* Starmap (F2) + + + The starmap can be regarded as the most important screen in the game. - From the starmap you can control the movements of your fleets, observe the - movements of other fleets and enemy empires, study planetary information, - begin planetary colonization, produce new ships and tanks and initiate - combat with enemy forces. + + + + * * Zoom In/Out * * Perspective view * * Rotate Right + + + + Rotate left + + + Top dowm view + + Tilt Up/Down * * * * * * + Using the icons at the bottom of the screen you can zoom and rotate your - viewpoint or choose between the two default settings. In the middle of - the icons is a radar view of the entire galaxy. + + In the bottom left of the screen is a small information window. Left clicking - on planets or fleets will show you information in the small window. - Left clicking on the window will display more detailed information on the - selected planet or fleet. Right clicking on the window will either - take you to the planet's surface or the split fleet screen. Clicking both - buttons at the same time on the window allows you to rename the selected - fleet or planet. + * * * + + + + + + + + Radar Range + + Every planet in your empire with a completed colony hub generates a - transparent red field. This is the radar range of that planet and anything - that enters it will become visible to you. The radar range effectively marks - your empire's territory. you cannot see anything outside your radar range. - The radar range allows you to discover new planets and observe the movements - of ships that do not belong to your empire, during the game you may make - alliances with other empires. If this happens, their radar range will be - visible to you. + * * * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Your fleets also have radar ranges. These are displayed as transparent blue - fields when the fleet moves outside your territory. The size of the radar - range depends on the type of radar fitted to the fleet. The further from - your territory the fleet travels, the smaller its radar range will become - until it disappears completely. You can still move the fleet but will not - be able to see anything around it, this is dangerous as the fleet can be - attacked without warning! You can use a fleet to discover new planets, - then send a colonization ship in to start a new colony. + + + Fleets + + You can select one of your fleets by left clicking on it. - The following information will appear in small info window in the - bottom left corner of the screen: + + * Fleet name + * Name of the empire which owns the fleet + * The last valid order + * Number of ships, fighters, and tanks in the fleet + * Maximum speed + + + Ship Info + + Left clicking on the small information window displays more detailed - information. On the left you can see 3D images of all of the types of - ships, fighters, and tanks in the selected fleet. Left clicking on one - of them will show its exact specification such as the strength of its - hull, it's firepower, its tank carrying capacity (if any) and all the - weapons and equipment fitted. + + You can sell vehicles on this screen by left clicking and holding on a - vehicle. A new option will appear allowing you to sell your ships. - Move over this option and let go of the mouse button. + - As you research new weapons and technology, you can fit them to your - ships using the design screen described later. + + + + Split Fleet + - The split fleet screen will appear if you right click on the small - information window. Two windows will appear, one showing your current - fleet, and the other the new fleet you want to create. You can split - your fleet into two parts. Left clicking on a ship moves one of those - ships into the new fleet. Right clicking moves all ships of that type - into the new fleet at once. Holding down the left mouse button on a - ship will move ships into the new fleet at an increasing speed. + * * * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + You may carry ground assault forces in your fleet so you can take over - planets. These tanks are carried by your larger ships. The bigger the - ship, the more tanks it can carry. When you are splitting your fleet, - if there are not enough ships to carry all of the tanks in one of your - fleets, the excess tanks are automatically put into the other fleet. - You can check the number of tanks in each fleet at the bottom of the - two windows. + + If you move two fleets onto each other using the starmap they will be - joined automatically. + + + Commanding the Fleet + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Using fleet icons + Left click and hold on the desired fleet to display the fleet icons appear. - You can split your fleet into two with the split fleet icon. (see - split fleet section). + + The other icon that may appear is the tanks icon. You can transfer tanks - from a planet to your fleet and vice versa. To do this, select the tanks - icon while your fleet is near a planet. This screen is similar to split - fleet. On the left side you can see the tanks in your fleet, while on the - right side you will see the tanks that are on the planet. + + Moving the fleet + Left click on a fleet then right click anywhere on the starmap. This - orders your fleet to move to the position where you clicked. At the - beginning of the game it is useful to explore the area around your planet. - In order to do that, you can assign more movement orders, or in other - words, give waypoints to your fleet. To do this, press the SHIFT key while - selecting the waypoints with the right mouse button. + + Patrol routes - You can set up patrol routes for your fleet, which the fleet will follow - until you give new orders. This is useful if you want a fleet to supply - additional radar range in a territory. Keeping the shift button pressed, - right click to assign waypoints but make the last waypoint the - fleet itself. The fleet will then circulate around this route - until you give it another order. + + * * * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Planets + + By selecting a planet the following information will be displayed in - the small information window. + + + * Planet name + * Name of the planet's owner + * Number of inhabitants (+ growth rate) + * Morale of inhabitants and list of problems to be solved + + There is a small planet rotating in this window. The number above the - planet shows the production efficiency, this can vary from planet - to planet depending on the amount of resources which are found there. + + The number below the planet shows the growth rate of the population. There - are certain climates where the inhabitants feel better or worse, or where - the living conditions are unbearable. These factors will influence the - growth rate. + + + If you left click and hold on a planet, various icons will appear. Here you can - do several things: + + * * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + REDIRECT: If you produce ships on that colony, you may redirect these - ships to another planet. This way, you can pool your ships at a specific locations. + + PLANET SURFACE: Takes you to the planets surface. + + PRODUCTION: Takes you to the production screen. + + By left clicking and holding on an empty planet you may do the following: + * DEPLOY SATTELITE: Once you have researched the sattelite, You may * deploy them over planets. + * COLONISE: If you have produced a colonisation ship, you can * colonise a planet. This means that when the ship reaches * there, it will land on the planet, and transforms into a * colony hub building. * From than on, the planet becomes a part of your empire, * with an initial population of 5000. + * TERRAFORM: If you have produced a terraforming ship, and a planet's * surface is not the best for your race, you may change the * surface to a more preferable one. + + + Planet information + + Left click on a planet then left click on the small information window to - display more detailed planet information. On the left side of the screen - you can see the picture of your planet and any space bases you have built. - You can have up to ten space bases in orbit around a single planet. The - only way to get rid of them is to sell them. Left click and hold on the - selected space base then select the sell option and release the mouse - button. - More information will be displayed if you own the planet. If another - empire owns it, you can increase the information displayed by deploying - satellites or spy satellites around the planet. The following information - can be displayed. + * Name: the name of the planet * Surface: the type of the surface. Certain planets offer more * favourable conditions for your people. The productivity * percentage, which effects the production capacity and * speed of production on the planet, is displayed in * brackets. * Empire: The empire that occupies the planet. * Race: The Race of the planet's population. If you take over * a planet that is home to another race they become part of * your empire. * Pop: Population, the number of inhabitants on the planet. * Beside it is the growth rate. * Morale: The morale of the people on the planet. Better morale * results in a faster growth rate for the population. * Income: Monthly income received from the planets population. * This depends on the size of the population and the level of * taxation. * Workers: Number of workers available / number of workers * needed for optimal operation. If you need more workers * than you actually have, certain buildings do not operate. * Energy: Energy generated and energy required. As with * the workers, sufficient energy is necessary for 100% * operation of buildings on the Planet. * Tanks: The number of tanks deployed on the planet. * Special: Messages can appear here if something unusual is * happening on the planet, such as an epidemic, increase in * volcanic activity or extremely high morale levels among * the population. * Problems: The problems of the inhabitants are listed here as * well as a % of the population affected. It is worth taking * care of problems because a high rate of dissatisfaction * can lead to a fall in the level of morale, or even rebellion. + * * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Beneath the planet information are three menus. + + + Taxing your colonies + + Tax: Allows you to adjust the rate of Tax on the planet. Higher tax - rates increase your income but will make your population unhappy in the long - run unless you build a very special colony for them. If you move the mouse cursor - over the Tax setting then left click and hold a menu appears. Release the - mouse button when the cursor is on the desired Tax level. Alternatively, - you can click the - or + icons to decrease or increase the level of Tax. - Selecting "All" will apply the selected level of Tax to all your colonies. + + + Auto build + + Auto build: Automatically builds a certain type of colony for you. Left - click and hold on the auto build setting to display a menu of all the - available auto build settings. Move the cursor over the desired setting - and release the mouse button to select. Even if a colony has been constructed - using auto build you can still intervene and construct buildings of your - own or turn auto build off at any time. Selecting "All" will apply the - current auto build setting to all colonies. + * * + + + + + + + + + + The auto build settings are as possible. + None: You do all the building. + Civilian: Constructs mostly civilian buildings and makes sure the population is kept happy. + Production: Specialises in production, building ship and tank factories as well as civilian buildings. + Technological: Specialises in research. Usually, a ship research centre will be constructed first, taking into consideration that the greatest threat to a colony usually comes from space. Then, building and tank research centres will be constructed. + Military: Usually constructed in territories which are seriously threatened by the enemy, plenty of Military buildings will be constructed. + Ship Production: Specialises in ship production. + Tank Production: Specialises in tank production. + + + + Priority + + Priority: This defines the importance of the colony in terms of - automatically receiving money. If you set the priority to high it means - that even if you have little money, you want this colony to receive as - much as possible for auto building. If you move the mouse cursor over the - priority level setting then left click and hold a menu appears. Release - the mouse button when the cursor is on the desired priority level setting. - Alternatively, you can click the - or + icons to decrease or increase the - level of priority. Selecting "All" will apply the selected level of - priority to all your colonies. * Name: + The speed of your ships depend on the quality of hyperdrives you have - equipped. A whole fleets speed depends on the speed of the slowest ship, - so sometimes it is a good idea to check your fleets, if an older design - slows it down. + + The ships also have a crew, which gain experience in battles. An ACE crew - can fight better and inflict more damage than a NOVICE one. + + + PLANET INFO