This is the first of several in a series of modular updates, which are aimed at fixing storyline stagnation and system bloat. Gallia, which was a fair bit too large, has been reduced to roughly 3/5 its former size. Its factions have all been progressed and many have (or will have) interesting new opportunities to discover.
System Changes
Anjou, Artois, Berry, Corse, Franche-Comte, Lewis, Savoie, and Tau-39 have been removed via retcon. Their base entries have been moved, reused, or recycled in various locations. Maine was also removed, but not by retcon. Instead, one of the stars began displaying signs of going supernova, so the system was evacuated and the gate in Picardy sealed.
The Languedoc-Dauphine jump hole connection was removed in an attempt to create more of a bottleneck at the jump gate. Tau-44 and Provence were linked via jump hole, which will serve as an alternative smuggling route and possibly an avenue for the Council to strike Gallia from the Taus.
Lyonnais joins Lorraine as part of Gallia that was split off when the Council took full control of Champagne. The two systems are well-defended by the local GRN fleets, but lawful traders have to take risks to travel to the core of Gallia.
Battleship Carcasonne of the Royal Navy is now stationed in the Magellan system, guarding the Leeds jump hole.
Faction Changes
As there were too many faction options for players, it caused to thin of a spread across them all. Two factions were therefore written off (not retconned), as they were the factions with the smallest member base.
Solar Engineering was forcibly merged by the Gallic Crown; its technology and manufacturing side went into EFL Oil and Machinery as a subsidiary, whereas Solar's own former subsidiary of Bouvet Space Entertainment was sold to IDF Shipping. EFL Oil and Machinery's ID has received the Solar Engineering ID's old clause that allows them to target Ageira and Unione Corse.
The Gallic Junkers, having long earned the ire of the Council, Maquis, and Unione Corse, were attacked by the forces of all three (but primarily the Maquis). They were forced to abandon some bases and sell others, but ultimately, the faction disbanded. Rumor has it that the Brigands are looking to take up the Gallic Junkers' old ties with the Outcasts and Cardamine, but that might put them at odds with the Council and Corse.
Battleship Oblique and most of its battlegroup have defected to the Council! They're now working a joint operation with the Crayter Republic to secure the system while the main fleets of the GRN are attacking Bretonia and Liberty.
Base Changes
Many bases from the removed systems were kept, either spread across Gallia or redistributed elsewhere throughout Sirius. Where, precisely? That's for you to discover. Also, many of the Space Colonies and Residences that were not GRP IFF have been changed to that. The Dev Team is aware that base bloat might be an issue in some locations, and we plan to look into that for the next series of updates.
Thanks
@Echo 7-7 -- development oversight, system modifications
@LordVipex -- system modifications
@Teerin -- development planning, development coordination, wrote 3 infocards
@Thyrzul -- key input regarding changes, wrote 5 infocards
@Miaou -- additional input regarding changes
@Rodent -- additional input regarding changes, wrote 1 infocard
@St.Denis -- additional input regarding changes
@Tunicle -- additional input regarding changes
@Void_Nemesis -- additional input regarding changes
@Andrew Walsh -- minor input regarding changes
@Exdeathevn -- minor input regarding changes
@Jack_Henderson -- minor input regarding changes, wrote 1 infocard
@Lanakov -- minor input regarding changes
@TheSauron -- minor input regarding changes, wrote 3 infocards
@Vulkhard Muller -- minor input regarding changes
@LunaticOnTheGrass -- wrote 16 infocards
@GrnRaptor -- wrote 6 infocards
@ChillerMiller -- wrote 4 infocards
Hellfire Legion "Judicator" Battlecruiser
Armed with 6 Standard Cruiser Turrets, 4 Heavy Cruiser Turrets, 2 Standard Battleship Turrets and 1 Light Battleship Turret, this new design from the Hellfire Legion is bound to cause trouble to the Scyllas in the neighborhood. As written in the Kitty Update, Hellfire indies will be able to fly this vessel in their ZOI.
Various modifications
- Repair guns are nearing completion, they will be made available for purchase later this month.
- Lots of economy modifications, ask Xoria about it.
- Yaren now belongs to The Core. Equipment for sale has been adjusted accordingly.
- Dabadoru now belongs to The Order. Equipment for sale has been adjusted accordingly.
- Connecticut's minefield has been moved further away to the edge of the system.
- Wraith's turret hardpoint has been moved to the front of the ship. Done by @Tachyon
- Fixed several projectile effects mismatchs. Done by @ChillerMiller
- Omicron Zeta is now about 33% smaller.
- Replaced the Havoc model with the new model from @Swallow.
- "Experimental" AI Drone rebalance. I have no idea what it is so ask @Haste.
- Lhotse, Insurgent, Sunrider, Manta and Sutinga have been rebalanced. Ask @Tachyon.
- Starkiller Torpedo health reduced.
- Battleship Glaive has been rebalanced.
- Some cool FLHook stuff for events.
There was a serious problem with the faction tags database, mostly because it was filled with tags created in 2012/2013 and never used. There was so many of these it was actually slightly slowing down the server each time a character was created, movechar'd or renamed.
As such, all tags that have seen no activity within the past 90 days have been automatically wiped.
The Kitty has been pleased with the general performance and has granted the following.
JM| Vessels now benefit of a 90% technerf on Blood Dragons Ships and Weapons, excluding Capital Ship assets.
<PRIME> tag changed to PRIME|
Core| official faction now benefit of a 90% technerf on Bretonia Lawful Guns & Snubs.
Raw Hydrocarbons at Coombe Field in Omega 3 will now be mined at 1.5x instead of 1.0x. This yields approximately 2.25u/asteroid before multipliers apply.
BMM|'s official faction ID now has a bonus of 4.0x on Raw Hydrocarbons instead of 3.0x.
BMM ID now has a bonus of 4.0x on Raw Hydrocarbons instead of 3.0x.
Birmingham Field in Manchester will now mine Raw Hydrocarbons at 0.75x instead of 1.0x. Yields approximately 1.5u/asteroid.
IMG| official faction vessels can now mine Gold Ore at 3.0x instead of 2.0x.
In addition, with its infinite wisdom, Kitty has updated the following IDs:
* This Primary ID is only available for use on ships belonging to DSE) official faction.
Today's Deep Space Engineering is the backbone of the Libertonian heavy industry, large scale manufacturing, mining and refinery powerhouse. As the corporation has evolved over the years, so has its interpretation of allies and friends. While it is still fundamentally a proud Libertonian company, opinions and diplomacy have altered its stances with other core Libertonian corporations. As such, Deep Space Engineering has sought alliances and friendships elsewhere, vesting trust in those who share the same goals and moral compass as themselves, while providing Deep Space Engineering with services others are unable to provide. Deep Space Engineering is in a tight knit relationship with Interspace Commerce while also sharing a shadowy, clandestine alliance with the Junker Congress and dealings with other less than legal organizations.
Pilot carrying this lawful ID is member of the Deep Space Engineering who:
- Can attack any ship in self-defense, to protect an allied or neutral lawful ship, or in defense of a base of the same affiliation, both within and outside of their Zone of Influence.
- Can attack ships belonging to houses or organisations considered hostile by Liberty within their Zone of Influence.
- Can attack Lane Hackers anywhere.
- Can engage in piracy against corporations affiliated with houses at war with Liberty anywhere.
- Cannot ally with any unlawfuls.
- Can demand Slaves from any ship carrying them and destroy those who refuse to comply.
- Can demand Jump Gate Parts and Trade Lane Parts from traders not belonging to Ageira, Universal Shipping or DSE, and destroy those who refuse to comply.
- Cannot participate in unlawful actions except as described above.
Zone of Influence: Liberty
Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats
The Hellfire Legion is a paramilitary faction seeking to overthrow Liberty's government or attain independence from Liberty. The Hellfire Legion was formed by disheartened Liberty Navy pilots who believe a change in power is necessary to ensure the safety and prosperity of Liberty and it's people.
Vessels carrying this ID belong to the Hellfire Legion, who:
- Can trade and escort traders.
- Can attack any ship in self-defense, to protect another Hellfire ship, in defense of Hellfire bases.
- Can attack any ship within their Zone of Influence. Transports cannot be attacked except for the two exceptions below.
- Can treat Liberty Navy, Liberty Police, Liberty Security Force transports within the Hellfire Zone of Influence as combat targets.
- Can demand Cardamine, Slaves, Nox, Artifacts, Liquid Cardamine from any ship (including transports) and destroy them if they do not comply.
- Cannot ally with Liberty lawfuls and unlawfuls except Corporations & Xenos.
- Cannot use transports with more than 4.300 cargo.
Zone of Influence: Liberty systems, systems directly bordering Liberty, Vespucci, Humboldt, Kansas, Coronado, Inverness.
Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats, Cruisers.
The Hellfire Legion is a paramilitary faction seeking to overthrow Liberty's government or attain independence from Liberty. The Hellfire Legion was formed by disheartened Liberty Navy pilots who believe a change in power is necessary to ensure the safety and prosperity of Liberty and it's people.
* This Primary ID is only available for use on ships belonging to HF official faction.
Vessels carrying this ID belong to the Hellfire Legion, who:
- Can trade and escort traders.
- Can attack any ship in self-defense, to protect another Hellfire ship, in defense of Hellfire bases.
- Can attack any ship within their Zone of Influence. Transports cannot be attacked except for the two exceptions below.
- Can treat Liberty Navy, Liberty Police, Liberty Security Force transports within the Hellfire Zone of Influence as combat targets.
- Can demand Cardamine, Slaves, Nox, Artifacts, Liquid Cardamine from any ship (including transports) and destroy them if they do not comply.
- Cannot ally with Liberty lawfuls and unlawfuls except Corporations & Xenos.
- Cannot use transports with more than 4.300 cargo.
Zone of Influence: Liberty systems, systems directly bordering Liberty, Vespucci, Humboldt, Kansas, Coronado, Inverness.
The Core are a Paramilitary Organization operating mainly within the Edge Worlds and some Border Worlds. They're relentless and willing to do whatever it takes in order to crush their enemies, obtain alien technology and establish their own Empire within the Edge Worlds. Any who oppose The Core, namely The Order and the Corsairs, are exterminated without mercy.
The pilot carrying this lawful ID is a member of the The Core who:
- Can attack lawfuls, unlawfuls and quasi-lawfuls in self-defence, to protect an allied or neutral ship, or in defence of allied or neutral bases.
- Can attack lawfuls, unlawfuls, quasi-lawfuls and ships which belong to a house or organisation considered hostile by the The Core within their zone of influence.
- Can enforce the Laws of The Core within systems containing a Core base.
- Can attack Wild, Nomad, Order ships and any ships equipped with Nomad equipment or carrying Nomad remains anywhere.
- Can demand Alien Artifacts, Nomad equipment, Nomad remains, Cardamine, Liquid Cardamine and Slaves within their Zone of Influence, and attack ships if they refuse to comply.
- Cannot bring Capital Ships outside of their Zone of Influence.
- Cannot use transports with more than 4,300 cargo.
Zone of Influence: Omegas, Omicrons, Sigma-17, Sigma-19
Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats, Cruisers, Battleships
*This Primary ID is only available for use on ships belonging to the Core| official faction.
The Core are a Paramilitary Organization operating mainly within the Edge Worlds and some Border Worlds. They're relentless and willing to do whatever it takes in order to crush their enemies, obtain alien technology and establish their own Empire within the Edge Worlds. Any who oppose The Core, namely The Order and the Corsairs, are exterminated without mercy.
The pilot carrying this lawful ID is a member of the The Core who:
- Can attack lawfuls, unlawfuls and quasi-lawfuls in self-defence, to protect an allied or neutral ship, or in defence of allied or neutral bases.
- Can attack lawfuls, unlawfuls, quasi-lawfuls and ships which belong to a house or organisation considered hostile by the The Core within their zone of influence.
- Can enforce the Laws of The Core within systems containing a Core base.
- Can attack Wild, Nomad, Order ships and any ships equipped with Nomad equipment or carrying Nomad remains anywhere.
- Can demand Alien Artifacts, Nomad equipment, Nomad remains, Cardamine, Liquid Cardamine and Slaves within their Zone of Influence, and attack ships if they refuse to comply.
- Cannot use transports with more than 4,300 cargo.
Zone of Influence: Omegas, Omicrons, Sigma-17, Sigma-19
Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats, Cruisers, Battleships
The Lane Hackers are a criminal group in Liberty who focus on piracy of high-value targets. They prefer to attack Ageira, Universal, Interspace and DSE ships, or shipments of high-tech equipment, especially Trade Lane and Jump Gate components.
Pilot carrying this unlawful ID is a member of the Lane Hackers, who:
- Can attack any ships within their Zone of Influence, except transports.
- Can demand cargo and credits from any ship within their Zone of Influence, and attack them if they do not comply.
- Can attack Ageira, Interspace and IND anywhere.
- Can treat transports carrying Jump Gate Parts, Trade Lane Parts and Gate/Lane parts as combat targets.
- Cannot ally with any lawfuls.
- Cannot use any transports with more than 4,300 cargo.
Zone of Influence: Liberty, systems directly bordering Liberty, Manchester, Leeds, Shikoku, Coronado.
Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats, Cruisers
* This Primary ID is only available for use on ships belonging to LH~ official faction.
The inner circle of the Lane Hackers is a very small but greatly influential group specializing in high-profile extortions, industrial sabotage and intelligence gathering. They oversee large portion of Cardamine market in Liberty and are well known for their deeply rooted animosity towards Liberty corporations and government.
Pilot carrying this unlawful ID is member of the Lane Hackers who::
- Can attack any ships within their Zone of Influence, except transports.
- Can demand cargo and credits from any ship within their Zone of Influence, and attack them if they do not comply.
- Can attack Ageira, Interspace and IND anywhere.
- Can pirate vessels carrying Jump Gate Parts, Trade Lane Parts and Gate/Lane Parts anywhere.
- Cannot ally with any lawfuls.
- Cannot use any transports with more than 4,300 cargo.
Zone of Influence: Liberty, systems directly bordering Liberty, Manchester, Leeds, Shikoku, Coronado.
Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats, Cruisers
Good luck! A content patch will land at some point this week. Stay tuned!
We're currently being DDOS'd.
Most of the attack is under control by the firewall, but some of it slips through here and there for a few seconds. Expect some lagspikes.