Silver is one of Omega-7’s most valuable exports. While conflict over the metal is nothing new, in recent days production has ground to a near standstill as tempers flare and violence becomes the preferred method for settling disagreements. A number of factors have come together to throttle ore production, causing warehouses to run bare, and prices of refined Silver to soar.
Kruger Minerals has recently brought a new line of industrial Robotics to market, outraging Kishiro who claim they are based on stolen patents. Kruger has attempted to demonstrate their efficacy by automating many of the operations on Elbich Mining Facility. Hundreds of miners were promptly laid off as unnecessary. Kruger has struggled to maintain their output during this process, due to a combination of considerable teething problems, and intentional sabotage by disgruntled workers.
The IMG has seen many of these workers flock to Freistadt, outraged and resentful. The Guild has had a full time job on its hands preventing reprisal attacks on Kruger mining operations. Despite this, all semblance of restraint was lost following a number of fatal mercenary attacks near the Silver fields, with Guild miners blaming Kruger. Already, a number of automated Kruger miners have been destroyed in retaliation.
In Omega-3, Douglas Station faces an increasingly bleak forecast. Following the loss of Dublin, BMM HQ has imposed increasingly draconian quotas on their other operations to make up the shortfall. Unfortunately, there is only so much that can be wrung from the Hydrocarbon fields, and quotas are going to be missed. Hearing of the turmoil in Omega-7, many Bretonian miners have taken to ‘wildcatting’ to steal precious Silver. This is met with tacit approval by Douglas’ administration, who are cooking their books with the windfall from the stolen resources.
Daumann’s mercenaries have done an exemplary job sowing chaos among their rivals, and the Rheinlandic behemoth is not one to sit idly by. Sensing an opportunity to displace its competitors, DHC has intensified its own Silver operations, looking to capitalise on the recent market shock. Local captains are also loathe to allow BMM to gain a foothold in the system, in a mirror of the bitter competition in Omega-3. Consequently, their security forces have been ordered to crush any Bretonians they encounter.
DETAILS
Commodity Changes:
Silver Ore has tripled in price at its current sale points (and one of these is not, strictly speaking, legal.)
Silver Ore is now in demand at Douglas Station at competitive rates.
Silver has tripled in price at its current sale points in House space.
Mining Bonuses:
BMM 3 (new), BMF| 4 (new)
IMG 3, IMG| 4 (new)
DHC 3, {DHC} 4 (new)
Kruger 3, Kruger| 4 (new)
Tier-3 Refineries:
With demand for Silver at an all-time high, refineries have been expanding their operational capacity by throwing machinery and crew at the problem.
Like we mentioned a while back, we've wanted to simplify the rules so they aren't such a massive block of text to slam onto new players, and aren't a complicated maze to navigate for old ones.
We've implemented a much, much simpler version, which should be more or less the same in spirit, but should do away with a lot of unnecessary technicality.
Please tell us if there's typos, errors, or weird stuff going on in the revised set.
A Delicate Balance: Comrades in Arms Omega-48 | Omicron Delta | Omicron Theta | Sigma-17 | Honshu Combat & Trade Event (Part 3) art by @Kauket
DATES
February 2, ~19:00 UTC - February 4, ~23:59 UTC.
OVERVIEW
As many of the Zoner captains initially feared, their so-called Outcast "allies" have had enough of fighting in Theta. With repair efforts still underway on all sides, the long-awaited window of opportunity that was promised is now a mere porthole. The Corsair empire is simply too big to stumble after only a single blow, already managing to replace its losses by cannibalizing existing dispositions. With Vis redeployed to provide security, only another Outcast battlegroup could threaten a full-scale ground assault, but the Dons had a different purpose in mind for those vessels...
Left holding the short end of the stick, the Zoners in Theta aren't just going to give up after thery've come this far, however. The Core continues to be a valuable ally, and have just as much interest in seeing the Freeport back in their hands, or at least rendered inoperable by the enemy. With commanders on both sides vowing to commit as many forces as can be spared, the only question remains - how to get them on board safely. The Vis after all is but a single ship, and the rest of its battlegroup has its work cut out for them on two fronts. Where an overwhelming focused assault resulted in losses, perhaps a more dispersed approach can still accomplish the same objective. With the breaches already made, it's only a matter of lining up one's landing.
While the damage to Freeport 9 may have been accidentally inflicted by the raging battle in the system, the integrity loss on Atka Research Station has been the result of anything but. Mere days after the Vis's departure, the Outcast reserve force made a play for its long-awaited objective. With little advance warning, the structural weak points around the receiving docks fell in minutes, with the station itself barely energizing its shields in time to prevent critical damage. Not expecting an easy victory, the Outcast battlegroup has already settled in for a siege, hoping that their previous allies buy them enough time in Theta to get the most out of this opportunity.
Though the GMG have gotten used to Outcast forays into the system, the sudden power vacuum has delayed their response. The situation on Atka is deteriorating rapidly, as not even the most pessimistic planners assumed that such a force could threaten the station unchallenged for long. With Cryer security assets doing their best to evacuate staff under fire and run what replenishment ops they can, it falls to the Guild to blunt the Outcast assault itself. At the very least, the Outcasts' Golden Chrysanthemum allies aren't too eager to jump into the fray against their underground Kusari partners, and will likely limit themselves to hitting Cryer convoys to demonstrate their commitment.
DETAILS
Part 2 outcomes:
Battlecruiser Vis has been re-positioned near Freeport 9.
Freeport 9's mooring point has been destroyed, which makes it inaccessible to ships larger than freighters.
Atka Research Station is under siege by Battlecruisers Tercio and Augusta.
Atka's mooring point has been destroyed, which makes it inaccessible to ships larger than freighters.
Objectives:
Corsairs: Score points by destroying Zoner and Core ships. Prevent Marine landings onto Freeport 9.
Zoners & Core: Score points by offloading Marines at Freeport 9, as well as destroying Corsair blockading ships.
Outcasts: Score points by destroying GMG and Cryer ships. Block the evacuation of Cryer personnel and the delivery of supplies to Atka.
Golden Chrysanthemums: Score points by destroying Cryer ships. Block the evacuation of Cryer personnel and the delivery of supplies to Atka.
Gas Miners Guild: Score points by destroying Outcast ships. Assist Cryer with evacuating Atka's research staff, and the delivery of supplies to shore up the station.
Cryer Pharmaceuticals: Score points by evacuating Atka's research staff, and delivering supplies to shore up the station. Destroy Outcast and Golden Chrysanthemum ships where possible. Cryer has an event-only restart EventCryer which puts you on Honshu.
Trade Bonuses:
For Zoners (including OFs) and Core:
Marines from Planet Gran Canaria (Omega-48) to Freeport 9 (Omicron Theta): 11000 SC
Marines from Durban Station (Omicron Delta) to Freeport 9 (Omicron Theta): 4500 SC
For Gas Miners Guild and Cryer Pharmaceuticals:
Scientists from Atka Research Station (Sigma-17) to Planet Honshu (Honshu): 2500 SC
Proprietary Research from Atka Research Station (Sigma-17) to Planet Honshu (Honshu): 200,000 SC Enterprising "privateers" who get their hands on these items should consider their sale with care.
Hull Panels from Yukawa Shipyard (Honshu) to Atka Research Station (Sigma-17): 600 SC
Bounties:
Designated Systems are Omega-5, Omega-41, Omega-48, Omicron-Delta, and Omicron Theta for Corsairs, Core, and Zoners.
Corsairs: $200,000 per kill on Core or Zoners.
Zoners & Core: $200,000 per kill on Corsairs.
Note: Corsairs can treat Zoners & Core Freighters hauling Marines as combat targets in the designated systems.
Designated Systems are Sigma-17, Sigma-19, and Honshu for Outcasts, Golden Chrysanthemums, GMG, and Cryer.
Outcasts: $200,000 per kill on GMG or Cryer.
GC: $200,000 per kill on Cryer.
GMG : $200,000 per kill on Outcasts.
Cryer: $200,000 per kill on Outcasts or GC.
Note: Outcasts can treat GMG & Cryer Freighters hauling Proprietary Research as combat targets in the designated systems. Note: Golden Chrysanthemums can treat only Cryer Freighters hauling Proprietary Research as combat targets in the designated systems.
The forum title "Arm in Arm" can be claimed by anyone who killed 4 or more Corsair, Outcast, or GC ships.
The forum title "Fly Swatter" can be claimed by anyone who killed 4 or more Cryer, GMG, Core, or Zoner ships.
The forum title "Hand Lender" can be claimed by anyone who killed at least one ship.
The forum title "Impeccable Posture" can be claimed by anyone who participated in all three events of this arc, being on the scoreboard in any capacity for each one.
*ONLY ONE CUSTOM USER TITLE MAY BE ACTIVE. PLEASE, PICK ONE.
Rewards
All eligible winners get to claim a set number of items from the following list: BERSERKER Shield, FRENZY Shield, ROSEGUARD Shield, Bluebird Thruster, Furnace Performance Thruster, SPRINGROSE Thruster. Only one shield per person.
First place on each combined combat and trade scoreboard gets 3 picks
Second place on each combined combat and trade scoreboard gets 2 picks
Third place on each combined combat and trade scoreboard gets 1 pick
With two combat and two trade scoreboards over the three phases, there should be at least 1215 "winners" (edit: 15 due to splitting the phase 3 trade events). In case of ties, all tied players get the reward.
*PLEASE POST YOUR COMBINED SCORE IF YOU PLAYED ON MULTIPLE CHARACTERS. NO FUNNY BUSINESS OR YOU FORFEIT YOUR REWARDS.
Story Arc Outcomes
Atka Research Station has been destroyed, though all of the staff and most of the important databanks have been evacuated. Cryer are urgently looking for replacement facility options, while the researchers await developments on Planet Honshu. In the meantime, readily available supplies of Stabiline are at an all-time low.
With the successful conclusion of its operation, Tercio has moved back to its previous hunting grounds in Sigma-19, while Augusta has retired to Omicron Alpha for repairs.
Freeport 9 hostages have been partially extracted after heavy fighting, many of whom were hydroponics experts. Reprisals have followed against the remainder, though most were ultimately spared in order to continue servicing and repairing the domes. The Zoner refugees have traveled back to Gran Canaria and will have a hard time settling the limited real estate on the planet. The surviving marines have returned to an uncertain future, as Core and Zoners question the feasibility of further operations.
One of the two currently functional domes has been sabotaged, resulting in a complete loss of its food production capabilities for the foreseeable future, with rumors about it being a Core operation. With resupply from the Freeport seeming less likely, the food situation on Corfu and Pygar is turning critical, requiring convoys from Gran Canaria which remain at risk from pirate and Corsair attacks.
Battlecruiser Vis remains in place as a deterrent against additional attacks as decisions are being made about the future of Freeport 9. Corsairs have continued to reinforce the station against any future assaults, and have begun the difficult work of restoring the domes.
The Omicron Zoners are thankful to the Core for their assistance, but are suspicious that they never wanted to retake the Freeport. Both feel betrayed by the Outcasts due to their abandonment at a critical moment, without even the provision of ground forces to assist the assault. Corsairs are considering retaliating against the Omega Zoners for their involvement.
Highlights of the hotfix include changes to Omicron Theta and Sigma-17, continuing the story resolution from the last two official events, "The Arms Race" and "Force of Arms"'. Additionally, the muzzle cone change for all guns has been reverted, primarily affecting snub balance. The development team is in holiday mode at the moment, apologies things are taking even longer than usual to process. Happy holidays.
ART
- Added: Unique explosion effects for house capital ships.
- Added: Unique capital ship explosion effects for several non-house factions.
- Added: New generic explosion effects for all other capital ships.
- Added: New Outcast destroyer turret effect.
- Changed: Battleship Razor impact effect changed.
- Fixed: Praefect explosion effect changed to a Cruiser.
- Fixed: IMG explosion effect changed to a cruiser.
- Fixed: Linked up Order cruiser turret effect to the Order turret.
BALANCE
- Changed: Reduced collision damage by 2.5x (3.0 -> 1.2) to make up for armor removal.
- Changed: Muzzle cone angle reverted from 30 to 40.
- Changed: Reverted the change: "Buffed turn rate of all class 1 - 4 (fighter) guns by 30 degrees (generally from 90 to 120)."
- Changed: Ragnar rebalanced. Hitbox remade, model improved, arcs improved.
- Changed: Cruiser missile balance changes: damage increased by 35%; power usage increased proportionally. Reduced seeker range and fov. Ammo reduced from 90 to 30.
- Changed: Battleship missiles updated in accordance with Cruiser missiles.
- Changed: Fixed the Nomad Marauders & Devastators.
- Fixed: Poltergeist engine changed from Rheinland Freighter to Rheinland Bomber.
- Fixed: Updated price of IMG & Insurgency Cruisers as they previously still had BC-tier prices.
ECONOMY
- Changed: HRC refinery changes: cooking rates reduced from 75->25 & 150->50 (Basic and Advanced recipes respectively). HRC yield doubled. Fuel consumption doubled.
- Fixed: Black Market Augments icon issue.
- Fixed: Iridium Ore is no longer a 1-volume ore.
ENCOUNTERS / NPCS
- Changed: Updated Hokkaido encounters.
- Changed: Magellan encounters difficulty nerfed.
- Changed: Dresden encounter difficulty nerfed.
- Changed: Aim accuracy of encounter Cruiser NPCs reduced across the board.
- Changed: Sigma-15 encounters relocated (still in Sigma-15).
- Changed: Nerfed the amount of missile ammo NPCs carry.
- Changed: Removed shield resistance modifiers from encounter NPCs. Shields adjusted.
- Removed: Corsair encounter in Omega-5 removed.
SYSTEMS
- Added: Various changes regarding the Omicron Theta story arc:
- Added: Many wrecks around Freeport 9.
- Changed: Freeport 9 model changed.
- Changed: Atka model changed.
- Changed: Freeport 9 IFF turned neutral, NPCs added to show it's a warzone, docking temporarily limited to Freighters only. Preparation for a follow up official event, Soon™.
- Changed: NPCs around Atka added, docking temporarily limited to Freighters only. Preparation for a follow up official event, Soon™.
- Changed: Freeport 9 and Atka infocards to reflect the Theta story arc.
- Changed: Battlecruiser Vis, Tercio, Augusta infocards to reflect the Theta story arc.
- Changed: Battlecruiser Vis relocated next to Freeport 9.
- Changed: Battlecruiser Tercio relocated next to Atka.
- Changed: Battlecruiser Augusta relocated next to Atka.
- Added: Gallic civilian guns added to New Haven.
- Added: Omicron Pi AI minefield given an entry point landmark.
- Added: A little bit of new-ish music. Have fun running into it!
- Added: Uncharted 5 is now even more hazardous.
- Added: California - Pennsylvania unstable jumphole.
- Changed: California - Texas jumphole permits all ships again.
- Changed: Inverness Hive's IFF changed from Nomad to Vagrant.
- Changed: Increased LODs of several vanilla wrecks.
- Changed: Livadia Shipyard moved back to Omicron Kappa.
- Changed: Cruiser Saschenwald relocated from Thuringia to Hamburg.
- Fixed: Several crashes in Hokkaido.
- Fixed: Ibiza model fixed.
- Fixed: Orkney - Tau-61 jumphole renamed to stop confusing people. It is not a Freighter-only jumphole.
- Fixed: Fixed an issue in Omega-5 regarding non-existent exclusion zones.
- Fixed: Primus now offers missions.
- Fixed: Increased the radius of exclusion zones around Kepler's jumpholes to prevent people getting instakilled upon entry.
- Fixed: Missions are now available in Manchester and Newcastle.
- Fixed: Omega-48 - Garvagh Husk is no longer destructible.
- Fixed: Omega-7 - Elbe Border Fortress station geometry fixed.