Hi

This is to let you know of a set of major rule changes in RipSpace.

Playing over the last few months has highlighted a need for change, mainly to allow a more dynamic war, where colonies can quickly grow, or be strangled. Where Epic ships can quickly rise from the fray, to lead your fleets to victory.

With this in mind the following alterations have been made:

1) Systems with trade gates will grow every colony by 1 per gal turn.
2) Systems without trade gates will shrink every colony by 1 per gal turn
3) Credits are scrapped. Colonies now contribute their population level, minus Nova tax to a total Fleet Support level.
4) Ships cost from 1 to 21 pts of fleet support depending on their class.
5) Fleet support is 40 + colony pop after tax.
6) Each fleet will have a flag ship, this ship gains all DL from departing enemies.
7) An enemy killed, rather than jumping from the system will contribute twice the DL.
Smaller ships contribute far less DL than larger ships when they leave or are killed. It depends on the ship class.
9) Trade gates can have a single unit of armour added per turn, and no more than that. Trade gates size will count towards fleet support.

What effects should this create:

- the more colonies you have the more ships you can purchase. But, if your enemies slice through your RipCurrent network, steal gates or destroy colonies then you will be unable to get new ships. Replacing vessels will be harder if you are defeated.

- killing colonies is simply achieved by killing trade gates. If a defender does not rise to recreate the gate it is very simple to sweep aliens from your system.

- Killing ships is more rewarding.

- Fielding smaller ships will give your enemies smaller DL gains.

- The tax on colony population means open systems are even more attractive, making combat simpler if you do not want to navigate to enemies through your own RipCurrents.

- Epic vessels and Epic combats will become very common. The role of DarkLight in combat will increase dramatically.

- The dull grind of seeding colonies from ark ships is removed.

Overall, the game should allow players to gain Epic ships faster, slaughter enemy colonies faster, and remove the grind of seeding colonies. All of these should make the game more fun.

Jonathan
Faraway Games