Several new features have been implemented into Big Bang's bubble routine in the TWGS .55 release. These new options allow the gameop to develop very unique universes for a wide variety of purposes and a wide variety of gameplay results. Although most of these new features are self explanatory, this short document should provide gameops with some specific details of what each option does.

Once Bubbles are turned on in a Gold-enabled game, six new options will appear: Minimum Sectors, Maximum Sectors, Minimum Links, Maximum Links, Minimum Link Size and Maximum Link Size.

Minimum Sectors: This setting determines the minimum size of the bubble, defaulting to 100.

Maximum Sectors: This setting allows you to set the maximum size of all bubbles.

Minimum Links: Allows you to specify the minimum number sectors within a bubble which link to the main universe. In previous versions of Big Bang, the minimum link function was 1 link per 25 sectors within the Bubble. In .55, you can specify -all- bubbles have a set amount of links -regardless- of bubble size.

Maximum Links: Allows you to specify the maximum number of sectors within a bubble which link to the main universe. If the Maximum Links setting is higher in value than the minimum links, all bubbles will be created with a number of links between the minimum value and the maximum value.

Minimum Tunnel Size: This is an entirely new option. Tunnels can now be created between the bubble and the main universe. A tunnel is just that, a number of sectors comprised of two way warps that connect the bubble to the main universe. If this setting is used (0 indicates no connecting tunnels) then all created bubbles will utilize a tunnel to connect them to the main universe of at -=least=- the number of sectors you specify here.

Maximum Tunnel Size: This determines the maximum length (in number of sectors) that generated connecting tunnels can be. If this number is greater than the Minimum Tunnel Size setting, each bubble's connecting tunnel will be of a random size falling between the minimum and maximum settings.

A word of caution regarding the Minimum and Maximum Tunnel Size settings. It would be -=very=- easy for gameops to create literally impenetrable bubbles by allowing long connecting tunnels. (Imagine a 20 sector deep tunnel filled with Lvl 6 Volcanics). If you use the tunnel option, I suggest setting the maximum tunnel length no greater than three, or at most four sectors. Anything above this may unbalance gameplay.

An Example Big Bang:

Risk!: These new settings can be used to create Risk!-like games. Determine how many teams will be playing, set that number of bubbles. Minimum and Maximum bubble sizes should be set equally, gauranteeing all bubbles are of equal size, Minimum and Maximum links should be set to 1, ensuring all bubbles have only one warp in and out, and tunnel depth should be set to 3 for both minimum and maximum. Place StarDock in one of the remaining sectors in open space, as well as the Class 0 ports, and you have a potential bloodbath style game on your hands.

Capture the Flag: Set number of bubbles to 1. Set Minimum/Maximum Links to 1. Set minimum/maximum tunnel depth to three, four or possibly more if you have a heavily edited game where plenty of fighters will be available. Set Ferrengal to indestructible and place the planet within the bubble. It is now up to teams to capture the planet and utilize the defensive ability of the connecting tunnel to hold the planet. Like Risk!, the bottleneck (the tunnel) would become a very bloody piece of stellar real estate.

General Games: Set the minimum/minimum maximum links to 1 to give all bubbles a single doorway. If you want to really even out the advantages of bubbles, assign a matching minimum and maximum bubble size setting.


Lisa M. Wilson
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