Some things come to mind:
The Deyo Transponders were the major vector of the virus in TNE, and were adopted by the states bordering the Imperium so as to ease trade with it. States further out do not have the same incentive to do so, so ruling that the Banners states did not avail of the Transponders could mediate the effect of the virus on the area.
Distance from release. Virus will have had far to come - if it does arrive it may have a higher percentage of evolved types - so less suiciders. There will also be, generally, a net coreward flow of vampire ships - first to Cymbeline, then to Core to attack Lucan.
Trade routes. This could be good or bad. Did the Solomani try and increase trade beyond their borders to try and shore up their economy in the Rebellion Era? Did they fear that this might lead to unwelcome influences from outside, and so leave trade alone?
Solomani Forces. Could warnings get to the area in advance of the main wave?
We do have the example of Sufren as a Polity that managed to stave off infection (in the main) in the Collapse, so perhaps this is do-able in some way in Banners.
>From: Antony Farrell <>
>As mentioned in a previous message (I think), I am looking at returning to
>my old Banners Sector campaign. One of the changes I am looking at would
>involve lessening the effects of Virus on the worlds within this sector.
>Enough warning time for some precautions to be put in place perhaps?
>Another alteration would be to increase the number of small polities or
>pocket empires in the sector. Currently there are only three as at 1201,
>Hope Federation, Alston League and Czarate of Delsun. The Aslan worlds were
>particularly hard hit when I collapsed the sector.
Sounds good to me.
>If I just advanced the time line the Alston League would likely dominate due
>to it having a functioning A class starport - the only one in the sector so
>it may make for a better game location if I scattered a few more around.
>What do people think?
I had a PE where two worlds with B-ports combine resources to make one an A-port, the other dropping to C (but gaining the basing of the polity's naval base there. You could still do something similar - perhaps with B-ports acting as a 'dispersed' A-port - sharing fabricated components that enable them to produce starships, but in a less efficient way.
>For those who havn't looked at my Banners stuff before you can find a lot of
>it at <SNIP>
And great stuff it is too!
Eamon