
    HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility
    KRL Krell (30) - Namica
    KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn
    KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor
    MOH Mohache (73) – Listens
    NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts
    NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ
    SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM
    WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz

    * Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active
    ** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.

    NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS
    Inactive: ANT, COD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,

    *** Submissions ***

    By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous.
     
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    *** Inter Galactic News ***

    Tension in the Corewards Arm

    With the DNA obtaining several ex-GCE bases in the Coreward Arm it has found itself in the middle of an asset grab of serious proportions and aggression. Our reporters witnessed several GTT troop carriers heading for the Corewards system as the DNA published information suggesting they were accidental owners of the system and that the assets were to be moved on. As the GTT ships started to arrive the bases were quickly passed to the CIA, thus thwarting the GTT intentions as they were hardly likely to start dropping troops on their allies bases. This shrew move by the DNA seems to have calmed matters in the Coreward arm temporarily, although the shift in relations between the GTT and DNA has taken a negative turn. When asked what their next move might be the GTT refused to comment.

    GCE collapse

    The GCE are no more, save for some scattered light freighters. The affiliation which enjoyed a sharp rise and profiltable relations with many has ceased trading. Rumors point to the GTT buying up GCE assets before stripping the rival corporation of anything of value. Although our reporters at the SSS have been quick to point out that any GCE assets not in GTT systems have been taken over by both the DNA and FET. So it seems many different affiliations were able to profit from this development including a new group called the HSH who appear to have taken over the GCE war fleet. No doubt many in the peripheries will be watching with interest where these ships are used, who the HSH are and how they were able to get thier hands on so many warships so quickly.


    Secudus trials

    In the Cluster Secudus has continued his trials, claiming to root out terrorists working against the Empire. With tends of thousands of beings being sent to the camps or worse. There is no sign of these actions stopping as the NHS clamp down on the locals and bring them under the harsh control of the Empire.


    *** Affiliations ***

    AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy
    BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten
    BHD Brotherhood (63) - de Molay
    CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA
    DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people
    DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker
    DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown>
    FCN Falconian Republic (70) – <Unknown>
    FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Juris
    FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer
    FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn
    GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox
    HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility
    KRL Krell (30) - Namica
    KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn
    KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor
    MOH Mohache (73) – Listens
    NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts
    NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ
    SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM
    WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz

    * Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active
    ** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.

    NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS
    Inactive: ANT, COD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,

    *** Submissions ***

    By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous.
     
    ******Empire Syndicated News Network (ESNN) ******

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    Welcome to the latest version of ESNN, giving the news and views from the ESNN's reporter and news anchor, Ainsley Moore, making this the peripheries' most favourite and most reliable unbiased publication in the known universe from our home in the Heartland,

    And so with the news from the last couple of weeks,


    Cluster War! DNA Gather Fruit
     

    Free Ship when you sign-up
    Complete missions for in game rewards
    Control everything, up to an entire empire
    Dedicated human moderators
    Player and Moderator driven plotlines
    Discover new worlds to explore, exploit & colonise
    Over 20 years of content development
    Persistent Browser-Based Game (PBBG)

    I’ve played on and off for approximately 10 years, over a 20 year spell. After some interesting debate on the in-game forum, I did wonder what, exactly, has kept drawing me back to the game, when for so many others I’ve generally lost interest after a few months.

    Ultimately, I think it is a combination of automation (that allows the game to handle thousands of positions to interact on a daily basis) coupled with Special Actions (that allow the story arc to develop in a way that could not be catered for by a set of predefined list of available orders).
    -Zigic