Sequence of Play Step 5-3F, if the Tholians turn down the approach battle, the combat round is treated as a null round with no casualties; either side may retreat after such a round. In Step 5-8C, this is done if the roll is NOT successful as 5-8D covers a successful roll.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, June 08, 2021 - 03:30 pm: Edit

(105.0) 3A4: Reference to (317.773) should be (318.731).
(105.0) 5-4C2: Reference to (305.211) should be (305.21).
(105.0) 5-4D: Reference to (305.211) should be (305.21).
(105.0) 5-7C: Reference to (307.73) should be (302.73).
(105.0) 5-8F: Reference to (307.73) should be (302.73).
(105.0) 9B: Reference to (314.144B) should be (316.144B).
(105.0) Orion Step 9: Reference to (503.34) should be (504.34).
(105.0) Orion Step 9: Reference to (529.265) should be (529.25).
(105.0) SoP Step 3A4: Reference to (317.773) should be (318.73).

By Chuck Strong (Raider) on Wednesday, June 09, 2021 - 05:33 am: Edit

Currently, the SoP is listed under rule (105.0) -- as part of this project, should SoP be listed under an Annex number? It seems to make sense to do so...

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 01:49 pm: Edit

(105) Sabotage and infiltration actions from resistance movements are listed as taking place twice (steps 3A-1B and 3A-2A) in the Planetary Ops sequence of play. These are adjacent steps in the SoP, so simply dropping one or the other should solve the problem. (J. E. Schaff 07/07/2006) FEDS: This was fixed and is now OBE with the new online SoP.
(105) We have a newer SoP than ISC War because of Minor Empires available online to be included. The updates to that newer SoP include things that are related to (447.0) Advanced Deficit Spending. RYAN

By John M. Williams (Jay) on Saturday, October 17, 2026 - 11:20 pm: Edit

Specify where in the SoP a declaration of war occurs (which could potentially occur in more than one place).

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Sunday, October 18, 2026 - 09:44 am: Edit

You know, that's a really good question. I can't find it anywhere in the SoP. The closest thing I can find is the reference to making declarations of alliances using the Order of Precedence in the Free Campaign (652.12). Therein, it refers to such declarations being made at the start of the year (even-numbered turns); that would put it outside of the SoP (which is entirely turn-specific), with said declarations happening after the end of the last player's Fall Turn and before the start of the first player's Spring Turn.

Presumably, there's not a "only at the start of a year" restriction on declarations of war; as such, it would - following a similar "outside the SoP" approach - be made at the very start of a player's turn, prior to the Economics Phase (and thus allowing the player to take advantage of a wartime (or partial-war) economy). But strictly speaking, it's not spelled out anywhere in the rulebook.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Sunday, October 18, 2026 - 11:33 am: Edit

Not official answer:

War is declared at the step in the SoP when an action is taken that is a) permitted at the time and b) can only be done during war.

Example: Coalition Turn 7 in the grand campaign: The Klingons activate the first squad of the IWR during the production phase. This can only be done when at war, but is permitted on this turn. The act therefore effectively declares war on the Federation.

Example: Same turn, different decision. The 1st IWR squad is not activated. In fact, the Klingons do nothing to violate neutrality with the Federation until operational movement, whereupon the Klingons move a single F5 into the neutral zone to start claiming NZ hexes. Doing so is permitted, but war must be declared - so war is declared as soon as the F5 move into the first NZ hex during operational movement.