The best thing about random events is they often 'break the stalemate'. ie, all empires have built up but no one wants to make that 'first move' and declair war upon their neighbor for fear of another backstabbing them. Then the #1 player has a home system go nova, the #3 player attacks him, the #4 attacks 3 and 2 attacks 4, and so on. Otherwise it can degenerate into a game of 'hunt and kill the AI and then look at each other and wonder who will attack first.'. This is one scenario, the other of course is that everyone just goes for each others throat!!
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"The Empress took your name away," said Chance.
Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker.