There are a number of variables at the top of the "md\encounter.xml" file which can be adjusted to alter the frequency of encountering ships and other objects. These are explained below...

Manager.$EnableShipEncounters (default value = 1)

- This is a Boolean value, "1" to enable ship encounters, "0" to disable.

Manager.$EncounterDefenceBases (default value = 1)

- This is a Boolean value, "1" to enable defence/asteroid bases, "0" to disable.

Manager.$EncounterVesselChance (default value = 2)

- % chance of a ship encounter after other filters have been applied. An increase or decrease to this value will affect how often ship encounters may occur within each "zone". Please note that any change will be relative (ie. a decrease to 1 would represent a reduction of 50%, whereas an increase to 4 would represent a 100% increase in likelihood). Higher values may result in multiple encounter ships appearing together and interacting with you, each other and anything else in the vicinity.

Manager.$EncounterSubObjChance (default value = 4)

- % chance of an object encounter (plus any related sub-objects) once other filters have been applied. Like the previous value any increase or decrease to this value will affect how often object encounters may occur within each "zone". Please note that any change will be relative (ie. a decrease to 2 would represent a reduction of 50%, whereas an increase to 8 would represent a 100% increase in likelihood). Higher values may result in multiple encounter objects appearing together.

Manager.$EncounterSubObjMax (default value = 2)

- The maximum number of objects which can occur together within each zone from each generated instance. Increase/decrease this for more/less objects to be generated together. This is a maximum and restricts how many objects might be generated in any one zone by one instance, depending on the other values in play this might not however be an absolute upper limit.

$EncounterFrequencyMin (default value = 20s)

- The minimum period of time in seconds that an encounter instance might be generated (ie. delay). Increase this for a longer wait. This value must however be less than or equal to the value "$EncounterFrequencyMaxLimit" (see below)

$EncounterFrequencyMaxLimit ( defualt value = 120s)

- The maximum period of time in seconds that an encounter instance might be generated (ie. delay). Increase this for a longer wait or decrease for shorter delays between encounters. This value must however always be greater than or equal to the value "$EncounterFrequencyMinLimit" (see above). A longer value will give longer periods of time between encounters but will appear more organic in nature.