Game Overview

Goals of Creating the Game :

• To create a militarily strategic arena where combat is for a purpose other than itself.
  ie; Combat being a means to an end (a tool of diplomacy).
• An arena where strategy is the winning factor, not game resources or mechanics.
• A deep game that can be played with limited time in-game.

Stages of the Game :

• Local exploration and defining your realm boundaries - days to a week
• Buildup & political manoeuvre - up to 6 weeks
• Mature realm interactions - 1 to 3 months

Newbie Mistakes :

• Not exploring as quickly as possible.
• Not building infrastructure early.
• Restricting access to your space.
• Not getting a liege as soon as possible.
• Being hostile before you know the diplomatic situation.
• Holding on to pre-conceived ideas of game mechanics.

Geography of Space :

Local Space
Remote Space
Well-Beyond Space
Interstellar Space

Starting a New Game

Start Panel

Victory Path :

• New players should select Bannerman for their first game.
• New players should avoid Monarch and Warlord.
• For details see victory paths.

Lord's Trait :

• The best traits for a new player are Negotiator, Merchant or Technocrat.
• For details see lord's traitss.

Tech Selection :

• New players should not select Ship, Military or Modules techs as they will not benefit you in early game.
• Good choices for new players (under Civil) are Entertainment and Innovation. Under Structure Fabrication, Financial and Infrastructure will all decrease the burden of the inital building of infrastructure.

Accelerated Start :

• Only available after a player has played several games.
• Designed for players who find the initial exploration phase ponderous.
• Not recommended for players with limited time in first days of play.
• Somewhat emulates a realm after 4 days of a normal startup.
• Your realm will begin with 13 domestic stars.
• You are still under Imperial protection.
• Using normal startup a player will have more advantages.
• There are no cultural awards.

Late Start :

• Bonuses kick in if starting beyond 8 days of when the game began.
• The realm gets increasingly more starting assets the longer from the game beginning.
• This will never exceed the amount of assets a realm could generate by starting earlier.

Game Control Buttons

Lobby
• Switch between current games.
• Start a new game.
• View player statistics.
• Logout.
Forum - Display player forum - button animates on a new post
Game Options - see here
Help - Displays this page
Fullscreen Mode - Game expands to full screen, more immersive experience
Windowed Mode - Game runs in a window, easy access to your desktop
Feedback - Help improve the game with suggestions & comments.



Map

Full Map View :


- Displays full width map.
- Hot key Shift V

Map Controls :

Zoom :

• Use the mouse wheel to zoom.
• Wheel zooming only works while the mouse is over the map.
• Pressing the 1,2,3 or 4 key will zoom the map as well.
  hint : Use zoom level 1 with both starlanes and zones turned on, for a good strategic view.

Moving the Map :

There are several ways to reposition the map :


• Double click a star and the map will center on that star.
• Use the star list.
• Use the star hot buttons.
• While in a report see here.
• Drag the map, begin with a mouse-down on an empty area of the map.

Star Selection :

• Click a star once to select it, the green torus will identify it as the 'current star'.
• All star specific panels display information for the currently selected star.
• A second click will center the star in the viewport.

Star List :

• Locate a star by hovering over a name in the list.
• Select a star by clicking a name.
• Center a star in the map by clicking the name twice.
• The buttons at the top of the panel are filters, click to select the type of star.
• There is no hot key for the star list.

Star Info :

Float info panel beside star on map.
Snap info panel to left of screen.



• In floating mode the info will change on a star hover.
• In snapped mode, you must select a star to load the panel.
• The filter buttons may only be clicked while in snapped mode.
• You may turn the text on or off in the map display panel.
• Click the active button to hide the panel (both buttons up).

Map Display Options :

Option	Hot Key	Icon	Details
Starlanes	L	Displays jump connections between stars. See Starlanes
Realm Zone	Z	Displays Ownership of zones / stars. See Zones
Mineral Values	M	Displays at all scanned stars. Indicates mineral type (Icon). Indicates mineral value or output quantity if you have mines present. Number of mine levels is in small circle.
Structure Icons	Spacebar	Displays at explored stars with structures. A miniature icon for each type of structure is shown. Tap twice to return to multi-mode from a specific map option.
Jump Ready Fleets	J	Displays at stars with fleets having charged engines. Some fleet types are exempt. See fleet types Will filter star sequence, see star sequences Also shows these domestic fleets :   System Fleet (other than starbase, territorial base or haven).   Charging fleet.   Fleet on route.   Retreating fleet.
Foreign Fleets	ShiftF	Star has enemy fleets   Star has neutral fleets   Star has trade access fleets   Star has defence pact fleets   Star has allied fleets   Star has retreating foreign fleets   Star has repairing foreign fleets   Star has raider fleets   Foreign fleets unknown   UTS fleets   Anonymous fleets
Fleet Supply Issues	ShiftX	OoS Out of Supply 5 Remaining cycles of supply
Access Permissions	ShiftA	Displays access level or permission icons. For details see Access Levels & Permissions
Piracy Threat	ShiftT	Displays piracy threat % - on black. Displays anti-piracy values - on green. Shown for domesitc stars, territories and stars of a liege.
Electoral Sectors	ShiftE	Each sector has own colour. Council stars are highlighed.
Jumpgates	ShiftJ		Displays at stars with a jumpgate. Shows domestic & foreign where you have access.
Trade Routes	W	Displays Trade Routes.
Trade Interdiction	I	Displays at stars that have had trade interdicted in last 10 cycles. The size of the circle indicates frequency of interdictions. The brighter red the ring, the higher the value of the interdiction(s).
Indy Trades	ShiftI	Displays the current trade of FO to the indy in black Available trade with Indy in green.
Notes	ShiftN		Displays at stars where you have a note posted.
Builders	ShiftB	Displays at domestic stars with idle builders. Idles are indicated for works yard, shipyard,crafter and assembler.
Search level	ShiftS	Displays highest known artifact levels searched for.
Display Structure Levels	ShiftD	Displays last known structure levels. For domestic labs, academy & admin, shows assignment or not.
Unexplored	ShiftU	Displays unexplored stars in range.
Realm Insignias	ShiftR	Displays realm insignia for star owner.
Insurgency	ShiftH	Displays the Insurgency Level
Contentment	ShiftC	Displays the contentment trend
Agent Locations	ShiftY	Displays both security and covert counts
Luxury Demand	ShiftL	Foreign Stars : Value of luxuries on top. Demand amount on bottom. No trade access. Domestic Stars : Cycles until demand critical. Contentment loss due to demand.
Project Queues	ShiftQ	Displays all project queues at the star. Displays time to completion and number of builders. Dormant projects in red.
Grid	G	Displays the location grid.
Plan Allocations	ShiftP	Requirement Status : Amount of workers still required (on cyan). Amount of nanobits still required (on grey). If all requirements allocated, displays "In Transit". If all requirements on hand, displays "Ready". Supply Bases : A cyan diamond indicates supplier of workers. A white diamond indicates supplier of nanobits. Builders & Projects : Indicated by the background colour of the star name : Green : Has idle builders. Yellow : Has dormant projects. Red : Has dormant projects & idle builders.

Starlanes :
• Starlanes are the jump connections between stars.
• Starlane colour indicates the access permissions for the connected stars.
  
  Green: Access granted for both stars.
  Tan: Access unknown for one of the stars.
  Tan Transparent: No Access, Restricted Space.
  Red: Access denied for at least one of the stars.
  Cyan: Jumpgate connected stars, access granted.
  
  
• Toggle Range / Starlanes with hotkey [L]
• You may set starlane brightness in map configuration.
Range Sphere :
• Indicates stars within jump range of the last star pointed to.
• Toggle Range / Starlanes with hotkey [L]
• The sphere may be turned off, so [L] toggles lanes & nothing.
  - Checkbox is under map options.



Stars

Exploration :

Travel to an unexplored star

• Only fleets containing a ship with a scanner may jump to an unexplored star.
• If there are foreign fleets at the star, combat may occur, see Star Access
• If your fleet survives, it scans any stars in range.
• You will see any foreign structures at the star.
• If your fleet has sensors and is not retreating, it may detect the following :
  • Foreign ships & Raiders, but not retreating fleets (unless your fleet is a recon fleet)
  • Derelict ships - These may be examined, they may be a reclaimable ship or contain artifacts.
  • Escape pods - These may contain a marooned official.
  • Debris - This may be taken to a recycler and converted to nanobits.
• If your fleet contains an archaeologist, they may discover an artifact.
• If you are at war with the star owner, you may capture an undefended star, see Star Capture
• Many stars are "Independent" (Indies) These may be claimed if they have no shield or defending fleet.
  If they have a defending fleet, it must be defeated before you may claim the star.
  Well defended Indies may be better as trade partners than an enemy, so do not attack those.

Exploration Dilemmas :

• Sometimes, while surveying a newly explored star, the crew are presented with a dilemma.
• This takes the form of a question with several answers.
• An alert to the dilemma will show in the advisor comm channel.
• You MAY CHOOSE to resolve the dilemma or not :
  • If you choose to resolve, then you must answer the dilemma question.
    Exiting without answering will have worse consequences than answering.
  • If you choose NOT to resolve, then you will not have to answer and there will be no consequences.
  • There is a resolve button you must click to resolve the dilemma,
    DO NOT CLICK the button if you wish to ignore the dilemma.
    Once clicked you must answer the question.
• There is a wide variety of questions, benefits and consequences. On average they will be positive, but some may be a difficult choice between really bad options.
• Dilemmas may be turned off in comm > configuration > filters.
• A fleet on a route or on auto-explore may move away from the star before you resolve the dilemma, in this case the opportunity to resolve the dilemma is lost.

Scanning

• Only fleets containing a ship with a scanner may conduct a scan.
• Scanning automatically occurs when your fleet arrives at an unexplored star.
• A scan will inform you of the mineral type and mineral value for all adjacent stars.
• The scanned stars are labelled 'Unexplored'.
• The scan does NOT give you information regarding ownership or whether any fleets are present.
• You may see broadcasts from scanned stars that have a beacon.

Beacon Broadcasts :

• A text message that is displayed when other lords hover over the star.
• A beacon is require to send a broadcast.
• You do not see your own messages, unless you are on the star panel and select the star.
• Edit the message from the star panel > admin > broadcast.

  Foreign Broadcasts :

  • You may hide broadcasts from specific foreign stars by removing the checkmark on the message.
  • To display the message again, open the star panel and check the box found there.

Jumpgates (JG):

Changes to jumpgate status are made on the transponder panel.

Use:

• A Gate Jump requires both origin and destination stars to have jumpgates.
• A Gate Jump requires only 10% of a jump engine charge to jump.
• Access permission is required to use a jumpgate.
• Jumpgates controlled by foreign realms may not be used without a Jumpgate Agreement.
• Jumpgates may only be used on stars the realm has explored.
• If a Gate Jump is not available, a jump using a 100% charge may be made.
• A fleet may Gate Jump until its jump charge falls below 10%.
  ie; a fleet with a 100% charge may Gate Jump 10 times along a fully gated path.

Building:

• To build a jumpgate, jumpgate tech must be researched.
• To build a jumpgate module, both jumpgate tech and JG module tech are required.
• The above techs are not required to deploy a jumpgate module.

Control:

• Control of the jumpgate is by the Transponder Controller.
• If the transponder is seized, the control of the jumpgate will change as well.
• Access to the jumpgate is the same as the transponder access level.
• Anonymous control is possible.

Off-Line Status:

• Off-line jumpgates may not be used by any fleet.
  
  Causes of Off-line Status:
  • A jumpgate goes off-line when the transponder is seized. This lasts for 3 cycles.
  • An agent succeeds in a Set Jumpgate Off-line operation. This lasts for 3 cycles.
  • An agent succeeds in a Disable Jumpgate operation. The jumpgate will require re-enabling.
  • An engineer disables the jumpgate. The jumpgate will require re-enabling.

Disabled Status:

• Jumpgates immediately go off-line when when disabled.
• Agents may attempt to disable a jumpgate with a cyber attack operation.
  There are no requirements other than the success of the operation.
  
  Requirements for an engineer to disable:
  • The controller may not have any combat fleets present.
  • The engineer may be from any realm except the controller.
    - The controller may set access to deny instead.
  • The engineer must be on a fleet in local space.
  • The engineer may not be on a fleet within a haven.

Enabling a Disabled Jumpgate:

• A re-enabled jumpgate takes 3 cycles to gain On-line status.
  
  Requirements to Enable:
  • An engineer unit must be present.
  • The engineer may be from any realm.
  • The engineer must be on a fleet in local space.
  • The engineer may not be on a fleet within a haven.

Destruction:

Requirements:
• Is the star owner.
• Has control of the transponder.
• An engineer unit must be present.
• The engineer must be on a fleet in local space.
• The engineer may not be on a fleet within a haven.
• Destruction is immediate.

Transponder (TP):

• Each star has a transponder built by the Empire in the distant past.
• Transponders are indistructable.
• Transponders are normally controlled by the star owner.
• Control may be transferred to another lord with a proposal.
• Control may also be seized, see below.
• The transponder panel is displayed by a button at the top of the fleet or star panels.
• The controller may set the access level for that star.
• The access level determines which foreign fleets are permitted access.
• Denying access does not prevent foreign fleets from jumping to the star, it may cause the controllers fleets to attack the foreign fleet. This is called a police action and may result in an access infringement battle
• At an Indy controlled transponder, access is automatically denied to enemies of its motherland.
• Fleets may not retreat to a star where access is denied.
• Limiting access to a star (above trade access) will increase rebel activity and raiders at the star and adjacent stars.

  Seizing Control:

  • If a jumpgate is present, it will go off-line for 3 cycles.
    If the transponder is seized by another realm the 3 cycle timer is restarted.
  • Control may be seized under the following conditions :
    • The controller may not have any combat fleets present.
    • An engineer unit must be present.
    • The engineer must be on a fleet in local space.
    • The engineer may not be on a fleet within a haven.
  • Indy fleets do not prevent seizure of TP controlled by the motherland.
  • Indies will only defend their transponder if they control it.
    If the transponder is controlled by their motherland, the motherland will need to defend it.
  • Seizing a TP from an Indy will damage your relationship.
    It is better to get control with a treaty.

  Control Flags:

  • Control may be flagged as realm, anonymous and corporate defence (at controlled corporate enterprises).
  • For non-realm flags, access levels will be limited to Open and Closed.

  Access Levels :

   
  Open - Grant access to all fleets except enemy realms (at war).
   
  Trade - Grant access to realms with trade agreement or better.
   
  Defence - Grant access to realms with defence pact or are allied.
   
  Alliance - Grant access to allied realms.
   
  Closed - Deny access to all foreign fleets.
  
  

  Change Access Level :

  • This is done on the transponder panel.
  • View the transponder panel by clicking the access button on a star panel or the fleets panel.
    
    Warning: Changing the access level may cause an Access Infringment Battle

  Access Permissions :

  Access Permissions Chart
  	Access Level
  Diplomatic Relationship with Controller	Open	Trade	Defence	Alliance	Closed
  War
  Neutral
  Trade Pact
  Defence Agreement
  Alliance

  
  
  Permission Icons :
  
  
   
  Granted - Combat will not occur with controller but may occur if enemy fleet at star.
   
  Denied - Combat may occur if controller or enemy fleet at star.
   
  Unknown - Combat may occur depending on the access permission or if enemy fleet at star.
   
  Restricted - No jump possible, see Restricted Space
  
  
  • When selecting a jump destination the targeting icon is a larger version this icon.
  • Combat does not cause realms to be at war, see diplomacy for declarations of war.
  • Stars may be captured if at war with the owner, see Star Capture
  • Fleets may not jump to stars that are restricted, see Restricted Space.

Foreign Stars :

• This panel can be displayed by selecting the Star Panel [S] at a foreign star.
• It may display in place of other panels as well. (Build Panel for example)
• The foreign star panel will display the last known assets of the star owner only.
  (Ship totals for other realms may be found on the foreign ships panel)
• Structures are seen by any fleet at the star.
• Ships are only seen by non-retreating fleets that have a sensor equipped ship.
• If the star was broadcasting a beacon message, and you turned it off, you may turn it on here.

  Links to info on NPC star owners :

  Imperial Colony
  Rebel Colony
  Independent Colony
  Colonised Territory

  Claim Star :

  • You may claim stars regardless of your relationship with the owner.
  • You do not have to be at war to claim and claiming does not cause you to be at war.
  • You must have a fleet with diplomatic ability must be present to claim a star.
  • There must be no non-retreating combat ships present that belong to the owner.
  • You may not claim if there is a shield on the star, unless the star is in rebellion (a rebel star)
  • Stars with an Imperial shield may never be claimed.

Foreign Ships Panel :

• Displays a summary of ships for each realm at the star.
• Available from the fleets panel or the foreign star panel.
• Requirements to see foreign ships :
  • Have a monitor (if an owned star).
  • Have a non-retreating fleet with sensors at the star.
  • Have an agent on the "View Fleets" operation at the star (must have monitor).
  • If the foreign fleet is a recon fleet or is retreating, it may only be seen by a recon fleet.
• Click the attack button to initiate combat see Local Attacks for details
• Click the Intel button to send a report on a fleet to the current comm channel.
  - This is not active if the comm panel is closed or the current channel is "Advisor" or "GNN"

Contentment :

• Contentment is the civil morale level at domestic stars.
• Contentment ranges from −1000 to +1000.
• Under 200 your crime and rebel activity will be difficult to control.
• Under zero , it will be increasingly hard to deal with "situations".

  Trend :

  • Trend is the change in contentment each cycle.
  • Trend only incorporates the current values for crime, piracy and insurrection.
    So the trend may be positive, but contentment may go down due to these factors.
    View the history chart and the "Star Status" report to be alerted to these changes.

Contentment Effects :
Morale of new ships is based on contentment Adoration prestige is based on contentment New worker are increased by higher contentment Crime will increase on low contentment A Subsidy is gained via adoration Low contentment will cause insurrection Rebellion occurs at −1000 contentment

Contentment Increased by :
Mercantile	5 for level 1, +2 each subsequent level
Rec Center	20 per level
Food Positives	25 Maximum from good diet and food security See here
Hospital	5 per level
Security HQ	10 per level, + Security tech
Shield	4 per shield level above habitat level
Entertainment Technology	See TL mods
Ministry of Culture	Based on rank of liege
Statesman Victory Path	5
Charisma of Governor	20 Maximum
Services	As per setting on admin panel
Zeal	See zeal
Low contentment	See moderation below

Contentment Decreased by :
Mines	5 per level
No habitat	8
Food problems	40 Maximum from poor diet and food insecurity See here
Shield lacking	4 per shield level below habitat level
Overcrowding	Not Implemented
Rivalry	See rivalry
Social Demands	5 per habitat level 1 per bond over 30 bonds
Luxury Demand	Increases over time, while no luxuries have been imported
Consumer Policy	As per setting on domain panel, Habitat level X policy X 50% ie; Lv 6 habitat @ policy of 5 = -15 contentment
Power Failures	2 per level lacking power
Slave market	10 per market level
Bombardment	Bombardment type : Strategic :  1 per level loss Reduce Shield :  1 per salvo Irradiate :  2 per salvo
Taxes	1 per tax rate
Epidemics	Equal to Infections
Crime	1 per crime value
Insurgents	1 per insurrection value
Martial Law	10 per repression value
Raiders or Enemy Fleet	40
High contentment	See moderation below

Moderation :

• Moderation is normally 10% of contentment. This will cause a trend towards zero.
  ie; The contentment is +500, moderation will be −50.
  or the contentment is −400, moderation will be +40.
• Moderation will also cap the trend to + / − 99

Zeal :

• Zeal is a positive modifier to contentment.
• Zeal decreases by 1 per cycle until zero (except prestige leaders, see below).
• Realms begin a game with 60 zeal (60 cycles ~ 25 days).
• There is a minimum zeal for realms leading in prestige :
  • The minimum is not calculated unitl cycle end.
  • Only realms with greater than 1000 prestige qualify for a minimum.
  • Minimums :

    1st place :	20 points
    2nd place :	15 points
    3rd place :	10 points
    4th place :	5 points

• A declaration of war on a realm with more than 2,500 prestige increases zeal by up to 20.
  Zeal will never rise above 20 due to declarations of war.
  A peace treaty sooner that 20 cycles after the war started, will zesult in loss of all zeal.
• The conqueror in a conditional surrender gains +1 zeal for each cycle the war has existed.

Rivalry :

• Rivalry is a negative modifier to contentment.
• Rivalry has two sources :

  Council Star Control :

  • Applies to stars in a sector whose council seat is controlled by a realm in another fealty tree.
  • This type of rivalry is a flat −50 contentment.

    Exemptions :

    • Realms under protection.
    • Vassals of the council.
    • Stars owned by a realm who has not explored the council star for that sector.

  Rival Sovereigns :

  • Applies to sovereigns with greater than 3,000 prestige.
  • Rivalry increases by 1 per cycle while more than one sovereign is over 3,000 prestige.
  • Rivalry decreases by 10 per cycle while either :
    - At war with all other sovereigns over 3,000 prestige.
    - Has less than 3,000 prestige.
    - No longer a sovereign.
  • Note that a sovereign is the liege at the top of a fealty hierarchy.

Radiation :

• A star may become irradiated depending on the length/intensity of "Irradiate" bombardment.
• When the shield is destroyed, the star will not be able to be built on.
• The radiation level will drop each cycle, once down to an acceptable level, building may resume.
• The length/intensity of bombardment will determine how long the star remains irradiated.
• A radiation level of 100% results in no building.
• Radiation levels lower than 100% results in lower contentment and worker die-off.

Rebellion :

• A rebellion results in a star becoming a rebel star.
• For information about stars after they rebel, see rebel stars.
• Rebellion is triggered by low Contentment on a star.
• When contentment reaches −1000, the star rebels.
• Rebellion on a star can be devastating.
  - All build projects are lost.
  - The owner loses control of the star. Rebels now are in control.
  - Ships on the starbase may change to rebel.
• A notable difference between a rebel star and an independent is the independent will build structures whereas a rebel star will not.

Insurrection :

• Insurrection is the chance of a star claiming independence.
• At 100% insurrection the star will claim independence.
• Once an insurgency reaches 50% it is considered a civil war and martial law may be required.

  Insurrection
  Causes	Effects
  Low contentment Lack of a habitat The realm is in debt Distance from capital star High number of stars in the realm Change of ownership Prolonged periods of access restriction to the star or adjacent stars. Black market buying weapons Ops by foreign agents Periodic spikes due to : - Lack of governance (off line for many days) - High credit balance (inequality due to elites having all the cash) - Random factors	Lowers contentment Insurgency events Leads to independence

  Dealing with Insurrection :

  • Increase contentment.
    • Low contentment may be due to a high piracy value, if so, garrison some fighters or sloops.
    • If you have high crime, level up your SHQ.
    • Reduce taxes
    • Increase your services level, build an administration if not already.
    • A governor with high charisma will help too.
    • If things get really bad you can demolish any mines and lose the -5 to contentment they have.
  • Build positive contentment structures, like Rec Centers, Admin, Shield or SHQ.
  • SHQ is very effective when both crime and insurgency are high.
  • Demolish negative contentment structures, like mines.
  • Assign agents on counter insurgency operations, the more the better.
  • As the insurgency gets worse there will be acts of sabotage. It would be wise to have modules on hand to replace SHQ's, administrations & rec centers.
  • The policing technology will help too.
  • Check the "History" chart on the admin panel for progress/causes.
  • Check the "Star Status" report under top secret each day to see emerging problems.
  • Once the insurgency becomes a civil war, martial law may be required.

Claim of Independence :

• This is a realm star that has a successful insurrection.
• The newly independent star will be at war with the realm it separated from.
• Some structures may be destroyed as a result.
• An independent star will build whereas a rebel star is static and more vulnerable.

Corporate Enterprises :

• Some Imperial stars host corporate enterprises.
• These are normally independent corporate entities conducting some activity.
• Possible activities are mining, refining, slavery, crafting, farming and ranching.
• They usually have a defending fleet.

  Possible Interactions:

  Raid:

  • Defeat the defending fleet.
  • If no defending fleet is present, activate the raid with the option on the foreign star panel.
  • Any stockpile of the production item will be captured.
    There is no way to determine the amount of stock on hand prior to the raid.

  Corporate Takeover:

  • Defeat the defending fleet.
  • This may only be done with an anonymous fleet.
  • If no defending fleet is present, take control with the option on the foreign star panel.
  • A successful takeover will take control of the "Corporate Warehouse" fleet at the star.
  • Any stock in the warehouse will be captured.
  • Only the produce from the enterprise is/may be stored on this fleet.
  • A UTS or domestic fleet may be used to transport the stock elsewhere.
  • The true owner of the enterprise will not be shown to other realms.

  Corporate Sabotage:

  • Only possible if a sabotage mercenary mission for the star is advertised on GNN.
  • Defeat the defending fleet to complete the mission.
  • If no defending fleet is present, use the "Corporate Raid" option on the foreign star panel.
  • Any stock in the warehouse will be captured.
  • Workers involved in the enterprise will be enslaved and gained as booty.
  • The corporate enterprise will be destroyed.
  
  Note :
  Attack with an anonymous or a privateer flagged fleet, otherwise the Empire knows who owns the attacking fleet and will deny access to the star for several cycles (assuming the Empire controls the transponder).

  Corporate Defence Fleets (CD):

  • Only fleets flagged as Corporate Defence will defend an enterprise from raids and takeovers.
  • These fleets are seen as Corporate Defence fleets by other realms.
  • The flag may be changed on the fleet options panel.
  • The true owner of these fleets is not shown.

    Type vs Flag

    • A CD flagged fleet may onlt exist at an owned corporate enterprise.
    • A CD type fleet designates the fleet for use as Corporate Defence.
    • The flag changes to Anonymous any time it is not in position to do Corporate Defence.
    • Any CD type fleet that is in position to do Corporate Defence automatically changes to a CD flag.
    • This is useful for CD fleets on resupply routes and fleets being sent out to garrison a corporation.
  
  Note :
  • These fleets do not receive supply from the star, use one of the following methods to keep it supplied:
  • Place a supply ship on a route to supply the star.
  • Set the fleet type to "Corporate Defence", place it on a route to a supply star, then back to the star they will defend, with the "wait for cycles" set at that waypoint. The enterprise will be undefended while the fleet is in transit.



Star Panels (Domestic Stars)
• This panel has several sub panels, use the buttons down right side of screen to access.
• Domestic stars are stars you control.
• Details for panels at foreign stars is here

  Summary Panel

  - Hot key S
  
  
  • Stats for ships are not displayed,
    as this is a summary of
    all ships at the star.

Administration Panel


- This panel has several sub-panels.
- Hot key A
• Required for a manager to be assigned as governor of the star.
• The admin structure allows one to set the service level.
• Each higher level of administration reduces service costs.
• Increased output is gained once a governor is appointed.
• Governors leadership trait affects the amount of output, higher levels of admin need high level leadership.

  Overview Panel :

  Memo :

  • Click the memo bar to add a reminder for the star.
  • If map option "Star Notes" is on and a memo is set, a yellow square will show on the map.
    When the star is selected while viewing the "Star Panel" the memo text will display on the map.
  
  

  Star Status Bar :

  Star Status Descriptions
  	Population	The population consists of the workers required to build each structure level X 50 plus workers on the starbase X 10
  	Contentment	see contentment
  	Tax Level	Set on the finances panel As you increase the tax level: - the amount of credits received increases. - the number of new workers decreases. - contentment decreases. see Taxation
  	Service Level	Set on the finances panel. Increases contentment by +5 per level. See contentment pop-up for effect. Cost based on population. Maximum Level based on habitat level and administration level.
  	Power Supply	Each level of power station supplies 10 structure levels. Level 1 structures do not require power. A power shortage reduces contentment by −2 per level lacking.
  	Radiation Level	This is caused by the irradiate type bombardment Critical levels will prevent building on the star if no shield is present. The radiation level decreases each cycle.
  	Crime	Causes : Low contentment - Primary cause. High accumulations of luxuries on the starbase. High quantity of credits on hand. The black market buying illicit drugs. The black market selling illegal goods. Periodic spikes due to random factors. Effects : Lowers contentment. Increases contraband supply and demand. Reduces income from mercantiles. Reduces new workers. May increase rebellion. Solutions : Increase contentment - best solution. Build up the security HQ. Research policing tech. Research service tech. Place agents on the anti-crime operation. The anti-crime tech will increase their effectiveness. Assign a governor that has a high security trait.
  	Piracy	This is the chance of raiders showing up. Caused by lack of combat ships or patrols. Lowers contentment. Reduces income from taxation. For more on raiders, see raiders.
  	Insurrection	This is the chance of rebellion and insurgency events. See Insurrection.

  Star Resource Output Panel :

  • Shows the output per cycle.

  Finances Panel :

  • For taxation see here.
  • Services :
    • Increases contentment by +5 per level.
    • The cost is based on population.
    • Maximum Level is based on habitat level and administration level.
  • Luxury Funding :
    • Each 3 cycles a star does not receive luxuries from another realm, contentment decreases by 1.
    • Once a star receives luxuries they are content for 40 cycles.
    • Luxury Funding is a way to offest a lack of luxury imports.
      Each 100 credits spent offsets 3 cycles of demand.

  Broadcast Panel :

  • A beacon must be present to broadcast a message.
  • A message will display to other realms when they hover over the star on the map.

  Demolish Panel :

  • Select a structure (habitats mat not be demolished).
  • Select the number of levels you wish to demolish.
  • The total cost in workers is returned as available workers.
  • The total cost in nanobits is returned as scrap.
  • No credits are recovered.
  • Habitats may not be demolished.
  • Level 1 shields may not be demolished.
  • Jumpgates may not be demolished unless the star owner has control of the transponder or it is set to permit access. Only the star owner may destroy jumpgates (changed from previous versions).

  Designation Panel :

  • The designation will display along with the star name on most panels.
  • Other realms do not see your designations.

  Option Panel :

      Move Capital :

  • You may move the location of your capital to any domestic star.
  • The cost is dependent on the number of stars in your realm and the number of times you have moved it.

    Effects :

    • The capital is the destination of diplomats, agents and other staff that must return home.
    • The distance between capitals is one factor in tradegoods value and the demand for luxuries.
    • The distance between the capital and an independent star is one factor in trade value.
    • The old capital will take a 300 point contentment hit. All other stars in the realm will take a 100 point contentment hit.
    • An increase in rebel activity may take place on some stars.
    • Ambassadors will move to the new capital.
    • Covert agents at the old capital will move to the new capital.
    • Demand for luxuries is reduced to zero and will increase over time.

      Grant Independence :

  • You may grant independence to any star you own except your capital.
  • There is no cost.
  • All assets on the starbase will be transferred to the new owner.
  • You may choose to transfer control of the transponder as well.

      Request an Imperial Fleet :

  • The empire is not always available or able to respond.
  • If they agree to send a fleet, it will cost you 300 credits.
  • The fleet may then take a few cycles to arrive.
  • The fleet will stay for several cycles ensuring the raiders stay away.
  • Once the Imperial fleet leaves, it will be some time before the raiders try to return.

      Pay Off Raiders :

  • Some raiders may not wish to be bought off, but due to their craven nature their commanders change frequently, so try them again the following cycle.
  • This will cost an amount of credits dependent on the number of raiders and how greedy they are.
  • If they do accept the payment, they will leave, but there is no guarrantee how long they will stay away.

      Martial Law :

  • Martial law should not be declared until an insurgency becomes a civil war (insurgency > 50%)
  • Martial law can be used on a star that is dedicated to mines and slave markets.
  • Martial law may be effective against very high crime rates. It negates the contentment loss from mines (20 per level)
  • A repression level must be set, this may be adjusted at any time.
  • The repression range is level 1 to 3.

    Effects :

    • No new workers are gained from the star, except those from slave markets.
    • No taxes are gained from the star.
    • Prevents contentment loss for mines and slave markets.
    • Reduced piracy, crime and rebel activity.
    • Increased black market prices.

      Repression :

      Each level of repression causes the following each cycle :
      • − 3 Prestige (Infamy).
      • − 50 Credits per habitat level.
      • − 25% Insurgency events (sabotage & resource losses).
        
        Example for level 2 repression on a level 3 habitat star :
        • − 6 Prestige (Infamy).
        • − 300 Credits .
        • − 50% Insurgency events.

Food Distribution Panel :

• Set the type of food distribution on this panel.
• For details on food types and farms, see here.
• Only food on starbase fleets is used in distribution.

  Local Distribution :

  • Distribution only uses food on the starbase and produced at the star.
  • Food stocks are not automatically shared with the global distribution network.
  • Local distribution feeds workers in structures and workers on fleets at the star.
  • Stars not connected contiguously with the capital must use local distribution.
  • Each star set to local distribution has its own diet ratio.

  Global Distribution :

  • Stars set to global distribution share their stock and food production.
  • All food is transported automatically and those shipments are not represented in-game.
  • There is a single diet ratio for all stars on global distribution.
  • Global distribution feeds workers in structures and workers on fleets.
    
    

  Consuming Populations
  Local Distribution At a specific star	Global Distribution Excludes those under Local Distribution
  Workers on the starbase	Workers on all other fleets
  Workers in structures at the star	Workers in structures
  	Workers on offer at the sector market
  	Crews of all ships

Mining Panel :

• This panel provides an overview of mineral output for the star.
• A mine manager may be assigned on the panel.

Refinery Panel


- No Hot key

Refinery Levels
Level	Minimum Habitat	Maxumum Input	Output Bonus
1	3	1000	None
2	5	2000	2%
3	7	4000	4%
4	9	8000	6%

Refinery Operation Modes
Mode	Use
Off	No minerals used No nanobits output
Selected minerals	Use when you wish to ensure maximum mineral types used. May result in less than maximum or no output.
Selected and minimum	Use when you wish to have a minimum mineral quantity used. Will normally result in highest output. May result in less than maximum output if several selected types have low stock.

• The maximum input (of minerals) is based on refinery level.
• The output is based on how many mineral types you use.
  The following table is based on a level 1 refinery (maximum input 1000 minerals)
  - Using 1 mineral, you get an equal amount of Nanobits.
  - Use 5 mineral types and you triple your output!
  - Use all 12 mineral types and you get over 6 times your input!!

  Refinery Input / Output
  Number of Mineral Types	Amount per Mineral Type	Minerals Used (Input)	Nanobits Produced (Output)	Production Increase (each type)	Production Increase (overall)
  1	1000	1000	1,000	0.0 %	0 %
  2	500	1000	1,500	50.0 %	50 %
  3	333	999	1,998	33.2 %	100 %
  4	250	1000	2,500	25.1 %	150 %
  5	200	1000	3,000	20.0 %	200 %
  6	166	996	3,486	16.2 %	249 %
  7	142	994	3,976	14.1 %	298 %
  8	125	1000	4,500	13.2 %	350 %
  9	111	999	4,995	11.0 %	400 %
  10	100	1000	5,500	10.1 %	450 %
  11	90	990	5,940	8.0 %	494 %
  12	83	996	6,474	9.0 %	547 %

Selling Nanobits for a profit

• This example is based on 9 mineral types.
• 3 types are from your own mines and cost an averge of .40c per unit.
• 3 types are purchased at an average of 2.00c per unit.
• 3 types are purchased at an average of 2.50c per unit.
• Misc expenses is shipping and refinery support.
• At a Lv1 refinery 9 minerals require 111 units of each mineral.
• Output will be 4,995 nanobits (more with tech)
• This results in a cost of .35 per nanobit.
• Selling at 1.00c per nanobit you will triple your investment.

  Number of Types	Average Cost	Units per Type	Cost
  3	.40	111	133
  3	2.00	111	666
  3	2.50	111	833
  		Misc :	100
  		Total Cost :	1,732
  1,732 / 4,995 = .35 per nanobit

How much are minerals worth?

Depot Panel


- No Hot key

Supply Containers

• These may be created at a level 2 supply depot for 100 credits each.
• Costs are included in Building Expenses in the economic report.
• They hold 100 units of supply.
• Contents degrade by 1 supply per cycle, to a minimum of 10 supply.
• They use 10 units of cargo space, so 10 will fit in a small cargo bay.
• Used mainly for emergency resupply of ships when no supply ship is available.
• Ships that are disbanded may eject supply containers. This is a way to profit from piracy.
  Capture freighters, take their cargo, disband them and take the supply containers.
  Note : You will need a tracktor beam equiped ship to gather the containers.
• Supply containers may be converted to credits at any domestic star.
  This will show on the economic report as Treasure Cashed In.

Spaceport Panel


- Hot key S
• A receiving dock is located at a star if no spaceport has been built.
• The receiving dock enables deliveries of shipments.
• To send shipments a spaceport is required.
• For DS shipments see here
• For UTS shipments see here

Plan Allocation :

• This will set the amount of workers and nanobits that will be sent to build plans from this star.
• Set the amount of stock to be shipped to stars/plans in the plan allotment queue.
• If a resource allocation is set to "No" the spaceport will not automatically supply build plans.
• If set to "Yes", set the amount of stock you wish to retain at the star.
• Any amount in excess of the minimum stock retained, will be shipped to stars with build plans.
• The build plans & supply allocation is explained more fully in the build section, see build planning.
• The map display for allocation is explained here.

Monument Panel :

Monument Prestige :

• In addition to the level prestige, Mystic Crystals can add presitige when on the starbase of a star with a monument. Mystic Crystals are usually found by archaeologists.

Prestige Gained
Level	Prestige
1	5 Points
2	20 Points
3	45 Points
4	80 Points

Dedicated Monuments :

• Monuments are not dedicated by default.
• Dedication may be made after the first level is built.
• Dedication of a monument is permanent.
• Dedication may only be changed by demolition and rebuilding.
• The bonus is only applied to the star where it is located.
• An undedicated monument receives the prestige above, but not any of the bonuses below.

Monument Dedication Bonuses
Dedication	Bonus Area	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Fertility	Workers	+7%	+16%	+30%	+50%
Discovery	Research Speed	+7%	+16%	+30%	+50%
Harvest	Produce & Proteins Output	+7%	+16%	+30%	+50%
Wellbeing	Increase Contentment	+10	+20	+30	+40

Monument Curator :

• Monuments may have an archaeologist assigned as curator.
• Curators have no effect if the monument is not dedicated.
• The curator bonus increases the dedication bonus.
  Examples:
  A 4 star curator at a level 3 monument could increase fertility by 42%.
  A 2 star curator at a level 2 monument could increase contentment by 26.

Curator Bonuses
Curator Rank
1 Bar	2 Bar	3 Bar	4 Bar	1 Star	2 Star	3 Star	4 Star
5%	10%	15%	20%	25%	30%	35%	40%

Laboratory Panel


- Hot key R

This is actually the Research Panel

Academy Panel


- No hot key
• An academy structure is required before this panel may be accessed, see academy.
• To recruit personnel, select a profession, then click recruit in the training panel.
• A maximum of 8 recruits for each profession are available each cycle per realm.
• If a professor has been assigned dean, training time will be reduced and graduation rank increased.
• Training is done in terms, maximum term equals academy level.
• Maximum rank increase is one bar per term.
• New recruits may only be trained by their own realm.
• When training an new recruit, the base fee must be paid.
• When training recruits or enrolling existing officials, pay the term fee times terms selected.
• Enrolment may be for less terms than the maximum. ie; you may train for 2 terms at a level 4 academy.
• Training to highest level when a new recuit may be cheaper than additional training later, due to the Group Discount when multiple new recruits are trained.
• Costs will be applied to Tuition Fees in the Non-Budgetary section of the economic report.
• Academies may be dedicated to a specific profession see below.
• Graduation values are locked in on enrolment, so changes to dean, tech or academy level do not affect existing students.
• Maximum rank/experience (for the academy level) on graduation is not guarranteed.
  There must be enough training influences to gain maximum experience.

  Maximum Rank on Graduation
  Academy Level	Officials	Officers	Experience Rating

  Dedicated Academies :

  • Once dedicated, an academy may not change the profession it trains.
  • The academy may be demolished and reconstructed, then dedicated to a new profession.
  • Dedicated academies train recruits at a lower cost and increase the rank on graduation.
  • Dedicated academies of level 2 or higher may train foreign personnel.
  • The cost of training is reduced by 25%.
  • The experience of graduates is increased over normal by:
    • Level 1: 50%
    • Level 2: 50%
    • Level 3: 33%
    • Level 4: 25%

  Foreign Enrolment :

  • Dedicated academies of level 2 or higher may train foreign personnel.
  • The owner of the academy controls permission for enrolment for each relationship type.
  • The fees may be set by the owner once an academy is dedicated (and above level 1).
  • Cost to the academy owner is per term, this equals the cost multiplied by the term.
  • Costs will be applied to Tuition Fees in the Non-Budgetary section of the economic report.
  • Fees (charged to those enrolling) are per term, so an official enrolled for 2 terms will pay twice the fee.
  • Fees will be applied to Foreign Enrolments as income for the academy owner and Tuition Fees for the enrolling realm. These will be under the Non-Budgetary section of the economic report.

  Enrolment Costs :

  Enrolment Costs These costs are modified by the training influences in the next table
  Profession	Base Fee	Fee per Term	Time per Term

  Training Influences :

  Training Influences
  Source	Type	Cost	Time	Experience	Other
  Term	1 - 4	More	More	Increase	Maximum rank on graduation
  Academy	Level				Maximum term available
  Academy	Dedicated	Less		Increase
  Dean	Experience			Increase
  Dean	Leadership			Increase
  Dean	Ability		Less
  Tech	Education		Less
  Tech	Profession Specific	Less
  Lords Trait	Trait Specific	Less
  Group	Greater than 1 new recruit	Less

Personnel Panel


- Hot key P
• To assign or dismiss personnel, go to the relevant panel. ie: for dean, go to academy.
• For detail on types of personnel see here.
• The following options may be available by hovering a panel. If the option button is greyed-out, hover the button to find reason.
• You may select multiple personnel for identical orders. BUT you must have selected a specific profession first (with the top buttons).

  Enrol :

  • Personnel may be enrolled for additional training when their experience is lower than what academies are offering.
  • If they are currently assigned, in transit or captured, they may not be enrolled.
  • Clicking the Enrol button will display a list of academies, both domestic and foreign.
  • Personnel must be on a starbase in order to enrol.

  Move :

  • Movement is via the civil transportation system, which is not represented in game.
  • Time to destination is about 1 hour per star hop.
  • Personnel must be on the starbase to be seen in the personnel panel.
  • Personnel may be moved to any domestic star.
  • Agents may also move to foreign stars.
  • Agents may also move via the operations panel. This is the only way to move them while at foreign stars.
  • Diplomats may also move to owned territorial stars.
  • Personnel may be moved via the fleets panel, hover the official's icon to display the move button.
  • Personnel may also be moved as passengers on a fleet.
  • Personnel may not move while assigned or in training.

  Retire :

  • Personnel may not retired while they are in transit or training.
  • Captured personnel may not be retired.
  • Once retired they are no longer accessible.
  • There is no support cost for retirees.
  • Retirees continue to generate prestige.
  • Personnel must be on a starbase in order to retire.

Build Panel


- Hot key B

Create Project Panel :

• For more detail see building

Projects List

• When a project is completed, the builders drop to the next project in the queue.
  This may be overridden by the "go idle" and "do upgrade" options.
• There are no queue order buttons for pending upgrades as they will automatically replace the preceding level in the queue.
• There are no cancel buttons for upgrades when further upgrades for the structure are in the queue.
• If there is a pending upgrade for a completed project without the "do upgrade" option, the upgrade is added to the end of the queue.
• Projects may be canceled, see here

Project Edit Panel

Click a project panel to edit :
• Number of builders
• Position in queue
• Cancel the project

Building



• The Structure Overview can be found Here
• Structures may be built from scratch or in combination with components
• The build subsidy may be used to reduce the cost in credits and nanobits.
• Amortisation nay be used to spread the credit cost over several cycles.
• Amortisation, modules and components are all mutually exclusive (you may only use one per project).
• Subsidy may not be used with amortisation or module builds.

  Choosing a Build Method :

  • Use modules to build on stars not contiguous with your core realm.
  • Use components when you want a fast build within your core realm area.
  • Use subsidy when you are low on credits or nanobits.
  • Use amortisation when low on credits.

  Overview of the Various Queues :

  Build Queue :

  • This queue is used to prioritise build projects.
  • This is the queue you drop builders onto.
  • This queue is not used for plans.

  Plan list :

  • This is a list of all build plans at the star.
  • You add plans to this list, or apply a plan scheme to add multiple plans at once.
  • The order of this list is of no consequence as the allotment queue is used to prioritise supply. But you may reorder it to assist your planning. Drag and drop a plan row to change the order.
  • When you activate a plan, it moves from this list to the build queue.

  Allotment Queue :

  • This queue is used to prioritise all plans across all stars.
  • This queue dictates what order stars receive resources (resource allocation).
  • Access this queue with the "Allotment Queue" button on the plans panel.

  Cost of Level Upgrades :

  This applies only to those structures built in levels.
  Each successive level increases in cost.
  But the relative advantage(s) for the higher level increases at a diminishing rate.
  The following example is for a habitat, but the method applies to all structures.
  
  Example:
  
  The following table compares the cost of a building a habitat to each level.
  The point is, you can build 2 new habitats for the cost of a level 2, and you gain 100 credits per cycle rather than 50.

  Habitat Upgrade Example
  Habitat Level	Required Credits	Required Workers	Required Nanobits	Increase in Credits *	Recovery Cycles **
  1	300	800	800	50	8
  2	600	1,600	1,600	50	16
  3	900	2,400	2,400	50	24
  4	1,200	3,200	3,200	50	32
  5	1,500	4,000	4,000	50	40
  6	1,800	4,800	4,800	50	48
  7	2,100	5,600	5,600	50	56
  8	2,400	6,400	6,400	50	64
  9	2,700	7,200	7,200	50	72
  10	3,000	8,000	8,000	50	80

  * Increase in credits = Increase in income per cycle over previous level at 25% tax rate.
  ** Recovery cycles = Number of cycles to recover credit cost at 25% tax rate.

  Build Projects :

  There are 3 ways of adding a build to the queue :
  • Build a new project on the build panel.
  • Activate a planned project in planning on the build panel.
  • Deploy a module on a fleet in the fleets panel.

  Batch Time Savings :

  • Not available for structure builds.
  • The more units built in a project, the less time is required to build each item.
  • For module assembly, less than 4 units will increase build time.
  
  
  

  Ship Batch Savings
  Batch Size	Time Saved
  5	10%
  10	17%
  20	28%
  50	49%
  100	72%

  Component Group A Batch Savings
  Batch Size	Time Saved
  10	0%
  20	4%
  40	12%
  60	24%
  80	39%
  100	60%

  Component Group B Batch Savings
  Batch Size	Time Saved
  20	1%
  40	4%
  100	11%
  200	25%
  300	40%
  400	57%
  500	75%

  Module Batch Savings
  Batch Size	Time Saved
  1	-20%
  2	-13%
  3	-6%
  4	2%
  5	11%
  6	20%
  7	31%
  8	43%
  9	56%
  10	70%

  Builders :

  Builders Provided
  Structure	Builders
  Works Yard	1 for starbase 1 per WY level
  Shipyard	2 per level
  Crafter	1 per level
  Assembler	1 per level

  • The more builders on a specific project, the less efficient they are.
  • It will be quicker to have several projects active than having all builders on each project, sequentially.
  • ie; If you have 3 projects and all builders work on one at a time, the total build time will be longer than if you place one builder on each project.

  Builder Fees :

  • Idle builders have no support cost.
  • Active builders have a support cost of 50 credits per cycle.
  • When you add builders to a project you are charged for the time remaining in the cycle.
  • Each cycle end you are charged 50c for all active builders.
  • When you remove builders from a project you are refunded for the time remaining in the cycle.
  • When a project is completed and the "go idle" option is selected or there are no projects next in the queue, you are refunded the builder fees for time remaining in the cycle (the builders have gone idle).
  • In other words the 50c fee is prorated to actual time working.

  Dedicated Builds And Retooling :

  • Shipyards and assemblers may be configured to dedicated building of one item type.
  • Crafters must be configured to craft one component type at a time.
  • The structure must be retooled to change the build item.
  • Retooling takes 5 cycles to complete, except :
    When retooling from one ship design to a similar one,retooling only takes 2 cycles.
    The following are required for single day retooling :
    • Both designs must be same hull class.
    • Both are combat designs or both are non-combat designs.
    • Both designs are system ships or both are interstellar ships.
    • There must not be other retooling projects in the queue.
  • Retooling may use only one builder.
  • Build projects may be queued (but not activated) while retooling is under way.
  • Multiple retooling and builds may be queued, but these may not be moved in the queue, only deleted.
  • Dedicated shipyards and assemblers reduce project build times by 40%.
  • The dedicated bonus is applied to the amount of time reduced by components.
    ie; If a component normally reduces time by 20% of a cycle, this will drop to 12%.
    This is 40%, the same ratio applied to all dedicated builds.
  • The technologies that reduce build time have no effect on dedicated builds.

  Join Route :

  • Ships in the build queue may have a route set to join upon completion.
    Select the build project, the click the Join Route button.
  • Only interstellar ships may join a route.
  • The fleet will be of a type and have a name as set in the ship design options.
  • Combat orders will be the default for the fleet type.
  • The fleet will join the route at the first waypoint that is the production star.
  • The fleet always joins in normal direction of travel.

  Retrofit Ships :

  • This requires the Retrofit technology to have been researched.
  • Retrofiting will convert an existing ship group on a starbase to a different design.
  • Any experience on the existing ship group will be retained.
  • You may only retrofit to a design of the same hull class.
  • Combat ships may only convert to combat ship designs.
  • Non-combat ships may only convert to non-combat ship designs.
  • Access this feature on the shipyard build panel > Create Project > then the button in the top right of the list of ship designs.
  • Component types on the new design but not on the original may be used to retrofit.
  • Components not used in the new design will be reclaimed.
  • There are ship components that are used to build a design but are not craftable.
    These will be scrapped if not needed on the new design, or built if required.
  • All reclaimed components and resources are gained once the retrofit is completed.
  • On confirmation, the existing ship group will be removed from the starbase and a new project for the new design will be added to the build queue.
  • Cancelling a retrofit project is costly, see Retrofit Cancellation.

  Cancel Project :

  • When the cancel button is clicked, a warning panel will display what resources are recovered.
  • Recovery amounts depend on build method and whether it had been activated (builders assigned).

    Built with resources :

    Project was activated :
    • If amortised, remaining payments are forgiven, otherwise no credits are recovered.
    • All workers are recovered.
    • 50% of the nanobit cost is recovered as scrap.
    • None of the subsidy is recovered (if used)
    Project never activated :
    • If amortised, initial payment is lost, otherwise all credits are recovered.
    • All workers are recovered.
    • All nanobits are recovered.
    • Full subsidy cost is recovered (if used).

    Built from a module :

    Project was activated :
    • No credits are recovered.
    • All workers are recovered.
    • 50% of the nanobit cost is recovered as scrap.
    Project never activated :
    • No credits are recovered.
    • All workers are recovered.
    • 80% of the nanobit cost is recovered as scrap.

    Cancel Ship Retrofit :

    Project was activated :
    • No credits are recovered.
    • All workers are recovered.
    • 50% of the nanobit cost of the new design is recovered as scrap.
    Project never activated :
    • No credits, workers, nanobits or scrap are recovered.
    • The original ship(s) are returned at 10% effectiveness.

  Amortisation :

  • Amortising a project will spread the credit cost over time.
  • There are two amortization terms :

    10 Cycle Term :

    • 10% of total credit cost paid on project confirmation.
    • 10% of total credit cost paid each cyle, for 10 cycles.
    • Total cost equals 110% of normal project cost.

    20 Cycle Term :

    • 20% of total credit cost paid on project confirmation.
    • 5% of total credit cost paid each cyle, for 20 cycles.
    • Total cost equals 120% of normal project cost.

  Build Planning :

  Overview :

  • Build planning is a way to automate the supply of building resources to build sites.
  • Plans & plan queues are set on the build panel > works yard > planning.
  • Plan Schemes may be used to add projects to the plan queue.
  • Allocate to plans (resources for builds) is set in the spaceport > plan allocation.

    Build Plan Options :

    Auto Activate :

    • When all prerequisites are available/met, the project will automatically activate.
    • If the build would place the realm in debt, the project is not activated.
    • This option is selectable only when the requirements are not already available.
      If the requirements are available, use the "Activate" button.
    • Auto activate is not available to plans where the Use Components option is selected.

      On Activation :

      • The plan will be added to the bottom of the build project queue.
      • All requirements will be depleted.
      • Any idle builders will be added to the project.
      • A message is sent to the "Build" comm channel.

    Use Module :

    • No modules are automatically shipped.
    • Resource allocation shipments are not made when Use Module is selected.
    • If Auto Activate is on and the prerequisites are met and the required module is on the starbase, the module will automatically be deployed and the project activated.

    Use Components :

    • No requirements are automatically shipped.
    • Resource allocation shipments are not made when Use Components is selected.
    • You need to send enough resources to the star to cover the requirements.
    • If the star is not contiguous with your core realm, you will neeed to ship any components to be used.
    • Auto Activate is not available when Use Components is selected. You will need to manually activate the plan when the components and resources are available.

    Use Subsidy :

    • Allocation shipments will be reduced to reflect the use of the subsidy.
    • If Auto Activate is on plan will activate when the prerequisite resources are on the starbase and sufficient subsidy and credits are available.

    No Option selected :

    • Shipments of resource requirements will automatically be shipped if Plan Allocation is on.
    • If Auto Activate is on plan will activate when the required resources are on the starbase and sufficient credits are available.

    Sequence of Tasks :

    • Create build plans at stars for the structures you wish to have.
    • Prioritize the allocation queue (not the build queue) for all your plans.
    • At stars from where you wish to supply the build resources,
      set allocate to plans to "Yes" in the spaceport > plan allocation.
    • Press "Shift P" to turn on map display planning mode, check all is as desired.
    • Once all the above steps are complete,
      Set Global Allocation to "On" at any spaceport or planning queue.
    • Resources will then be shipped from the supply stars to the stars with build plans.
    • If Global Allocation is left on, then each cycle resources will automatically be shipped to existing plans and any new ones created.

  Build Plans :

  • Build plans may be created for structures only.
  • Build plans may be created when a star does not have the resources to create the build project.
  • Use your freighters or domestic shipping (DS) to supply the resources.
  • The map display option "Plan Allocations" will help you administer your planned builds.
  • Resources moved with domestic freighters will not show until they are unloaded at the plan site.
  • UTS and DS shipments will be deducted from the displayed values.
  • The "Use Components" option does not reduce the resources shipped, as there is no way of calculating which components will be available at time of build activation.
  • You may automate the supply of build requirements using "Plan Allocation", see below.
  
  

  Plan Allocation :

  Allocation Activation :

  • This is a global setting, it sets allocation on/off for all spaceports.
  • This is not "Allocate to plans", for this see below.
  • This is set on the build panel or in the spaceport.
  • When on, any spaceport that has excess stock, will ship to your build plans.
  • When off, no shipments are automatically made.
  • When changed from "Off" to "On", automated supply will begin and shipments may be sent immediately.
  • Since plans will be supplied from the closest spaceport, it is a good idea to configure all your spaceports and prioritize your allotment queue before activating allocation.
  • When "Off", a small red "X" icon will blink on the spaceport button.

  Allotment Queue :

  • The allotment queue is global in nature.
  • This queue sets the order resources will be shipped to projects at various stars.
  • Access this on the build panel under works yard > planning.
  • Be sure to turn off allocation prior to changing your allotment queue.
  • After you create build plans, prioritize them in the allotment queue.
  • Set your plans in the order you wish them to be supplied.
  • Drag and drop a plan row to change the order.
  • New plans are placed at the bottom of this queue.

  Allocate to Plans (Setting up resource distribution stars) :

  • This is done at your spaceports.
  • Be sure to turn off allocation prior to changing these settings.
  • Set the amount of workers and nanobits that will be sent to build plans from the star.
  • If set to "No", the spaceport will not automatically supply build plans.
  • If set to "Yes", set the amount of stock you wish to retain at the star (if any).
  • Any amount in excess of the minimum stock retained, will be shipped to stars with build plans.

    Limit Range :

    • Use this option if you have more than one distribution star.
    • Limiting range will ensure that only the closest distribution star sends resources.
      ie; Rather than having resources sent from the other side of your realm, a plan will not be supplied until a closer distribution star can send the resources.
    • This enables the strategy of having several refineries to supply only nearby stars.

  Plan Schemes :

  • A scheme is a preset list of projects that may be added to a build plan queue.
  • Schemes may be found via a button on the plans panel in the works yard page.
  • Schemes created in a game will be preserved for the next game (account specific).
  • The order of the schemes may be changed by dragging and dropping a scheme row.
  • Add structure build plan projects to the scheme, then drag and drop the project bar to change the queue sequence.
  • Plan options are available, see Build Plan Options

    Applying a Scheme to a Star :

    • Use the "Apply" button on a scheme panel to add to the star.
    • Projects in the scheme are added to the bottom of the build plan queue.
    • Any projects that are already built or queued are not added.
    • Projects that are unable to activate due to improper sequencing are labeled "Error".
      ie; A level 3 habitat is placed in the queue and no level 2 is built or queued.
    • Multiple schemes may be applied at a star.
      ie; you could add a "Minimum Base" scheme and then a "Farming" scheme.

  Build Bonus Summary :

  Bonuses are multiplied, not added together.

  Structure Construction
  Source	Type	Reduces	Max.
  Tech	Architecture	Time	Lv50 : 60%
  Tech	Financial	Credits	Lv50 : 60%
  Tech	Fabrication	Nanobits	Lv50 : 60%
  Tech	Automation	Workers	Lv50 : 60%
  Ministry	Development	Time Credits Nanobits Workers	15%
  Components Used	Various	Time Credits Nanobits	Varies by Type

  Ship Production
  Source	Type	Reduces	Max.
  Tech	Integration	Time	Lv50 : 60%
  Integration has no effect at dedicated shipyards
  Tech	Efficiency	Credits	Lv50 : 60%
  Tech	Hull Design	Nanobits	Lv50 : 60%
  Tech	Robotics	Workers	Lv50 : 60%
  Ministry	Ordnance	Time Credits Nanobits Workers	15%
  Components Used	Various	Time Credits Nanobits	Varies by Type
  Shipyard	Dedicated	Time	40%
  Project	Batch Size	Time	72%

  Component Crafting
  Source	Type	Reduces	Max.
  Tech	Procurement	Credits	Lv20 : 35%
  Tech	Processing	Nanobits	Lv20 : 35%
  Tech	Specific Component	Credits	Lv20 : 57%
  Project Group A	Batch Size Min: 5 Max: 25	Credits Nanobits Time	100u 19% 100u 19% 100u 60%
  Project Group B	Batch Size Min: 10 Max: 100	Credits Nanobits Time	500u 24% 500u 24% 500u 75%

  Module Assembly
  Source	Type	Reduces	Max.
  Tech	Architecture	Time	Lv50 : 60%
  Tech	Financial	Credits	Lv50 : 60%
  Tech	Fabrication	Nanobits	Lv50 : 60%
  Tech	Automation	Workers	Lv50 : 60%
  Tech	Module Type	Credits Time	Lv10 : 45% Lv10 : 27%
  Ministry	Development	Time Credits Nanobits Workers	15%
  Components Used	Various	Time Credits Nanobits	Varies by Type
  Assembler	Dedicated	Time	40%
  Project	Batch Size	Time	70%

  Recycling :

  • Recycling turns scrap into nanobits.
  • A recycler structure is needed at the star.
  • The recycler functions automatically while scrap is on the starbase.
  • The recycler level determines the base maximum input.
  • The recycling technology increases the maximum input amount.
  • The ministry of environment increases the maximum input amount.
  • The recycler level governs how efficient the conversion rate is :

  Recycler Conversion Rates
  Recyler Level	Minimum Habitat Level	Base Maximum Scrap Input	Nanobit Conversion Rate
  1	1	1,000	40%
  2	2	2,000	60%
  3	3	3,000	80%
  4	4	4,000	100%

Assets

Asset Types
Icon	Asset	Description
	Structures	Planetary surface buildings & orbitals at stars
	Ships	There are several classes of ships, see below
	Resources	Includes minerals, workers, nanobits, luxuries and scrap. Sometimes tradegoods are included in this category
	Tradegoods	These include brands from each realm, Indies & Imperial. Sometimes includer in resources
	Modules	These are structures packaged for transport
	Components	Used to build structures, ships and modules
	Goods Contracts	These are delivery missions
	Contraband	Items that may be traded at black markets
	Personnel	Officials of various types
	Patents	Tradable technologies
	Artifacts	All other items in the game come under this section

Structure Overview :

Build costs can be found here

Modules :

• Some structures have a corresponding module.
• A module is essentially a prefabricated structure that may be transported as cargo.
• Modules are assembled (created) by an assembler
• Modules, once at the build location, may be deployed. This places them in the build queue.
• The structure module tech must be researched before the module may be assembled.
• Modules may be assembled from scratch or in combination with components
• To deploy modules, click the button that displays when you hover over a module on a fleet.
  A panel will display so modules can be selected for deployment.
• When a module is deployed, it is placed in the build queue as a dormant project.
• Modules have levels that equate to structure levels.
• Level 1 modules may be deployed provided requirements are met,
  ie: LV3 Habitat is required to deploy a LV1 Academy.
• Higher level modules may be deployed where the prior level exists or is queued.
• Cargo space required to transport is equal to the structure nanobit build requirement.
• If you build many modules at once, they will be faster to build.
• Subsidisation and amortisation are not available when building modules.
• It is 4 times faster to build a structure deployed from module, than to build it from scratch.
• Modules have no support cost.

  Module / Structure Comparison
  Resource	Assembly	Deployment
  Credits	−5% per tech level of module type	•
  Workers	Equal to structure requirement	•
  Nanobits	+10% of structure requirement	10% of structure requirement returned as scrap
  Build Time	+20% of structure build time −3% per tech level of module type Reduced by project batch quantity	25% of structure build time

  Available Modules :

Contracts :

• Contract goods are not a hard asset in the game, they just identify the type of contract.
• Contracts themselves exist in game as an asset that is normally acquired from the Contract Market found in the reports section.
• See here for how contracts work.
• There are 2 types of contracts :

  Tradegoods Contracts :

  Civil Goods Contracts :

Components :

There are 4 type of components :

Structure Component :

• Used in structure and module build projects.
• These may be crafted themselves and sold or used later when the structure is built.
• They may also be constructed when the structure/module is built.

Craftable Ship Components :

• Used in ship build projects.
• These may be crafted themselves and sold or used later when the ship is built.
• They may also be constructed when the ship is built.

Ship Component Parts :

• Some ship components consist of parts, which are craftable components.
• The parent component is not craftable.
• In a ship design, the parent component reflects the total cost including its parts.
• When building a ship, pre-crafted or purchased part components may be used to lower the ship build time.

Non-craftable Ship Components :

• These are used in ship designs, but may not be crafted themselves.
• They are constructed when the ship is built.


• Craftable components reduce the build time and cost of the project.
• Craftable components are crafted at a crafter
• Each component type must have its corresponding tech researched before it may be crafted.
• All build bonuses are applied after costs are reduced by component use.
  In dedicated configurations, the dedication bonus is applied to the build time for components not used plus any base build time.
• Amortization may not be used in conjunction with components.
• Components have no support cost prior to use in a completed ship.
• The more components crafted in one batch, the less time each item will take to build.

  Logistics :

• Components, once they are unloaded at a core realm star, are available to all your core realm stars for build projects. They do not need to be transported to the build site.
• Stars not contiguous with your core realm must have components shipped in some way.
• Components may be sent to/from a sector market or another realm via UTS.
• UTS shipments may be captured, this may cause components to be on realm fleets.
• Shipments from the universal component storage must be sent from your capital.

Warning : Crafting small batches of low tech components may cost more than their use benefit.
Structure Component Usage Matrix :

Component Groups :

• There are 2 component groups A & B.
• The group defines the cost reductions for crafting component batches.
• There is no cost reductions for a minimum batch.
• Cost reductions increase the larger the batch.

Group A
Minimum Batch : 10 Maximum Batch : 100
Batch	Credits	Nanobits	Time
10	0%	0%	0%
20	1%	1%	4%
40	4%	4%	12%
60	8%	8%	24%
80	13%	13%	39%
100	20%	20%	60%

Group B
Minimum Batch : 20 Maximum Batch : 500
Batch	Credits	Nanobits	Time
20	0%	0%	1%
40	1%	1%	4%
100	4%	4%	11%
200	8%	8%	25%
300	13%	13%	40%
400	19%	19%	57%
500	25%	25%	75%

Component Crafting Tech Bonus Summary
Technology	Reduces	Maximum
Specific Component	Credits	Lv20 : 57%
Procurement	Credits	Lv20 : 35%
Processing	Nanobits	Lv20 : 35%

Ship Designs :

• A list of standard designs only, to view created designs use "Design View" mode in the designer.
• Production costs can be found here
• Hover over an icon to see the info panel.
  

Resources :

Credits :

• Credits is the currency in the game.
• There are many ways to gain credits, the main being; taxes , mechantile income , trade agreements , luxury taxes and sales at sector markets.
• The main outflow of credits tends to be build costs and support for structures and ships. Aid to territories, salaries can also be major expenses.
• A high accumulation of credits will increase crime and embezzlement.
• See the economy section for other factors.

Workers :

• Workers are gained from habitats and slave markets.
• New workers can be increased in the following ways :
  • Level up the habitat and slave markets.
  • Reduce taxes.
  • Research the fertility tech.
  • Dedicate a monument to fertility.
  • Get appointed to the ministry of health by your liege.
  • Appoint an effective governor and level up the administration.
  • Ensure a good food surplus and a healthy diet.
  • Increase contentment.
• Workers are used to build structures, ships & modules.
• Workers represent unemployed manpower, when you build an asset, workers become employed and are no longer seen in the game.
• The tax rate for the star governs the quantity of new workers a habitat generates.
  High taxes reduce immigration and increases emmigration causing less new manpower.

Nanobits :

• Nanobits are refined from minerals at a refinery.
• Nanobits are used to build structures, ships & modules.

Scrap :

• Scrap is created from demolished structures & disbanded ships.
• Scrap may also be found as flotsam & jetsam, especially after a large battle.
• Scrap is recycled into nanobits at a recycler.
• See recycling for details.

Food :

Food Types
Icon	Type	Value	Source	Output Technology	Maximum Contentment Effect
	Proteins	High	Livestock Farm	Biotech	+20
	Produce	Medium	Produce Farm	GMO	Zero
	Synthetics	Low	Culture Farm	Transgenics	−20



• Food is required by the population of each star.
• Food shortages will result in loss of workers and contentment decrease.
• There are 2 modes of Food Distribution Local and Global,
  which are set on the Star Panel > Food Distribution.
• Each unit of food nourishes 10,000 population. The population consists of the workers required to build each structure level X 50 plus workers on the starbase X 10.
• The nutrition technology will increase the population nourished per unit.

  Storage :

• Each level of the food storage structure may hold 1000 units of each food type.
• Food remaining after consumption at stars on global distribution will have the remaining food distributed evenly between stars, then storage limits will be applied.
• Warning: Stars on local distribution are more susceptible to loss from lack of storage, as only the local food storage is used.

  Output :

• Output may be increased by the technology for the farm type.
• Output is reduced by environmental degradation caused by other structures (see table below).

  Farm Output
  Farm Level	Output per Cycle	With 25% Degradation	With 50% Degradation	With 75% Degradation
  1	100	75	50	25
  2	216	162	108	54
  3	364	273	182	91
  4	544	408	272	136
  5	756	567	378	189
  6	1000	750	500	250

  Diet & Contentment :

• Contentment may increase or decrease depending on the type of food supply.
• A 100% Protein diet will add 20 contentment.
• A 100% Produce diet will not change contentment.
• A 100% Synthetic diet will reduce contentment by 20.
• A mixed diet will average the effect on contentment.
  ie; 30% protein, 40% produce and 30% synthetic will result in no contentment change.

  Diet & Workers :

• New workers will decrease due to a poor diet.
• New workers will increase from a healty diet.
• The ideal diet for health is 50% Proteins and 50% Produce. This will result in +10% to new workers.
• An all Synthetic diet will result in a decrease of 10% of new workers per cycle.
• Greater than 50% Proteins or Produce has no effect.

  Food Security :

• Having 5 or more cycles of food in stock provides +5 contentment.
• Having less than 4 cycles of food in stock decreases contentment, the decrease becoming greater the less the surplus.
• Having greater than ~3 cycles of food in stock will increase new workers.
• Having less than ~3 cycles of food in stock will decrease new workers.

  Starvation :

• Workers will be lost when food is less than the population requires.
• 100% lack of food will result in 10% loss of existing workers per cycle. 50% lack will cause 5% loss, etc.
• This will also be applied to workers offered on the sector market.



Food Security
Food Surplus	Cycles of Supply	Contentment per Cycle	New Workers per Cycle
500% +	5 +	+ 5	+ 5%
400%	4	No Effect	+ 2%
300%	3	− 5	− 1%
200%	2	− 10	− 4%
100%	1	− 15	− 7%
0%	None	− 20	− 10%

Environmental Degradation Affects only output from livestock and produce farms
Structure	Reduction of Output per Level



The following table is for comparison. It may be easier to see diet effects by changing the ratios in-game on Admin > Food panel.



Contentment, Fertility & Health from Diet
Proteins Diet	Produce Diet	Synthetics Diet	New Workers per Cycle	Contentment per Cycle
50%	50%	0%	+ 10%	+ 10
50%	25%	25%	+ 5%	+ 5
25%	50%	25%	+ 5%	No Effect
30%	40%	30%	+ 4%	No Effect
40%	30%	30%	+ 4%	+ 2
30%	30%	40%	+ 2%	− 2
100%	0%	0%	None	+ 20
0%	100%	0%	None	No Effect
0%	50%	50%	None	− 10
50%	0%	50%	None	No Effect
25%	25%	50%	None	− 5
25%	0%	75%	− 5%	− 10
0%	25%	75%	− 5%	− 15
0%	0%	100%	− 10%	− 20

Minerals :

• Minerals are produced by mines.
• Minerals are refined into nanobits at a refinery.
• There are 12 minerals :

  Minerals
  Artium		Bomite		Caplon
  Duram		Gratium		Jarvus
  Kristalite		Romide		Synate
  Tegomide		Xalac		Zircon

  How much are minerals worth?

  • You have 3 main domestic minerals. The average cost of production should be about .40c each.
  • Your primary mineral may cost you as low as .15c, but high production of only this mineral would require too much capital investment.
  • Since 3 mineral types will produce 2,000 nanobits, your average nanobit cost is .20c each.
  • Based on that value, the following table will show the break even price for each additional mineral type.
  • If you buy at less than the break even price the overall cost of your nanobits will decrease.
  • If you are refining 12 minerals, you can pay 1.30c per mineral on average to break even.
  • If you can buy all minerals at an average of 1.00c your cost at 12 minerals is reduced by 35% this means your nanobit cost is .12c each, cheaper than what you produce your primary mineral for!

    Maximum Price for each Additional Mineral Type
    Type #	Average Cost	Break Even Price	Savings @ 1.00c ea.
    3	.40	•	•
    4	0.50	0.80	-10 %
    5	0.60	1.00	-7 %
    6	0.70	1.20	0 %
    7	0.80	1.40	7 %
    8	0.90	1.60	14 %
    9	1.00	1.80	20 %
    10	1.10	2.00	25 %
    11	1.20	2.20	30 %
    12	1.30	2.40	35 %

Luxuries :

• Luxuries are produced by factories.
• 10 units are produced per cycle per level of factory.
• High accumulations of luxuries will increase crime and attract raiders.
• Luxuries on traded or captured fleets convert to tradegoods.
• Luxuries may be pillaged by raiders.

  Uses for Luxuries :

  • The most lucrative use is exporting to foreign realms.
  • Gifting luxuries to your territories will increase your influence with them and help the development of the star.
  • Luxuries may be converted to tradegoods in the fleet options panel.
  • Luxuries may be sold at the sector markets.

  Export of Luxuries to Foreign Realms :

  • The producer must take their luxuries to/and unload at a star of a foreign realm.
  • Fleets automatically unload luxuries when on a route with the "Unload Luxuries" option set for that star/waypoint.
  • Luxuries may be offloaded manually with the "Export" button. This button is displayed on hover of the luxuries icon/panel in the fleet view panel, but only at a foreign star requiring luxuries.
  • Only fleets that have a trade access agreement or better and access permission may unload luxuries.
  • When luxuries are unloaded, demand decreases for luxuries from the delivering realm.
  • Both realms receive excise taxes when luxuries are delivered, see below.
  • Delivered luxuries are removed from the game.

  Waste of Luxuries :

  • Transfer of luxuries to a foreign realm in any way other than delivery to one of their stars will result in the luxuries being converted to tradegoods.
  • Applies to cargo on fleets on proposals.
  • Applies to those captured during combat.
  • Applies to those confiscated during boarding actions.

  Demand for Luxuries :

  • Luxuries are in demand at realm stars that are not under protection.
  • Demand governs the amount of luxuries that may be unloaded at a star by each realm.
  • Demand increases each cycle depending on the distance to the star, the further away, the faster demand will grow.
  • Maximum demand is 25 X habitat level plus 25 .
  • Value depends on the time since previous deliveries to that star, see below.
  • Use the map display option Luxury Value/Demand to view demand at each star.
    - Use [Shift][L] (hot key) to access.
    - See Luxury Value/Demand for details.

    Domestic Demand & Value :

    • These refer to luxuries other realms may drop at your stars.
    • Use the map display option to view (see above).

    Foreign Demand & Value :

    • These refer to luxuries your realm may drop at a foreign star.
    • These are found on the Luxury Demand report.
    • Use the map display option to view on map (see above).

  Lack of Supply :

  • When demand for luxuries is not met (no realm delivers to your star), the star gains a Luxury Demand contentment reduction.
  • The contenment penalty kicks in when there has been no supply from any realm for 40 cycles.

    Dealing with Lack of Supply

    • Ask other realms to deliver luxuries.
    • Fund the luxury demand at a star, see Luxury Funding.
    • Reduce consumer demand (domain option), see Counter Consumerism Policy.

  Income from Luxuries :

  • Both realms receive excise taxes when luxuries are delivered.
  • The producer gains credits in Export Taxes when they unload luxuries.
  • The realm receiving the luxuries gains credits in Import Taxes.
  • These values show as excise taxes on the economic report.
  • You can also see the history of imports & exports on the Excise Tax report.
  • Maximum demand is based on habitat levels at the star.
  • Current demand is specific to each trade partner.
  • Current demand increases over time until it reaches the maximum.
  • Current demand decreases each time luxuries are imported to the realm.
  • Value depends on the time since previous deliveries to that star by the trade partner.
  • Maximum value is based on the current demand relative to the maximum demand.
  • You may only deliver quantities of luxuries up to the current demand.
  • So you want to make large deliveries to stars you have not delivered to for some time.

    Maximum Value of Luxuries
    Current Demand vs Maximum Demand	Maximum Tax Value per Unit
    100%	8 Credits
    50%	4 Credits
    10%	1 Credit

  Example :
  • A star has 3 habitat levels, so maximum demand is 100 (3 X 25 + 25).
  • If the current demand is also 100, you would get 8c per luxury, income of 800c.
  • If the current demand is 50, you would get 4c per luxury, income of 400c.
  • Above examples assume there have been no deliveries for some time, so maximum value has been reached.

Tradegoods (TG) :

• Tradegoods come in many flavours, one for each realm.
• Each independent star may have their own brand of tradegoods as well.
• There are also Imperial tradegoods.
• 10 tradegoods are produced each cycle, for each factory level.
• Factory Output (FO) that is not used in trade agreements or treaties may become tradegoods.
• TG are placed on the starbase fleet when produced.
• Lords may trade their FO/TG with other realms.
  • Diplomatic Trade Agreements facilitate FO trades. This is done on the diplomacy page.
  • TG must may be traded via diplomatic UTS shipments or fleet swaps.
  • TG may also be used in treaties with independent stars.
  • The "Trade Values" report shows the value of your FO/TGs.
• Foreign TG must be transferred to a domestic starbase connected to the capital.
  • On transfer, they will be converted to credits.
  • This will show as excise taxes in the economic report (imports).
  • The "Excise Tax" report will show past imports.
  • The value of the foreign TG will be their value as shown on the "Trade Values" report.
  • Value is based on total habitat levels in the foreign realm and the distance to its capital.

  Factory Output (FO) :

  • 100 FO are generated per factory level.
  • FO is not seen in-game as a hard asset, it just represents production capability.
  • FO is automatically used up by :
    • trade agreements with realms (other players).
    • treaties with Indies.
  • If more FO is generated than are needed for trade agreements and treaties :
    • They will be converted to TG and/or Military Materiel.
    • The ratio is set on the domain configuration panel.
    • TG are placed on the starbase of each producing star.
    • Military Materiel is a accumulated globally and available to all the realm's repair depots, see military materiel.

  Tradegoods Value :

  • Each tradegood brand has a value that may differ for each realm.
  • For realm TG's, the base value is the number of habitat levels X the distance between capitals.
  • This base value is modified by the demand of that specific TG by the receiving realm (see below).
  • Indy TG values (both import & export) are based on habitat level, distance and relationship.
  • Generic indy TG are worth 2 credits (TG from uncontacted indies).
  • Imperial TG are worth 5 credits each.

  Trade Demand :

  • Each realm can accept any amount of FO/TG from another realm.
  • Demand is specific to each realm importer/exporter pair.
  • Each habitat level in a realm generates 15 demand per cycle (for FO/TG from each realm).
  • If the demand is not met the FO/TG value will increase.
  • When demand is exceeded, the value of the FO/TG is reduced.
  • The effect is smoothed over several cycles.
  • Trade demand for to independent stars have their own limits based on your relationship with them.

Artifacts :

There are two classes of artifacts :


• Archaeological : These must be discovered by an archaeologist.
• Flotsam : These are found by any fleet with a sensor equipped ship.

  Archaeological Artifacts :

  Archaeological Terminology
  Term	Definition
  Archaeologist Ability Level	The combination of archaeologist rank and archaeology tech level of his realm. (Each star of rank = 1 search level, bars do not increase search)
  Artifact Archaeological Rating	The minimum ability level required to find the artifact.
  Artifact Type	The general area the bonus applies to.
  Artifact Category	Some types have categories, these indicate a specific area for the bonus.
  Artifact Grade	The value of the bonus the artifact gives to the owner.

  • Each star may provide any number of artifacts of varying ratings. When an artifact is found a higher rated artifact is then available to be found. The new artifact will be a few ratings higher than the ability of the archaeologist that found the current one.
  • An artifact may only be owned by one realm.
  • Most artifacts are discovered by roving archaeologists (see "Discovering Artifacts" below)
  • The rating and the grade are not interdependent (a low grade may be hard to find, a high, easy)
  • Searching for artifacts on Imperial stars is prohibited.

    How to Discover :

    • Have the first archaeologist (of any realm) of a sufficient ability level, to search the star.
    • An archaeologist will search on arriving at a star.
    • An increase in archaeology tech will cause all archaeologists to search again.
    • In order to search, the archaeologist may not be on a retreating or recon fleet.
    • Once a search has been made, with a certain ability level,
      all artifacts of that rating and below will be found.
      A higher ability level is required to search for higher rated artifacts.
    • Hover over an archaeologist portrait to see their search ability.
    • The hot key Shift S will display previous known searches of stars.

    Notes on Specific Types :

    Crystals :

    • These boost prestige at monuments.
    • Maximum of 1 crystal (highest grade present) will affect a monument at a given star.

  Flotsam & Jetsam :

  • An archaeologist is not required, these are found by any fleet with a sensor equipped ship.
  • To get flotsam onto a fleet, a tracktor beam equiped ship is required.
    Some flotsam is very large and multiple beams may be needed.
  • There is a wide variety of flotsam, some of which must be examined to determine its exact nature.
  • Some examinations will have negative effects on a ship, fleet or star.
  • Flotsam may be contaminated with a virus. Be sure to examine artifacts while they are on a non-essential fleet and especially not a starbase.
    

    Flotsam & Jetsam Notes
    Debris	This item has a scrap value, which may be more or less than the cargo space it needs.
    Lifeboats	These keep refugees or crews alive for a limited amount of time.
    Escape Pods	These keep an official alive for a limited amount of time.
    Ore Containers	These require offloading at a starbase to gain the mineral.
    Supply Containers	Supply containers hold 100 units of supply. These have 2 uses : Resupply ships, use the "Adjust Supplies" fleet option Cash in at a domestic star to convert to credits. The credits gained will show as "Treasure Cashed In" on the economic report. Supply containers may be created at supply depots.
    Tribbles	These cute guys sometimes sneak aboard with other flotsam. There is no known way to expel tribbles. It is rumoured that they leave on their own eventually. One must be careful not to let the infestation spread. More info
    Various	Some artifacts require a transfer to a domestic starbase to gain something.

  Artifact Types :

  Artifact Types
  Icon	Type	Notes

Contraband :

• These are bought & sold only at black markets.
• Contraband may not be sold at sector markets.
• Lords may only trade contraband at foreign stars.
• Lords have no access to black markets at their own stars.
• Buy & sell prices will vary dependent on the local situation, see black market section for details.
• Contraband is lost if jettisoned.
• Contraband may not be transferred to a fleet with a higher charge, unless at a domestic star or haven.
• The effect of contraband on a star is delayed.
• Contraband affects realm stars in different ways :



Contraband Effects
Class	Location Action	Effect on Realm

Contraband Stash :

• This is a hidden compartment that may store contraband.
• A ship must contain the "Stash" component.
• When a ship is boarded and contraband exceeds the stash space, all contraband will be found.
• If contraband does not exceed stash space, no contraband will be found.
• If you capture a foreign designed ship you do not have the design, you will still not find the stash or the contraband within.
• You must reveres engineer designs to be able to use or detect the stash.

Patents :

• Patents are the means of trade for technology.
• Patents are sometimes gained upon a research breakthrough.
• Patents are associated with a specific technology.
• Patents may only be transferred to realms with a lower tech level in that technology.
• Patents may be transferred between realms on the diplomacy panel.
• Patents are not lost when transferred, they may be held by several realms.
• Only the discoverer of the patent may trade the patent.
• Obtaining a patent from another realm will increase a technology by 1 tech level.
• The tech increase happens as soon as the offer/request is accepted.
  
  Example :
  
  - Your Laser Tech Level is 4.
  - You receive a Laser patent from another realm.
  - Your Laser Tech increases to level 5.

Support Costs :

• Each cycle the following cost in credits are applied per asset.
• While offered for hire, personnel do not have support costs.
• Deactivated ships only require 10% of normal support costs (includes those for sale).

Structures
Structure	Credits per Level per Cycle

Ships
Ship Design	Credits per Cycle

Personnel
Profession	Credits per Cycle

Builders
Type	Credits per Cycle
Active	50
Idle	0




Fleets



  •  Hot key F




Fleet List :

Clicking on a fleet bar in the list will :
• Display the available actions for the fleet.
• Display the fleet in the Fleet View Panel.
• Optional Detailed Fleet List.



Fleet List - Button Bar


Depending on the situation some of the following buttons will display:



Ships at Star	The "Ships at Star" button will be red if there are foreign fleets at the star and they can be detected
Transit Report	Link to a report of the history of fleets transiting the star. See Transit Report.
Combine Fleets	Combine multiple fleets Select the fleet to receive the assets then click this button. Checkboxes will display for the other fleets. All assets on checked fleets will merge into the selected one. Only retreating fleets may merge with retreating fleets. The starbase may not be merged into another fleet (but may have fleets merged into it)
Sort by Name	Sorts by fleet name. The starbase is always at the top of the list (if you own the star)
Sort by Type	Sorts by fleet type. The starbase is always at the top of the list (if you own the star)




The Fleets

• The lower section of the panel lists all the domestic fleets at a star.
• The coloured bar behind the fleet name displays the jump engine status.
• On the left side is the fleet type icon see fleet types.
• When the fleet name is yellow, it indicates the fleet is retreating.
• A green diamond indicates a new fleet (just split off)
• When on a route an icon will display indicating the current status or waypoint action.

  Fleet Actions Click on a fleet name in the fleet list to access the following actions : - actions will vary depending on the fleet situation
  	Starbase Transfer	- Move assets to/from the starbase.
  	Fleet Transfer	- Move assets between fleets.
  	Jump	- Move fleet to another star.
  	Gate Jump	- Use jumpgate to move to another star.
  	Join Route	- Select/create a route to travel.
  	Quit Route	- Leave the route.
  	Edit Route	- Edit the current route.

Fleet View Panel :

Ship Group Panels :

• Each of these display a specific ship design version.
• There may be several groups for one ship design if the atributes vary,
  ie; one group has more damage.

Group Name :

• You may name each ship group, click the design name on the ship group panel.

Creating a New Fleet :

• Hover a ship group, click the "New Fleet" button
  (do not click the ship icon as that will initiate drag & drop).

Jettison :

• Unwanted assets may be jettisoned when in fleet view mode.
• Assest may not be jettisoned from loaned or banner fleets.
• Ships may not be jettisoned, use disband instead.
• Hover over the unwanted asset, a "jettison" button will display.
• Resources & Contraband are lost forever if jettisoned, other assets become flotsam.
• Note : You may not be able to pickup a jettisoned item if you do not have sufficient tractor capability.

Set Free :

• Slaves may be set free.
• You gain 1 fame for every 10 slaves set free.

Transfer mode :

• Transfer mode is when two fleets are open on the fleets panel.
• Transfer mode may be initiated in 3 ways :
  • On the fleet options bar in the fleet list,
    Click "Combine with starbase" or "Transfer Assets", or create a new fleet.
  • A mouse-down on an asset icon will initiate drag & drop mode.
  • A click on any other part of an asset panel will either move the asset,
    if only one remains or open a quantity selection panel.



Jump Engine Status Bar :

• The bar below the fleet name displays the jump engine status:
  Red - System Fleet, May not jump.
  Yellow - Jump engines not fully charged, the time remaining is displayed.
  Green - Jump engines ready.
  Orange - Delayed, due to interaction with foreign officials during a contact dilemma.

Fleet Types :

• Fleet types are used mostly to help identify the purpose of the fleet.
• Some types have special features as listed below.
  
  Note : Non-Combat fleets always have retreat orders, so the default orders do not apply.
  
  Icon Symbology:
  
  Square: Default combat order is always retreat.
  Round: Does not show on 'Jump Ready Fleets'
  Red: Military.

  Special Fleet Types
  Fleet Type	Default Order	Comments
  		All resource output and newly built ships are placed on this fleet. This fleet may not jump. May not be set to another fleet type. May not set other fleets to this type. Limited to "Hold" combat order. Does not show on 'Jump Ready Fleets' display.
  		Only available at a territory, once a territorial treaty is in place. All resources and ships from a territorial treaty are placed on this fleet. This fleet may not jump. May not be set to another fleet type. May not set other fleets to this type. Limited to "Hold" combat order. Does not show on 'Jump Ready Fleets' display.
  		This fleet is created when a treaty for TG is created at an independent star that is not a territory. This fleet may not jump. May not be set to another fleet type. May not set other fleets to this type. Only tradegoods from the treaty may be stored here. The fleet does not participate in combat and may never be captured. If the star ceases to be independent or the treaty is cancelled, the fleet is eliminated and all tradegoods stored are lost. If the star becomes a territory, any treaty storage is eliminated and any tradegoods are transferred to the territorial base.
  		This fleet is created when a repair depot is built. This fleet may not jump. May not be set to another fleet type. May not set other fleets to this type. See ship storage Ships in the fleet are not seen by foreign fleets. Note: All ships in this fleet do not fight even those classed as active. The fleet does not participate in combat, if the battle is lost all ships become derelicts. If the repair depot is destroyed, all ships become derelicts. Ships that become derelicts lose their experience (no longer has crew).
  		Each expored sector market will have one of these fleets. This fleet may not jump. May not be set to another fleet type. May not set other fleets to this type. See ship storage The fleet does not participate in combat. Ships in the fleet are not seen by foreign fleets. Note: All ships in this fleet do not fight even those classed as active. Note: Ships may only be removed from storage if you have a fleet at the star.
  		This fleet is created when a corporate takeover succeeds. This fleet may not jump. May not be set to another fleet type. May not set other fleets to this type. Only products from the corporate enterprise may be stored here. The fleet does not participate in combat and may never be captured. If the enterprise suffers from a takeover by another realm, the fleet transfers to the new owner.
  		This fleet type should be set anytime, but should be used for a fleet intended to be flagged as "Corporate Defense" ie; a fleet onroute to the enterprise star. This type does not defend a corporate enterprise, unless flagged as "Corporate Defense". Only fleets Flagged as "Corporate Defense" will defend the enterprise from raids and takeovers. If the fleet
  		Only accessible by a lord with the smuggler trait. Other lords do not see any ships within the haven. Havens are found at random stars (when explored) and are fairly rare. Ships in a haven may not attack or be attacked. Only non-combat ships or warships frigate class and smaller may enter a haven. A haven has no combat orders as it never fights. Havens that have been located may be found on the domestic fleets report. Goods Contracts may be sold at a haven. This fleet may not jump. May not be set to another fleet type. May not set other fleets to this type.
  Standard Fleet Types
  Fleet Type	Default Order	Comments
  		Generic type, no special attributes.
  		Use for colony fleets or fleets enroute to build.
  		Default for fleet created by splitting off a freighter. Use for fleets transporting cargo.
  		Default for fleet created by splitting off a 10K freighter. Use for fleets on trade runs. If a fleet contains a goods contract, setting type to Trade, will name the fleet with the contract destination.
  		Use for fleets gathering resources.
  		Use for fleets delivering luxuries.
  		Use for fleets to explore new stars or reconnoiter foreign stars.
  		Designate a fleet for recon or screening actions. The fleet will not participate in normal combat. See Recon Fleet
  		Use on route for policing access infringements or suppress raiders. Default for fleet created by splitting off a frigate or destroyer.
  		Use for specific military task. Default for fleet created by splitting off a capital class ship.
  		Does not show on 'Jump Ready Fleets' display. Default type for a fleet created by splitting off a combat class system ship. Use for a fleet you do not intend to move.
  		Does not show on 'Jump Ready Fleets' display. Use for a centrally located store of ships, to draw reinforcements from.
  		Does not show on 'Jump Ready Fleets' display. Default type for a fleet created by splitting off a sentinel ship. Use for monitoring foreign fleets at foreign stars.
  		Prevents the star owner using domestic shipping at or via the star. Blocks the star for trade path use (may cause trade inderdiction). May attack fleets belonging to the star owner or if a territory, the motherlands fleets. Not a good type for fleets in transit, as it may attack ships at each star. See Blockade for details
  		Use to identify a fleet on a mission. If a fleet contains a mission, setting type to Mission, will name the fleet with the mission destination.
  		Does not show on 'Jump Ready Fleets' display. Automatically changes to 'Transit Fleet' when morale is 100% and damage is 0% Will enable repair at foreign repair depots. Be sure to change orders to "Probe" if you do not want this fleet to retreat from weaker enemies.
  		Use for supply ships to automatically supply ships it encounters. Will distribute supplies : On arrival by the supply ship. On arrival by a ship needing supply. At cycle end after ships stores are used.
  		For designating luxury delivery fleets.
  		These are ships provided by stars for civil defence. May not be set to another fleet type. May not set other fleets to this type. See Civil Defence.
  		These are Civil Defence fleets provided to a liege by a vassal. May not be set to another fleet type. May not set other fleets to this type. See Banner Fleets.

Combat Orders :

• Each fleet has a combat order that determines how it will react to foes.
• Each fleet type has a default combat order, this gets changed when fleet type is set.
• You can change the combat order by clicking the order icon in the fleet view panel.
• You can also set a jump-combat order from the set destination panel when you jump a fleet.
  Jump-combat orders are only in effect for that specific jump.
• Definitions for local and external battles can be found under battle types
• Orders do not have an effect on what happens after combat.
  ie; If you have hold orders, the fleet may still retreat if they are defeated in combat.
• The Retreat Early column indicates when a retreat may be triggered during combat. But,
  if incomming shots are high enough they may not get the chance to retreat before they are destroyed.
  
  Icon Symbology:
  • The icon has 2 parts, the top indicates a response to a weaker opponent.
  • The bottom indicates a response to a stronger opponent.
  • Does not apply to wave icons.

Actions Resulting From Orders
External Battles
Combat Order	Vs Weaker Foe	Vs Stronger Foe	Defending	Attacking	Retreat Early
Yield	Yield	Yield	•	•	•
Retreat	Retreat	Retreat	•	•	•
Defend	Defend	Retreat	No Mods	No Mods	Max. Loss 70%
Hold	Defend	Defend	+10% SR Shots +20% SR Defence No effect on DF	No Mods	Max. Loss 80%
Guard	Police	Defend	+30% SR Shots No effect on DF	Same as defend If policing Otherwise No Mods	Max. Loss 90%
Probe	Attack	Retreat	No Mods	No Mods	Max. Loss 60%
Engage	Attack	Defend	No Mods	No Mods	Max. Loss 70%
Assault	Attack	Attack	•	+20% LR Shots −20% LR Defence	Max. Loss 80%
Wave Attack	Attack	Attack	•	No Mods Reatreat on Loss/Draw	Selectable
Wave Assault	Attack	Attack	•	+20% LR Shots −20% LR Defence Reatreat on Loss/Draw	Selectable
Recon	See Recon / Screening actions
Local Battles
Combat Order	Vs Weaker Foe	Vs Stronger Foe	Directed Attack	Mods	Retreat Early
Yield	Yield	Yield	•	•	•
Retreat	Defend	Defend	Attack	No Mods	•
Hold	Defend	Defend	Attack	Defender Only +10% SR Shots +20% SR Defence No effect on DF	Max. Loss 80%
Guard	Defend	Defend	Attack	Defender Only +30% SR Shots No effect on DF	Max. Loss 90%
Probe	Attack	Defend	Attack	No Mods	Max. Loss 60%
Engage	Attack	Defend	Attack	No Mods	Max. Loss 70%
Assault	Attack	Attack	Attack	+20% LR Shots −20% LR Defence	Max. Loss 80%
Recon	See Recon / Screening actions

Consequences of Actions
Action	Results
Yield	Does not initiate combat If combat, will surrender on defeat Surrenders if no combat Only applies to non-combat and storage fleets
Retreat	Does not initiate combat Fleet retreats Will not help attacking fleets
Defend	Does not initiate combat Fights if attacked Will help own attacking fleet
Police	Initiates combat on access infringement Fights if attacked Will help own attacking fleet
Attack	Initiates combat Will target enemy or infringing fleets Will target fleet policing access denial

Recon Fleets :

• Recon fleets attempt to view foreign fleets at the destination.
• Defending recon fleets attempt to screen incoming recon fleets.
• This type of encounter is referred to as a screening action.
• Only recon fleets may exist in Remote Space.
• Screening actions occur when an enemy is encountered or there is an access infringement.
• Recon fleets require the following :
  • All ships must have 3+ manoeuvre.
  • At least one ship must have long range sensors.
  • The fleet may not be a system fleet.
• Recon fleets with an NCO have only 25 CCR. CCR is capped at 100 for true officers.
• Recon fleets do not engage in normal combat.
• Recon fleets do not bombard.
• Recon fleets do not resupply or repair if enemy fleet is in local space.
• Recon fleets may not be linked.
• Recon fleets may only be seen by a recon fleet or there is a level 2 monitor at the star.
• Retreating foreign ships of battleship or larger may be seen by recon fleets.
• Archaeologists on recon fleets do not do searches.
• If there are no normal fleets defending a transponder, a recon fleet may seize it.
• Recon fleets do not defend transponders.
• See details for Screening Action
• Leaving recon has special order types, see Drop form Recon.

Create Fleet :

• You create a fleet by hovering a ship group in the fleet view a "New Fleet" button will display.

Transfers :

• The transfer panel is displayed when two fleets are selected.
• Retreating fleets may only transfer to other retreating fleets.
• Recon fleets may only transfer to other recon fleets.
• The following buttons are found on the transfer assets panel:
  
  
  
  Cargo Space
  
  
  • This is the amount of storage space on the freighters.
  • You may not confirm a transfer if the cargo space is exceeded.

Drag & Drop :

There are 3 types of drag & drop in the fleets panel :


Drop onto Fleets :

• Drag an asset from the view panel & drop onto a fleet in the fleet list.
• This is possible only while in "Fleet View Mode" (not transfer modes).
• The first drop of this type will lock you into this mode until you confirm or cancel the transfers.

Transfer Mode :

• Drag an asset from the either view panel & drop onto the other.
• Only possible while in any transfer mode; Merge with Starbase, Fleet to Fleet or New Fleet.

Ship Merge Mode :

• Drag a ship & drop on another of the same design.
• This will average all statistics for the two ship groups.
  ie; if group A) had 10 ships @ 0% damage and b) had 10 ships @ 50% damage,
  The merge would result in 20 ships @ 25% damage.
• This is possible only while in "Fleet View Mode" (not transfer modes).
• The first drop of this type will lock you into this mode until you confirm or cancel the merges.

Jumping :

• The starbase may not jump.
• Fleets/ships that do not have fully charged jump engines will not be able to jump.
• Retreating fleets may only jump to stars that grant access.
• The colour of the destination target icon indicates the access permission for that star.
• Jump via jumpgates uses only 10% of the jump engine charge.
  You may only use jumpgates at stars that grant access permission.

Policing :

• For access levels to be effective you must police them.
• A fleet must be present and have an aggressive combat order, it will then attack an infringing fleet.
• The starbase may not be used (alone) as a police force, as it can only have hold orders.
  The starbase will help another fleet that initiates combat.

Piracy Value :

• The values for looting (amount of credits stolen though pillage) and suppression of raiders are the same.
• Values are reduced in direct proportion to ship damage, ie; a ship with 10% damage gets 90% value.
• For details on raiders see here

  Looting and Suppression Values
  Ship	Value

• Note: All other standard ship designs are ineffective for looting & suppression
• You may design ships with a piracy value

Morale :

• Fleets have a morale value that is the average of all it's ship groups morale value.
• Morale is specific to each ship group on each fleet.
• It is indicated by the emote icon at the bottom right in the ship group panel.
• Morale may affect if a fleet engages in combat or retreats. See Combat
• Morale changes in the following ways:
  • Increases while at a star with a Rec Center, the higher the level,the larger the increase.
    - Increases only for ships under 100%.
    - This effect will happen at foreign stars where :
    • The fleet is of type R & R.
      OR
    • The fleet is on route with the morale wait option set for the star.
  • Increases from entertainment tech.
  • Increases while minister of culture.
  • Decreases while more than 50% damage.
  • Decreases while "out of supply".
  • Decreases while over 100% morale.
  • After combat :
    - Decreases by percent of force lost.
    - Increases on win or draw dependent on size of battle.
• Minimum morale is 50%, maximum is 150%
• Initial morale (when built) is dependent on contentment at the star:
  • Less than −500 contentment = 50% morale.
  • −100 contentment = 60% morale.
  • +100 contentment = 110% morale.
  • More than 500 contentment = 150% morale.
• Merging groups of ships will average morale, prorated for unit quantities,
  There is no gain or loss in absolute combat values.

Lent Fleets :

• Loaned fleets (from proposals), civil defence and banner fleets are classed as "Lent".

  Normal Lent Fleets :

  • Fleets may be lent to foreign realms with a diplomatic proposal.
  • The owner (lender) will see the fleet in the fleet list but may not modify it in any way.
  • Lent fleets may be repatriated on the fleet view options panel.
  • The lender may repatriate at any time.
  • The lendee has some restrictions, see here
  • All missions on lent fleets automatically fail.
  • Support for lent ships is paid by the lendee.

  Civil Defence Fleets :

  • These are "Lent" by the Association for Civil Defence.
  • See Civil Defence fleets.

  Banner Fleets :

  • Banner fleets are Civil Defence fleets lent to a liege.
  • See Banner Fleets.

  Restrictions to Lent Type Fleets:

  • Assets may only be transferred to fleets of same owner and lend type.
    ie; No transfers from a banner fleet to a lent fleet even owned by the same realm.
  • They may not be disbanded.
  • Auto fleet merge is not possible.
  • Auto explore is not possible.
  • Cargo may not be jettisoned.

Civil Defence Fleets :

• One of these ships begin to muster when a new habitat level is built.
• If a civil defence ship is destroyed it will respawn, see time to muster in table below.
• Each habitat level above level 2 will support one ship of a specific design.
• So a level 10 Habitat will support 8 ships, 2 each of the 4 ship designs (see below).
• The ship will muster some time after the level is built or the ship is destroyed, see the table below.
• All ships muster at the capital.
• Ships may only be transferred between Civil Defence fleets.
• Repair and support for Civil Defence ships is paid by the Association for Civil Defence there is no cost to the realm.
• They may not be disbanded.
• Auto fleet merge is not possible.
• Auto explore is not possible.
• No cargo allowed.
• When a lord gives an oath of fealty, all their Civil Defence fleets become banner fleets controlled by their liege.

  Ships Supplied by the Association for Civil Defence
  Habitat Level	Ship Design	Time to Muster
  1 & 2	None
  3 & 4	Corvette	3 - 6 Cycles
  5 & 6	Frigate	4 - 8 Cycles
  7 & 8	Destroyer	5 - 10 Cycles
  9 & 10	Cruiser	6 - 12 Cycles

  
  
  
  

  Ships Supplied by the Association for Civil Defence
  Habitat Level	Ship Design	Time to Muster
  1 & 2	Corvette	2 - 4 Cycles
  3 & 4	Frigate	3 - 6 Cycles
  5 & 6	Destroyer	4 - 8 Cycles
  7 & 8	Cruiser	5 - 10 Cycles
  9 & 10	Battleship	6 - 12 Cycles

Banner Fleets :

• When a lord gives an oath of fealty, all their Civil Defence fleets become banner fleets.
• Banner fleets are under full control of the liege while the oath is in effect.
• The fleets will automatically be repatriated when the oath ceases to exist.
  They all are placed on routes to the vassal capital.
  The vassal may take control of any of these fleets at stars they have explored.
• Banner fleets under the liege's control cannot be seen by the vassal.
• Repair and support for banner ships is paid by the Association for Civil Defence. Neither vassal or liege pays support.

  Commanders on Banner Fleets :

  • Commanders belonging to the vassal may only be transferred to other banner fleets of the same vassal.
  • Commanders belonging to the liege, may be placed on banner fleets BUT, if the fealty agreement ends, they will become prisoners of the vassal. They are sent to the vassal capital and may be repatriated from there.

Boarding :

• The boarding fleet must have a boarding party unit.
• Combat ready ships must be present in order to board, undeployed combat ships are not combat ready.
• Foreign fleets may be boarded under the following circumstances :
  • At domestic stars :
    - May board any neutral fleet not containing combat ready ships.
    - May board any fleet with a trade agreement, defence pact or alliance.
  • At foreign stars :
    - May board any fleet not containing combat ready ships.
    - Only if no Imperial fleet is present.
• Any cargo may be seized from the boarded fleet, including ships stored as cargo.
• Ships not stored as cargo may not be seized.
• Any officials seized may be offloaded to a starbase, then dealt with on the operations panel.
• Contraband on the boarded fleet will not be seen or be able to be seized as long as it is fully hidden in a contraband stash.
• UTS fleets may not be boarded.
  The International UTS availability agreement (clause 10349.B.98466.s) prohibits boarding of corporate fleets. Any transgressions would result in being cut off from access to UTS services.

Non-Combat Ship Capture :

• Non-combat ships do not take part in normal combat.
  - A victorious attacking fleet will capture all enemy non-combat ships.
  - All defending combat ships must be destroyed before captures are possible.
• Non-combat ships never get damaged, so have no damage statistic or icon.

Bombardment :

• Bomardment does not occur as long as enemy fleets are present. You may configure bombardment, but will not happen until enemy ships are gone.
• The bombard options are found on the star panel, see "Bomb Orders".
• Shield hit points equal 1,000 HP per shield level.
• The "Colony Shield" technology will increase the HP of a shield.
• Bombard weapons fire 10 shots per salvo.
• The "Bombard" technology will increase hits.
• Bombing ships must be in supply, not retreating and have enough bombs for the salvo.
• Bomb weapons do not by themselves cause a ship to be classified as a combat ship.
  This means bombers without combat weapons may be captured.
  

  Bombard Requirements :

  • Bombard will only happen if a bombard option is selected on the foreign star panel.
  • All fleets will bomb unless they have the "Do Not Bomb" option set. Not Implemented
  • Being at war is no longer required.

  A) Bombard Effects for all Bomb Options :

  • All queued ship build projects are destroyed if any bombardment takes place.
  • Monuments and jumpgates are the only structures not damaged or destroyed by bombardment.
  • Contentment at the star decreases depending on the amount of damage.
  • Bomb value for a ship is reduced by any damage it has.

  B) Bombard Effects for "Reduce Shield" and "Irradiate Star" Options :

  • Bombardment for these options occurs 10 times per cycle (called bomb cycles).
  • A bomb cycle occurs 1/10th of a cycle after cycle end and each 1/10th cycle thereafter.
  • Ship bomb weapons must be fully charged to participate in the bombardment.
  • After a shield level loss, any structure levels above the remaining shield level are destroyed.
  • Some collateral damage to lower level structures may take place.

  Bombard Options :

  • These options are found on the star panel at foreign stars.

    Destroy all structures :

    • This option is only available if there is no shield.
    • All structures will be destroyed at the next bomb cycle.

    Reduce Shield :

    • This will target the shield.
    • Maximum 10% of shield value can be lost per bomb cycle
      (Maximum 1 shield level per cycle)
    • See bombard effects A and bombard effects B above.

    Irradiate Star :

    • Heavy collateral damage to lower level structures may take place.
    • Contentment loss is higher than other bombardments.
    • Maximum 20% of shield value can be lost per salvo.
    • Lord conducting the bombing gains 1 infamy for each salvo.
    • See bombard effects A and bombard effects B above.
      
      Irradiation :
      • A star may become irradiated depending on the length/intensity of bombardment.
      • When the shield is destroyed, the star will not be able to be built on.
      • The radiation level will drop each cycle, once down to an acceptable level, building may resume.
      • The length/intensity of bombardment will determine how long the star remains irradiated.

    Strategic Bombardment :

    • Up to 6 structures may be selected as targets.
    • More targets increases damage. This amount will offset the damage/repair ratio of less targets.
    • There is some colateral damage to non-target structures.
    • Strategic bombardment may occur any time ship bomb weapons are charged.
    • See bombard effects A above.
    • The shield will reduce hits, see table :

      Effect of Shield on Strategic Bombardment
      Shield Level	Effect
      10	No targets hit
      9	90% hit reduction
      5	50% hit reduction
      1	10% hit reduction
      No Shield	All targets destroyed

  Bombard Effects :

  • Bombardment will delay builds at the star.
  • If a shield level is destroyed, all structures and builds above the current shield level are destroyed.
  • Depending on the bomb option, structures may be damaged. This has no effect other than to increase chance of loss in future bombings.

  Result of Total Shield Loss :

  • When all shield levels are destroyed the star may be captured.
  • A fleet with diplomatic ability is required to capture the star.
  • Several realms may bombard the same star.
    - The realm with the largest total tonnage of combat ships, may capture the star.
  • When the last shield level is destroyed all staff at the star are lost.
    This includes agents and diplomats present from other realms and prisoners held at the star.
  • When habitats are destroyed, refugees may be found at adjacent stars amongst the flotsam.

  Damage Repair :

  • Repair depots are required for repairs.
  • Repairs are done 10 times per cycle (about once an hour in a normal game).
  • No repair is done while a realm is in debt.
  • Structure repair at 10% per repair depot level per cycle or 1% per repair.
  • Repair amount is increased by the "Bomb Repair" technology.
  
  Hint :
  To better understand bombardment, use the bombard simulator :
  - Button can be found on the bombard orders panel within a foreign star panel.
  - Use hot key & or Shift7 (only way to sim a domestic star)
  
  

  Bombardment Capabilities
  Standard Ship Design	Shots	Salvos
  Repair Capabilities
  Item	Repair per Cycle
  Repair Depot	10% per Level

  Shield Strength Table
  Shield Level	Hit Points
  1	1,000
  2	2,000
  3	3,000
  4	4,000
  5	5,000
  6	6,000
  7	7,000
  8	8,000
  9	9,000
  10	10,000

  Resolution Method :

  • If the weapon value exceeds the remaining shield value, that shield level is destroyed.
  • 50% of any overkill is applied to the next shield level.
  • The next cycle any shield repair is applied prior to any new bombardment.

System Ships & Fleets :

System ships :

• Are limited to the solar system they are in.
• They can not jump by themselves.
• They may be transported as cargo.
• When transported as cargo (or in strikecraft bays) they are not seen by foreign sensors.

  System Fleets :

• These are fleets that contain system ships not stored as cargo.
• System fleets may not jump, and are thus restricted to the current solar system.
• System fleets may not join routes.
• System fleets may not retreat.
• Combat orders for system fleets are limited to hold, engage, assault or guard.
• Adding freighters to a system fleet causes all system ships on the fleet to become cargo.
  - The fleet then loses its system status and may jump, except in the following case.
• The starbase and other "Base" tradebase fleets are system fleets that never lose their system status,
  they may never jump or retreat.

Deployable Ships :

• Combat system ships, except those that use strikecraft bays, are classed as deployable.
• When carried as cargo, they do not fight and may be captured.
• They do not fight unless deployed on a system fleet (deployed equates to "on a system fleet").
• They may only deploy at domestic stars and territories.
• Ships on a starbase will always fight (since the starbase is always a system fleet)
• On the fleet view panel ships will display
  this icon if they will NOT fight.

Scanners :

• Scanners enable a fleet to jump to unexplored stars and conduct scans.
• Scanning is automatic and occurs when you have a fleet at an unexplored star.
• Not all ships have scanners, if the fleet has no ships with scanners, it may not scan.
• For more info see Scanning.

Sensors :

• Sensors enable a fleet to see foreign fleets at a star.
• Sensors also generate a transit log of foreign fleets comming and going to the star.
• Not all ships have sensors, if the fleet has no ships with sensors, it cannot see foreign fleets.
• The "Monitor" is a structure that has sensors, equivalent to having a ship with sensors at the star.

Cargo Space :

Cargo Capacity
Ship	Capacity

Space Required
Item	Space
Artifacts	Varies
Contraband	Varies
Component	Varies
Modules	Based on nanobit cost
Resource	1

Strikecraft Bays :

• Only combat ships with non-zero manoeuvre and of class Fighter, Interceptor & Sloop are considered strikecraft.
• Only strikecraft may be placed in strikecraft bays.
• These ships are automatically loaded into the bays, if a ship with strikecraft bays is on the fleet.
• All strikecraft on a fleet must be in strikecraft bays or stored as cargo, but not both (not mixed).
• When transported in strikecraft bays they are not seen by foreign sensors.
• If not enough bays are available, strikecraft will be treated as cargo and not be able to fight.
• Strikecraft always fight if on a system fleet, strikecraft bays are not required.
• If not enough bays are available for all the strikecraft on the fleet :
  • Remove some strikecraft.
  • Add more ships with strikecraft bays.

Diplomatic Ability :

• Diplomatic ability enables claiming of undefended stars.
• Diplomatic ability enables diplomacy at independent stars.
  
  Diplomatic ability requirements :
  • Fleet contains either a diplomat or a ship with a diplomatic unit (component).
  • Fleet may not be retreating.
  • Fleet may not be a recon fleet.
  • Fleet may not be a privateer fleet.

Fleet Commanders :

• All fleets have an NCO when no officer is assigned.
• You must train Officers (at an academy) or hire them atthe sector market, if you want to replace the NCO.
• Officers have rank and traits and will add bonuses to the fleet.
• Assign officers to a fleet by clicking their icon in the same panel where you transfer ships & cargo.
• Fleets require a minimum rank to command, see Rank Requirement.

  Battlefield Commissions :

  • May be bestowed after an NCO has been in combat.
  • The NCO becomes a true officer / commander.
  • There is no cost, but support fees will be applied.
  • Current traits become permanent.
  • Experience is based on any combat medals they have received as an NCO.
  • Additional experience will be gained as for all other commanders.

  Combat Command Rating (CCR) :

  • CCR is a factor in calculating Combat Command Status (CCS).
  • CCR is a determined by the traits of the CinC officer at a star.
  • CCR is a combination of the officer's leadership trait and their rank. .
  • An NCO has a flat rating of 100 CCR.
  • An NCO commanding a recon fleet is 25 CCR.
  • Maximum CCR for a recon fleet is 100 if commanded by a true officer.

  Combat Command Ratings CCR
  Rank

Combat Command Value (CCV) :

• CCV is a value used in calculating Combat Command Status (CCS).
• CCV is determined by the hull classes of ships on a fleet.
• CCV does not apply to NPC fleets.
• The table below indicates the CCV per hull class.
  

  Combat Command Values CCV
  Hull Class	CCV

Initiative :

• Initiative governs if a fleet is able to initiate combat.
• Initiative has no effect on actual combat.
• The fleet combat initiative value (CIV) is the sum of CCV for all combat ships in the fleet.
• Transfering a combat ship from a fleet with lower initiative will reduce the initiative of the destination fleet.
• Defending fleets engage regardless of their initiative.
• Fleets may initiate attack depending on the intitiative ratio to the opponent CIV, adjusted by orders, commanders, artifacts, ship morale, damage and experience.
• A fleet that attacks has it's initiative reduced in ratio to CIV of the engaged fleets.
• It takes 10 hours to regain 100%, 5 hours to regain 50%.
• While at less than 100%, an attack may be made if the target CIV is less than the fleet CIV X initiative.
  ie: At 50% initiative a fleet of 2 cruisers may be able to attack 1 cruiser.
  If 33%, you would need 3 - 1 odds.
• The total CIV for a jumping fleet may determine if a foreign controlled transponder permits jumpgate use.
  See Jumpgate Agreements

  Combat Initiative Values - CIV
  Hull Class	CIV

Flags (Fleet Flags) :

• These are realm fleets with flags set to hide their identity.
• A flag may be set on the fleet options or configuration panels.

  The 4 Options Available:

  • Realm : Normal Fleet (No Flag).
  • Privateer: See Below.
  • Anonymous: See Below.
  • Corporate Defence: See here

Privateers :

• This fleet will appear as a raider fleet to other realms.
• This is a "Fleet Flag" option, found on the fleet options panel (for valid fleet types).
• Civil defense and banner fleets may not be flagged as a privateer.
• Privateers are always at war with all other realms.
• Privateers will never capture a star.
• Privateers may retreat unlike raiders, that never retreat.
• Privateers do not loot luxuries like raiders do.
• Privateers may only attack with a directed attack.
• Privateers do not join in combat with other fleets of their realm or their anonymous fleets.
  - (They do not help any of their realms fleets under attack, nor do they expect help)
• Do not send privateers to Imperial Base stars, they will be destroyed by the garrison.
• Imperial fleets will attack privateers on sight.
• Independent fleets do not engage in combat with privateers unless attacked.
• Territories do not assist motherland fleets vs privateers.
  

  Use of Privateers :

  Pillage :

  • Privateers pillage while at a foreign realm star (not independents or territories).
  • Privateers pillage credits from habitats via pillage.
  • Privateers do not loot luxuries like raiders do.

  Bushwhacking :

  • Privateers may attack foreign fleets without revealing the owner realm.
  • Capturing a fleet then disbanding it may gain supplies from the disbanded fleet that can be used or converted into credits.
  • In order to not reveal ownership, change to privateer (and back) when opponents cannot see the change.
    • You may change to privateer (and back) during a jump (set on same panel as jump orders).
    • Be aware that a realm may see your fleet leave but not arrive (since privateers are not logged).
    • Be sure to understand when fleets get logged so can be identified, see transit report.

Anonymous Fleets :

• This is a "Fleet Flag" option, found on the fleet options panel (for valid fleet types).
• Other realms do not see who owns an anonymous fleet.
• Civil defense and banner fleets may not be flagged as anonymous.
• Anonymous fleets always have "Neutral" status. If they travel to a star with access set to above neutral, they will cause an access infringment.
• Anonymous fleets will never automatically capture a star.
• Anonymous fleets do not join in combat with other fleets of their realm.
  - (They do not help any of their realms fleets under attack, nor do they expect help)
• Anonymous fleets may sieze control of transponders and disable jumpgates when an engineer is present.

  Anonymous Fleets During War :

  • When a realm is at war with any other realm, all foreign anonymous fleets will be treated as hostile.
  • A realm-at-war fleet jumping to any star and finding an anonymous fleet will attack as per orders set.
  • An anonymous fleet jumping in will be attacked by any realm-at-war.
  • Anonymous fleets never instigate an attack, so if 2 realms-at-war have only anonymous fleets present, they will not automatically initiate combat.

Blockade :

• Fleets must be of type "blockade" to implement a blockade.
• Blockades will affect shipping for the star owner.
• All domestic shipping is prevented from using the star. This includes shipments from, to or via the star.
• Depending on the fleet orders it may attack any fleet belonging to the star owner.
• If the star is a territory it is the motherland fleets that are blockaded/attacked.
• Non-combat fleets are not captured, they retreat instead.
• Stars are never captured unless the respective realms are at war.
• Blockading fleets are always seen by the star owner.

Retreating Fleets :

• These continue to retreat until they jump to another star (this may be via a route).
• Once they receive retreat status, the fleet must jump to lose the retreat status.
• May only jump to stars that grant access.
• Retreating fleets may not use jumpgates.
• May not jump to 'access unknown' stars.
• Privateers in retreat will be denied access to most stars.
• Do not participate in combat. They may not attack or be attacked.
• May not trade or transfer assets to other fleets unless they are also retreating.
• If only retreating fleets are present, foreign fleets cannot be seen.
• Retreating fleets may only be seen by recon fleets.
• Structures at foreign stars can be seen.
• Initial retreat decreases ship supplies by 5%.
• Retreating ships decrease supplies by 5% per cycle.
• Retreating ships decrease morale by 6% per cycle.
• A fleet may be ordered to retreat, from the fleet list panel.

  Cut Off in Retreat :

  • A retreating fleet that is denied access to the adjacent stars is "cut-off".
  • Cut-off fleets will degrade and eventually the crews will desert.
  • These fleets still cost you support, so you may want to disband them if no relief is available.

  Stranded in Retreat :

  • Stranded fleets are those in retreat that may not jump.
  • A system fleet that is retreated becomes stranded.
  • A retreated fleet that has no supplies is stranded.
  • To recover a stranded fleet, retreat a "rescue" fleet and transfer the stranded ships.
  • In the case of a stranded system fleet, the rescue fleet would need enough cargo space to hold all the stranded ships.
  • In the case of a stranded out-of-supply fleet, the rescue fleet would need a supply ship.

  Retreat Caused by Orders :

  • If a fleet has sensors and orders are retreat or probe and they encounter a superior fleet, they will retreat.
  • This is a function of the sensors detecting weapons signatures at the star.
  • A retreat is initiated before any hard data can be gained, so no intel of the foreign fleet will be known.

Storage :

• Ships may be stored at storage yards (where repair depots exist) or market storage at council stars.
• Storage in market storage is required for ships being offered for sale.
• Mercenary ships may not be placed in storage.
• Ships must have 100% initiative to be placed in storage.
• Ships in storage may be deactivated.
• Ships in storage repair as normal.
• Ships in storage do not train.
• Ships in storage are not seen by foreign fleets.
• All ships in storage do not fight. This includes activated ships.
• Deactivated ships only require 10% of normal support costs.
• Deactivated ships do not require supply.
• Reactivating ships takes 5 cycles and costs nothing.
• Support costs increase at each cycle of activation.
• If the repair depot is destroyed, all ships in the storage yard become derelicts.
• Ships that become derelicts lose their experience (no longer has crew).

Epidemics :

• Each strain has the following stats :
  • Infectiousness value : How rapidly it spreads.
  • Amount infected : Percent of population infected.
  • Mortality rate : How many infected will die.
• Plagues tend to have higher mortality.
• Viruses tend to have higher infectiousness.
• Zombie infestations do not affect ships but are harder to cure.
• Strains may mutate over time, causing the need to find a new cure.

  Infection and Transmission Possibilities :

  • Loading infected flotsam.
  • Loading contracts at infected starbases does infect the loading fleet.
  • Fulfilling (unloading at destination) does not spread infection.
  • UTS & DS shipments do not spread infections.
  • An infected fleet transferred via diplomacy will remain infected.
  • A catured infected fleet will remain infected.
  • Transferring cargo from an infected fleet to any other fleet will cause infection.
  • Market storage fleets are specific to a realm, an infection on one does not spread between them.
  • Market trades never spread infections.
  • Exporting luxuries does not spread infections.
  • Territorial bases will be infected by transfers from an infected fleet. Infections do not spread to other realm bases or the independent's fleets.
  • Transfer of personnel between stars does not transfer infections. This includes agents and diplomats going to foreign realms.
  • Transfer of personnel between fleets does transfer infections.

  Effects :

  • Workers die off based on the mortality rate.
  • Contentment is reduced by the amount infected.
  • Ships lose morale and effectiveness at 1% per cycle.

  Finding a Cure :

  • Cures may be found with 2 methods, these may work in tandem.
  • Each science unit (ship component) at the star contributes 1% per cycle to finding the cure.
  • Labs researching cures contribute based on the lab level and virology tech level, see here.
  • Research at a star will work on all outbreaks at that specific star.
  • When the cure is found a patent for the cure is generated.

  Disease Cure Patents :

  • When the cure is found a patent for that specific strain is generated.
  • These patents may be traded the same as other patents.
  • All holders of a cure patent may treat all their fleets infected with that specific strain.

  Treating the Infected :

  • When amount of infected reaches zero, the epidemic is eradicated on that fleet and can no longer be spread from that fleet.
  • Fleets may be reinfected with the same virus.

    Medical units :

    • Medical units are a ship component.
    • Medical units must be in a specific fleet to treat it.
    • If the population of a star is infected the medical units must be on the starbase.
    • Each medical unit will reduce the amount infected by 1%.
      ie; The fleet is 20% infected with a strain having infectiousness of 2
      There are 3 medical units on the fleet,
      the next cycle the amount of infected will be 19% (20 + 2 − 3).

    Hospitals :

    • These are structures that may be build on stars.
    • Hospitals treat all fleets at the star.
    • Each hospital level will reduce the amount infected by 3%.

Bomb Reload :

Depot Bomb Reloads :

• A level 2 supply depot is required.
• All bombers will automatically reload on arrival at the star.
• If the realm is in debt, no bomb reload is done.
• Flagged fleets are reloaded as normal.

Foreign Bomb Reloads :

• Ships may reload at foreign level 2 supply depots.
• Fleets must be of type R & R for bomb reloads to take place.
• There must be a "Supply Agreement" in place with the depot owner.
• Flagged fleets are unable to reloaded at foreign stars.
• If the realm is in debt, no bomb reload is done.

Reload by Supply Ship :

• See Supply Ships for ways these can do bomb reloads.

Supplies :

• Ships require supply, otherwise they are "Out of Supply" (see below).
• Supply use per cycle is equal to the support cost for the ship.
• Ships must carry their own supplies or be supplied by a depot or supply ship.
• Adjustments may be made to supplies on fleets with the adjust supplies option.
• Ships with a "Supply Hold" (a supply ship or some carriers) may resupply other ships.
• Ships with "Ship Stores" have a stock of supplies that will last a certain period.
• Ships with ship stores" :
  • This is indicated by a round green/red pie chart icon on the ship panel.
  • The amount of green indicates the percent of supplies remaining.
  • The ship pop-up info panel shows the number of cycles remaining in its supply period.
  • Ships have various sized ship stores so not all have the same supply period.
• Ships without ship stores must be resupplied each cycle :
  • These ships have a light blue circle icon on the ship panel when supplied, red when not.
  • Must be resupplied by a depot or supply ship each cycle.

  Out of Supply :

  • The round ship stores icon on the ship panel is 100% red.
  • The ship may not jump.
  • Morale decreases by 6 per cycle.
  • Combat ships fight at 50%.

    Crew Desertion :

    • Out of supply ships will send an SOS on the advisor channel.
    • Ships gain damage when out of supply for several cycles.
    • Crews will desert their ships when morale reaches 50%.
    • Ships with less than 100 crew do not have lifeboats so all are lost.
    • Ships become derelicts.
    • Crews board lifeboats.
    • Resources are lost.
    • Other cargo may become flotsam.

Depot Resupply :

• A supply depot is required, and will automatically resupply all the owners ships at the star.
• A level 1 supply depot will resupply all local domestic system ships.
• A level 2 supply depot will resupply local domestic interstellar ships as well.
• An interstellar ship at a level 1 supply depot will remain in supply while at the star.
• Only level 2 supply depot will top up supply holds (used to supply other ships).
• There is no cost.
• The resupply is immediate.
• Flagged fleets resupply as normal.

  Foreign Resupply :

  • Ships may resupply at foreign supply depots.
  • The supply depot owner must allow resupply to fleets with a diplomatic supply agreement.
  • Fleets do not have to be of type R & R (as they do for repair).
  • There is no cost for resupply.
  • If the depot owner is in debt, no resupply takes place.
  • Flagged fleets may not resupply at foreign stars.

Resupply by Supply Ship :

• Some ships have a "Supply Hold" this is not the same as "Ship Stores".
• Ship Stores is for the ships own use, a "Supply Hold" supplies other ships.
• The amount remaining in a supply hold is indicated by a vertical bar on the ship panel.
• Actual amount of supplies can be seen in the ship pop-up info.
• The supply ship/carrier itself gets reloaded automatically upon arriving at a Level 2 supply depot.
• Flagged fleets resupply as normal.
  ie; an anonymous fleet will supply a privateer and vice versa.
• There are 3 types of ships with supply holds :

  Bombers :

  • These technically do not have supply holds, they have bomb bays.
  • There may not be bomb bays and supply holds in the same ship design.
  • Bomb bays are reloaded in the same way as supply holds are resupplied.
  • Flagged fleets are reloaded as normal.

  Carriers :

  • These have strikecraft bays.
  • Note: Some carriers may not have supply holds.
  • Those that do, resupply strikecraft on their fleet.
  • Carriers do not resupply bomb bays.
  • Carriers ignore Supply Base fleet type and Unload Supplies functions.
  • Carriers do not resupply any strikecraft not in their fleet.

  Supply Ships :

  • These do not have strikecraft bays or bomb bays
  • These can be used in 3 ways :

    On a Supply Base Fleet :

    • These resupply and reload all domestic ships at a star.
    • Select the fleet type "Supply Base".
    • When Supply Occurs :
      • On arrival by the supply ship.
      • On arrival by a ship needing supply or reload.
      • At cycle end after ships stores are used.

    On a Route :

    • On arrival at a waypoint with the Unload Supplies option,
      all domestic ships at a star are supplied and reloaded.

    Manual Supply :

    • Use the adjust supplies fleet option.
      Or
    • Change the fleet type to Supply Base to supply and reload all fleets at the star.

Fleet Options :

Adjust Supplies :




• Access this panel via fleet options (hamburger button on "Fleet View Panel").
• Adjusting supplies is only required in special circumstances as supplies are normally topped up automatically at supply depots or with supply ships.
• Some situations that adjustment may be needed :
  • You want to supply only specific ships/fleets.
  • You want to empty some ships, so they may go for re-supply.
  • You want to move supplies from carriers to bombers or vice versa.
  • You can top up ship stores without having supplies go to carriers or bombers.
    As would be the case if you toggled the supply fleet type on.
  • You want to top up from supply containers.
• There are 2 modes :
  • All fleets (at the star).
    - You may distribute supplies amongst all ships at the star.
    - Retreating fleets will not show unless the selected fleet is retreating,
        then only retreating fleets will show.
  • Single Fleet : Only the fleet selected in the fleets panel.

  Temporary Hold :

  • May only be exclusively selected.
  • This must have supplies added before it is available on "Provide From" side.
  • Move supplies from providers to the "Temporary Hold" then use it as the provider.

  Distribute to "Ship Stores" Option :

  • May only be exclusively selected.
  • This will list all ships needing supplies.
  • Does not list supply holds, as on bombers, carriers and supply ships.

  Provide from "Containers" Option :

  • May only be exclusively selected.
  • This will list all containers on the fleet(s).
  • You may select the quantity of containers to empty.
  • Once containers are emptied, they may not be refilled.

  Distribute Button :

  • This will move the provided "Total Supplies" value to the selected targets.
  • Amounts will be pro-rated based on amount needed.
  • Excess will remain with provider, except for containers.
  • Select and distribute as many times as required then click "Confirm".
  • The "Abort" button will cancel all distributions since the last "Confirm".

Disband :

• This option is found in the fleet options (hamburger button on "Fleet View Panel").
• Initiates self-destruct sequence on all ships in the fleet.
• Mercenary ships on a disbanded fleet are dismissed, no resources are reclaimed.
• Some resources may be reclaimable, see below.
• Domestic officials on the fleet are retired, prisoners become MIA to their owners.
• The fleet ceases to exist.

  Reclaim :

  Disbanding at domestic stars :
  
  
  • All crews & workers are reclaimed and placed on the starbase.
  • 50% of the nanobit cost of ships is reclaimed as scrap and placed on the starbase.
  • 80% is reclaimed if there is a recycler at the star.
  • All ships are eliminated.
  • All remaining supplies are reclaimed as credits.
  • All minerals, nanobits, tradegoods, luxuries, modules, artifacts and contraband is lost.
    - This is the only way to delete assets.
    - If you want to keep the assets, transfer them prior to disbanding.
  
  Disbanding at foreign stars :
  
  
  • Crews are placed in lifeboats and become flotsam.
  • Ships with less than 100 crew do not have lifeboats so all are lost.
  • 50% of the nanobit cost of ships becomes flotsam (scrap).
  • All ships are eliminated.
  • All cargo is lost. To save it, transfer or jettison it prior to disbanding.
    
    Jettison Supplies :
    
    
    • This option only available when disbanding at foreign stars.
    • Will convert all supplies to flotsam > supply containers.
    • A traktor beam equipped ship will be needed to gather them.
    • Supply containers may be used to top up supplies or cashed in for credits at a domestic star.
    • If the option is not selected, all supplies are lost.

Repatriating :

• Banner fleets only repatriate when a fealty agreement expires or is cancelled.
• Lent fleets may be repatriated by the lender at anytime.
• The lendee may repatriate fleets only under the following conditions :
  • Not retreating.
  • Not recon.
  • There is a lender fleet at the star.

Transform to Raider :

• Fleet will become a raider - This is not a privateer.
• To set the fleet to privateer, change the type
• Becoming a raider, you loose control of the fleet.
• The fleet may attack your fleets in the future.
• All cargo is transferred or lost.

Convert Luxuries to Tradegoods :

• All luxuries on the fleet will be converted to tradegoods.
• This cannot be un-done (No conversion to luxuries possible).
• Luxuries are normally worth much more than tradegoods.
• You would use this if you ran out of high value stars with demand for luxuries.
• You may also use this option if you do not wish to deal with luxury delivery.

View in Combat Sim :

• Loads the combat sim with the selected fleet.
• Only quantities of design types is used.
• Damage, experience and morale are not accounted for.

Linking Fleet :

• Linking is used to coordinate movement of several fleets.
• Retreat status does not prevent a linked jump except for access denied destinations.
• Linked fleets will jump at the same time, so if combat occurs, all will be able to participate.
• Recon fleets may not link or be linked to.
• Low jump charge on a linked fleet will prevent the parent fleet from jumping.
• Link a fleet on the fleet options panel.

Auto Fleet Merge :

• This option is found in the fleet options (hamburger button on "Fleet View Panel").
• This option lets you select a fleet to merge into (the target).
• The "merging fleet" is the one you are setting the option on.
• The merging fleet will merge into the target fleet.
• The merge will happen when the fleets come into contact.
• Either fleet may be on a route.
• Either fleet may be a system fleet, but this may cause an overload.
• Neither fleet may be a storage yard, market storage or smugglers haven.
• Starbases and territorial bases may not be set to merge, but may be merged into.
• Civil Defence fleets may only merge with other Civil Defence fleets.
• Banner fleets may only merge with fleets from the same vassal.
• Lent fleets may only merge with fleets from the same lender.
• The merging fleet ceases to exist.
• Both fleets must be in the same area of space, if say, only one is retrating, the merge will fail.

Archaeologist Search :

• This option is found in the fleet options (hamburger button on "Fleet View Panel").
• This option must be checked for archaeologists to automatically search stars.
• The default setting is ON.
• The option only displays on fleets with an archaeologist.
• Toggle from off to on to search current star.

Auto Explore :

• This option is found in the fleet options (hamburger button on "Fleet View Panel").
• The fleet must have a scanner equiped ship, otherwise auto-explore will turn off.
• Fleets on auto-explore will automatically move to unexplored stars.
• Retreating, privateer and recon fleets may not auto-explore.
• If no unexplored stars are within 3 jumps, the fleet will shut off auto-explore and you will be advised.
• Setting auto-explore will drop the fleet from any route they may be on.
• Placing the fleet on a route will turn off auto-explore.

Detailed Fleet List :

• This option is found in the fleet options (hamburger button on "Fleet View Panel").
• Displays fleet type, combat command status and fleet orders on left of the fleet bar.
• Displays small icons on each fleet bar, indicating cargo types.
  

  Fleet Cargo Icons
  Icon	Cargo
  	System ships as cargo
  	Resources
  	Artifacts
  	Modules
  	Military officers
  	Non-military officials
  	Contraband
  	Missions
  	Epidemics
  	Contracts
  	Components
  	Stored - Deactivated
  	Stored - Activating
  	Stored - Activated

Repair :

• A repair depot is required, and will automatically repair all the owners ships at the star.
• This function may be disabled at a specific depot by de-checking the "Allow Domestic Repair" option.
• Repair reduces the damage to a ship.
• Damage may limit the morale. Maximum morale is effective+50%.
  A 70% damaged ship is 30% effective, So 30 + 50 = maximum 80% morale.
• There is a cost in credits each cycle a ship is under repair.
• The cost is the same regardless of depot level.
• Higher level repair depots repair more quickly resulting in a lower overall cost of repair.
• If a hospital is present (in addition to the repair depot) repair is increased 5% per level of hospital.
  ie; Lv2 depot + Lv2 hospital will be 30%/cycle.
• Note that the repair technology increases the amount of repair and reduces the cost.
• If the realm is in debt, no repairs are made.

  Foreign Repairs :

  • Ships may repair at foreign repair depots.
  • Required for repairs to take place:
    • Fleet must be of type R & R.
      OR
    • Fleet must be on route with the repair wait option set for the star.
  • There must be a "Repair Agreement" in place with the depot owner. /*
  • The repair depot owner must allow repairs. See Depot Panel. */
  • Costs are determined by the repair depot owner.

  Ship Repairs Per Cycle
  Repair Depot Level	Amount Repaired
  1	10%
  2	20%
  3	30%
  4	40%
  Cost per KiloTon (Kt)
  Repair Depot Owner	Cost
  Domestic	20 per Kt
  Territory	20 to 50 per Kt
  Foreign Realm	Set by Lord

  Ship Repair Cost Examples Based on 5% damage at level 1 Depot
  Ship	Kt	Domestic

Propulsion :

Ships use three modes of propulsion. These are automatically utilized as the situation dictates and require no action by the player. These descriptions are provided so players may understand why fleets move the way they do.

Warp Drives :

These are used for normal movement within a solar system, which is not visible as it has no bearing on the game. The drive "warps" space in the direction of travel. Space is constricted creating a gravity well, while behind the ship an opposite effect takes place. The ship rides this wave. Yes, ships "surf" the warp! But this is too slow for interstellar travel.

Jump Engines :

These use a distant gravity well to guide a ship in an exact direction through hyperspace and drops out when within that gravity well - Minimum range 1 parsec, maximum range just over 6 parsecs. Unfortunately you cannot use these for short hops (around a star) as the jump is within the well and the engine does not engage as you are already there! So these are only used to go to another star.

These engines utilize one dimensional travel (no time or distance, only direction) thus achieving instantaneous jumps.

Jump engines require a recharge due to the immense power needed to focus on the distant gravity well at the destination star.

Blink Drives :

These are reverse jump technology, they are used to leave local space or travel in remote / well-beyond space. They are used just prior to an interstellar jump, to get out of the well, then the jump is initiated. You cannot blink back to a star. (kind of like jumping down when you are on the ground)

Blink drives require no recharge as they are in or near the well they must focus on.

See geography of space for a visual representation.

Retreat :

Blink drives are also used for retreating. The fleet blinks out to "well-beyond" space. It is theoretically posible for an enemy to blink out in pursuit, but since a recharge is not required, the retreating fleet could just blink away again. So a chase is futile and never done. A retreating fleet is always "in limbo" as it must jump to another star to leave well-beyond space (and retreat mode).

Recon :

Blink drives are also used for recon. The fleet blinks out similar to a retreating fleet, but remains close enough to use long range sensors to view foreign fleets at the star. Screening fleets may blink to the location of the recon fleet and engage them at short range. Screening combat only takes place if the recon & screening fleet are very close in strength, otherwise the lesser fleet does not engage.

Civil Transportaion Network :

Personnel use a network that shuttles people though a system of civil interstellar ships. They change to new precharged ships at each star allowing for movement limited only by the transfer delays at each star. The civil network has no visual representaion in-game.

Ship Design :

• Research Ship Design Tech to unlock the design panel.
• Access the design panel from the shipyard panel or hot key [D].
• The standard designs are sufficient to conduct all aspects of your realm.
• Ship design is an optional game within the game, for those who enjoy fiddling with numbers.
• At some point there will be a more graphical interface for wider audience appeal.
• Not all the standard designs are available for a new realm, these must be found :
  • Battleship
  • Heavy Carrier
  • Smuggler type freighter
  • Salvager
  • Recon ship
• Designs that have been built or traded to other realms may not be edited.
  Clone the design to make a new version.
• Captured ships of foreign design may not be built until they have been reverse engineered.
• Design names may be seen by other realms though intel or boarding but version text is not.

Major Ship Design Considerations :

Hull Space vs Cost :

• Many components are available in various sizes.
• Usually the larger size requires a greater percent of hull space vs its capability.
• This means space can be saved by using the smaller versions.
• The downside is that resource costs, build time and support cost will rise.
  ie; You want 20 GW of energy :

  20 GW Power Options
  Quantity	Reactor Size	Hull Space	Credits	Nanobits	Hours	Support

Increase of Credit Cost due to Quantity:

• This applies to drives, capacitors and reactors.
• The credit cost is increased if the quantity of a specific component is greater than 1.
• The amount of increase varies for each specific component.

Weapons vs Defence :

• The more weapons you add, the less space there will be for defences or vice versa.
• An offensive ship would want a high weapon to defence ratio.
• A defensive ship would be better with a high defence to weapon ratio.

Weapon Types :

Ion Cannon :

• Only available for fighter and interceptor hulls.
• Cannons are used in the dogfight phase of short range combat.
• Fires 50 shots.
• Countermeasures are evade and shields.
• Ships with shields of 30% or greater are impervious to cannon fire.

Laser :

• A short range weapon.
• Fires 50 shots.
• Countermeasures are evade and laser reflectors.

Heavy Laser :

• A short range weapon.
• Fires 500 shots.
• Countermeasures are evade and laser reflectors.

Phaser :

• A long range weapon.
• Fires 500 shots.
• Countermeasures are evade and shields.
• Ships with 100% evade are impervious to phasers.

Heavy Phaser :

• A long range weapon.
• Fires 5,000 shots.
• Countermeasures are evade and shields.
• Ships with 100% evade are impervious to heavy phasers.

Photon Torpedo :

• A long range weapon.
• Equivalent to 400 shots.
• Countermeasures are evade (increase manoeuvre).
• The larger the hull and the lower the manoeuvre, the more vulnerable they are.
• Photon torpedoes may only target ships with warp drives.
  This means platforms (no warp drives) may not be hit by photon torpedoes.

Armour vs Defence :

• Defence prevents hits while armour reduces destruction of entire ships.
• Armour determines the percent of damage vs kill hits.
  When kill hits exceed hit points a ship is destroyed, otherwise the hits only cause damage.
  ie; 10 ships worth 50 hit points each (500HP total), take 100 hits :
  • If armour was 0%, 2 ships would be lost with no damage to the other 8.
  • If armour was 50%, 1 ship would be lost with 11% damage to the other 9.
  • If armour was 100%, No ship would be lost with 20% damage to all 10 ships.
    Note that ships with > 90% damage may be destroyed in a subsequent battle regardless of armour.
• Shields cost mostly nanobits but use energy as well.
• A "Cannon fodder" style ship would have high defence (to absorb hits) vs armour, but more ships would be killed.
• A defensive ship would have more armour vs defence, so it will survive to be repaired.

  Types of Hull Cladding :

  • Hull Plate, Heavy Plate & Reactive Tiles may be used together.
    The total of all 3 may not exceed 100%.

    Hull Plate :

    • Increases armour rating.
    • Increases hit points.
    • Reduces the manoeuvre value, lowering evade abilities.
    • Costs mostlty nanobits.

    Heavy Plate :

    • Increases armour rating 1.5 X Hull Plate.
    • Increases hit points 3 X Hull Plate.
    • Reduces the manoeuvre value 2 X Hull Plate.
    • Credit cost is 1.5 X Hull Plate.
    • Nanobit cost is 2 X Hull Plate.
    • Build time may be a factor for high amounts on a large hull.
    • Best used on defensive platforms.

    Reactive Tiles :

    • Increases armour rating.
    • Minimal increase to hit points.
    • Costs mostlty credits.
    • Minimal reduction in the manoeuvre value.
    • Build time may be a factor for high amounts on a large hull.
    • Best used on ships needing high manoeuvrability.

    Laser Reflectors :

    • Increases SR defence.
    • No increase to hit points.
    • Costs mostlty credits.
    • Up to 100% may be applied regardless of other types of cladding.

  Shields :

  • Increases LR defence.
  • 30% shields will provide 100% dogfight defence.
  • Costs mostly nanobits.
  • Uses energy. Large hulls will require a lot.

Evade and Defence :

• Warp drives increase manoeuvrability, this is translated into the Evade ability.
• Evade ability will depend on combat range and is most effective at long range.
• Evade is paired with either shields or reflectors to determine the Defence Value.
• If the defence is 100% for a range, no hits are taken in that range.

Cost vs Support :

• Low support cost is important for ships that one intends to have a long time (defensive types).
• High support is less important for ships that will be destroyed soon (fighters during a war).
• Low cost is important for ships with low survivability (those with low hit points, defence & armour).
• High cost is less important for highly armoured ships as they will more likely survive and get repaired.

Ship Stores vs Supply Hold :

• Ship stores is for the ships own use.
• A supply hold is for supplying other ships.
• The "Supply Period" for the supply store indicates how soon the ship will be "Out of Supply".

Targeting :

• Long range targeting (LRT) is prioritized on target hit points then phasers then lasers.
• Photon Torpedo targeting is prioritized on target hit points and manoeuvre then weapons.
• Dogfight targeting is prioritized on lasers then ion cannons.
• Short range targeting (SRT) is prioritized on weapons then hit points.
• Designs with high LR defence values will have their LRT reduced and their SRT increased.

Design Ideas :

Design Ideas
Ship	Concept
Supply Platform	A system ship with a supply hold. Low cost as no jump engine. Position at a distant star to resupply transiting fleets. Gets resupplied by a supply ship on route.
Kamikaze	A ship with maximum weapons and few shields, reflectors and armour. Use for gaining hits in initial battle. Should be fairly low percentage of ship compliment. Maybe balance with other more survivable ship types.

Design Specifications :

Hull Capacity :

• Hulls have 2 areas :
  • The surface where surface components reside, ie; engines, weapons & defences.
  • The core where all other components (core components) may reside.
  • Core components may be in the core or on the surface.
  • Surface components must be on the surface.
  • Some components use both surface and core areas,
    ie; a cargo bay uses mostly core, but uses a bit of surface as well (for the docking port).
  
  
• The hull capacity gauge indicates the status of the two areas :
  
  
  • Colours :
    • Cyan : Empty
    • Teal : Surface Components
    • Grey : Core Components
    • Orange : Core on Surface
    • Red : Exceeded
    Both core and surface have unused space.

    Core components use all the core and some of the surface, some of the surface remains unused.

    Some unused core, but the surface area has been exceeded.
    
    This design is not valid and cannot be saved.

    The core area has been exceeded and there is no more space available on the surface.
    
    This design is not valid and cannot be saved.

Combat Rating :

• This is a summation of all weapons and hit points.
• Defences and manoeuvre are not included.

Supplies Top Up :

• This cost will show on some designs that contain a supply hold.
• The cost calculation :
  • + Capacity of supply hold
  • + Ship Stores Stock
  • − Design Cost
  • = Credits Required
• Design Cost is the cost in credits of all the components in the design.
• The Credits Required ensures the cost in credits to build the design is at least the value of its Supply Reclaim Value.
• The Supply Reclaim Value is the credit amount received when a design is disbanded.
• Supply Reclaim Value is the value of all supplies in the ship.
• Having this value causes supply ships to be lucrative piracy targets.

Piracy Value :

• Minimum manoeuvre 2.0.
• Based on manoeuvre & lasers.
• This value determines the amount of looting (amount of credits stolen though piracy).
• The value also applies to raider suppression.

Recon Capable :

• Ships require the following to join a recon fleet :
  • Minimum manoeuvre 3.0.
  • Jump capable.
• At least one ship on the recon fleet must have long range sensors.
• Normal sensors are not required.

Strikecraft :

• These are ships that may be placed on carriers (in strikecraft bays).
• Requirements :
  • Hull class is fighter, interceptor or sloop.
  • Non-zero manoeuvre.
  • Does not have a jump engine.

Ship Components :

Note : Each game has different component values.
Designs from one game may not be optimal in the next game.


• Some components have crew requirements.
  These are workers that will be required when the ship is built.
  They are not required when crafting the component.

Ship Components
? : Based on ship size or other variables

Missions :

There are 3 types of missions :

Transport Missions :

• All transport missions require taking the mission item to a specific star to complete the mission.
• If a mission is not completed before it expires, you are penalized.
• The reward/penalty value is based on the distance to the destination.
• Missions appear periodically or as a result of an event.
• You receive an advisor alert when a new mission comes available.
• Transfer to or capture by another lord, of a mission will cause it to fail and the penalty applied.
• There are several early game missions that may be missed if you do not expand fast enough.
• Most missions are optional, a few are not and you will be penalized for not completing them.
• If a fleet contains a mission, setting the fleet type to Mission, will name the fleet with the mission destination.
• You may view current mission on the Missions Report in the Realm section of the Top Secret panel

Mission Types
Type	Acquisition	Deposit	Reward	Penalty	Location
Honourific	Automatic	None	Honour	None	Starbase at Capital
Monetary	Optional	Credits	Credits	Loss of deposit	Starbase at Capital
Material	Optional	Credits	Artifact	Loss of deposit	Starbase at Capital
Trait Specific	Optional	None	Fame	Scandal	Starbase at Capital

Diplomatic Missions :

• These missions are similar to transport missions.
• The main difference is they are linked in a sequence of mission offers.
• These missions are offered as items on the starbase of your capital, there is an advisory sent when they become available.
• You need to complete one mission for the next one in the sequence to be offered.
• The first mission is called Diplomatic Mission, you do not need to accept it as it has no cost. You need to complete this mission for the other missions to be generated.
• Subsequent missions have a credit cost and a credit reward. They need to be accepted.
• The cost (Deposit) is lost if the mission expires or is lost. The rest of the sequence is no longer offered.
• The sequence is available for each realm you contact.
• Once a mission is completed the next one will be offered sometime later.
• All diplomatic missions are between your capital and the contact's capital.
• Auto routing is available if there is a known path to their capital. Auto routing is offered when Select Route is chosen on the fleet bar for a fleet containing a mission.
  
  Diplomatic Mission Sequence :
  • Diplomatic Mission
  • Trade Mission
  • Delivery Mission
  • Embassy Shuttle
  • Diplomatic Summit
  • Cultural Mission
  • State Visit

Mercenary Missions :

• These missions may be viewed in the comm panel under "GNN - Mercenary Adverts".
• You do not need to accept them, they are awarded to the first realm the satisfies the requirements.
• See Mercenary Adverts for details.

Personnel :

• Personnel provide bonuses to specific areas of the game.
• All personnel must be recruited & trained at an academy.
• Personnel cost credits each cycle, see "support cost" in table below.
• Moving, retiring and enrolling personnel is done on the pesonnel panel.
• While in training, personnel do not have support costs.
• While offered for hire, personnel support costs are 20% of normal.
• There are 4 main types of personnel :
  - Officers : Assigned to fleets.
  - Civil Staff : May be assigned to certain structures.
  - Agents : Spies assigned to covert or security operations.
  - Archaeologists : Assigned to fleets in search of artifacts.
• Officers, agents and archaeologists are treated differently after graduation, see respective sections.
• Ranks are 1 to 4 bars, then 1 to 4 stars.
• All personnel generate celebrity prestige of 5 per star of rank.
• Maximum rank for all personnel is 4 stars.
• Only officers may be placed on civil defence, banner or lent fleets.

• Rank Bonuses
  Officials	Experience		Agents & Officers	Experience

  Assigning Positions :

  • Personnel may be assigned to positions specific to their profession.
  • Click the assign button on the panel at the star where the position is located.
  • Any unassigned offical within the realm may be assigned.
  • Once assigned the offical will automatically travel to the star, the establish themselves in the position.
  • Travel is via the civil transportation system which is not visible to players.
  • Travel time is 1 hour per star. Then it takes 10 hours to become established.
  • Personnel may not be dismissed while in transit.
  • Personnel that are dismissed become unassigned and are available for other assignments.

  Prisoners :

  • Prisoners may result from any of the following :
    - Abduction by a covert agent.
    - Captured during combat (while on a fleet).
    - Covert agents captured by security agents.
  • The home realm of a prisoner does not know who holds their personnel until this is disclosed by the captor. Find the disclose button on the prisoner panel in operations.
  • Foreign agents that are discovered must be interrogated before the following is known :
    Their realm, rank, traits and the mission they were engaged in.
  • Prisoners may be returned, ransomed or traded on the diplomacy panel.
    - The prisoner must be disclosed and not in transit, to be available for diplomacy.
  • Prisoners may be traded to any realm.
  • Prisoners may be eliminated at any time.
  • There may be a prestige adjustment :
    - The prisoner must be disclosed.
    - The prisoner must be alive.
    - The value is double the prisoner's celebrity value.
    - > This is gained by the captor realm.
    - > This is lost for their home realm.



Types of Personnel
Profession	Panel	Active Support	Hire Out Support

Archaeologists :

• The main purpose of an archaeologist is to find artifacts.
• Newly graduated archaeologists are found on the starbase fleet.
• Archaeologists automatically search stars when their fleet arrives.
• You may turn serching off for a fleet with an archaeologist, see fleet options.
• They gain a little experience when they search a star above its current searched level.
• They gain experience any time they are present when an artifact is discovered.
• The highest ranked archaeologist on a fleet plus the archaeology tech level determines the maximum level of artifact that can be discovered.
• Having multiple archaeologists on a fleet does not help discover artifacts, but all gain experience during searches and discoveries.
• Rank is the only trait archaeologists have.
• Search level increases at each star of rank (5 bars = 1 star)
• Archaeologists may be assigned currator of a monument.

  Archaeologist Trait
  Trait	Bonus / Effect	Derived From
  Rank	Increases level of artifact that can be found	- Training - Experience

Agents :

• Once agents graduate they are normally only found on the operations panel.
  If they are enrolled for further training, they will only be found on the academy panel.
• Agents at foreign stars engage in covert operations
• Agents at domestic stars engage in security operations
• An agents rank determines their ability to infiltrate foreign stars as well as how effective they are at finding foreign agents at domestic stars.
• Rank increases from :
  - Training.
  - Active missions, more for riskier missions.
• A new agent begins with a specific ability in each of six traits.
• Traits increase with any successful mission using that trait.

  Agent Traits
  Trait	Operation Effected	Derived From
  Rank	Infiltration & Security	- Training - Experience
  Espionage	Spy on star or realm and Anti-crime	- Original ability - Experience
  Provocateur	Incite (covert & security)	- Original ability - Experience
  Hackeur	Cyberattack & Cybersecurity	- Original ability - Experience
  Saboteur	Sabotage	- Original ability - Experience
  Assault	Assassination, Abduction, Terrorism & Anti Crime	- Original ability - Experience

  Agent Medals
  Medal	Name	Medal	Name
  	Embezzler		Saboteur
  	Hackeur		Black Ops
  	Abductor		Captor
  	Crime Suppression		Insurgency Suppression
  	Assassin		Provocateur
  	Subversive		Interrogator
  	Revolutionary

Diplomats :

• A Diplomat may be used as an ambassador or to negotiate with independent stars.
• An ambassador is a diplomat assigned to another realm on the diplomacy panel.
• The other realm must first invite your ambassador.
• An ambassador sometimes gains experience from proposals.
• Ambassadors generate prestige for both realms based on their rank and traits.
• A realm also gains 30 prestige for each foreign ambassador at their capital.
• If at a territory or independent star, the diplomat will generate influence.
  Charisma has a good effect, but ability is more effective at higher ranks.
• Unassigned diplomats do not generate prestige (other than the celebrity value).

  Diplomat Traits
  Trait	Bonus / Effect	Derived From	Prestige if Ambassador
  Rank	If Ambassador, Prestige to both realms	- Training - Proposals accepted - Treaties signed	2 points per bar 10 points per star
  Ability	If Ambassador, Prestige to own realm Influences negotiations with Independents	Static attribute	3 - 15 points
  Charisma	If Ambassador, Prestige to other realm Influences negotiations with Independents	Static attribute	0 - 20 points
  Security	Reduces successful missions by foreign agents. Missions affected : - All assault missions on diplomat. - View Diplomacy. (applies to each foreign diplomat at the homeworld)	Static attribute	-

Managers :

• A manager may be assigned to either an administration building as governor or a mine manager at a mine.
• Managers gain experience while assigned.
• Traits only have an effect for assigned managers.

  Governor Traits
  Trait	Bonus / Effect	Derived From
  Rank	Increases credit & worker output by 25% per star of rank Maximum 4 stars	- Training - Experience
  Ability	Increases credit & worker output by 30% of ability value ie; ability = 50%, provides increase of 15%	Static attribute
  Leadership	Increases credit & worker output by 10% of leadership value per level of administration structure. ie; leadership = 50% at Lv3 admin, provides increase of 15% Also affects cost of services : A higher level of administration requires a higher leadership value to be effective. A low leadership value will reduce bonus.	Static attribute
  Charisma	Increases contentment	Static attribute
  Security	Reduces crime. Reduces chance of successful missions by foreign agents. Missions affected : - All espy & sabotage missions. - Assault missions on governor.	Static attribute

  Mine Manager Traits
  Trait	Bonus / Effect	Derived From
  Rank	Increases mineral output by 25% per star of rank Maximum 4 stars	- Training - Experience
  Ability	Increases mineral output by 40% of ability value ie; ability = 50%, provides increase of 20%	Static attribute
  Leadership	Increases mineral output by 5% of leadership value per level of mine. ie; leadership = 50% at Lv3 mine, provides increase of 7.5%	Static attribute
  Charisma	No Effect	Static attribute
  Security	No Effect	Static attribute

Officers :

• New graduates are found on the starbase fleet.
• Officers may not be enrolled for additional training.
• Only the fleet commander supplies bonuses to combat and morale.
• Officers gain experience from combat.
• Officers do not have support costs when on banner fleets under liege control.
• Maximum rank for officers is 4 stars.
  If the epaulette has stars, only stars count, the 4 bars are display only.
  Bars only count when no star is displayed.
• Officer rank trumps all other traits.
  If rank is equal the higher leadership trait will be in command. It is rank that determines command of a fleet and which officer is CinC. This means that incompetent officers may be in command over much better, but lower ranked officers. How you deal with incompetent high ranked officers is for you to decide.

  Experience Gain :

  • The highest ranked officer of all engaged fleets is the CinC.
  • The CinC gains experience based on the size of the battle.
  • All Fleet Commanders involved gain 50% of the CinC gain.
  • All other officers on the engaged fleets get 25% of the CinC gain.
  • The amount of experience gained is based on the number of own ships lost in a battle.
  
  

  Combat Command Rating (CCR) :

  • A CinC may efficiently command a limited number of combat ships.
  • This is based on their Combat Command Rating. See CCR.
  • Combat effectiveness will be reduced if commaning a larger number of ships.
  • See CCV for the Combat Command Values for ship classes.

    Officers on recon fleets :

  • Recon fleets are limited to a maximum of 50 CCR.
  • An NCO commanding a recon fleet is 25 CCR.
  • This means that the leadership trait is usually of no consequence.
  • Strategy is the more important trait for a recon officer.
  
  

  CinC's and allies during combat :

  • An attacking fleet will always use it's CinC, allied CinC's do not out rank him.
  • The CinC on the targeted fleet is used regardless of allied CinC's.
  
  
• Assign officers to a fleet by clicking their icon in the same panel where you transfer ships & cargo.
• All fleets have an NCO when no officer is assigned.

  Officer Categories
  Category	Explanation
  Officer	Personnel trainned for fleet command
  Fleet Commander	Highest ranked officer on a fleet
  CinC	Highest ranked fleet commander of all engaged fleets at the star
  Noncommissioned Officer (NCO)	Automatically assiged to new fleets. Their trait values become apparent over time. Their traits are non-functional while an NCO. They gain no experience. They provide no bonuses. They have no support costs. They cannot be transferred, only replaced by true officers. After combat, they may be given a "Battlefield Commission". This promotes the NCO to a true officer see here

  Officer Traits
  Trait values equal 100% when the indicator is all the way right
  Trait	Details	Derived From
  Rank / Experience	This trait affects CombatMod if the officer is a fleet commander. This trait affects CCR/CCS if the officer is CinC. For Combat Command Rating see CCR. Rank Modifiers Rank CombatMod CCR (adds to Leadership CCR) +2.5% 25 +5.0% 50 +7.5% 75 +10.0% 100 +20.0% 200 +30.0% 300 +40.0% 400 +50.0% 500 BaseMod for Fleet Applies only to fleet commanders. May substitute for the CombatMod, see below. FltCommMod > CinC BaseMod, use FltCommMod. FltCommMod < CinC BaseMod, use CinC BaseMod.	- Training - Experience
  Leadership	This trait applies only if the officer is the CinC. Affects CinC BaseMod (a substitute for CombatMod). Affects CCR/CCS (a modifer to CV of all fleets). For Combat Command Rating see CCR. CinC BaseMod BaseMod equals the leadership trait percent X the CinC CombatMod. Provides the minimum CombatMod for all fleets in the engagement : If a fleet commander CombatMod is lower than BaseMod, then BaseMod is used for that fleet. Leadership Modifiers Trait Value BaseMod CCR (adds to Rank CCR) 20% +0.2 X CinC CombatMod 100 40% +0.4 X CinC CombatMod 200 60% +0.6 X CinC CombatMod 300 80% +0.8 X CinC CombatMod 400 100% +1.0 X CinC CombatMod 500	Static attribute
  Strategy	Applies only if officer is Fleet Commander. Combat modifier for assigned fleet only. CinC does not affect this modifier. This mod equals 50% of trait value. ie; a trait of 60% = mod of +30%	Static attribute
  Charisma	Applies only if officer is CinC May help or hinder will to fight	Static attribute
  Aggressiveness	Applies only if officer is Fleet Commander. Random combat modifier for assigned fleet only. CinC does not affect this modifier. The higher the trait value the more random the modifier : Trait : 100% = Random modifier : -30% to +50% Trait : 50% = Random modifier : -15% to +25% Trait : 0 = No modifier	Static attribute

  Officer Combat Modifier = BaseMod X Strategy X Aggressiveness
  
  Example:

  • The CinC has leadership trait of 80% and rank of 1.4 = 1.12 This is the BaseMod
  • A fleet has a commander with rank of 1.1, so the BaseMod is used as it is higher.
  • The fleet commander strategy trait is .7, this is a mod of 1.14, so 1.14 X 1.12 = 1.2768
  • Say the random Aggressiveness result is 1.05, so 1.05 X 1.2768 = 1.34
  • 1.34 is the Officer Combat Modifier for that fleet.

  Officer Medals
  Medal	Name	Medal	Name
  	Liberator of Stars		Bombard Victory
  	Victory vs Realm		Blockade Enforcer
  	Defender		Victory vs Larger Force
  	Captor of Ships		Victory vs Raiders
  	Victory vs Multiple Realms		Victory vs Independent
  	Victory vs Rebels		Impounder
  	Attacker

Professors :

• A professor may be assigned as dean of an academy.
• A dean gains experience for each graduate at their academy.
• When a professor is on the starbase they may be moved or retired.
  If an academy is present and it would increase their rank, they may be enrolled for more training.

  Professor Traits
  Trait	Bonus / Effect	Derived From
  Rank	Increases experience of graduates	- Training - Experience
  Ability	Reduces time for training	Static attribute
  Leadership	Increases experience of graduates per level of academy No effect at level 1 academy	Static attribute
  Security	Reduces chance of successful missions by foreign agents. Missions affected : - All assault missions on professor. - View Students. - Student Unrest.	Static attribute

Scientists :

• Scientists may be assigned as director of a laboratory.
• A director gains experience for each technology breakthrough at their laboratory.

  Scientist Traits
  Trait	Bonus / Effect	Derived From
  Rank	Reduces time for a new discovery	- Training - Experience
  Ability	Reduces time for a new discovery	Static attribute
  Leadership	Research bonus per level of laboratory Reduces time for a new discovery No effect at level 1 laboratory	Static attribute
  Security	Reduces chance of successful missions by foreign agents. Missions affected : - All assault missions on scientist. - View Research. - View Tech Levels (Homeworld only).	Static attribute

Routes

  •  Hot key X




• Routes are a series of waypoints.
• A lord may create any number of routes.
• Lords cannot see each others routes.
• Lords may create, edit and delete routes from the route panel or via the fleet option on the fleet list.

  Route List Modes :

  • There are 2 modes to the route list, Display Local and Display All.
  • Display local will only show routes that have a waypoint at the selected star.
    Hint : If you lose your map position, switch to display local and the map will lock in place.

Uses :


As your realm grows, there will be more need to have fleets do repetative tasks.
Routes are a way of automating those tasks.
The following are some examples of useful routes :

Resource gathering :


• Have a fleet of freighters travel a route to resource producing stars.
• Automatically load resources at each star and have the route stop at a production star, where the resources are unloaded.
• As you add levels to the mines at these stars, you may add ships to the gather fleet so all the resources are moved.
• You would use a reversing or looping route for gathering.

Moving between your main stars :


• You will find your fleets travel between certain stars more frequently than others.
• Create a transit route between those stars, a few clicks and you can forget about the fleet until it arrives at its final destination.
• You do not need 2 routes (one for each direction) as you can order a fleet to travel in the reverse direction.

Build Supplies :


• Getting workers and nanobits to your build sites can become tiresome, unless automated.
• It is handy to have a central resource storage star.
• Create a temporary route from this star, load the required resources.
• Find a path to the build site and automatically unload the resources.
• Choose a "Return" route to have the freighters return to that central star.

Patrols :


• In order to easily police your access permissions, set up patrol routes along your borders.
• Have a fleet consisting of combat ships travel a route along a border.
• Somewhere along this route build a rec center and repair depot,
  Order the fleet to wait for repair at this waypoint.
• Use the wait for cycles option to pause the fleet at stars frequently infringed upon.
• You would use reversing or looping routes for patrols.
• Patrols are also good for keeping raiders away.

Route Styles :

Route Styles
Style	Details	Map Example
Temporary	One time use by a single fleet. The route is essentially a transit type route that will be used only once. Once all actions are performed at the destination, the route is deleted. You may not name these routes.
Return (Temporary)	One time use by a single fleet. The fleet travels to the destination, then once all actions are performed, returns to the origin . Once the fleet arrives back at the origin and all actions are performed, the route is deleted. You may not name these routes.
Link (Temporary)	Links to another route at the destination. The fleet travels to the destination, then once all actions are performed, joins another route. The temporary link route is deleted. You may not name temporary routes.
Link	Links to another route at the destination. The fleet travels to the destination, then once all actions are performed, joins another route.
Transit	The fleet quits the route once all actions are performed at the final destination. The route remains available for use even if there are no fleets using it. Fleets may travel in reverse direction on a transit route, in this case the fleet will quit the route at the first waypoint (in the route)
Reversing	Once all actions are performed at the end waypoint, the fleet will reverse direction and travel back to the first waypoint. When the fleet returns to the first waypoint, it performs actions there then reverses again to travel towards the end waypoint. A fleet on a reversing route travels the route indefinitely, you must order it to quit from the fleets list.
Looping	The last waypoint must be in range of the first. Once all actions are performed at the last waypoint, the fleet will jump to the first waypoint and repeat the sequence. Fleets may travel in either direction along a looping route. A fleet on a looping route travels the route indefinitely, you must order it to quit from the fleets list.

Route Colours :

Route Colours
Explanation	Map Example
Normal route lane, access permitted.
Jumpgate connected lane, access permitted.
Access unknown.
Out of range.
Blockaded. Or Raiders present.
Access denied. Or at war. Or route error.

Route Types :



Route types are only used to identify the purpose of the route.

Route Types
Icon	Purpose	Icon	Purpose
	Transit		Patrol
	Gather		Attack
	Trade		Reinforce
	Construction		Recon
	R & R		Scout
	Supply		Special

Waypoints :



• Waypoints are designated stars.
• Each waypoint must be in jump range of the next waypoint in the route sequence.
• Each waypoint may have Ship Assignments.
• Each waypoint may have Cargo Transfers.
• Each waypoint may have Actions.
• The last action for a waypoint is always a jump to the next waypoint.
  The exception is the end waypoint in the route.
  The last action for this waypoint is determined by the route style.
• If a star occurs more than once in the route, the first occurance will be the beginning waypoint
  (When a fleet joins the route at that star)

  Ship Assignments :

  • These are changes to the interstellar ships on the fleet and base.
  • System ships are treated as cargo, see Cargo Transfers.
  • Ships leave a fleet when it arrives at a waypoint.
  • Ships join a fleet just before it leaves a waypoint.
  • Ship assignments are done before cargo transfers, so any change in cargo space will affect cargo transfers.
  • If there are multiple groups of the same design, they will be assigned in the following order :
    Jump charge, effectiveness, experience, morale and quantity (all by descending values).
  • To decide which assignment type to use, ask yourself do you want to prioritise the amount on the fleet or base, or do you want want to move a specific amount from one to the other?

    Ship Assignment Options
    Type	Result
    Pickup All	All of the design on the base is added to the fleet. Default
    Drop All	All of the design on the fleet is placed on the base.
    Fleet Amount	Fleet priority : The specified amount is the preferred amount on the fleet. An amount is added to or removed from the base, to meet the fleet amount. A wait option is available.
    Base Amount	Base priority : The specified amount is the preferred amount on the base. An amount is added to or removed from the fleet, to meet the base amount. No wait option available.
    Set Amount	A specific amount is added to or removed from the fleet. No wait option available.
    Stop Transfer	Remove design from the job list.

  Cargo Transfers :

  • These are transfers of cargo between the fleet on the route and the base at the waypoint star.
  • The base may be one of the following :
    • The starbase if at a domestic star.
    • The market storage if at a council seat star.
    • The territorial base if at a domestic territory.
  • Transfers are limited to the cargo space available on the fleet.
  • Transfers are done in order of the transfer list job panels.
  • Transfer job panels may be reordered by dragging and dropping the panel.
    
    In the example on the right :
    Say there was 1K cargo space on the fleet and 5K Artium and 100 Luxuries on the base. The current order would cause the fleet to fill with Artium with no room for Luxuries. If you drag and drop the Luxury panel above the Artium, then the fleet would load the 100 Luxuries, then 900 Artium.
    In other words, ensure your priority loads are above others.
    Or use percentage loading to ensure a load of several items.
    
    
  • As system ships are treated as cargo, the are transferred the same as cargo. The difference is, Strikecraft may be loaded onto carriers.
  • Unloading is done when a fleet arrives at a waypoint.
  • Loading is done when a fleet leaves a waypoint.
  • To add an item to the transfer list select from the asset class buttons.
  • While adding items, hold the Ctrl key down to select multiple items.
  • A wait option may be available. This will cause the fleet to wait until the specified load is attained.

    Waypoint Transfer Options
    Type	Result
    All Resources, Modules and Components
    Load All Cargo	All cargo is loaded onto the fleet. Does not load any ships of any kind.
    Unload All Cargo	All cargo is unloaded from the fleet. Does not unload any ships of any kind. Does not unload any officials.
    Unload All and Return	All are unloaded from the fleet. Does not unload any ships. Does not unload any officials. Fleet returns to origin.
    Specific Assets
    Load All	All of the item is loaded onto the fleet. Default
    Unload All	All of the item is unloaded from the fleet.
    Fleet Percent	Load a percent of the fleet cargo space with the item. A wait option is available.
    Fleet Amount	Load up to the amount specified onto the fleet. A wait option is available.
    Base Amount	Load all of the item except the amount specified. Or an amount is unloaded so the specified amount is on the base. No wait option available.
    Stop Transfer	Removes the transfer from the job list.

  Waypoint Actions & Status :

  Waypoint Actions
  Wait for Jump	Ship engines are charging. The fleet will jump when all ships are fully charged.
  Waiting at Jumpgate	Ship engines are charging. Jumping from a jumpgate. Fleet will jump when all ships have a minimum 10% charge.
  Wait for Ships	Not Implemented Can be set for each interstellar ship type. The fleet will wait until the ship count is reached.
  Wait for Cargo	Can be set for each resource type and each system ship type. The fleet will wait until the cargo load is reached.
  Wait for Repair	Only possible at domestic stars with a repair depot. A fleet will not continue along the route until it has reached 0% damage.
  Wait for Morale	Only possible at domestic stars with a rec center. A fleet will not continue along the route until morale has reached 100%
  Wait for Training	Only possible at domestic stars with an academy. A fleet will not continue along the route until it has reached the maximum training level.
  Charging, to Trade	Ship engines are charging. When charged the fleet will wait to trade.
  Wait for Trade	The fleet will wait until a trade is confirmed. NOTE: you must do all trades with this fleet in one transaction, as when you click the confrim button, the fleet will immediately jump to the next waypoint.
  Wait for Transfer	The fleet will wait until a transfer is confirmed. NOTE: you must do all transfers with this fleet in one transaction, as when you click the confrim button, the fleet will immediately jump to the next waypoint.
  Wait for Cycles	The fleet will wait for a specific number of cycles before continuing along the route. The fleet will jump just after the cycle end of the last cycle.
  Wait for Hours	The fleet will wait for a specific number of hours before continuing along the route. This period will include any charge time. ie; A wait of 1 hour will have no effect if the fleet needs 10 hours to recharge. A 2 hour wait will prevent a fleet from jumping via jumpgates for 2 hours (instead of one).
  Change Orders	The fleet will change orders after arrival (not during arrival).
  Recon Toggle	The fleet will move to recon or drop from recon to a Patrol type. If no orders option specified, will default to Probe. Has no effect on non-recon fleets (no error is reported).
  Export Luxuries	Only available at foreign realm stars. Will export an amount to cover the demand at the star. You may set a minimum export value on the domain configuration page. This will prevent export of luxuries below a minimum value. You will receive an advisory when this happens.
  Unload Supplies	Empty all supply holds on the fleet, except from ships with strikecraft bays. The contents will be transferred to other ships at the star. Supply storage will be topped up first. (resupply all ships) Remaining supplies will be placed in supply holds. (top-up supply ships)
  Waiting to Load	Ship engines are charging. The fleet will load just before jumping.
  Advise on Arrival	A message will be sent to the advisor channel on arrival at the star. This may be set for each waypoint. May also be set for the destination on a transit route, which may be the first or last waypoint depending on direction of travel.
  Retreat on Arrival	The fleet will automatically retreat on arrival at the star. Use this so the fleet cannot be attacked while it charges. The next waypoint must allow access or the fleet will not jump.
  Retreating	The fleet is retreating, but access is denied at the next waypoint. Jump the fleet to a star where access is permitted. See retreating while on route
  Waiting for linked fleets to charge	The fleet will jump once all linked fleets are charged.

  Options at Destination only applies to transit & temporary routes
  	Advise when Charged	A message will be sent to the advisor channel when the fleet is fully charged. This will be automatically set on for fleets with the same option enabled.
  	Advise on Arrival	A message will be sent to the advisor channel when the fleet gets to the destination. This will be automatically set on for fleets with the same option enabled.
  	Merge with Starbase	All ships and cargo on the fleet will be placed on the starbase. Only valid at domestic stars. If a return route style, the merge will happen on return to origin.

Route Path Lockout:

• This option is found at the top of the route page for every star, when not in route edit mode.
• Setting this option prevents the star from being added to :
  • Paths created using the "Find Path" button on a new route.
  • Paths used by DS shipments.
  • Paths used by UTS shipments.
  • Paths used by Diplomatic shipments.
• Lock out stars before creating a route.
• Setting stays in place for each star until un-set.
• Even while set, you may still manually select a star that is "locked" when creating a route.
• Does not affect existing DS routes.
• Does not affect existing non-diplomatic UTS routes.
• This will affect trade agreement shipments and diplomatic UTS shipments.
  These are changed perodically to reflect changes within the opposite realm.
• May cause "No Path Found" errors, if you lock out too many stars.
• May cause diplomatic UTS shipments to fail if a path cannot be found.

Retreating while on route :

• Retreat on routes is the same as normal retreat.
• If access is denied at the next waypoint the fleet does not jump.
• Privateer will be refused access at most stars, so will be prevented from retreating.
  The fleet may have to change to a type other than privateer to retreat.
• Routes may be created to access denied stars, but retreating fleets will not jump to them.