Crystals Young and Old

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The Spirit of a New Confederation

The spirit of a thing is that which survives changes in circumstance. The spirit of the Crystal is that of The Snare. The Crystals have a unique technology around which their entire fleet and all strategies must be constructed. Web mines drain fuel, paralyze enemy operations, force them to waste valuable time sweeping, and allow the Crystal to harvest the survivors for their own fleet. However, the opponents of the Crystal are not likely to just march their ships into Crystal space. They must rather be goaded into it, smothered, or caught unawares. Crystal success hinges on the effective implementation of ensnarement tactics.

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How To Jam The Queue – And When

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We now have three different queue systems where this topic is applicable, and the thought of jamming the Queue is becoming more and more confusing. What’s getting stranger even than that is the curious circumstances of the newest Queue (if you keep track of them as they go by), in that it can sometimes be a greater advantage to keep it flowing smoothly at one time, then paused, then flowing again; or, if you have several bases all ready to build at once, you might well prefer a one-time massive construction surge.

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On Keeping The Pot Boiling

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A few of you have expressed interested in how Planets Mag works — some with an eye to contributing content, others no doubt from idle curiosity. The simple truth is, alas, that we’ve got no idea ourselves. We keep writing, and people keep reading, and these are good things.

There’s more to it, mind; it’s a valuable rule to remember that everything is always more complex. So if you’re interested in the process, feel free to keep reading. If on the other hand you prefer to think of it as “magic” and just plan to enjoy the fruits of our labor… well, you too can keep reading, because this is exactly one of those products of which we are (for better or worse) so immensely proud.

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Planets Without A Subscription: A Guide

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There are several rules to playing Planets Nu without paying for a subscription. I’m going to start with the first one.

Rule 1. Don’t.

Most things in life, you can maybe cut some corners and save a couple bucks here and there, and it’s worth it. There are some exceptions to this rule, for example: Durable, comfortable shoes tend to cost more than the cheapest, but the difference in price pays for itself in a couple of years because they won’t be worn out by the time you’ve replaced the plastic junk ones twice over. Plus later in life your back and legs will thank you. On this same list can be found such items as a good mattress, the right toilet paper, tea that isn’t made from dust and sweepings, filtered water for your coffee, and Planets Nu.

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Insights In Sight – Dossier A9-900P

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Target: LIZARD CLASS CRUISER VS SAURIAN CLASS LIGHT CRUISER

  • RACE: The Lizard Alliance
  • HULL: Mass 160, Fuel 330, Cargo 290, Crew 430, Tech Level 4
  • HULL COST: MC 190, Dur 42, Tri 81, Moly 30, Tech Level Upgrades 600 MCs
  • ARMAMENT:  2 Engines, 4 Beams, 3 Launchers
  • SHIP ABILITIES: Cloak
  • RACIAL ENHANCEMENTS: Loki Immunity, HISSSSS!, 30X Ground Combat, Lizard Crew Bonus
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A Modest Proposal: The Hull Penalty

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When the revised queue system was first released as an alternative to the Classic ship build process, it met with some opposition. Today, it is being systematically replaced by the new Planetary Production Queue with its random build options.

And yet, at least in my opinion, the original objections have yet to receive even a satisfactory hearing, and they certainly haven’t been addressed. Sure, anyone who objects to the new system can go back to play Classic if they want — but that’s no answer; some of the advances since 1991 haven’t been all bad. And it’s no use saying you can pick and choose in Custom games unless you and ten of your closest friends all agree on exactly which new options you like.

So let’s take a moment and review one example: the Hull Penalty.

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The Inside Scoop: April Fools

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Our last Scoop article shared all the details about Leagues and Championships. Now the Cognitum War is underway, we can turn our attention back to the future. We at Planets Magazine are pleased to bring you an announcement: Nu’s got new features and ships coming your way. Moreover, Planet.nu’s usually inscrutable leader, Joshua, is here to tell us all about it.

NOTE: We’re told the art is preliminary, and it may not come in by release time, so TS has given us a filler picture or two.  Contrary to appearances, no alcohol was used writing this article. -G

(As is always the case with Inside Scoop, the following has been condensed from a lengthy email chain. Just imagine we’re all in a comfy studio with nice cups of tea and an Easter wedge of Mom-Mom Bessie’s Coconut Molasses Pie. – Editor)

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Addressing Torpedo Balance – Part 1: “Normalize MC costs”

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Opinion

In my last article, I described the new torpedo changes and demonstrated the relative inequality of torpedo stats in VGA Planets. In this article, I will discuss what planets could (and arguably should) look like in terms of an ideal distribution of stats. I will follow up with some concrete suggestions on how to make this possible. In doing so, I will try not to change the flavour of the game.

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