About Updates and Saved Games

We keep getting questions about updates and whether or not they require a restart. We'll keep working to broadcast this -- but no update *ever* requires an restart. We would never release an update that invalidates anyone's saved game -- that would be terrible thing to do and completely unacceptable, EA or not. So, play on! Of course, some features and story content may not be available if you have a saved game in the later years, but there is no force restart, ever.

Big 9000

Update #63 includes the second Mass 9000 ship -- the Sword Battlecruiser. One of the largest ships yet, the Sword sacrifices durability for versatility with extra components, heavy base shielding and armor. It also packs a starting complement of weapons that allow it to fight at any range.

New Traits and Mutation Paths

Traits mutate as your captain and crew make their way in the galaxy. Based on your actions and how you conduct yourself, these Trait mutations will change your crew in ways that match with your actions. Those crew that lead hundreds of daring expeditions into the galactic wilderness will emerge with Traits like Adventurous, Wanderlust, Scavenger and with Other Fascination. Those who litter the void with pieces of their destroyed enemies will find themselves surrounded by Traits like Merciless, Savage, Brute and Bloodthirsty.

With Update #63, we've added 10 new exciting Traits straight from player and KickStarter backer suggestions. We've also traced 40 new paths for Trait mutation to further deepen the links between your actions and your Traits.

Pirates, Permits and Trade Alliances

We're working to improve the ship encounter system across the board, and with today's update, we've expanded the effect of Trade Alliances on the looting rules. Within an Exchange, factions have long honored Trade Permits of other factions with whom they are in a Trade Alliance. In addition, when surrendering to pirates, they will not loot licensed traders who hold at Permit rank 2 within their Faction. Combining the two, we've added the rule that Pirates (like Exchanges) now honor Trade Permits of factions with whom their faction is in a Trade Alliance. Therefore, if Cadar and Moklumnue are in a Trade Alliance, and you hold Moklumnue Trade Permits, these permits are now correctly honored by Cadar Pirates.

Contact Death and Actions

Contacts come and go -- dying of old age, slain in the end of Conflicts, or outright killed by their enemies. If you know a Contact who is killed, an entry is now added immediately to your Captain's Log to make the cause and time clear. Also, we fixed a bug where missions from dead Contact's could linger and cause oddities. If a contact is killed, all missions are immediately canceled at no Rep penalty to the player.

In addition we've hooked in a ton of new exciting actions to Contact's Traits. As the galactic simulation ticks along, Contacts take actions based on their relationships, type, Traits and Influence. Depending on their goals, any relationship to your Captain, and their relationship to other Contacts -- they may help an enemy, cause a rumor, start a conflict, put out a bounty on your head or more.With this update, Traits have even more impact on the types of actions each Contact can execute, including tying in more contacts who can directly kill others and cause powerful rumors like Civil Unrest and Shortages.

v2.2.55 - 5/11/2018

- New 9000 Mass Ship: "Sword Battlecruiser"
- Boosted base Fuel capacity for the "Cautela Titan" by +60
- In Ship Combat Defeat's Cargo Looting result, Trade Alliances now grant Trade Permit reciprocity
- Added 10 new Traits (Fatalistic, Weak System, Mindful, Sturdy, Meticulous Care, Libertine, Spiritual, Power Hungry, Nimble, Principled)
- Improved Trait mutations from your actions (over 40 new Trait - Action mutation interactions)
- Fixed prices on tier 3 weapons and armor from Contacts
- Characters no longer equip Stealth armor automatically unless they have higher Stealth Skill
- When a Contact dies and the player knows them, a Captain's Log entry is added
- Contacts now have slightly longer lives, Max Influence role increased
- Contact Traits: Power Hungry, Zealot, Hunna Agent, Bounty Hunters can now assassinate enemy contacts
- Contact Traits: Hunna Agent, Uses Assassins, Underworld Ties and Dangerous Schemer can now cause Civil Unrest Rumor
- Contact Traits: Uses Pirates can now cause Shortages
- Added tooltips to Contact screen over flag, Influence and Effective Rep calculation
- Repriced Ship Components for Matrix Upgrades
- Fixed reported crashes