Frequently Asked Questions

 

This document is to help answer game questions you may have.  This may also help you understand how some game mechanics work.

 

1)      What is a Turn?

a.      A turn is a segment of game time.  Really a turn is sort of like an action, it represents something you can accomplish.  You spend turns and accomplish building, exploring or fighting.  Sometimes a turn can do quite a bit.  For instance – you may be able to construct 40 fighters ships in 1 turn, so for each turn spent building ships you would make 40 of them.  The game is played by using “Blocks” of turns.  A block is just a set of 50 turns.  Each week you will be allotted a specific number of turns and you can spend them in what is called a “Submission” 

2)      What is a submission?

a.      A submission is a form you send me that tells me what you are using turns for that day.  You can submit up to 3 submissions each day. 

3)      What if I don’t use all my turns for the week?

a.      If you do not finish using all your turns for the week, then on Sunday your remaining turns are used as “Non-action” turns.  You will still gain money and population and pay upkeeps for them but nothing else will be accomplished.

4)      How long does this game take to play?

a.      Again, the game is like many strategy games,  it will take a little time to set up and then the play will be faster.  Like any new game,  the hardest part is learning how to play.  Once you become familiar with how it runs, the time spent is nothing more than sitting down and reading a little email and then writing instructions on how you want to spend turns.  I would say that an hour or so a week would be average – but there is not a set time, you could spend all of your turns for a week in a single sitting and only take you about 25-30 minutes total. 

5)      What if I can’t check my email every day?

a.      That’s not a problem.  Every day you are allotted a certain number of turns.  These turns accumulate over the week so whenever you do check your email you will just have more turns to use.  In some ways, saving turns is a good idea – it allows you to accomplish more in a single email.  I will not allot turns on weekends so those can be good days to catch up on the turns you have saved during the week.

6)      How do I fight my opponents?

a.      Battles in this game are automated.  All you really have to do is set up your fleet and send it in to battle.  You will provide some basic instructions on your intent (which will be explained as we play) and then I will calculate your battle and send you the results.

7)      What if I am attacked – I cant always be around email to see.

a.      When you are attacked you will get an email from me that tells you what happened.  Your troops will defend as well as they can (because you will have set up defenses already) When you do check your mail you will then decide what actions to take to respond to any attacks that have happened while you were gone.

8)      How do I gain money and energy?

a.      This is based on the size of your population and the number of energy plants you have made.  Every turn that is spent automatically generates money and energy – so you don’t have to worry about gathering it.  If you spend 10 turns building cities and space ships – you will gain 10 turns worth of money and energy as well.

9)      How does ship building work?

a.      Every player will have custom ships for their empire.  You are allotted building points and you will use them to set up the ships power and defenses. 

10)  What is the Attack Force of a weapon?

a.      Weapons have a stat called attack force that represents their “accuracy” at penetrating shields.  A weapon with an attack force of 1-5 (1d5) will generate a number between 1 and 5.  If it is going up against a shield that is level 4, then it will have to roll a 5 to penetrate it.  IF you can’t penetrate an enemy shield – then you will not be able to damage their ships.  If this is the case – then you will need to increase your weapon power.

11)  How do I improve my ships and weapons?

a.      Everything can be improved by spending turns to research new technologies.  In the emails you receive from me you will have a list of all the technologies you have and a list of what you can research.  For example: you start the game with level 1 Lasers, and so on your “able to research list” you will see “LEVEL 2 LASERS”. 

12)  So I research Level 2 lasers – how do I use them?

a.      Most every technology is implemented right when it is researched. (With a few exceptions) this means that when you get level 2 lasers, every ship you have is upgraded to level 2 lasers.  There are many technologies that can be increased, and usually each one will affect your whole empore.

13)  So if I research level 2 Fighter ships, all of my level 1 fighters become level 2?

a.      In the case of space ships, no.  Ship levels are not the same as other technologies.  You can make level 1 fighters as often as you want.  You can make level 2 fighters once the technology is researched, meaning you can have both types of ships in our fleets.  Ship level and weapon level are 2 different things.  (Level 2 lasers would be placed on all of your ships regardless of the ship level). 

14)  So what improves on a level 2 fighter from a level 1?

a.      Level 2 fighters will have more build points so they can have stronger Hull armor and Attack power.  They will also get a higher attack frequency – meaning they will attack more often in battles.

15)  So a weapon level does not affect its damage?

a.      Correct – weapon levels are not related to the damage they do.  The only thing weapon level does is allow you to penetrate enemy shields easier so you can deal your ships damage.  So a level 2 laser will have a stronger force – meaning it has a better chance to penetrate a higher shield level. 

16)  What is Upkeep and Build costs?

a.      A ship or ground unit has a cost to build and a cost to maintain.  The build cost is only paid when the ship is made.  This cost is usually very expensive.  After that, every turn that is spent you must pay the smaller upkeep cost.  Upkeeps will be grouped together and you will be given a status of how much you are bringing in vs. how much you are paying out.  If the number is positive – you are going to still be gaining money and energy.  If your upkeep totals are more than your income you will eventually run out of money and/or energy.  So you will need to expand your population and energy plants to keep from going bankrupt.

17)  What if I go bankrupt?

a.      Once you run out of money – you must decommission ships and disband troops until your cash and energy flow is positive again.  Decommissioned ships cannot be used until you have money to support them again. Start up for a decommissioned ship is ½ of its build costs.  You will be given a notice if you are in danger of running out of money. (but it can happen fast if you plan poorly)

18)  What is the website I have heard about?

a.      The website will contain information about the game.  There is also a black market in the game and things you want to sell will be posted on the site for all civilizations to see and buy.  There will be several features on the site that are not decided yet – so as things come available you will get them.  Your emails from me will contain a link to the site.

19)  How long will this game take?

a.      The game is designed to just be fun to play.  We will play until there is a decided winner or until we decide that we are bored of it. (which hopefully wont happen)  I have set the game up so that it can be played over a long span of time before everyone is maxed out on their power.  It is a game like Risk or Axis & Allies – in that you are trying to take over as much as you can – eradicate the enemy and win the quadrant.

20)  What if I want to quit?

a.      I would hope that it remains fun and you would not want to quit – but if you just don’t have the time to play, then you can just raise the white flag and leave the galaxy.  Remember that you can play every day – or once a week and it will be the same because everyone gets the same amount of turns.  The disadvantage to playing only once a week is you may not know about any attacks that have happened until you check your mail.