Appendix G - Starting Notes

Explorer's Notes

The Capellan Periphery is composed of over 200 star systems.  Located
throughout are hundreds of colonies where you can resupply, grant
Shore Leave, and have Maintenance performed on your ship.

Many interesting discoveries are still to be made on the worlds teeming 
with life, as most of the worlds in the Capellan Periphery have been 
only lightly explored. All of the affiliations are missing maps, GPI 
reports, and other exploration data from their databases. 

In May 1989, BSE received a major upgrade. At this time much new information 
was added to each world. New systems were also added. There is research 
underway to detect new jump connections to undiscovered systems.

The BSE playing area actually consists of two different parts. The 
Capellan Periphery is the portion claimed by the Stellar Empire and 
is under Imperial Law. The Transhole Region lies beyond the blackholes 
and is the domain of the Samillian Empire. This is an alien race competing 
with humans for domination of the Transhole Region. The Transhole 
Region is suggested for experienced players only as the challenges 
there are much greater.

Suggestions for New Players

Your affiliation's Coordinators probably need your services. Contact
them. They will update you on the way things currently operate in the
periphery.

If you command a Fast Freighter, the Coordinators can inform 
you of lucrative trade runs to earn Stellars. They may also offer 
you missions to haul cargo for new colony sites.

If you command a Surveyor, you should get a Coordinator's suggestion 
on places to explore. Once you find an interesting world you will 
want to use a ground party to explore it more fully. You can let your 
ship sit on the planet while doing this or move it around while the 
ground party performs its exploration.

If you command a Corvette, your affiliation may not need your 
services right now as a warship. In this event the Coordinators may 
suggest an alternative mission. If they do send you into battle or 
out on patrol be sure to ask them for stellars so that you can outfit 
your ship for battle before you leave.

If you want to try going it on your own without the aid of your Coordinators 
things will be tougher. You won't have the support of the experienced 
and knowledgable players who currently lead your affiliation. If you 
select this route you may be interested in choosing the "anonymous 
option." Under this option only your coordinators will be given your 
name and address. Other players will be informed that your position 
is being played anonymously when they scan you. However, playing anonymously 
does not exempt you from obligations to your affiliation.

Keep in mind that the names and addresses of other players are confidential 
and are only to be used in connection with playing BSE.

Finally, don't feel like you're just a small fish in a sea of sharks.  There
are many opportunities in the Periphery that a clever starcaptain can take
advantage of -- opportunities that do not depend on ship size or how long
you've been playing the game.

