Ok so I found some information about about the variant today, it took some doing, but it was buried in google.

Ok first, the creator appears to be Mike Evans.  I the linked version that I found below and it appears to be the same creator which made the set I'm using but this was is definitly different from the version I have (though i think it acomplishes most of the same things). Noteably it appears to be an updated version as it includes the latest expansion.  But its worth noting that I have not played this version so I can't comment on its effectivness to speed up the game.

I don't have my set in front of me, but from memory most of it appears familiar.  The one element that isn't in my set are the Writ Cards but there may other noteable differences.  In either case here it is

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13468815/4PlayerVariant.pdf

I will have a peek at my set to see what the differences are and perhaps we can do a compare to see if there is anything significant but at a quick glance the Writ cards are the only thing that I noted from memory.

I gave this a quick read during lunch - pretty interesting ideas in there.

I'll definitely download this later at home and go through it in more detail.

Thanks for the link!

revvbard said:

How does it trim it down from 8 primary and secondary to 6 of each with only 4 players? Do two players get 2 SC's each?

How does it trim it down from 8 primary and secondary to 6 of each with only 4 players? Do two players get 2 SC's each?

You are correct, its 6 possible cards but each player only gets 1 so in a 4 player game you end up with 4 primaries and 4 secondaries.

 When playing this variant does each player start with an imperial cabinet position? Also the writ cards seem like they are designed to work with the newest expansion .... Anyone have some further insight?

revvbard said:

Im not sure what the authors intent was but we never started with any cabinet positions.  The Writ cards do appear to have been created to create more connections to the expansions.  Looking at my set the only real difference is in the council card secondary.

My council secondary says

"Spend 1 command counter from your strategy allocation area and 4 influence to select an available imperial cabinet position of your choice from the deck."

So the only real change from the version I have and this one is the addition of the writ cards.  Personally I think its a rather unescessary change, we have always used the shattered empire expansion in our 4 player games using this set of strategy cards with great results and actually the cabinet system would probobly trample on the toes of the Shards of a Throne expansion so I think in a 4 player game I might add capital ships and mechanized infantry using this set but skip the representatives and mercanaries.  The political round is already pretty interesting with the cabinets and all.

 Thanks Big ... I think we will try to play it without the Writ cards and substitute your old card wording on the second of the council card  ...

Using  these SC must make the game go a bit quicker i'm guessing