Epic levels will/could be decoupled from combat. Instead, open systems (ie 10planets or more) would have an artifact in, which would appear every so often, and would then ripen, like a fruit.

A web page would detail their locations and ripeness - information available to all.

When the artifact/phenominon blooms then the closest ship will gain an epic level - providing no enemy vesels are also within 5. If ships from many races are within 5 then the bloom remains, until there is only 1 left.

Why? It provides another, territory based reason for combat. It puts actual ships into locations of risk - not just a scout for the flagship.

It removes the Free/Paid up player issue for epic levels.

The previous epic rules are/were complex and irrelevant (not being used).

Ripening times would most likely be 14 turns or so.

Thoughts?

Since there are no nay sayers, it shall be done.

Elsewhere, I've already said I like this... but if I were you I'd save a little work and encourage exploration.

If I'm reading this right, these will grow in the "all open" systems- which are clearly seen from the galactic. Why put more of a flag over the "ripe" or "near ripe" ones? This will inevitably and certainly draw Epic hunters to the open systems, creating the (desired) chaos within.
Announcing when/where these are ripe seems like posting a schedual for battles instead of simply allowing them to happen organically.

just some thoughts from the peanut gallery.

Given that you said elsewhere that you wanted a "better" name than "Epic Bloom," and remembering how names like RipCurrents were found, I'll start the brainstorming for other names for Epic blooms (some obviously more serious than others);
Spacial Anomaly
Quantum Bubble
RipBubble
DarkLight Tear
DarkLight Bloom
Encounter at Farpoint
Gravity Bloom

I tried this as well, and epic bloom turned out to be oretty good.

I also came up with
something Portent.

eg exotic portent.

Portent Bloom?

I was actually surprised that you wanted something other than Epic Bloom, 'cause that sounded good to me.
the general pattern of these names seems to be "type item," and I'd say Portent fits the item half of the name better.
other ideas;
Epic Portent (seems more like a prophecy than an "item")
Darklight Font
Exotic Bloom
RipBloom



as a mcl aside, had you decided where in the system to have these appear? For some reason I had been visualizing it as appearing in/on the system's sun...

Actually, near the sun is a faboulous idea. Maybe they naturally drift to the nearest low grav area....

I'd be worried that drifting would make annoying situations where people were fighting out over the item only to have it drift into position where someone "won" it by mischance.

name ideas;
RipFlare
Exotic Flare
Darklight Flare
Darklight Pulse

adds to the tactics of the fight!

I love the name RipBubble xD it's so hilarous *imagines having a ship run into a RipBubble and someone crack a joke about it*

on another note, why not the sun? this would mean ships trying to get to it would have to put themselves in greater danger being in a high gravity area very far from the safety of the jump allowed edge of the system... may also have to use that mass effectively since most likely spots to 'fill up' may be scarce where no empty space is around the sun...

A name that came to me as I was posting a question in the Player Help forum:

DarkNova

The idea is the power boost given to a ship's DarkLight Heart by each Epic level obtained.