Update #337 swings back around to the Rumor system to deepen their impacts into multiple systems and the Contact simulation. With this update we've improved the results for Artifact Find, Merchant Fleet, Starport Closed and Mercenaries. Rumors are a key system in Star Traders: Frontiers that cause variation, reasons to travel, dynamic and short term goals and help shake up the Contacts in the simulation, so the more numbered and powerful their effects the more interesting they become.
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Artifact Find Expansions
The Quadrant Rumor Artifact Find has a wide impact across Explorer and encountering Smuggler ships. There are Artifacts to be found, and while previously the Rumor mostly impacted the direct results of Explorer, now the Rumor also expands the value and size of any Stashes discovered during Explorer. In the case where you find some clue that reveals another smuggler or pirate's stash, it is a stash that was bloated in value by the Artifact Find Rumor and the value and type of cargo in that stash will be better for it.
Also, we've further increased the value of bonus cargo being carried by Smugglers across the Quadrant with Artifact Find Rumor active. If you're a pirate, there is even more incentive to flock to the quadrant for valuable pickings now.
Speaking of which …
Gone Lootin'
The Pirate's Talent "Looter's Instinct" which adds a bonus cargo to a Merchant encountered while Blockading now has Rumor hooks as well. The type of bonus cargo and the count allocated to the bonus is now larger when the Quadrant Rumors Merchant Fleet or Artifact Find are active.
If you plan to truly capitalize on the value of Rumors, be sure to build out a crew to help you find them and then use Talents to reap the rewards.
Stardock Closed Blocks Escapes
Stardock Closed Rumor already has a wealthy of unfortunate consequences. First, you can't fuel, repair, upgrade or access dry docked ships at this landing zone and any local Contacts are at risk of Influence loss. We've punched up the risk to Contacts to represent their inability to flee in the case of trouble. If a Contact suffers an assassination attempt from another Contact while such a Rumor is active, it is 25% less likely that they will survive.
Considering that a Contact may have used their action to drop this harmful Rumor on an enemy Contact's zone, they are basically setting up their enemy for a possible death blow on their next action in the simulation.
Mercenaries Jam Black Market
While a Mercenaries Rumor is affecting a zone, the Black Market can be a little more dangerous. In response to these often-troublesome off-worlders clogging the starport, spice hall and surrounding district, the local forces have doubled down on their patrols to keep the peace. Which makes sneaking your illegal cargo to the Black Market more difficulty. Where there are Merc Rumors, security patrol cards are more likely now in the Black Market.
Are you Modding?
A fan favorite - the
No More Mass Reducers mod removes all Mass Reducers from the game -
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2492139496Merchant Marine mod tones down the crew size aiming to give a more Firefly-esque style of play -
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2856946970Want 24 new heads for your characters in the game - download
Playable Contacts today -
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2936075922&searchtext=Everyone loves new ship components - so check out the ever-popular
Dave's New Ship Components mod -
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2560635932Always wanted to have a zendu on board to dole out justice - install the
Arbiter job mod -
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2824645849v3.3.85 - 1/16/2024
- 'Artifact Find' Rumor now causes increased found Stash value in Explorer
- Increased value of cargo found in Smuggler's holds during 'Artifact Find'
- Boosted power of Pirate Talent 'Looter's Instinct' when Merchant or Artifact rumors active
- Updated 'Artifact Find' Rumor makes it easier to access the Black Market when active
- The 'Stardock Closed' rumor now harms Contact influence, makes it 25% harder to escape assassins
- The 'Mercenaries' rumor now increases the chance of combat patrols in Black Market