maybe change the starting resources so that players have a chance of actually finishing expo phase before the round is over.  Maybe increase starting resources by 10x?

Well, 120x120 was the size of Beta 3.. there were 20 players per family, and 100 families in that.

So, to remain at that size, for one, the concentration of systems would need to be radically reduced, that or only have 5-10 planets per system to maintain a similar scale.

And if you really want to play with this many planets, get rid of morale entirely.

IMHO, Make it pure hardcore again, unlimited ops, unlimited attacks, keep protection mode as it is.. 12 to 20 explores a day max. let's get ephase over with quickly, and get the galaxyinto the action as quickly as possible.

Then we can truely see who the great ones are.

when will the galaxy be open for registration?

and is there a name for this "merger" galaxy yet?

I say leave it just as is, unless you up the numbers of players and/or fams.

If nothing changes, I will just shrug an go on. I will accept the galaxy I get, and play my best in it.  So should you all.

The point is playing the game, as it is, not trying to get it tweeked or fine tuned to my preferences. My preference, was no merge, and let me play in MW with all it's nastiness, and lack of  honour. Or better yet, TRI.
But eh, Tri was removed, and I went MW, and not the merge.  The merge is happening. Period. I accept that., just as I accepted  Tri being closed.

So this is not what you are used to. So, it meets not your approval. The challenge is: to overcome all that, to prove you can still do as you did, and still brag about. The challenge, is to show your worth, and your mettle in a changed situation. Can you accept the challenge, and prove you are a good player in new situations? Or only in MW or Andro, or only in smaller galaxies, etc? Only in familiar, comfortable situations?

I accept the challenge. And so should you all, we will all grow by it. This is the very last time I ask for any changes in the stats for the merge round. (at least til the round ends) I accept how it is, from here on, and will do my very best under the conditions set forth. I will do my very best to adapt, and adjust. An, so should you all, or you will lose, if you dont just wimp out, and fail to try.

Eh, ty Oz. I dont know which or what you liked, but I stand by it all. that was the last time I ask for any change. ( I did ask twice)

Whether any change is made or no, I will play this round. I will do my damnest to win it. An, so should you all. Accept the challenge offered, and rise to meet it!  Adapt. Learn. Change.

every 1 just shut up play it as it is and see what happen's

the mods are testing it out so let it be a test and see if use like it... u might all enjoy it really.. plus it will make it more of a challange

also dident read all post cause every 1 was just bitching read first page that was it, and that is my conclusion

just play it!

no explorer limit X(

OMG the nubs are gathering around their main nub hummy.

Dude. If you car does not have an engine, do you still try to drive it ?
If you have no parachute, do you still jump off a cliff ?

This game is not based on emotion, will or anythin non-comprehensible, its based on basic math versus the time factor. The merger round is supposed to be merging the two last "hard-to-play" galaxies in the game. Yet the specs put forth for this round, make it an extremely easy round.

You can literally keep on exploring until EoR. I guarantee this. In fact. Look at Andromeda as it is right now. It ends in a couple of days, and there are several systems still, unexplored...tons of planets available. And thats with Andro's specs....waaaaaay lower pcount.

The merger round is in addition to its overwhelming amount of planets...made short. It will last 2 months. So basicly, what they have done is create a huuuuuge map, and give us less time to explore it. Both ingame and offgame morale will be killed, and I am left wondering if they are trying to kill the game alltogether, by ruining the game for the few remaining hardcore IC players.

I knew it! Emo-IC trying to kill itself!

I'm not against it. As said before, it sounds interesting. You could work together and organise the best sort of core possible without worrying about running into other cores. Attackers would fight vast skirmishes. It would be more 'realistic'. You'd never have boarders rubbing with boarder in the vast expanse of a galaxy. Strats would be very different, and could vary greatly. Maybe this is a new step for IC...stratz could change vastly, keeping people interested, as the perfect strat would now need to be found. So it sounds interesting. Sure..having a player to planet ratio of 1:30 would be pretty awesome, but maybe that'd be another galaxy coming into play later on.