Appendix C - House Rules

BSE Playing Costs

Rules Package: $5.00 (Training Manual is free)

Starter Package: $20.00 (includes full rulebook, with $16.00 placed 
on account toward your set-up fee and first turns.)

Starship & Colony Set-up Fee: $6.00

Ground Party Set-up Fee: None

Starship & Ground Party Turn Fee: $6.00 for 70 TU turn and $10.00 for 140 TU.

Colony Turn Fee: $6.00 per printout or 30 orders, whichever comes first.

Battle Fees: None

You need to always maintain a positive account balance to cover your 
turn fees.  As much as we'd love to, we can't process turns which would 
cause your account balance to fall below zero. If this occurs we will 
hold on to your turn sheet and send you a note. Then you can send 
funds and rescue your turn from the dreaded "HOLD FILE." 

If possible, please submit a minimum of $20.00 to your account at 
a time. To insure that your check is credited properly to your account 
make sure you write your account# on the check.  Thanks.

Your choice: 70 or 140 TU Turns

BSE is normally played with each player submitting a 70 TU turn each 
week.  However, this is not always possible for players who reside 
far from the offices of the moderator.  For these players  we offer 
the option of playing one 140 TU turn every two weeks.  This allows 
you to accomplish as much as someone sending in a turn every week 
without falling behind. (140 TU turns can only be used if your position 
did not process a turn during the previous week.)

The 140 TU turns can also be used by players who simply don't wish 
to play as often as once per week due to time constraints. They may 
also be used as make-up turns by players who normally submit weekly 
turns but happen to fall behind.  

Paying by Credit Card

Rolling Thunder Games accepts payments through Visa and MasterCard. Just 
request a copy of our credit card authorization form and whenever 
your account falls below $0 we will charge a minimum of $60 to your 
card.

Phone Service

Rolling Thunder Games can be reached at (303) 466-8600 between the
hours of 10am and 5pm (Mountain Time) weekdays.  It's possible to catch 
somebody in the office at other times, but we can't guarantee that we'll
pick up the phone at 3:00 in the morning...

You may call and talk to a GM concerning rules questions and game
mechanics. You may not submit instructions nor receive turn results over
the phone. 

Sequenced Turns

In BSE, turns are processed sequentially in the order we receive them
from the post office. Sometimes a group of players wish their turns to
be processed in a certain specific order. These are called Sequenced Turns.

The most important concept to understand is that Sequenced Turns are 
still processed in sequence. None of them can be processed simultaneously. 
For example, if SHIP A is first in the sequence and it moves away, 
when SHIP B processes it must deal with SHIP A as it appeared at the 
end of its turn.

A space is provided on the top of the turn sheet to list all the 
positions to be sequenced. Be sure to list them in the order you 
want them processed at the top of every turn involved in the 
space provided. None of the turns in the sequence will be processed 
until all of them have been received. It is preferable, but not required, 
to include all sequenced turns in the same envelope whenever possible.

The main use of sequenced turns is to allow ships to travel in convoy 
and to coordinate the transfer of material between positions. An item 
may only be transferred between positions once per week. If you receive 
an item from another position you cannot transfer it again in the 
same week.

Capellan Periphery Times

The Capellan Periphery Times (or CPT) is printed periodically and
distributed free to all players with their turns. It is the game newsletter
and contains stories about many current events in the game.  Ads are
accepted but must first be cleared with the GM.  Please keep in character
when submitting notices or other material for the CPT.

Dropping a Position

At any time you wish to drop a position just notify the gamemaster 
(in writing) of the position number.  It will immediately be removed 
from your control at no charge.  

Improving BSE

Since its inception, BSE has undergone change and improvement. We 
are always looking for ways to improve the game and add to your enjoyment. 
If you have any ideas that you would like to share with us please 
send them on a separate sheet. We probably won't reply (due to time 
constraints) but we will definitely consider your ideas. 

Yearly Meeting

Each year Rolling Thunder Games holds a BSE meeting at a major game
convention (usually GENCON). This usually draws a large crowd of BSE players. 
You can talk with the GM's, learn what we have in store for the future 
of BSE, attend BSE seminars, and participate in the antics that only 
BSE players can create.

