Fyron:
Since he mentioned the three-talisman thing, he must be talking about the latest Humans-only PBW Version.
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The low level talisman is quite impractical. Especially considering the QNP system, which forces you to spend more space on engines at the expense of weapons.
I would say offhand, that the first talisman is only worth it on Bases or Baseships.
The top level talisman is only worthwhile on the bigger ships, say Battleship or higher.
For the smaller ships, use the Talisman mount. You sacrifice the extra damage of a large mount, but don't have to include a talisman component.
A nice tradeoff IMO.
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As for the Pirate/Nomad advantage; Unless its a roleplaying game, a Pirate or Nomad dosen't stand a chance. The regulars will eventually be able to clear the storms and overwhelm with sheer numbers.
Choosing more than one trait from the Pirate/Nomad/Normal trio is considered blatant Cheating, unless the game is specifically set up to allow it in big, bold lettering
For a multiplayer match, you may consider letting players choose either Normal or Pirate+Nomad.
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Idea:
How about a game of Normal-race Newbies vs Pirate Veterans, which would be both a challenge for the vets, and a survivable learning experience for the new players!