Patents Nerf
Patents have been removed entirely. I didn't like them. Found them to be a nuisance more than anything, especially in a solo game where time sinks aren't needed.
The flow of the game is much nicer now. The only roadblocks tend to be the availability of materials.
Starmap XML Export
Starmap XML export was restored. It was removed because the information could reveal the location of new players in the game, which was heavily exploited.
This could be somewhat useful if shared between players. Currently every solo game generates the same exact universe.
Avatar Land Nerf
The concept of avatar lands was removed entirely. This was a mechanism for managing resources on the server, not needed in solo play.
Warp and Wormhole FTL Drive Modules
Warp FTL drive modules no longer come in 9 warp factors. There is only one warp FTL drive module. Capacitor size determines maximum warp factor.
Similarly, there is now only one wormhole drive module. Polarity when engaged does not change the amount of energy consumed so all polarities are available to all wormhole drives.
Solar System Decay
Solar system decay is used to remove unwanted data. This garbage collection mechanic was changed significantly for the solo game. Here is how it works.
- There is no longer a one week delay before a system decays.
- A system containing any units will not decay. Units are buildings, spacecraft, npcs, vehicles, avatars and animals.
- A system that has been named will not decay.
- Systems with a ringworld have never decayed.
Sector Decay
Sectors also decay to remove unwanted data. This garbage collection mechanic changed slightly for the solo game. Here is how it works.
- A sector that has been named will not decay.
- A sector can decay when every solar system in the sector has decayed.
Noncombatant Nerf
The concept of noncombatant empires was removed entirely. This mechanism was introduced to protect players from destruction while they were not on line. It is not relevant to the solo game.
Rewards Nerf
Empire rewards were removed entirely. This mechanism never worked for its intended purpose and only provided a way for emperors to self-reward themselves for doing stuff.
Help Nerf
Help button and help comm channel were removed. Nobody will ever answer in the solo game.
World Indigenous Race
I made a slight change to the determination of indigenous race when you first encounter a world.
15% will be your DNA
35% will be DNA of one of the pirate empires that operates in that galaxy.
5% will be random DNA equivalent to pushing the dice button on the alien avatar creator page. It does not check for validity so any combination is valid. This could produce odd results, like giant indigenous that can't possibly fit in their tents.
Home System Near Ringworld
The Relic story requires a ringworld. In the online game, people have searched fruitlessly to find a sector containing a ringworld so the story can continue.
When a new avatar is created, a homeworld is located according to the location setting selected. Now that algorithm insures that a new homeworld is in or adjacent to a sector that contains a ringworld. When you start, at least one of the 27 sectors in your 3x3x3 region contains a ringworld.
This does not apply when the Remote location option is selected. No search for a ringworld in the supersector is performed. The location is just random.
Before the release, I will adjust the story to tell which sector to expect to find the ringworld.
Pirates Scuttle
Pirates whose ship has not moved for a long period of time will scuttle their ship. This garbage collection was happening when the solo game was loaded after being off for a long period of time. Pirates would immediately scuttle their ships.
This was fixed. Pirates inactivity timer is reset when the game loads.
Patents have been removed entirely. I didn't like them. Found them to be a nuisance more than anything, especially in a solo game where time sinks aren't needed.
The flow of the game is much nicer now. The only roadblocks tend to be the availability of materials.
Starmap XML Export
Starmap XML export was restored. It was removed because the information could reveal the location of new players in the game, which was heavily exploited.
This could be somewhat useful if shared between players. Currently every solo game generates the same exact universe.
Avatar Land Nerf
The concept of avatar lands was removed entirely. This was a mechanism for managing resources on the server, not needed in solo play.
Warp and Wormhole FTL Drive Modules
Warp FTL drive modules no longer come in 9 warp factors. There is only one warp FTL drive module. Capacitor size determines maximum warp factor.
Similarly, there is now only one wormhole drive module. Polarity when engaged does not change the amount of energy consumed so all polarities are available to all wormhole drives.
Solar System Decay
Solar system decay is used to remove unwanted data. This garbage collection mechanic was changed significantly for the solo game. Here is how it works.
- There is no longer a one week delay before a system decays.
- A system containing any units will not decay. Units are buildings, spacecraft, npcs, vehicles, avatars and animals.
- A system that has been named will not decay.
- Systems with a ringworld have never decayed.
Sector Decay
Sectors also decay to remove unwanted data. This garbage collection mechanic changed slightly for the solo game. Here is how it works.
- A sector that has been named will not decay.
- A sector can decay when every solar system in the sector has decayed.
Noncombatant Nerf
The concept of noncombatant empires was removed entirely. This mechanism was introduced to protect players from destruction while they were not on line. It is not relevant to the solo game.
Rewards Nerf
Empire rewards were removed entirely. This mechanism never worked for its intended purpose and only provided a way for emperors to self-reward themselves for doing stuff.
Help Nerf
Help button and help comm channel were removed. Nobody will ever answer in the solo game.
World Indigenous Race
I made a slight change to the determination of indigenous race when you first encounter a world.
15% will be your DNA
35% will be DNA of one of the pirate empires that operates in that galaxy.
5% will be random DNA equivalent to pushing the dice button on the alien avatar creator page. It does not check for validity so any combination is valid. This could produce odd results, like giant indigenous that can't possibly fit in their tents.
Home System Near Ringworld
The Relic story requires a ringworld. In the online game, people have searched fruitlessly to find a sector containing a ringworld so the story can continue.
When a new avatar is created, a homeworld is located according to the location setting selected. Now that algorithm insures that a new homeworld is in or adjacent to a sector that contains a ringworld. When you start, at least one of the 27 sectors in your 3x3x3 region contains a ringworld.
This does not apply when the Remote location option is selected. No search for a ringworld in the supersector is performed. The location is just random.
Before the release, I will adjust the story to tell which sector to expect to find the ringworld.
Pirates Scuttle
Pirates whose ship has not moved for a long period of time will scuttle their ship. This garbage collection was happening when the solo game was loaded after being off for a long period of time. Pirates would immediately scuttle their ships.
This was fixed. Pirates inactivity timer is reset when the game loads.