Frequently Asked Questions

• Why does my ship keep getting destroyed?
  Once your rookie shield runs out, you'll need to keep you ship docked at a powerful player's starbase between turns, so that you will be protected. Of course, if the player who owns the starbase attacks you, or has an arms embargo against you, you won't be protected, so you'll need to pick another protector. Eventually, you'll be able to build your ship's military strength so that you won't need anyone else's protection.
  
  
• How does Fuel Work?
  • Your ship needs fuel in order to move, and to perform certain other actions such as docking at a starport or invading a planet.
  • Your ship generates new fuel every hour. The amount of fuel generated depends on the ship's ratio of engines to other components. Add engines to your ship, and it will generate fuel faster. Add other components to your ship, and it will generate fuel more slowly.
  • Your ship can only store 24 hours worth of generated fuel. In other words, if you are away from the game for more than 24 hours, your ship will not continue to generate additional fuel.
  
  
• How do mergers work?
  
  • First, read the Rules concerning mergers.
  • The number of shares that you receive is based on the relative value of the two companies' assets. Value is determined by average daily trade of ships and planets.
  • After the merger, the percent of the merged company's shares that you own determines the percent of the profits you recieve. If you own 60% of the company, you only receive 60% of your own profits, but also receive 60% of the other captains' profits.
  • Your percent ownership doesn't change after the merger. If you don't think the rest of the company will grow as fast as you will, don't accept the merger. You will have the opportunity to buy yourself out later, but share repurchases may cost you a lot of money.
  • Be careful merging with brand new companies. Their small revenues and short histories make for wildly fluctuating valuations.
  
  
• Why can't I print these pages?
  If you are using Internet Explorer, you won't experience this problem. If you are using Netscape, this problem is happening because these pages use white text on a black background. To fix the problem, select the menu bar choices: File | Page Setup | then check the box which says "black text".
  
  
• Why are Homeworlds the only source of colonists? Colonists are leaving the crowded homeworlds ("Exodus") for the chance to become landowners somewhere else. Once they have new homes, they are not interested in being uprooted and transported to another planet of the captain's choice. Players don't "own" the colonists, but carry them as paying passengers.
  
  
• Why don't Colonists Reproduce?
  
  • Human colonists are required to be sterilized as a condition of their emigration
  • Bug colonists cannot reproduce without a queen
  • Robot colonists have any knowledge of microprocessor design erased from their memories
  • Old Ones have very long lifespans. They do not reproduce in numbers that are perceptible to the other races.