Blockading is one of the major activities that a captain can do in orbit of a zone. Blockading is inherently hostile to the zone below and it's faction owner. Blockading attempts to interfere with the commerce of the zone by intercepting merchants who service it. Blockading is most often carried out by pirates who are seeking to relieve rich merchants of their precious cargo. It may also be used by Military and Zealot Captains who wish participate in a faction conflict. During a conflict a Captain may draw a "Strike a blow in a conflict" card which will influence the conflict score away from the zone owner and give reputation with the opposing faction. Bounty Hunters may also be sent to blockade as part of a mission, this is generally do draw out a military ship target. As a hostile act, blockading is likely to draw out hostile military captains of the faction below. Any captain engaging in blockading should be prepared to engage in ship-to-ship combat.
The results of blockading are determined by a card mini-game. The Captain will draw 5 cards which are determine by risk and reward factors. He or she may then have the opportunity to modify their draw through the use of one crew talent which can allow them to redraw, remove or improve a card. Then one card will randomly be selected from the remaining cards providing either a negative, positive or neutral result. If a negative result is drawn it is possible that it's results may be avoided by a test of certain captain and ship skills. All blockading actions consume time and fuel.
Risk Factors
- Zone military rating
- Zone government rating
Reward Factors
- Zone economy level
- Zone starport level
- Captain's Charisma
- Captain's Resilience
- Ship pilot points
- Ship intimidate skill
Positive Results
- Mission success card
- Profits from extortion
- Learn a new rumor
- New contact introduction
- Recover fuel and repair hull
- Strike a blow in a conflict: increase rep and influence conflict score
Negative Results
- Damage to ship
- Damage to crew
- Death among crew
- Hostile Military ship or Bounty Hunter
- Extra time and fuel