Tachyon: The Fringe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style.
Please rewrite this article to explain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective.
This article or section resembles a fan site.
Please help improve this article by removing excessive trivia and irrelevant praise, criticism, lists and collections of links.(May 2008)
Tachyon: the Fringe
Developer(s) NovaLogic
Publisher(s) NovaLogic
Platform(s) PC
Release date March 30, 2000
Genre(s) Space combat simulation, Action
Mode(s) Singleplayer and Multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: Everyone (E)
Input methods Joystick, Mouse, Keyboard

Tachyon: The Fringe is a computer game developed and published in 2000 by the company Novalogic. It features the voice acting of Bruce Campbell as main character Jake Logan in a 3-D space simulator. Tachyon was the brainchild of long-time Novalogic programmer Randy Casey. Randy had pioneered two other titles for Novalogic before Tachyon: F-22 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

[edit] Flight Controls

As the game uses non-newtonian physics, there is a top speed starships can move at, even at full throttle. There is however the possibility to disengage all engines and "slide" along with constant velocity, while being able to turn the ship around, to fire at following opponents, for example.

Careful use of "sliding" and afterburners can allow the player to constantly increase the ship's speed (albeit in one direction only) far beyond the normal limit.

[edit] Starbases

There are several starbases in the Tachyon universe. They serve as re-arm and repair outposts in the vastness of the Fringe (which contains dozens of starbases owned by numerous factions). The player can also earn credits by selling certain items found during missions at these starbases. The player is informed when a starbase is interested in an item in the protagonist's inventory. The player can either enter in their hangar ports (when available) or dock with their landing platforms

The space stations in Tachyon are designed with an accurate sense of scale, and are, by far, the largest and most heavily armed structures in the game. It is impossible for the player to destroy a starbase. They are only destroyed in specific events triggered during missions. You can, however, destroy weapons powerplants on some starbases, rendering their weapons useless.

[edit] Weapons

There are several different kinds of weaponry available that can be purchased in starbases and equipped to any ships in possession. The two main factions in the game, the Galactic Spanning Corporation (GalSpan) and the Bora Colonies (Bora) have different weapon systems. GalSpan weaponry leans toward powerful, slow-firing guided weapons, while Bora weapons are unguided and have a rapid rate of fire. It is also seen in several missions that both starbases and capital ships are armed with considerably larger ship-to-ship weapons, which fire a continuous beam of energy. The only time this is actually seen in the game however is when employed by GalSpan Hellas station against a Bora vessel carrying an "Armageddon" laser, and when a Bora carrier engages two GalSpan cruisers at point blank range. Both of these events occur during Bora missions.

  • Lasers: Bora tend to have fast-firing, weaker lasers (like the Pulsar Laser), while GalSpan's lasers have a slower rate of fire but with more firepower (like the Deimos Heavy Laser). Both groups also have access to several non-laser projectile weapons, like the Chatter Cannon (GalSpan) and the EMP Projector (Bora).
  • Rockets/Missiles: GalSpan provides its pilots with homing missiles, while Bora ships are equipped with unguided dumb-fire rockets. Generally, more rockets can fit on a starship compared to missiles of equivalent strength.
  • Torpedoes: Only GalSpan pilots have access to torpedoes, which fire powerful, guided energy rounds at a slow rate of fire and immense energy cost. The Solaris and Blast Torpedoes are the exception to this rule. Neither are guided. The Solaris, in addition, can be "charged" for varying damage effects. 4 fully charged "Sols" can destroy any fighter-class ship in one impact.
  • Sappers: Only Bora pilots have access to sappers which are small devices that attach to enemy ships and cause one of several draining effects.
  • Special Weapons: Bora and GalSpan have unique special weapons that provide different functions. The Bora have, for example, the rail gun, a weapon that can be quite precise over short distances, with a maximum range of 7.00 clicks. Although it demands a large quantity of laser energy, it does heavy damage to hull and is usually an instant kill. GalSpan has, among other weapons, the tractor wave, which slows down the target and allows easier lock-on for guided weapons. The slowing down of the target also serves a vital team-playing role in multi-player, allowing lighter craft to "leash" hostile ships until the larger, more powerful fighters arrive.

[edit] Equipment

There are also a variety of ships to choose from, from slow and heavily laden bombers to space superiority fighters. Each fighter can be upgraded with two types of equipment. The first type consists of weapons for your starfighter. These vary from lasers to tractor beams and missiles. The second type consists of hardware on your ship. Hardware can be upgraded to improve performance. Examples of hardware upgrades are Smart Shields, thrust boosters and the Fog Radar. The large variety of both weapons and hardware upgrades, coupled with the many different ships give Tachyon an open ended feel to gameplay.

[edit] Missions

In story mode, the player chooses missions from the Job Board. Some missions are offered by neutral parties and do not drive the main storyline (though they do occasionally affect the TNS News bulletins). Eventually, the story will reach a point where it becomes necessary for the player to ally with either the Bora Colonies or the Galactic Spanning Corporation. The Bora missions are usually higher in difficulty and less rewarding monetarily. GalSpan pays well and often has missions in tandem with other pilots. Since the two factions offer different fighters and different weapons, they encourage different play styles, as well as different storylines.

[edit] Wingmen

These NPC's are available for hire in different missions. In return for a fee and a percentage of your earnings, they will make their services as a pilot available to you. Having another gun available may help you significantly in tight situations or against large numbers of enemies. Pilots have different ships, weapons, fees, levels of ability, and personalities. More expensive pilots tend to have better ships, weapons and ability. You cannot personally control them, but you can issue one of six basic commands:

  • Attack Target
  • Escort Target
  • Disable Target
  • Follow Me
  • Cover Me
  • Return to Base

How well they carry out your orders depend on their ability and their personality. Some pilots are willing to help in any capacity. Some may fail to complete objectives proficiently. Some may disregard your orders completely. Wingmen are unlocked as you complete different missions and objectives. Naturally, Bora wingmen are not available to GalSpan pilots and vice versa. Wingmen can be destroyed on a mission. Deceased wingmen will not return, with the exception of the JASPer pilots, who can be replaced.

[edit] Setting

The story of Tachyon: The Fringe is set in the 26th century, where mankind has left Earth to colonize the far reaches of space, and has many characteristics of a space opera. The Sol system is a place of relative peace, which is kept by the police force called Star Patrol. The peace is only disturbed by conflict between rivaling megacorporations, who maintain private militaries and compete for control over markets and resources.

There is however, the Fringe, which consists of all space outside the direct jurisdiction of Sol. Except for an outpost in the Hub region, Star Patrol has virtually no presence here. The corporations, pirate clans, the Bora colonists, and the so-called "Asteroid Barons", are constantly struggling for power among themselves.

[edit] Tachyon Gates

Interstellar travel and instantaneous inter-system travel is enabled by so-called Internal Tachyon Coil Generator drives on large spacecraft, while smaller ships travel through so-called Tachyon Coil Generator (TCG) Gates. These gates are essentially artificial wormholes connecting two sectors within a region.

Larger Tachyon gates, so-called "Mega-gates" enable travel between the wider regions of space the game universe is divided in. They cannot be accessed by simply flying through them, as they will appear to be closed at all times, but a special "mission" selectable from Starbases will transfer the player to another region.

Both type of Tachyon gates require a material from the Ripstar phenomena to power them. Ripstars are very small in size, but they have an immense gravitational field that "sucks in" any ship that comes too close to it, as can be seen while flying through the Ripstar Fields.

One of the newscasts at the end of the game indicates a successful experiment with Tachyon Wave Generators, which might eventually allow ships to travel faster and farther than before. This appears to be the only hint to a possible sequel in the game.

[edit] The Fringe

The Fringe is divided into six regions, which are accessed through Tachyon Mega-Gates. The player will gain access to more regions as the game progresses.

[edit] Hub Region

The Hub Region is so called because it is the gateway between Sol and the Fringe. The primary starbase in the region is Starbase Alpha, which is the busiest port in the Fringe. All transportation from and to Sol must pass through Alpha. The region itself generally an industrial base for smaller companies. Scrap yards litter the area. The Hub is also home to the Letzer Training Grounds.

It must be noted that this region is the center of Star Patrol activity in the Fringe. Commander Alberion Obulo's forces are based in this region.

[edit] Frontier Region

The Frontier Region is a popular tourist destination. It has hotels, restaurants, casinos, and even a space combat arena. The New Vegas Starbase is the most popular tourist spot in the Fringe. It has everything in the way of gambling and entertainment.

The Frontier Region is also potentially the most unstable region in the Fringe. The region is partially divided into Baronies controlled by the infamous Asteroid Barons. When the United Sol Government first colonized the region, these entrepreneurs were given private sectors in return for heavy investments. After the USG withdrew control from the area, the Barons became the closest to government the region has. The Barons constantly clash with each other as they follow their own personal agendas.

The more immediate threat are the pirate clans who roam the Frontier. Without a Star Patrol presence in the area, brigandry has consumed much of the region. They find no qualms about attacking the odd pilot alone in the Frontier.

[edit] Bora Colonies

The Bora are descendants of colonists. After war ended in the Sol region in the 24th century, the people were united under one government. Some, however, disagreed with the new system. Bora began as a political party for these people. Eventually, they left Sol, using experimental tachyon drives. They went far away from Sol and built colonies on the asteroids. Mining the asteroids became necessary for the Bora people to survive.

In the years since then, the Fringe has become settled and the megacorporations have begun eyeing the mineral-rich asteroids of the Bora region. The Galactic Spanning Corporation has successfully contested the legal right of these colonies and claim the region to be their property. The Bora, independent-minded as ever, refuse to accept the USG's ruling against them and have responded with open war against GalSpan.

[edit] GalSpan Holdings

Founded under the motto: "Profit equals worth," GalSpan was one of the first megacorporations to occupy Fringe space. Their primary production is in mining, which led to their successful suit against Bora for several asteroid-rich Fringe regions.

This region's primary structure is Olympus Base, the center of GalSpan's new Fringe Acquisition and Mining Division, headed by Regional Director Gustav Atkins.

[edit] Twilight Region

The Twilight Region is the unexplored edge of Fringe space. It is primarily composed of a bizarre nebula. Scientific exploration has met with mediocre success. So many rumors circulate about the region that most pilots refuse to go there. It is true that many unusual events happen in the area. The only starbase, the Deep Fringe Array, was at one point abruptly cut off from all human contact. The base was later rediscovered, but completely devoid of life.

The region is prone to many bizarre happenings. There are stories told about ghost ships, demon pirates, and crazed madmen floating around the fog.

[edit] Ripstar Region

The Ripstar Region is the most disputed space, directly between GalSpan and Bora regions. The region is a hotbed of conflict, as well as home to the infamous ripstars. Ripstars are type of concentrated singularity that generates a gravity field powerful enough to rip apart any ship that comes within distance. However, ripstars are also the main component in the tachyon gates and generators that enable all interstellar travel. Mining and transporting ripstars is extremely dangerous, but recent technology advances promise that ripstars may one day be a profitable business.

Besides the Bora and GalSpan bases, the region is also home to the Cinder Mercs, independent mercenaries who rely on the ripstar fields for natural defense.

[edit] Major characters and factions

His story begins in Sol, where he is a contract pilot for Advanced Ganymede Technologies (AGT). His life consists of patrols, escort duty and the occasional courier run.

When he is called to uphold a quarantine in the orbital hospital complex near Neptune, however, his life changes drastically. The hospital is destroyed, and Logan convicted of conspiracy and crimes against humanity. He is sentenced to permanent exile in the Fringe.

Slowly, he begins to work on his career as a contract pilot again, branded by his sentence and his reputation, and finds himself in the position to choose from one of two major factions in the middle of a budding war: the Bora and GalSpan.

It is the player's choice which of the factions to side with at one pivotal point in the game. After that, affiliations cannot be changed.

[edit] Bora Colonies

The Bora are descendants of colonists who left Sol several centuries before to settle down in the Fringe. Recently, it was noted that the space they claimed for themselves was rich in mineral resources, and the megacorporations, most notably GalSpan, became interested. The Bora hold no official claim to these regions, and GalSpan has claimed them as their own. The Bora, fiercely-independent and strong-willed, have responded with open warfare against GalSpan intrusion.

[edit] Important Bora Characters
  • Susan Bradley is the appointed leader of the Bora, but beyond that, she is their inspiration. Her leadership and spirit have kept the Bora people united and strong. She symbolizess the Bora people. She is also a crack pilot and commands her own elite unit: "Susan's Lance." She flies a Warhammer assault fighter.
  • Anna Highfall is Logan's contact within the Bora and is presumably high up in the Bora command structure. She possesses a decidedly idealistic spirit and a nature of determined enthusiasm. Anna strongly believes in the Bora cause and her faith is reflected in her every word. Romance between Anna and Jake Logan intermittently surfaces through the course of the game. It is heavily implied that they ended up together at the end of the game.

[edit] Bora Wingmen

(Note: Bora pilots, by and large, have never entered corporate contract work and, as a result, have no Letzer ratings.)

  • Cathy Keels: Cathy is fairly new to the game, following her family tradition of fighter pilots. What she lacks in experience, she makes up for in enthusiasm. She initially showed promise as a rookie contract pilot for Fringe-side corporations, but when the Bora-GalSpan war erupted, she renounced the corper life and returned to fight for her home and her people.
    • Ship: Bora Cutlass Multirole Bomber
    • Letzer Rating: N/A
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 1100 credits / 7% of earnings
  • Nolt Lieber: A fierce fighter. Originally from New Gaia colony, he exemplifies the Bora's burning sense of independence. He hates all corporations with a passion, and GalSpan in particular. This preoccupation can make Nolt a little difficult to get along with. He tends to be judgmental, brooding, and edgy, but he has proved himself to be an excellent wingman.
    • Ship: Bora Mace Intercept Fighter
    • Letzer Rating: N/A
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 3350 credits / 12% of earnings
  • Ryan Saril: They call him "the Barbarian." His skill as a pilot is matched only by his intense ferocity. One has to wonder whether he truly cares about the Bora cause or just can't resist a good slaughter. He has been known to fire upon allies if they are between him and his selected prey; the idea of "friendly fire" is an alien concept to him. Tenacious, dangerous, and unstable, he's one to keep an eye on.
    • Ship: Bora Claymore Heavy Bomber
    • Letzer Rating: N/A
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 4100 credits / 20% of earnings
  • The Demon: She has no name but "The Demon," a title granted to her partly because of her unusual origins. She is the only known Demon Pirate who escaped from the maddening effects of Cassitor's fog. She brings to the Bora cause the famed fighter skill of the Demon Pirates, as well as their inhuman fanaticism. Conflict is her obsession and her psychosis. She will ignore all other enemies to destroy her chosen target. She isn't the most cooperative wingman, but she may be the best.
    • Ship: Bora Warhammer Heavy Assault Fighter
    • Letzer Rating: N/A
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 6635 credits / 22% of earnings

[edit] Galactic Spanning Corporation - "Profit equals worth."

GalSpan Logo with their region visible in the background
GalSpan Logo with their region visible in the background

Known as one of the most aggressively expanding corporations, the Galactic Spanning Corporation (GalSpan) holds the legal rights to the regions the Bora had declared their own, and is determined to remove them from the company's property with all means necessary. They are backed by heavy cashflow and a large fleet of warships. The war against the Bora has put a tremendous strain on the finances of GalSpan. Their main project in the Fringe soon becomes the building of Hephaestus, a giant mining complex, using advanced materials and technologies, capable of mass harvesting of the very profitable Ripstars. Spanner is Bora slang for a GalSpan employee.

[edit] Important GalSpan Characters
  • Director Gustav Atkins is the Regional Director of GalSpan Fringe Operations. Rarely called anything but "Director," Atkins is the chief of all GalSpan personnel and assets in the Fringe. The exhausting war with the Bora and the Hephaestus, Atkin's pet project and a financial black hole, has cost him allies and won him several enemies within GalSpan's bureaucracy, leading many to question whether Atkins is right for the role. For now, GalSpan's head office is content to sit and watch Atkins' plan unfold.
  • Tricia Bales is officially the GalSpan Fringe Job Coordinator. Unofficially, she is Director Atkin's right-hand woman. She is a complete professional and disciplined businesswoman. She refuses to be called "Trish." Part of her jobs include managing contract pilots and contract missions. She assigns and debriefs Jake Logan's missions. Logan attempted to court her several times, but found "Miss Bales" desired to keep their relationship strictly professional.

[edit] GalSpan Wingmen
  • Lakita Ramos: Lakita was rather unwillingly forced into the support role. She lost her primary contract position to Logan and is none too happy about having lost to a man. Ramos made up her mind about men early in her life and prefers to spend time with her "sisters." But she will work for money: a lot of it. Her hiring fee is prohibitively expensive. Neither is she the most cooperative partner. However, she's a good enough pilot and quite possibly one of the fastest in the Fringe.
    • Ship: GalSpan Pegasus Light Interceptor
    • Letzer Rating: 89
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 4675 credits / 17% of earnings
  • A.J. Freesh: Freesh has climbed the GalSpan ranks unusually quickly, winning promotion after promotion. Coincidentally, he's also gained a reputation as a bit of a brown-noser among GalSpan pilots. He's a polite man and always seems to know what people want to hear. Reports of his skill in the field are somewhat less remarkable than his many recommendations would imply.
    • Ship: GalSpan Poseidon Multirole Bomber
    • Letzer Rating: 78
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 1600 credits / 7% of earnings
  • Tora Embers: Embers has distinguished herself in the field repeatedly. What is more astounding is the level of personal wealth she has accrued. She admits openly that money is what she cares about most. It has proven to be an excellent motivator, as her field assessments are decidedly positive. Her personal wealth has allowed her to purchase the most expensive weapons. She functions well in the anti-fighter role.
    • Ship: GalSpan Orion Multirole Fighter
    • Letzer Rating: 86
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 3125 credits / 15% of earnings
  • Bernardo: Bernardo is a legend among GalSpan pilots, as much myth as a man. Much mystery surrounds this enigmatic figure. His personnel records are classified to the highest levels. He rarely speaks and is rarely seen outside of his ship. Rumors surround Bernardo, his true nature and origins. It has been suggested that he is the result of underground, illicit GalSpan bio-engineering experimentation. He is indeed an extremely skilled pilot, if a little close-mouthed and uncooperative.
    • Ship: GalSpan Phoenix Heavy Bomber
    • Letzer Rating: 99
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 6125 credits / 20% of earnings

[edit] Minor characters and factions

[edit] Wingmen (Unaffiliated)

Wingmen availability is on the rise in the Fringe. Contract pilots have been asked to go on increasingly more frequent and more dangerous jobs and having another pilot flying at one's side can be that extra push needed to achieve the necessary objective. There are plenty of wingmen available in the Fringe who have not signed permanent contracts with a faction. These wingmen are usually ambivalent about the flag they fly for, as long as there's a credit transfer at the end.

  • Pixie Kerral: Pixie was, until recently, a tour guide and ship attendant for Nebula Tours. Somewhere on the thousandth discourse on Firing star formations, Kerral decided to spring for a more dangerous life. She brings an enthusiastic spirit, a great sense of humor, and a terrific smile. She remains untested in the field, but has received positive reviews in her training.
    • Ship: Dart Light Interceptor
    • Letzer Rating: N/A (Awaiting assessment)
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 500 credits / 5% of earnings
  • Mishka Shaw: Shaw has had a long string of former employers and brings a wealth of experience to the table. Despite her mediocre Letzer rating, she has received glowing recommendations. Logan's timely intervention saved her life, so she has chosen to grant him a discounted rate. On the offensive, she performs admirably, but lacks balance in other pilot skills, as well as the armament, to truly distinguish herself.
    • Ship: Piranha Multirole Bomber
    • Letzer Rating: 79
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 1350 credits / 7% of earnings
  • Dorwin Kincaid: Kincaid has thus far failed to distance himself from the pack. It has been hinted that if he spent as much time working on his pilot skills as he does reading his science fiction, he'd be snatched up by a leading corporation right away. In fact, Kincaid gets easily distracted by his first love and will probably always remain that way. In combat, he performs respectably and has only received complaints from employers accusing him of illegally hacking their mainframes.
    • Ship: Dart Light Interceptor
    • Letzer Rating: 73
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 2650 credits / 12% of earnings
  • Captain Jond Rand: Rand would have been amazing, if he could've kept himself sober. He didn't get to be Captain by being a slouch, before he received his discharge papers. Rand has worked for multiple employers in the past and invariably, his contract terminates when he gets into trouble with alcohol. People who have worked with him have said he's quite reliable, though at times he seems to forget his orders or act out erratically.
    • Ship: Gar Light Bomber
    • Letzer Rating: N/A
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 3550 credits / 12% of earnings
  • Bradford Brixx: He's a friendly giant. Very congenial and friendly, no one fails to like him. He comes highly recommended, but he never seems to remain with a group for any long period before he chooses to leave his position. He is highly desired by many corporations, but never can any hold on to him. In any case, he's one of the best unaffiliated wingmen in the Fringe.
    • Ship: Gar Light Bomber
    • Letzer Rating: N/A
    • Hiring Fees / Rates: 3750 credits / 15% of earnings

[edit] Star Patrol

In 2281, the Sol War of Freedom erupted between the Inner and Outer Sol Colonies. After twelve years of bloodshed, the factions finally came together and signed the Seven Planet Accord. In its wake, small insurrections continued to break out among the colonies, leading to the creation of Star Patrol, the enforcement branch of the United Sol Government (USG). Star Patrol was charged with keeping the peace in every sector and region of human-colonized space. Even today, the Star Patrol is armed with state-of-the-art weapons and ships to carry out their responsibility. It is the most significant military presence in human space today.

The Star Patrol presence in the Fringe, however, reflects the USG's general lack of interest in the Fringe. The force stationed at the Star Patrol Far Post in the Hub is ample, but lacks the manpower and the resources needed to effectively manage its jurisdiction, which is supposed to be the entire Fringe. In reality, Star Patrol struggles to keep the peace even within the Hub. Their priority is keeping Starbase Alpha safe, the shipping lanes open, and the mega-gate into Sol tightly guarded against illegal traffic. Not only does the Patrol have to combat the pirates and the smugglers, but to keep conflict between Bora and GalSpan at a minimum. Star Patrol long ago withdrew from the Frontier and Twilight regions.

  • Commander Alberion Obulo - Commander Obulo is, ostensibly, the man responsible for all of the Fringe. He aspires to accomplish such a feat. For now, he must settle for the Hub and prides himself on keeping the region quiet. He has been mildly successful, until GalSpan-Bora conflict spilled into Hub space. He is still a force to be reckoned with, however, and it is recommended that any subjects of possible interest, such as suspected pirates or ex-cons, should keep their heads down in his space.
  • Star Patrol Enforcer - The Enforcer is possibly the best fighter design ever conceived by man. It is the product of humanity's best engineering and technology. Star Patrol continues to benefit from USG's large amounts of funding. It is fast, powerful, and has among the best shield, hull, and energy management ratings.
  • Star Patrol Cruiser - Similar to the Enforcers, Star Patrol's Cruisers may be humanity's best capital ship design. Instead of dividing their capital ships into different classes and functions, the Cruiser combines capital functions. It has the firepower of a cruiser and the fighter capacity of a carrier, but is fast enough to be deployed in an assault function.
    • Star Patrol names their ship and squadron designation based on violent forces of nature (ex. Hurricane, Gale, Fury).

[edit] Asteroid Barons

The Asteroid Barons are found in the Frontier Region. They are undoubtedly the most powerful single inhabitants in the Frontier region. When the USG first colonized the Frontier, they granted charters to entrepreneurs of enormous personal wealth. In return for their investments in the region, they were given their choice of asteroid-rich sectors in the Frontier. When the USG withdrew its resources and interests from the frontier, the Barons became the centers of power in the region.

The Barons are constantly fighting amongst themselves for power, for land, for money, or just for spite. They are always cordial, but their words always mask an ulterior agenda.

[edit] Baron Anton Malkar

Anton Malkar is relatively new to the Fringe. When the former Baron Lablak fell into debt, his barony was put up for auction and purchased by the enterprising Malkar. Baron Malkar made his fortune through the collection and trading of rare artwork. It is believed that Malkar moved to the Frontier to avoid laws regulating the traffic and ownership of precious arts and national treasures. It is also strongly suspected that Malkar smuggles more than priceless artwork. Malkar has filled the role as Baron easily. He has established himself as an economic ally of the Bora, and personal friend of Susan Bradley, the unspoken enemy of GalSpan's expansion and the outspoken enemy of Baron Hajod.

  • Treg Protector - a solidly-designed defensive fighter, of a proprietary design exclusive to Malkar's Barony.

[edit] Baroness Mirham Onrald

The Onralds were once one of the wealthiest and most powerful aristocratic lineages back in Sol. But decades of scandal and bad press motivated the Onralds to leave Sol and establish a quiet and reclusive existence in the Frontier. Outwardly, it would appear that the current Baroness Mirham Onrald is isolated and powerless, but reports suggests she has built an extensive network of underground contacts. Those who have had dealings with the Baroness report that she is outwardly soft and sympathetic, but in reality, is cold and manipulative.

  • Flare Protector - a large defensive fighter that trades most of its speed and hull strength for extremely powerful shields and weapons.

[edit] Baron Hajod

The Hajod Barony is the largest barony in the Frontier, full of iron-rich asteroids. Baron Hajod is outwardly the most powerful of the barons. He flaunts this power, ignoring the laws of the USG. He is infamous for his practice of keeping thousands of slaves, who are brainwashed into worshiping him. He reputedly takes pleasure in brutality and cruelty. Because of his nature, Hajod has no known allies. His power comes from his money, his territory, and his slave hordes.

  • Midge Protector - a small dimunitive fighter that, while quick, is also weak and easily destroyed. Presumably, it's cheap and easy to manufacture in large numbers.
  • Barracuda Protector - the Barracuda, unlike the Midge, is a true threat. It is sturdy, powerful, and extremely fast.

[edit] Pirate Clans

The most dangerous denizens of the Fringe are the pirates, who prey on the shipping lanes between Sol and the resource-rich areas of the Fringe. Since the Frontier lacks a Star Patrol presence, it is the center of brigand activity.

[edit] Skav Pirates

The Skavs are, at their core, anarchists, who embrace the lawless, unregulated nature of the Frontier. They promote the idea of taking whatever they want, whenever they want. For them, the biggest threat is the imposition of authority onto the Fringe. GalSpan's presence in the region could possibly make this into a reality. As a result, the Skavs have made a tentative agreement with the Bora, on the basis of a common enemy.

  • Skav Manta is a slow fighter designed to take on large defenseless freighters. It can hold a large amount of weapons and ammunition.

[edit] Void Runners

The Void Runners do not prey wantonly on helpless targets. Their motivation is profit and capital. They are linked to dozens of illegal operations in the Fringe. Unlike the Skavs, the Runners are highly organized and methodical. Their targets are carefully chosen and their schemes are aimed at making money, not pleasure. Contract pilots low on cash sometimes hire on with the Runners for low-level jobs. Corporations in need of extra pilots or legal deniability have been known to hire the Runners for their needs, including GalSpan. This pro-corporation mentality have made them enemies of the Bora. Their ideological clash has also made Skavs and Voids into mortal enemies.

  • Void Marauder - a standard, well-balanced fighter, with nothing that can really distinguish it from other fighters.

[edit] Blood Clan

The Blood Pirates are considered to be the most dangerous outlaws in the galaxy. Their behavior suggests that they are criminally insane. They do not break laws for profit, revenge, or even for the sake of breaking the law. They do it for pure enjoyment. They are psychotic sociopaths. Every Blood Pirate is considered an enemy of humanity.

  • Redship Rory: Born Rory Denkins, Rory was a first mate on a Sol exploration ship. For unknown reasons, Rory led a mutiny, which became a massacre. The pirate named "Redship Rory" was born. He was known for unusual cruelty and brazenness. He took on the name "Redship" when he painted his personal fighter with the blood of his victims. His most famous heist was the hijacking of two entire casinos in New Vegas, which he hauled back to his territory and turned into his base. He was finally captured, but an unexpected assault by the Blood Clan freed Rory back into the open.
  • Redship Shrike - The Shrike is a dangerous fighter, the product of the best fighters converted into a Blood Clan design.
  • Redship Nighthawk - In combat, the Nighthawk behaves much like the Shrike, though perhaps slightly faster, and its slim build makes it slightly harder to hit as well.

[edit] Demon Pirates

The term "pirate" is probably misleading. As far as anyone can tell, the Demons don't care about capturing freight or stealing credits. In fact, the only thing they do seem to care about is destroying everyone and everything that enters the Twilight Fog. With singleminded focus and passion, anyone who enters their space must be and usually are destroyed. Intercepted communiqués suggest that the Demons attach extreme religious significance to the Twilight Fog and that all those who enter are defiling their holy space. The Demons are fanatics, but they are also extremely good fighter pilots and their fighters are possibly the best humanity has ever encountered. There is a reason why people who enter the Fog are warned about the Demons.

Little is known about the Twilight Region. The Twilight gate was opened long ago, but colonization stalled early on. The origin of these Demons is unknown. The fact they speak human language suggests they must be human and not the rumored aliens who reside in the fog.

  • Demon Pirate - The Demon fighters are among the best ever designed. No ship has ever been captured or observed except by those few survivors who encountered the Demons and lived. Records show that the Demon fighters are fast, strong, and powerful. Some suggest that these fighters rival the Star Patrol Enforcers at being the pinnacle of human ship design.

[edit] Cinder Station Mercenaries

Some consider the Cinder Mercs to be in the same class as the lawless brigands roaming the Fringe. It is true that the mercenaries do operate at the border of legal and illegal, but not for the sake of profit or satisfaction. The Cinder Mercs are a collective of independent pilots who prefer to live by their own rules. They carry out missions that have been offered to them for pay. They have helped the law as much as they have broken it. Cinder Station is the only facility in the Ripstar region that is neither GalSpan- or Bora-affiliated. The mercenaries have been there since before the war began. They remain mostly neutral in the conflict, though they have been known to accept contracts from both sides.

[edit] League of Scientists

The League of Scientists, as their name implies, is the prominant scientific association of Sol. Dr. Randall Cassitor, a once leading member of their organization who was stripped of his membership, has become their nemesis. Their exploration of the mysterious Twilight Region is hindered by Cassitor's vengeful attacks.

[edit] Dr. Randall Cassitor

An unethical scientist who was expelled from The League of Scientists. Cassitor resides in the Twilight region, surrounded by automated defenses, and uses Demon Pirates as experimental subjects. Cassitor has an irrational love of robotics and values his machine's "life" much more than human lives. His main base is surrounded by radioactive fog that damages ships not equipped with a Radioactive shield.

  • Trivia: Dr. Randall Cassitor is an oblique reference to Randy Casey, one of the game's developers.

[edit] References to Greek Mythology and Scientists

Some Capital ships from GalSpan are named after Greek mythological figures; their names somewhat reflected to their roles / situation in a mission as in the mythology.

  • Carrier Zeus - Flagship of Admiral Hagarth
  • Frigate Orpheus - Ambushed, stripped and "torn into pieces" by Bora
  • Cruiser Persephone - Was kept in Redship Rory's "underworld" in Frontier Region
  • Mining Complex Hephaestus - Processing / Forging of Ripstar material
  • Starbase Olympus - Regional headquarters of Director Atkins.

These GalSpan ships' names also come from Greek mythology, but their fates are not necessarily related to it:

The following ships are named after scientists:

[edit] Multiplayer

Tachyon has two multiplayer game types - Base Wars, and Arena Match.

  • In Base Wars, two teams compete to advance to tech level 10, where they can destroy the other team's life support, and thus win the match.
  • In Arena Match, it is a Free for All, where every player competes to get the most kills. Experienced players often consider a better kill-to-death ratio the more important gauge of skill, however.

Each game type has its own loadout screen, where you can choose your ship. Arena Match loudouts give you the option of customizing your weapon mix, and your "hardware cards". In Base Wars, this is accomplished by landing on platforms near your home base.

[edit] Gametap

Tachyon: The Fringe is now a game accessible via Gametap.

[edit] Recent Changes

Novalogic recently announced that Tachyon: The Fringe multiplayer games can no longer be hosted by individuals via Novaworld, their game matching service. This means that "customers can no longer host their own game servers once it (Tachyon: The Fringe) has been patched."

This is thought by many long-time players to be due to the practice of long-time players using "modded" ships - ships which are seen in Tachyon the Fringe, but were not in the original "playable" ship set. With the recent inclusion of Gametap players, who cannot "mod" their game, this may be an attempt to eliminate games which contain media Gametap players cannot access.

[edit] Mods

Several mods were made for Tachyon: The Fringe.

[edit] DC's Mod

The first mod was a joint effort by Devilsclaw, Bloodstar, and Shadow's Lament. It included 3 "new" playable ships: The Demon Pirate, the Redship Nighthawk, and the Barracuda. These ships were added *to* the existing ships.

[edit] Bloodstar's Mod

The second was made solely by Bloodstar. It differed in that it *replaced* the existing ships. It had several problems installing under Windows XP, and it broke both Single Player, and Base Wars, when installed.

It included the Demon Pirate, but a different version (as it was thought to be too strong, in the initial mod), Corvus, Dart, Treg, Escape Pod, Midge, Manta, Piranha, Gar, Marauder, Shrike, Enforcer, Leviathan, and Dagger.

[edit] Sonic's Mods

The third was a dual-set, with its own loader to switch between the two, created by Sonic the Hedgehog. It replaces the ships on-the fly, via the loader.

  • Pack 1 includes ships for arena Match use - the AGT Shuttle, Attack Drone, Barracuda, Bora Shuttle, yet another Demon, 2 Drones, Escape Pod, Flare, GalSpan shuttle, Leviathan, Treg, Midge, Satellite, Enforcer, Sol Shuttle, and TNS Enquirer.
  • Pack 2 includes new ships and 8 new Base Wars bases for Base Wars - the Corvus, Dagger, 2 Dart versions, Demon, Flare, Gar, Nighthawk, Marauder, Manta, Piranha, Shrike, Enforcer, and Treg.

[edit] Hacking

Through the years, there were on-and-off hacking problems, which led to the name "Hackyon" being used occasionally. There were groups which only "hacked" in base wars games - sometimes using known bugs, or cheating, to blow up the opponents life support at tech level 1, or to give their own ships higher specs. Others gave themselves ultra-high armor or weapons usually given to capital ships.

A group called "Star Patrol" policed the Arena at various times, and in two discrete incarnations, using hopped up ships. Many consider modded ships as hacking, even the ones found in the packs listed above. Some also consider mods the "death blow" to Tachyon. Others cite the rampant hacking that always plagued the game as the reason for its low playerbase. Others also believe that the mods are what kept Tachyon alive for over 5 years when it should have died at the 3 year mark. Not all players agree that the playerbase was ended due to mods.

[edit] Known Bugs

  • While most of the time the Mega-Gates are closed, during some scripted sequences, they are shown as open. If the player manages to make it to the gate before it closes (fast ship + afterburners + sliding), he or she will be dumped in interstellar space with no visible stars, planets, or gates (i.e. no way back). Another such gate appears to be far away during one mission, but this one can be selected. If the player engages the autopilot, the game essentially freezes.
  • It is also known that if you fly too close to a large ship, you may also end up fused to it, constantly taking damage until you are destroyed. Destroying the ship you are fused to will destroy you as well.
  • Some ships can also be destroyed even when their shields are still up. This may be because they siphoned energy from their shields and then returned it after the ship was annihilated.
  • Sappers will crash multiplayer games if used too often.
  • In Multiplayer, at extreme distances, use of blast or advanced blast torpedoes will cause damage to ships in the middle of the play area.

[edit] Fringespace

Tachyon was considered, by its proponents, one of the fastest space combat games ever created. This mod is an attempt to rectify most of the egregious problems, and to update the playing experience for those Tachyon fans.

Fringespace is based on the FreeSpace_2 Source Code Project, and will incorporate many of its advances. Also planned is support for at least 32 players, redesigned models and ships, a recreation of as many flight model characteristics as possible, and last but not least, the scale and speed Tachyon was famous for.

Official Link

[edit] See also

[edit] External links