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**************** Chapter 13 - Assumptions, Hints & Policies *****************
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General Assumptions

The following lists some general assumptions you can make as you play 
BSE. They are given here to help guide you in writing your Special 
Actions.

1. Security aboard a starship is very good. Any troops you have on
board will always defend your ship, even when landed. If anyone no 
associated with your ship tries to board they are immediately 
stopped by your security personnel. If this results in an attack, 
your troops will respond. No one can sneak anything aboard your ship 
without you knowing about it. Much of the time used to accomplish 
a transaction is spent examining the items.

2. Colony security is also tight. When a ship lands at a colony
its personnel are restricted to the starport area. Ship's personnel
are never granted access to the "colony proper."  To infiltrate the
colony, agents must be hired.

3. COLONISTS living at a colony can come and go as they please, even 
into the starport area. 

4. Your position is always ready for battle. In space, your CREW 
 have little to do as all ship's systems are controlled 
by your ship's computers.

5. When you communicate to a colony governor it is done through a 
video audience. He would never risk his life by meeting you in person.

6. Your ship's personnel maintain the highest efficiency possible. 
CREW drill in emergency procedures, while troops drill in battle preparations. 
Sufficient CREW are always on duty to operate the ship. Crew engage 
in ordinary relaxation activities to prevent their morale from declining 
too rapidly.

7. It's impossible for the GM to keep track of the game information 
you have received. This is because it is common for players to trade 
such information among themselves. In your Special Actions be clear 
about the type of information you are looking for. If the GM sends 
you some information you  have, it's because he believed you needed 
it.

8. Game information is given out as the result of your actions. Please 
don't ask us for something just because you heard about it from another 
player.

9. Although you normally submit a turn every week, other players do 
likewise. Therefore another player's actions may affect your position 
in some manner. You will be informed of these actions at the top of 
your next turn as Happenings Since Your Last Turn. For example, a 
ship will be told the other positions that scanned him between turns. 
A colony will be told which positions interacted with his market.

Hints for Beginning Players

Upon receiving your first Starship printout you will notice 
that you have little in your ship. You are given a number of Stellars 
to purchase items you think you might need. We suggest you purchase 
a few SYSTEM PROBES and PLANET PROBES that you can use to map the 
new systems and worlds you encounter. You should hire a few troops, 
as crew are useless in defending your ship in the event of a ground 
attack. Maximize the number of THRUST ENGINES you have as these increase 
the speed of your ship and allow you to accomplish more per turn. 
If you are interested in making contact with other players you should 
purchase SENSORS.

When you join the game your name & address is given to the coordinators 
of your affiliation. At least one of them should contact you shortly. 
If they don't you should write them yourself.

Usually the coordinator who contacts you will appraise you of the
status of your affiliation. He will probably suggest a mission to
get you started in the game. Until you have an assignment you should
spend your time getting accustomed to the game system.  Try probing a
few worlds and landing at some colonies. The Capellan System is usually
a very safe area to travel.

Don't outfit for battle right away. Wait until you have some experience 
before you go gunning for anyone. If you attack someone without justification 
you will be held accountable for your actions by his affiliation. 
This is called Posting. If your ship is Posted it is fair 
game for others to attack. If you want to engage in battle, wait a 
few turns until you learn what is currently happening in the game. 
There are usually outlaws and alien invaders whom you can annihilate 
(or who might just annihilate you!)

Policies

The following are the policies used by Rolling Thunder Games to moderate BSE.

1. Players who cheat or who perform actions not in the spirit of the
game shall be removed at the discretion of the GM. In all game matters
the decision of the GM is the final word and by joining BSE all players
agree to this.

2. No player is permitted to sell BSE materials for real money without 
the approval of Rolling Thunder Games. 

3. Players are encouraged to trade information among themselves.  Players 
may copy game materials to share with other players but only for game 
purposes.

4. You are permitted to be a member of only one affiliation at a time, 
regardless of how many positions you control. Each player may purchase 
a maximum of three ship set-ups. If it is your desire to control additional 
positions in the game you may not purchase them. You must acquire 
them through play. If the number of ships you control drops below 
three you may purchase another ship set-up. If you have three or less 
you cannot transfer one to another player.

5. Only material written on the front side of a single turn sheet will
be processed. 

6. If the GM makes an error on your turn we will gladly correct it
whenever possible. However it is our job to act as an impartial 
moderator. Therefore we must insist that you document the error before 
we can correct it. This includes sending back copies of your printouts 
and turn sheets.

7. Once you mail a turn to the moderator it normally cannot be changed.  
Also we do not give out turn results over the phone.  

Once a turn is sent to us it may not be canceled. The only exceptions 
are turns being held for lack of funds or for improperly sequenced 
turns.

8.  Although BSE turns are often processed and mailed on the day we 
receive them, it is possible a backlog may exist.  We process all 
the turnsthat come in a given day's mail before moving onto the next 
day's mail.  This is also true for battles. Battles are always processed 
on Friday. It could happen that your  turn has arrived in our office 
but cannot be included in that Friday's battles because we haven't 
yet begun processing  the day's mail when your turn arrived.  If this 
occurs, your battle will be held until the following  Friday.  
