For a few years now you will have noticed a periphery in the jump tab called Corewards. Most have presumed that somebody has already found it but are keeping quiet, well actually nobody has. It is something we have been looking at developing for some years but required the current charters, system claim and relations code.

So what is it?
The back story is that two alien species that against all odds developed along similar time scales in two adjacent systems. By communicating at light speeds they were able to share information and research. Eventually they discovered instantaneous communication and not long after subspace, ISR fields and jump technology. As a consequence, trade was the dominating factor in their relationship, quickly followed by exploration. New species, all of a lower technology were encountered though mainly the primeval worlds were simply colonised. The HarCop League of Traders had a monopoly over trade, transport and colonisation for a few decades and invested heavily in the newly developing worlds. The lack of hostile aliens or serious threats from technologically advanced civilisations meant that there was no need for construction of platforms, starbases or even for that matter outposts. Security was simply not an issue for the League. It was just a case of setting up a camp as a precursor to colonisation.
The system spanning economy however was based largely on credit against the long-term future and the financial bubble eventually burst due to over expansion. Recession, the likes of which has never been experienced before, swept the Periphery. The League broke up with many of the captains stealing their ships and turning pirate or privateer, often working as mercenaries for the many newly declared independent colonies.
Over the past decade things have not got any better. Pirates are still rife, mercenary work is common and privateers have generally come to some long-term arrangement with creditors.
The rapid expansion into the Periphery meant that it was not overly explored. The League was only really interested in finding planets suitable for sentient life, with the idea that they could then supply them for decades to come from the primary worlds while returning materials discovered by the new colonies (not starbases or outposts). Minerals, exotics etc were simply not on the agenda of the League. The colonies however were busy trying to secure their future and concentrating feeding mouths and covering their League debts. Investing in the exploration of the surrounding world was not an option during the time of the League, while simply staying alive has been the main concern since its collapse.
In a twist of fate, pirates encountered in Agripeta revealed under Kastorian interrogation that they came from this region of space and even divulged navigational data. Without breaking the agreement on stellar cartography research the first exploration ships arrived at Harlong. The prospect of new traders and wealth pouring into the Corewards from elsewhere has proved sufficient for navigation data to be made public. For better or worse, Corewards can now be reached from Halo, though is in no way bound by the client status of the Halo Benevolent Oligarchy.

How do the players fit in?
Corewards is a region of approximately 30 star systems, most of which have some degree of colonisation and infrastructure, i.e. trade, life demand and merchandising. It has not been significantly explored but is largely claimed by the civilian populations. Within the framework of the newly launched relations it offers some degree of protection against the predations of larger affiliations while still giving plenty of scope for mercenaries, pirates and privateers. It is however far from immune to expansionist affiliations, rather it puts the brakes on to some degree. The wholesale claiming of everything is not realistic. This is in part due to the snowflake layout of the Periphery. The core systems are at the heart while the other systems lie along the branching arms. We are also looking to include some 'fens' a region of space that is particularly slow to cross. Sending a large fleet into this region of space is likely to tie it up for weeks.
By having this quantity of systems already open to explore, we create a vast number of nooks and crannies for players to get a toe-hold in while others are otherwise engaged. It gives both the frontier experience but by the same token gives support for those looking to develop new bases and possibly even new factions.

Profiles and Corewards
This being a pristine environment allows us to utilise profiles to their greatest extent. This region will be a testing ground for ideas and mechanics some of which will be pushed through missions. If you want to opt out, simply don't bother going there. The game is big enough that this region can be ignored with no detriment to playing styles and ambitions. If policy changes, you can always go there later.

What sort of features can you expect?
For one, the populated and claimed systems will require that bases support the civilian claim in order to get reciprocal benefits. An example will be ground rent for the base which can be offset by supporting the system claim, i.e. $5k rent though zero if you support the system claim by 5k. In truth this is simply a means of ensuring players put troops in their bases rather than relying on the mechanics to keep them safe. If with the trickle of missions across the game, others want to introduce this mechanic in systems they claim, all the better. There will be a good spread of system types to ensure that it is not safe space. It will be cheaper to set up shop on the edges but here the risks are obviously greater.
Other missions/mechanics options to explore involve hiring NPC's pirates, mercs etc Whether this is temporarily taking control of a position for a purpose for a price (and refundable deposit on safe return) or paying them to do a job (spawn X ships of type Y with AFF Z on their enemy lists and send them off around the system).

Main Features

• Lots of planets to explore.
  
• Resident pirates to battle.
  
• Civilian factions to interact with.
  
• Unusual regions of space to investigate.
  
• Sufficiently vast and off the beaten track to avoid being dominated by a single faction.