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General Status of the Game
Phoenix have remained stable with only a very small increase in starbases. Obviously this is something we want to improve on. We have already identified where we tend to lose players and it is just a case of fixing them. The primary culprit appears to be the perennial learning cliff and new player goals. Simply put we do not do enough through missions that take them from sign-up to being involved in the game. We could also improve the drip feeding of game mechanics.
We have seen a significant shift from expansion within a system towards one starbase per system and a lot of effort being done to develop individual worlds. This is keeping a fair number of players occupied on internal discussions though we have found much like the early days of starbase development, players are spending a lot of efforts on developing stellar resources.
The growing trend towards one starbase per system means there are plenty of systems where starbases are looking to be closed down with an eye on taking on a new starbase elsewhere. This may well be one built by an enemy on a world they have laboured to improve the infrastructure as well as discover resources.
A knock-on effect of larger territories controlled by factions is the impediment in the deployment of warfleets. This is an important thing to keep in the game as it localises theatres of operation rather than allowing a single bloody great fleet to reach all parts of the Peripheries. Bigger Space Means More Niches. This is why I am somewhat reluctant to introduce wormholes and stargates everywhere.
New Peripheries
Orion Spur has over 40 systems and is in the final stages of back story (of which some enterprising players already know snippets). Still got some tweaking to do (initial governments, unique cultural modifiers etc) but it is all but ready for the gold rush.
Perfidion Reach is still in the concept stage. I want to develop more system functions. I have ideas for an unusual region of space such as changing system links, variable stars and possibly ISR fluctuations. Might all get abandoned if it simply doesn’t gel with the rest of the game or requires significant efforts on Nexus for no real in-game benefit.
Custom Code
The development of custom code over the past few years along with the transition to solid state hard drives together have allowed for a paradigm shift in development. Where previously we have generally considered custom coding to be utilised in little used areas of the game such as standalone infrastructure orders and generally modest tweaking of isolated areas of data, largely due to the slow speed, we are no longer bound by these issues. As a consequence we are looking at functionalising custom code allowing the functions to be called by multiple orders. This is incredibly useful as I have already run into the issue where functions are duplicated in the Audit orders.
By also pushing this as our primary mechanic for dealing with future upgrades it means that both Darak and I will be getting the benefit of all underlying code improvements, i.e. currently he has to take time away from other developments to deal with my nagging requests.
Missions
Darak will be overhauling the online and function side of Mission editor. Currently debugging missions is too inefficient. A method by which the mission can be modified and tested repeatedly is needed. This would require a save option on a mission before the next check. This allows for the mission and affected positions to be rolled back modified and re-checked.
Planetary Infrastructure
Terraforming sectors should have been completed but is proving to be a big ol’ can of worms. This is simply down to the number of checks and possible choices. While it is a fairly safe bet that virtually all people will be interested in is turning sectors into urban, cultivated and grasslands, I still have to code it with the view that people will also be seeking to turn plains into deserts and even craters into molten rock!
Code:
>Date 45.3: Terraform Sector (Survey) {4} {7}
Demolitions needed: +10000 military
Surveying {4,7} (Mountains)
Terraforming Index: 4
Environment Value Inf Increase Life Value/mu
----------- ----- ------------ -------------
Gravity 1.45 (High1.4) 5% -0.45
Temperature 346 (High315) 15.5% -0.51
Tectonic 17 (High15) 2% -0.12
Radiation 0 (Normal) 0% -0
ATMOSPHERE: Dense (30.82) 6.82%
Nitrogen 86% 0% -0
Oxygen 14% 0.57% -0.08
WORLD STATUS: Terrestrial. Does not need domes.
Infrastructure cost increase = 29.89%
World Temp:346K Latitude:4 Local Temp:330K
| Trans | Struc | Agri | Basic | Adv | Ind | Mil | Plnts | Water |
| Broken | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35978 | 0 | 0 |
| Craters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61956 | 0 | 0 |
| Crust | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cultivated | 6476 | 1000 | 64756 | 6476 | 0 | 6476 | 0 | 64756 | 32378 |
| Desert | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dust | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Flat | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forest | 16867 | 1000 | 28111 | 11245 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 112445 | 28111 |
| Grasslands | 17507 | 1000 | 29178 | 11671 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58356 | 29178 |
| Ice | 195112 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 390224 |
| Jungle | 18227 | 1000 | 30378 | 12151 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 121512 | 30378 |
| Molten Rock | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 500000 | 500000 | 0 | 0 |
| Mountains | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mud | 84334 | 1000 | 0 | 28111 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 224891 |
| Plains | 18227 | 1000 | 30378 | 12151 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60756 | 6076 |
| Ruin | 25978 | 1000 | 0 | 5196 | 0 | 0 | 35978 | 0 | 0 |
| Sand | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sea | 25978 | 0 | 0 | 15587 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 415648 |
| Shallows | 15587 | 1000 | 0 | 25978 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 207824 |
| Smooth | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swamp | 16907 | 1000 | 28178 | 11271 0 | 0 | | 0 | 56356 | 56356 |
| Tundra | 7476 | 1000 | 37378 | 7476 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74756 | 7476 |
| Urban | 22116 | 1000 | 22116 | 11058 | 0 | 27645 | 0 | 55289 | 27645 |
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| Deposited | 10000 | 0 | 11250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Next I want to add a lot more depth to the data with the aim of detailing many of the loose ends that have come about due to planetary infrastructure simply not existing until recently. This will include detailing the items that contribute techs and stages that have been flagged as already integrated.
This is important for four reasons:
- It allows for damage to infrastructure as part of the battle program update.
- It allows for character interaction with the planetary infrastructure.
- Auto updating of world infrastructure without GM requests to move to calculated stats.
- 'Natural' infrastructure growth (will definitely be tied to starbases on the world - no SB's no natural growth).
Battle Program
Don’t worry, we are not considering modifying basic structure of the code. Instead we are going to database the results. This allows the data to be tagged and used post combat. We will also look to expanding on the use of some of the internal functions such as Virtual Positions (currently used to create boarding craft).
Benefits:
Primarily this will be used to affect planetary infrastructure – where damage can modify integrated technology, kill civilians and possibly turn sectors to craters.
In theory we can go one step further – allowing orbital bombardments of sectors by flagging targets within a sector and then damage inflicted on the targets back into the world data post combat. This avoids the problem of having to rewrite large chunks of battle program to deal with esoteric damage.
All this can be dealt with through custom code and virtual positions.
NB - we might want/need to add World as a new position type to friend/enemy/support/DNT lists.
Example:
Orbital Bombardment {x}{y}
This order identifies the sector as hostile position, spawns pseudo position in the sector and opens fire on it. The affiliation of the pseudo position will either be the same as the government in the case of affiliation aligned governments, the capital starbase, CIV or possibly REB (rebel, the Civilian equivalent to pirate) or possibly even the world number. As such the order will only be successful if the pseudo position can be attacked. Post combat, the damage soaked by the sector will be used to determine if it has been converted into a crater. Note that this is highly unlikely in the case of a mountainous, sea or shallows sector.
The size and nature of urban and cultivated sectors (and others to a lesser degree) will be defined by the development stage of the world and integrated technology. It seems sensible to tie initiating an orbital bombardment of an urban or cultivated sector to characters (see below). |
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Don't forget to include your account number in the message. |
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Pirates strike palace fo the Emperor
A fleet of twenty PIR flagged warships have attacked the palace of the Emperor in the human Inner Empire. Armed with heavy weaponry the PIR ships penetrated the shields and caused significant damage. Reports indicate that a third of the palace has been left a smoking ruin. The human affiliations loyal to the Emperor scrambled their fleets to catch the pirates, but when the warships arrived the PIR ships had vanished without a trace.
The GTT has already moved to close the borders of the Inner Empire periphery, an act which seems to have already led to a few AFT trade ships getting blown up by the defensive platforms. The message is simple with the GTT PD stating to us "If you are not running any fixed assets in the Inner Empire then you are not welcome".
So far nobody has been accused of running the pirates by either the CIA or the GTT. But this represents perhaps the most serious attack on the Emperor in modern history. Our reporters have noted serious concerns from the human planets in the Inner Empire periphery about this attack. It's not understood how a previously safe area of space that was hard for PIR shps to access has been penetrated by a fleet of twenty warships without them being spotted.
Corewards Corridor sees renewed pirate activity.
After the FET destroyed a number of PIR boarding ships, it went rather quiet with pirate activity almost halting. However, reports have started to come in over the last week that the Scavenger pirates are back in action.
The AFT have reported attacks in Kaygen and Discordia. The GTT have also reported a failed attack in Kaygen.
Be aware, the pirate threat has not been eliminated and all ship captains should be prepared when undertaking long distance trips where they might be exposed to attack.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
FET strike back at pirates
Several FET fleets including patrols and specialist operations teams have come together and landed a telling blow against the Scavenger pirate band. The FET received intelligence about the location of a PIR Javelin-R Class boarder in Daggern and immediately responded.
Forces deployed consisted of the 8th Pursuit and 35th Battle clusters, supported by the 12th and 18th Striker Trinaries, as well as the 22nd, 23rd, and 36th Battle Trinaries. This culminated in a huge FET force coming across four PIR ships. The pirates attempted to board four of the first warships to arrive and were then overwhelmed by the supporting fleet. PIR Scavenger (7818), PIR Scavenger (4582), PIR Scavenger (4956), and PIR Scavenger (82576) were all destroyed by the combined fire of the warships deployed.
GTT claim key CIV system in the Orion Spur
The GTT have undertaken a large scale operation into Monument in the Orion Spur, claiming the main CIV system in the area away from local control. When asked the GTT replied that the operation started as part of their hunting down IND positions, due to IND attacks they had been the target of. Locals have claimed that it was clearly a power grab.
GTT transports delivered over a million troops and hundred of thousands of tanks to the CIV system of Monument and both IND bases fell quickly. A small number of IND ships fled the orbit, some were destroyed and some escaped. The local population have maintained their strong local claim but so far GTT forces have deployed enough manpower to maintain control of the system.
The system of Monument coming under GTT control sees an increasing push by GTT forces into Orion Spur.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Pirates strike in Solo!
After a brief period of calm, with little pirate activity reported, a significant attack has been launched in the Solo system. Piecing together information from several sources we believe that ten pirate ships simultaneously entered orbit of the Solo Stargate and attacked multiple ships from the FEL, FLZ, CIA and KRT. Seven ships were stolen in one day. This may represent the largest organized pirate attack to steal ships we have seen to date.
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Greetings one and all,
The Sub Space Static is undergoing a number of changes including more user friendly ways to submit articles to the Editor. If you have any newsworthy articles or pieces of random gossip the office of the Associate Editors is open and eager to report.
Confidentiality is assured in all submissions.
The Associate Editor |
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
--- Flagritz Special ---
In what can be viewed as another significant long-term cultural shift the promotion and teaching of the more extreme Cliriq and Xenos philosophies has allegedly been banned in all Government, Public and Academic institutions across Flagtitz Territory. Rumors of the execution of dissenting hard-liners abound.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Falconians and Felini step up pressure on the AFT.
FCN positions have been seen striking at the AFT in Halo, backed by the FEL who have been observed helping the Falconians. Our reporters have managed to find out that this is the result of long standng issues between the AFT and FCN regarding property ownership. The FCN has been bringing forces into Halo to strike at the AFT, with many of us at the SSS expecting the conflict to end quickly. However, despite the FCN's backing, the AFT has proven itself to be resourceful and challenging opponent. Strikes by the AFT have destroyed and boarded multiple FCN ships in the Halo periphery proving that the AFT is not going to be backing down easily.
GTT claim Solo
Following unheaval in the Empire the NHS collapsed, leaving Solo once again free to become a flashpoint. The GTT moved swiftly to claim the system, promising to bring peace to a system that not only claims to be the centre of the galaxy, but also the centre of political pressure and conflict. Despite initial reservations from many affiliations the privatised Empire security company shipped in a million troops to quell any discontent. At the point of writing this report all the affiliations in the system have backed the GTT's claim with the exception of the DTR, who are continuing to show the Empire that they don't like the expansionist humans reaching out to take such an important central system with key transport links.
IND warships spotted in Yank and Halo
With small time operators that want to stay out of the way of the bigger affiliations, IND flagged positions are rarely seen other than the occasional outpost or freighter. Recently a squad of IND flagged Broadsword warships was seen moving between Yank and the Halo periphery. Nobody seems to know what this fleet of warships is doing or what these ships have been built for, but maybe we are about to see the birth of a new conflict or affiliation.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Empire pushes out Free Traders
With ongoing claims of AFT activities moving from it's traditional neutral trade welcome everywhere to more nefarious deeds, the Empire in general and the GTT in particular has taken action to send the AFT a message that their new actions won't be tolerated. Over a couple of weeks the AFT saw all it's registered fixed assets seized within GTT systems. So far there has been no attempt to extend actions and hunt down AFT ships or other positions in any systems outside the Empire, so we are assuming the GTT considers it's actions sufficient to send the once peaceful traders a message. We believe the FEL have also joined in due to exasperation with AFT actions. We contacted the GTT for a comment to be told that the actions had been profitable, the kind of remark you should probably expect from a mega-corp.
Solo becomes pirate hotspot
Our reporters have received numerous messages regarding pirates lately, especially in the Solo system. Since the NHS took the system over from the DTR pirate attacks seem to have escalated. Over the last two months we have been made aware of over a dozen ships being lost to pirates with no doubt more falling victim to the vicious pirates as owners do not want to admit they have taken losses. The DTR have offered to assist the NHS with policing the system, but so far the NHS has not asked for assistance. Large fleets of FET warships have been seem patrolling the system and CIA warships have also been seen accompanying freighters, but so far we have not received any reports that the pirates have lost ships in retaliation. Although the CIA have damaged two vessels enough for them to require serious repairs.
Zaxividani Naru's peacful Deweik
Imagine our surprise when our office learned of the new group of Deweik lead by Zaxividani Naru. What makes this group noteworthy is it's peaceful intentions. For many years the canine based species has been well known for it's love of drinking, fighting and finding itself at odds with the Empire, leading to some massive battles. Even recent history has mention of fleets with over 700 capital ships fighting for the DEN keeping the Empire honest and even pushing them back. So to find that a Deweik group has joined with the Mohache, probably the most peace loving beings in the peripheries, came as quite a shock. We at the SSS wish them well in their future among the stars.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Claims settle in Solo and Faery
With the NHS bringing in almost a million troops into Solo and the GTT choosing it's moment to contest Faery at the same time, it seems the DTR and it's alllies either found it hard to find enough troops to respond or quite simply decided it wasn't worth the hassle as there were far more important matters to deal with in the Senate. Who knows what other life threatening topics they have to discuss, such as the correct biscuit to have with afternoon tea. The end result is that Solo and Faery, both systems with significant incomes, are now under control of Empire based affiliations.
GTT move to clear out the Dewiek Pocket Pheriphery
Having resorted to bribery to get other affiliations to move out of the DHP, with rumoured multi-million stellar amounts being offered, the GTT now appear to have cranked the pressure up. An AFT base has been attacked and a few of the nearby ships have been blown up and damaged by GTT warship class ships patrolling the area. As we write this report, information we have seen shows that the GTT have already taken 20% of the AFT base and fighting continues. We approached the GTT to ask why they are resorting to force and were told that they have had to move significant military power into the DHP to deal with ANT forces, so now they are mopping up all the resistance of other affilaitions that were asked to leave and decided not to.
BHD relics and trophies
Pope Akhenaten of the Brotherhood has been touting more and more wares that are unique to the BHD. If you are missing a holy relic and have no idea how to fill that little space in your living quarters then you know where to go. From robes to candles, literature to wine and novelty ornaments, it's never been easier to bring a little bit of the Brotherhood home and exchange your stellars for spiritual well being.
*** Affiliations ***
AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy
BHD - Brotherhood (63) - 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) - Hexamon
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 ***
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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