6.0 Outerchange

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Overview

"Outerchange" is the name commonly given to the space surrounding the Drake Zone. This series of star systems has very few large planets, but instead consists of the remains of solar systems, ripped apart by the great tides of the Drake's defensive hyperspace "storm-reef".

The Outerchange is loosely linked to the the Known Sphere™ in that all activity takes place within a "real" location. Events within the Outerchange will not necessarily effect events within the Ace of Angels® Campaign due to the Campaign's story-driven nature. With the occasional element introduced from the Campaign, the Outerchange will continue as its own universe, developing more or less independently.

To add to your small initial account balance, you can earn credits in the Outerchange by killing others for their bounty or by performing missions for pay. Missions within the Outerchange are advertised by Non-Player Organizations and Player Squadrons alike. With this money, you may purchase the newest fighters, with upgrades to their systems, outfitted with the latest in high-tech missiles and external system enhancers.

The most exciting aspect of this pocket of the Known Sphere™ is the ability for players to explore new areas, stake claims, and build their own structures. Squadrons even have the ability to collect dues or "taxes" from their members to pay for costs. If they are running their own supply center, a Squadron can sell items to their members much closer to cost than the likes of non-player organizations.

6.3 Home Dock and Other Dock Space

Because the Outerchange represents a persistent universe, your fighter (or fighters) have to be stored, along with the missiles and other equipment you have bought. All Transaction Centers will have an associated Dock that will store any items purchased, usually charging a fee. This includes any Fighters you have purchased (or Default fighters you have purchased for which you have a configuration.)

Your Home Dock is the Dock from Which your will respawn when you are killed (because this is where your "spare" fighters are housed). You may set a Dock as Home by docking and pressing the "Make Home Dock" button in the Account Management Section.

While all Transaction Centers are also Docks, not all Docks are Transaction Centers. Some Docks will simply have caches of equipment that can be accessed, but provide no ways of adding to the supplies. These Docks include Capital Ships, Outposts, and any Player Base that has not been upgraded to a Transaction Center.

Fighters, missiles, pods and other equipment may be stored in any Dock for your personal access or the access of others (depending on the settings of the Dock). Squadron Bases are the most common example of Docks that allow more than one player to access equipment. Fighters and Equipment may be moved from Dock to Dock using one of the methods outlined below.

6.4 Accessing your Outerchange Account From the Station

6.5 Accessing your Outerchange Account From a Transaction Center

6.6 Managing your Outerchange Account

From here you can Manage your personal Outerchange Account. This shows your Balance, the maintenance of the your currently selected fighter and any taxes from your Squadron or any Dock or Transaction Center where have house fighters or supplies. Even if you are not at a specific Dock, you man still conduct businesses for that Dock over the FTL communication network in the Outerchange (you just cannot place any of these purchases on your fighter).

You may also transfer credits from your Account to other players or squadrons. Simply search for the name of the selected type, and then enter the amount to be transfer and click on the the Transfer button.

6.7 Purchasing Outerchange Fighters and Equipment

Each Transaction Center has a limited supply of various items ranging from Whole Fighters to replacement Type I missiles. The Categories of items fall into Ships (fighters), Missiles, Pods, Guns, Fighter Systems. When purchased, these become available for use within the Hanger.

The Store section displays the items available, their quantity and selling price. These prices are subject to market forces, and likely to change as supplies become scarce. Each Item has a graphic and a brief description of its capabilities and effects. Non-fighter items may be purchased in quantities of greater than one.

Each Handle in the Outerchange starts with several low-end, stock fighters that may be flow for zero maintenance cost, giving you something to both start with, and to fall back on. As you earn credits, you my purchase the right to fly other, more advanced fighters. Once this right is purchased for a handle you thereafter may fly this type of fighter as long as you are able to afford its maintenance. If your are "killed" in your fighter it is assumed that part of the maintenance paid is "insurance" and you are able to recover a new fighter. Any systems that have been upgraded are considered part of your fighter for the purpose of maintenance and recovery.

All fighters may be upgraded in the Hanger section with guns and equipment purchased in the Store Section. All such upgrades will increase the maintenance cost of these fighters (even if that cost was zero to start with). As long as your account has the money, you may fly these fighters. Unmodified fighters automatically come with their "stock" guns, cannons and other systems.

In order to have Missiles in the Outerchange, you have to buy them! It is suggested that you spend at least some of your initial account these on basic missiles. To find out about the various types of missile see the Missiles section in 3.6 Weapons. In the store, there is also a brief description of the types of missiles you can purchased. Like the fighters, missiles arrive from across the Known Sphere™.

Missiles are stored at your Home Dock for whatever cost is assigned at that Dock (New Troy allows the storage of up to 200 missiles and 20 Pods free of charge). When you dock, you are resupplied missiles along with your repair from this reserve.

Once used, Missiles are gone and have to be replaced. If your fighter is destroyed while it still carries missiles, those missiles are considered used and are lost. To replace your missiles you must dock and take on new supplies. If you do not have missile supplies at this Dock, then you will be unable to add missiles (Though, if you Dock at a Transaction Center, you may be able to buy the missiles you want). You may want to keep some stock piles scattered around Docks you are likely to fight near.

Unlike with Missiles, all fighters come stock with their Guns. You need not make any additional Purchase in order to have guns, though you make make modifications as you choose. Like the Fighter itself, these upgrades add to the maintenance cost of the fighter and are not lost when the fighter is destroyed.

Each Gun Mount has a Specific Size and can fit any gun or cannon of that size or smaller. Some advanced guns and cannons are able to punch above their size, but usually have some other problem, such as overheating.

There are two types of Pods, Expendable and System. Expendable Pods are such things as Chaff, Mine, and Shield Boost Pods, basically any type with an expendable component. System Pods are such things as Shield Reinforcement, ECM Booster, or any Pod that runs continuously. Once used, Expendable Pods are gone and have to be replaced, while System Pods continue with the until destroyed.

If your fighter is destroyed while it still carries Pods, or the Pods are destroyed along with the rack, those Pods are considered used and are lost. To replace your Pods you must dock and take on new supplies. If you do not have Pod supplies of the proper type at this Dock, then you will be unable to replace them. (Though, if you Dock at a Transaction Center, you may be able to buy the Pods you want). You may want to keep some stock piles scattered around Docks you are likely to fight near.

6.8 Upgrading your Fighters

6.9 Managing your Squadron in the Outerchange