Interstellar Empires
Your conflicts with other Star Lords take place on a 2-D map that represents a Star Cluster, or Galaxy. The size of the map is (typically) a 100x100 grid, although this can be changed depending on the Scenario being played. Only one object (StarSystem, StarShip, Wormhole) can occupy a space on the map at any one time. This introduces opportunities to blockade and set up defensive barriers.
The interstellar arena is occupied by the following items of interest:
StarSystems
As a Star Lord, your goal is to eliminate your opponents, and to achieve that end you will need to conquer StarSystems. StarSystems give you the Resources needed to build up your fleets, expand your empire, and ultimately conquer the StarSystem Capitals of your enemy Star Lords. If your Capital StarSystem is captured, you are eliminated from the game. You can identify a capital by the diamond surrounding it.
StarShips
You will use StarShips to conquer StarSystems, fend off enemy assaults, and conduct your own offensive operations. There are many types of StarShips to choose from, but at the beginning of each game you must select the six StarShip types that you can build during the game. When you conquer an enemy Star Lord, you learn how to build the StarShip types that they selected. Also, certain StarSystem have bonuses that give you the ability to build new StarShips.
The blue mass along the left of this image is a nebula. Depending on the Scenario used, there will be nebulae of various sized distributed throughout the playing area. When a StarShip is within a nebula, its Scanners (if it has any) become non-operational. Additionally, ships in nebula cannot be detected by enemy Scanners.
Wormholes are rifts in space-time that connect two distant points in interstellar space. When a StarShip moves onto a Wormhole, it reappears at the Wormhole's destination, which can be anywhere on the map.
Black
Holes
Black Holes exert a gravitational pull on all StarShips in their range. Ships pulled into Black Holes are destroyed. You will not see a Black Hole until one of your StarShips is pulled into it. The closer a StarShip is to a Black Hole, the more difficult it will be to break away from its pull, although a StarShip's Engine rating does influence this chance.
Pulsars
Pulsars are high energy imploded stars that spin rapidly and emit large amounts of energy. StarShips can harness this energy to charge their internal systems. Any damaged StarShip that moves next to a Pulsar has all its damage immediately repaired.
Strategic
View
When playing a game, you will see the Strategic View in the lower right corner of the command interface. This provides an overview of the entire map, and allows you to scroll to areas in the map by clicking and dragging within it.
