1) may not equip the Vindicator with weapon systems and/or may not build any combat ships

It would make the game more or less unwinnable to go without escorts entirely, since the Vindicator will simply not be a useful combat ship until mid-late game.

This would mean using only the escorts that you are provided from events during the course of the game.

I guess if it is possible to win without using the starbase then the holy grail of hard-mode has already been achieved. Without reading the guide it seems like the tedious parts would be A) having only 1 lander B) having to fight any ships in HS that have a hankering for human meat. Sounds interesting.

Hi guys, new member here but by no means new to SC2... played it religiously as a kid and have followed initiatives to remake it for years...

I would just like to start off by saying thanks for all the time and effort put forth from individuals to make UQM a reality and especially the new HD update.

That being said.. I plan to start a new play through of HD UQM but with a twist. I, like most anyone reading this forum, know all the tricks and secrets. I could probably beat the game in a hand full of hours if i wanted to. What I would like to do is come up with a feasible but challenging set of self-imposed rules to make the game new and interesting. Here, in no particular order, are some preliminary ideas:

1) may not equip the Vindicator with weapon systems and/or may not build any combat ships
2) you may use only a limited number of crew (you start with 100 or something and may not recruit more)
3) Cannot trade locations of precursor worlds to the Melnormae
4) some limited number of thrusters / turning jets less than the maximum

I obviously don't want to impose some rule which would make completing the game imposible. Input on the ideas above or any new ideas are very welcome.
Thanks for reading.