If I raise the event frequency, I will be dropping the severity. Right now that's still a big 'if'. Personally, I think everyone's gonna have enough to worry about, between starting an empire from scratch, dealing with nine other human players, and dealing with enhance computer empires, without having to worry every turn if their homeworld's start is going to go nova. (I usually play on high severity.)
But, in the spirit of democracy, anyone in the game can vote for either low frequency and catastrophic severity, OR medium frequency and high severity.
Cap'n, I learned that mantra the hard way. I started my empire focusing more on infrastructure than defense when an agressive warmongering empire showed up in my home system. Being woefully underdefended, I was easy pickings for 'em. I was effectively out of the game within the first YEAR (though I've Lasted another year to taunt the invaders, wait for the inevitable, and pray for a miracle). Trust me, it will not happen again!
Five players so far: the game is half-full, or half-empty, depending on your point of view.
Quikngruvn
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Stay alert. Trust no one. Keep your laser handy.
--from the RPG
Paranoia, now my PBW mantra