Random encounters in (random) star systems. Note that this is not going to be any actual encounter tables, but rather rules on encounter frequency. There are a great many great tables out there already, more or less perfectly fitting for Epic Roleplay. Personnally, I am looking at Oger’s Raumhafen an der Grenze (German), at Zinderneuf, Phoog (although these obviously trend away from the early Warhammer 40,000 inspiration), and of course at Elfmaids & Octopi, also, throwing in some of the White Dwarf random scenario and mission rules (especially the secret missions) for Space Fleet can help with futher informing what a potenteially encountered vessel or fleet might be up to.
When traveling in a ship through a star system, the standard frequency to check for encounters is once per week.
Encounter checks are made with D100.
The base percentage chance of an encounter is the original number of points of interest in the system (i.e., the number indicated when the system was generated – excluding any extra points of interest that were added via additional rolls). This is increased by 1 if the system is in a cluster that has a “splintered” stability. It is also increased by 1 if the system is in a cluster that has a “frontier” stability. (Splintered frontier cluster thus increase base percentage by a total of 2.)
The actual percentage checked againt is half the base percentage (rounding up) when currently not at a point of interest. It is double the base percentage when currently at a point of interest.
Example:
A system containing 6 points of interest lying within a breakaway frontier cluster has a base encounter chance of 7% (6% for six points of interest +1% for frontier stability).
A starship currently traveling towards one of the points (say, a settled world) but still one or more plasma weeks distant from its destination, would roll D100 every week and on a roll of 1-4 (half of 7%, rounded up to 4%) an encounter would happen.
Once in orbit around its destination world, an encounter would happen on a result of 1-14 on the weekly roll (double of 7%).