Research projects allow an empire to unlock new technologies and maintain an advantage over rivals. There are three branches of research: Military, Economy, and Science. A home planet is the core of an empire and losing it will make the population very unhappy, potentially leading to unrest and rebellion. A planet's stats like population and resources directly influence its industrial output and ability to support inhabitants. Stationed units can be moved from a colony by selecting their icon and right clicking where to move them.

1. Tutorial Research:
Do youwant to choose a research -> Do youwant to choose a research project.
Researchisa vital componentof yourempire asit allowsyoutounlocknew technologiesthatwill be
vital inmaintaininganadvantage overyourrivals.To researcha project,simplychoose one fromthe
available categories.Youcanonlyresearchone projectat a time,sochoose wisely.ResearchProjects
are dividedintothree branches:Military,Economy,andScience.The militarybranchfocuseson
researchingnewtechnologythatwill improve yourweapons,defense andarmypotential.Economywill
focuson expandingyourindustrial capacity,allowyoutotrade withotherempiresandimprove your
diplomaticacumen.The science branchwillimproveyourresearchabilitiesandabilitytokeepyour
citizenshappy.
Tutorial:PlanetInfo
Thisis yourhome planet,notedbythe crownicon,it isthe core of yourempire andlosingitwill resultin
your populationbecomingveryunhappy.If aplanet’spopulationisunhappyenoughitwill resultin
widespreadunrestwhichwillslashthe planet’sindustrial capacitybyhalf,andif the situationisn’t
containedthe populationmayrebelagainstyourrule.
In the panel belowyou’ll see anumberof importantstatsaboutyourplanet:population,resources,
livingconditionsandplanettype.Yourpopulationrepresentsyouravailableworkforce andthushasa
directinfluenceoverthe maximumindustrial outputof aplanet.The biggerthe planet,the more
populationitcansustain.
Livingconditionsindicate howinherentlylivable the planetis,rangingfromEden-likegardenworldsto
barelylivable hunksof ice.Betterlivingconditionsresultinahappierpopulation.Atthe startof the
game you can onlycolonize planetswithGoodlivingconditionsorabove,butyoucan colonize other
worldsonce youresearchthe appropriate technology.
The stationedunitspanel tothe rightshowsthe shipsandarmiescurrentlystationedatyourcolony.To
launchthose unitsintospace simplyselect itsiconandright clickwhere youwantto move it.Be careful
to leave atleastone unitstationedtomake sure yourcolonyis defended(indicatedbythe blue shield
colony) orhostile raceswill be able toseize the planetwithoutfiringashot!
Tutorial:Exploring
Anysysteminwhichyouhave a colonyautomaticallycountsasa refuelingpointandallowsyourshipsto
move witha 100AU radiusof that system.Youcan expandthisradiusbyresearchingthe appropriate
technologies.

2. Tutorial:InvasionandArmies
A planetaryinvasionisamassive undertakingandrequiresashipwithanarmy module.Thismodule
makesitpossible totransportan army,and all itslogistical support,toanenemyworldandattemptan
invasion.Toinvade aplanetsimplymove yourarmyshiptothe target planet,asyouwoulddowithany
normal ship.
Your empire hasan army ratingrepresentinghow well equipped,trainedandsuppliedyourarmyis.The
betteryourarmy rating,the betteryourchances are of successfullyinvadingaplanet.Once youhave
conqueredaplanetyouwill have the optiontoraze the planet,includingall buildingsanditsentire
population,oroccupythe planetinstead,leavingeverythingintact.Be aware thata conquered
populationwilltake some time toabide yourrule,leavingitatriskfor unrestor evenopenrevolt.
Tutorial:ColonyManagement
In thisscreenyou’re able tocheckall the detailsof yourcolonyand,buildships,armiesandbuildings.To
see more infooneach parameter,justhoveryourmouse overitand a tool tip withmore detailed
informationonitwill appear.
Tutorial:Industry
Buildingfactoriesandotherindustrial buildingsiscrucial to maintainingyourempire.The betteryour
industrial output,the fasteryourplanetswill producebuildings,unitsandships.Yourrace’sworkrate
dictatesyourstartingindustrial capacity,butthiscanbe improvedwithtechnologyandbyhavingmore
worldsproducingindustry.Be aware,however,thatthe more planetsyouown,the more industrial
outputisneededtosupplythemall.
Anotherimportantaspectof yourplanetstobe aware of isitsExploitationlevel.The more resources
your planethas,the more factoriesyoucan buildtoexploitthose resourceswithoutoverexploiting
them.To checkyour exploitationlevelshoverthe cursoroverthe resourcespanel.
Tutorial:Population
Your populationisthe heartandsoul of yourempire,like itornot,so disregardingtheirneedsisnot
recommended.The happieryourpopulationisthe highertheirreproductionrate increases,which
meansmore people payingtaxesandfuelingyourempire’sexpansion.Goodlivingconditions,namely
planetswithwarmclimates,mediumgravityandveryhighsoil fertilityall contributetothe healthrate
and growthof the population.

3. Low happinesswill cause yourpopulationtoprotestyourrule,causingriotsandworkstoppages,
drasticallydecreasingyourplanet’sresearchandproductionrate aswell asincreasingthe crime rate
and chancesof an armedrebelliontakingcontrol of the planet.
Tutorial:ColonyManagement
To builda structure simplyclickonthe one youwant andclick build,orjustdouble-clickthe name of the
building.Youcanalsodestroybuildingsyounolongerneed.
Tutorial:GalaxyMap
Thisis a map of the entire galaxyshowingyouthe locationof starsystemsandwho,if anybody,controls
those systems.Youcan move toa specificsystembydouble-clickingonit.
Tutorial:Espionage
Thisis the espionage screenwhere youcanrecruit spies,assignthemamissionordisbandthem.Once
youhire a newagentyou’ll be able tosee hisstats:evasion,toughness,sabotage,andintel.Evasion
dictateshoweasilyhe canescape if he’sdiscoveredorcaptured;the agent’sToughnessindicateshow
resistanthe isto interrogation(howlonghe canholdoutbefore revealinghisemployer);the Intel trait
showsyouhowwell he will performinintelligence gatheringoperationsandsabotage showsyouhow
successful hissabotage attemptswill be.
By defaultall spieswill be assignedtocounter-intelligenceoperationsuntilorderedotherwise byclicking
on themandselectingthe “AssignMission”button.
Tutorial:Diplomacy1
In thisscreenyoucan see all the otherempiresyou’ve encounteredsofar, aswell asany pirate clans.
Each empire youencounterwill formanopinionof youbasedonyourgovernmenttype comparedto
theirs,yourmilitarystrength,andvariousotherfactors.Thisopinionwillchange basedonyour
reputation,whichisdeterminedby youractions.
DeclaringwarwithouthavingaCassus Belli (goodcause) againstyourenemymightbe agreat wayof
launchingasneakattack, but itwill make all the otherempiressuspiciousof yourempire andlesslikely
to trust you. Havingspiescaught in an ally’sterritoryandhavingthemconfessyourinvolvementwill
alsoharm your reputation,aswill failingtohonorthe termsof an alliance.

4. Converselyyoucangaina goodreputationbydestroyingPirate Clansorhonoringanalliance.Having
similargovernmenttypeswill alsoimprove yourreputationwithanEmpire.If youhave a democratic,
federal orutopicgovernmentyou’ll have aneasiertime negotiatingwithotherempireswiththose
governments.DictatorshipandDystopicgovernmentswilllikeyoubetterif youhave asimilar
governmenttype.
Tutorial:Empire Management
In thismenuyoucan take a deeperlookatyourempire’sfinances,checkonyourgeneralsandministers,
adjusttaxes, aswell aschange your domesticpoliciesordeliveraspeech.Settingyourtaxestonone will
meanyouwon’treceive anyincome fromtaxesbutyourpopulationwilltrustyourgovernmentmore.
Colonymanagementcostsare influencedbyhow goodthe planet’slivingconditionsare,butthese can
increase dependingon factorslike offeringfree healthcare or runningpropagandacampaignsonyour
planets.
Tutorials:Speeches
Deliveringaspeechcanturn the tide of a game,butfor that youneeda significantamountof glory
points.These are earnedbyfinishingresearchonatechnology,winningbattles,conqueringaplanetor
findingancientartifacts.
Tutorial:Trading
Nowthat youcan buildfreightersyoucanbegintradingwithotherempires,pirate clansorminorraces,
so longas theydon’thave an embargoon you.To seta trade route simplymove the shiptothe planet
youwant to trade withand once it arrivesinorbita new trade route will be created.The more resources
the planetholds,the more profitablethe trade route will be.Tradingisatwo waystreet of course,so
bothyou and yourempire profitfromthe trade route.You can use thisto youradvantage bymaking
empire’sdependantonyourtrade or simplyhavingthemlike youmore forbringingthemwealth.
Tutorial:Generals
Generalsare unique units thatwill level upandbecome increasinglypowerfulovertheircareer,giving
morale bonusestoallieswhenincombat(the bonusesare tiedtohow highthe general’scharismalevel
is.) Generalswill increase inlevelandabilityasthe winbattlesforyourempire.

5. Tutorial:Pirate
For piratesthe vastnessof space providesthe perfectenvironment,lurkinginthe darkvoidandwaiting
for helplesspreytocome withinreach.Youare no mere merchantvessel,however,andyourempire has
sufficientpowerand resourcestonegotiate withthe variousPirate Clanspresentthroughoutthe galaxy.
A goodrelationshipwithapirate clanmeanstheycan be usedto performraidsagainstenemyempires,
allowingyoutowage a proxywar againstyourneighbor.Ortheycan alsolendyoumoneyif the need
arises,justbeware those interestrates…
If a Pirate Clandislikesyouoryourefuse topay their“protectionfee”theywill targetyourcolonies,
causingas much mayhemanddamage as possible.Carefullymanage yourrelationswiththese
interstellarrogues…
Tutorial:Space Debris
Space is vast,but notso emptyas one mightimagine.Onoccasionyou’ll finddebrisinspace thatcan be
investigatedbymovingyourvessel toitslocation.Youmightdiscoveranancientrelicthatwill aidyour
struggle,valuableobjectsthatwill addtoyourtreasury,or youmightfinda uselesshunkof rockwithno
value at all. The onlywayto findoutis to investigate…
Tutorial:ShipDesign
Thisis the ShipDesignmenu,where youcanbrowse throughexistingshipdesigns,markolddesignsas
obsolete orcreate newdesignsto suityourneeds.Obsolete designswillnolongershow upinthe
planetarybuildlist,butyoucanremove themfromthe obsolete listif youhave needof themagain.
There are fourshipchassisto choose from:Light,Medium, HeavyandCapital.Lightships have a+5
bonusto theirmovementpoints,makingthemwell suitedforexplorationandrecon.Mediumshipsare
ideal lightfightersandthe heavyshipswill make upyourfrontline forces,abletobothdishoutand
sustainheavydamage.
Thisis the componentsMenuwhere youcanchoose whatsystemsyouwantinstalledonyourship.Each
componenthasa weightanda cost, and eachshipchassishas a weightlimit.Eachnew componentwill
add to the ship’stotal costwhenbuildingit,somake sure tobalance ship performance againstyour
economicpower.Youhave the optiontomake shipswithoutarmor,weaponsorany modulesatall but
all shipswill require anengine.Afterall,ashipjustfloatingthroughthe depthsof space won’tdoyou
much good!
In combatthe total damage inflictedbyashipwill be reducedbythe target’sBase Armorratingso it’s
generallyawise ideatohave yourfrontline warshipswell armored.

6. There are twoweapontypes:BeamandMissiles.Beamshave ashortereffective range butawider firing
arc, while Missileshave alongerrange buta smallerfiringarcandalsohave a minimumrange (meaning
youcan’t fire if the enemygetstooclose!)
Tutorial:Morale
No EditingNecessary