View source for Version 1.4.0


A galactic-events-and-empire-scale release: alliances fight the weekly '''Riftwake Incursion''', empires align with the new '''Astrophysics planet cap''', and Realm 4+ shipyards get a '''build-floor and hull tuning''' pass.<blockquote>Riftwake rules are in Riftwake Incursion. Planet slots follow Astrophysics in the Research tree. Or open '''Settings → Quick Guides''' in-game.</blockquote>

== New Features ==

=== Riftwake Incursion ===

* A recurring '''weekly alliance event''' on Realm 4+ galaxies. Five fixed '''Riftwake Scars''' rotate; one flares each week as the '''Active Scar'''.
* '''Phase 1 — Siphon Spines:''' Clear four PvE '''Siphon Spine''' targets in the scar system. Each clear eases the galaxy-wide '''Astral Siphon''' (production drain) and grants your alliance a '''Wakeheart hold bonus'''.
* '''Phase 2 — Wakeheart hold:''' Once all spines fall, attack the '''Wakeheart''' at the system center. The alliance that '''holds it continuously''' long enough wins.
* The victor becomes '''Realmwarden''' for seven days and receives the '''Mandate of Regna''': leadership can gift '''Mandate Caches''' to fighters and assign up to eight server-wide '''Regnal Honors''' (prestige buff titles).
* Realmwarden members gain '''+5% resource production''' while the Mandate lasts. Winning again next week applies '''Mandate fatigue''' on battle stats (stacks up to −15%) until another alliance takes the crown.
* '''Rift Contagion''' marks the scar and neighboring systems as unconquerable — travel and staging still work, but permanent territory claims do not.
* Launch Riftwake strikes from your own, alliance, or '''diplomatic ally''' colonies within '''two hexes''' of the Contagion belt. Alliances may run up to '''two''' concurrent Riftwake FCS rallies.
* '''Spine respawns''' during the Wakeheart phase offer late alliances a chance to steal hold-bonus credit. '''2nd / 3rd place''' alliances and spine-clear contributors receive automatic participation packs at window end.
* Diplomatic allies '''cannot displace each other''' on the Wakeheart (break ally first). NAP partners can still contest the hold.

=== Astrophysics planet cap ===

* Astrophysics now grants '''one additional planet slot per three levels''' (limit = homeworld + floor(level ÷ 3)). Research costs and your current level are unchanged — only the capacity formula updates.
* '''Realm 3+ timeline''' (after announcement):
** '''Day 7:''' Excess planets (most recently colonized beyond your cap) become '''access-restricted''', including their moons. Restricted colonies cannot produce, build, research, or be fleet targets — but you can still dispatch fleets from them.
** '''Day 14 / Day 21:''' Reminder mail with refund and Building Nano Boost estimates.
** '''Day 28:''' Remaining excess colonies retire automatically with the same compensation as a voluntary abandon.
* '''Voluntary abandon:''' From Colony Settings on a restricted planet, '''Abandon Excess Colony''' moves warehouse resources and hangar ships to your homeworld, refunds '''100%''' of building investment (planet + moons), and grants '''Building Nano Boosts''' from major infrastructure levels.
* '''Realm 1–2:''' No access restrictions or auto-retirements. New colonization beyond the cap is blocked once live.
* The Research screen shows progress toward your '''next planet slot'''.

== Balance ==

* '''Ship build-time floors (Realm 4+):''' Early-tier hull floors are lower so short queues finish faster — Realm I '''10 ms''', Realm II '''25 ms''', Realm III '''50 ms''' (Realm IV stays '''200 ms''').
* '''Dreadnought:''' '''+20%''' attack, hull, and shield. Rapid fire now also covers '''Prism Tower (×3)''' and '''Planetary Dome (×2)'''. Minimum build time '''60 ms''' at Realm 4+.
* '''Colossus:''' Minimum build time cut to '''2.5 s''' (was 5 s). '''Carrier''' and '''Megahauler''' roles unchanged — Carrier remains a screen ship; Megahauler stays a pure hauler.

== Improvements ==

* '''Alliance building lists''' show the correct options for HQ, Division, and Bastion roles — including doctrine-gated signatures once a doctrine is chosen.
* Riftwake map overlay, contribution board, and Mandate tools live under '''Alliance → Riftwake''' for the Realmwarden alliance.

== Bug Fixes ==

* Very large building upgrade queues no longer show invalid completion dates.
* Alliance doctrine building availability stays consistent between the build menu and empty slot prompts.