Stardock and Ironclad, the publisher and the developer of PC space-based real-time strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire, is announcing that it plans to release a mini-expansion for the game, called Entrenchment.

 

The idea is that the three empires that are battling for control of the galaxy have reached a level of conflict where they need to fortify their positions in some star systems. So Entrenchment offers you more tactical flexibility by introducing starbases, which are powerful defensive platforms that cannot move and cost a lot, turret upgrades designed to improve the firepower of your defenses and a subspace inhibitor, which is created to limit the movement of enemy fleets.

 

Of these, the starbases seem the most interesting addition as one of the most used moves in the original game was to get a couple of powerful planet bombardment ships and go for the opponent's planets while bypassing his defensive fleets. A starbase should make this tactic obsolete and should force players to think more creatively and seek more head to head confrontations between fleets.

 

This will not be the only mini-expansion that the game will receive. There are rumors that 2 other such add-ons are planned. The original game was a surprise hit when it launched earlier in the year, with amazing strategic depth and three varied and interesting sides. It is a perfect companion to Stardock's turn-based strategy title Galactic Civilizations II.

 

Sins of a Solar Empire: Entrenchment will arrive on November 18 for the price of 9.95 dollars. The expansion will require you to have a valid and up to date install of the original game and will be downloadable through Impulse, the digital download platform that Stardock created. If you want, you can pre-order Entrenchment now.