The neutral challenge

[taterbill]

Just an idea for a new N.C. house rule:

Once you max out your home system, you can start to build unarmed (only) scouts and colony ships to send to adjacent systems, but
they can only have ONE engine component. This simulates the premise that early warp technology is incredibly bulky and early warp-capable ships will be very slow. Until Activation, only ships with a speed of 1 are allowed to utilize warp points.

Also, this may be completely suicidal, but I'm going to say no weapons research until Activation or until I colonize a planet with ruins. That would at least give me a hint that I am not alone in the galaxy. So until until then, I'll have nothing but "police" boats with DUC I's and Missle I's. First contact will be suitably scary.

I'm going to apply the new Mod Pack 1.50 tonight and start my first NC game using these rules and the rules suggested in previous Posts. It should be a bLast!