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== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
Little experience in [[Planetarion]]? You've come to the right place.
Browse around before the beginning of the round to gain an advantage about the inner workings of the game.
=== A Relaxing Browser Game For The Whole Family ===
In [[Planetarion]] you compete with thousands of other players over a 2 month period of non-stop gaming. Activity, skill, endurance and a solid [[alliance]] are the building blocks of a winner in this game. Use of [[IRC]], while not required to play the game, is extremely important to communicate between other players and to succeed in the game.
At the beginning you construct [[structures]] and initiate [[asteroids]]. You will gain resources by mining these asteroids. With these [[resource|resources]] you are able to construct 6 different [[Ship_Class|classes of ship]]. Two classes are capable of [[Pods|stealing asteroids]] from enemy planets while another is capable of bombarding enemy planets ruthlessly destroying their [[structure]]s.
There are 5 [[race]]s to choose from, and each is equipped with unique ships.
Planets are ranked by their [[score]]. The planet with the highest score wins the game.
   
   
This manual is aimed at those who have little or no experience with [[Planetarion]] and its features. Each section is meant as a stand-alone section, but it's probably a good idea (if you haven't played before) to read at least some of it (such as those sections on your planet and the basics behind the game) before the game starts, or in the very early stages of the game, to gain an advantage and more knowledge about how the game works.
Each planet (including your own!) is grouped into [[galaxy|galaxies]]. Planetarion is a turn-based game with turns being called a [[tick]]. In standard rounds, there is one hour between ticks.


== Why play Planetarion? ==
Rounds are generally announced 2-3 weeks before the ticks (turns) start. Around a week before a round starts, signups are opened allowing everyone to register their very own planet. When the game starts,  everyone is placed in [[Protection|protection mode]] and temporarily grouped into large galaxies. At tick 12, planets are "[[shuffle|shuffled]]" and placed into their true starting galaxy using a highly intelligent AI. You can form [[buddy pack]]s with friends, which can contain up to 3 people, which will allow you to play in the same galaxy throughout the round.


=== The First 72 Hours: Under Protection ===


The basic idea behind [[Planetarion]] is to compete with up to 4000 other players over 10 weeks of non stop ticks to be the best. Activity, skill, dedication and teamplay are all huge factors, with an element of luck. Every person plays one planet, and with the help of his or her friends, alliance and galaxy plays to win, or to at least have fun.  
During the first 72 [[tick]]s of the game your planet is under [[protection]]. During this time, get used to the game, and as often as possible visit the mining page to initiate asteroids, the research page to start new researches and the construction page to start new constructions.


When you start with your planet, you create mines and initiate [[asteroids]] that orbit your planet to gain resources. With these [[resource|resources]], you can construct 6 different [[Ship_Class|classes of ship]], two of which are capable of [[Pods|stealing asteroids]] from enemy planets, and one of which is capable of bombarding enemy planets to ruthlessly crush their structures to dirt. There's 4 races to choose from, with 12 unique ships in each race.  
It is recommended to have some ships built by [[tick]] 82, as that is when the first attacks will be able to reach your planet. In the beginning of the game it is nearly impossible to stop attacks on your planet. As such, it is preferable to build mainly [[Pods#Astropod|pods]] and send them out to attack others.


Each planet is judged by their [[score]] - a combination of your current planet networth, and the experience you've gained in battle. The person with the highest score wins. Sounds simple? While you can attack hostile planets to steal their asteroids for your own personal gain, others can defend them. Sounding more complicated yet? People are grouped into galaxies and alliances, to attack and defend together. Could you repel 20 hostile attack fleets on your galaxy with no one else around at 2am? Could you lead an alliance into battle, or negotiate a peace treaty afterwards? Organise yourself and others to destroy a common enemy? Or even just play with friends and meet new people as a small group of planets answerable to no one? Can you handle the responsibility of a Planetarion planet?
== Alliance: 1st line of support ==


== How does Planetarion work? ==
Beside galaxies, your main line of defence is [[alliance|alliances]]. Alliances are groups of players that agree to defend and perform coordinated attacks together.


As said before, every person has a planet. These planets are grouped into [[galaxy|galaxies]] (more on this later). Planetarion is a turn-based game that anyone with a web browser can play. Each turn is called a [[tick]], and is 1 hour long in a normal round (there's fast rounds, called ''speed rounds'', where ticks are generally between 1 and 5 minutes).
Super excited to see more of this kind of stuff onilne.


The standard procedure is for a round to be announced with 2-3 weeks until the turns (or [[tick]]s) actually start. Signups are then opened on the main server, so that people can get their accounts, galaxies and alliances sorted out before the game begins. When the game begins everyone is in [[Protection|protection mode]] and so cannot attack each other. During the first 36 ticks (1 1/2 days) of the game, people are placed in big galaxies with "mentors" incase people in the galaxy need help. At tick 36, people are broken up and placed randomly in lots of smaller galaxies. If you're free you are placed randomly, but if you pay you can form "buddy packs" with one or two friends. More information about your planet is [[New_Player_Manual:Planet|here]].
=== How Do I Get An Alliance? ===


== Galaxies ==
Most alliances require [[IRC|IRC]] activity. The established alliances require vouches (people already in the alliance knowing you and saying you're a good player), but many just interview and require a minimum activity time.  New players should look in the [http://pirate.planetarion.com/forumdisplay.php?f=37 Alliance Recruitment Forum] in particular the Alliance Overview at the top.


The advantages of being in the same [[galaxy]] are that it's quicker to send your ships to defend each other, and you can see when another planet is being attacked (with pay accounts you can also see where everyone else is attacking and defending). More on galaxies [[New_Player_Manual:Galaxy|here]].
== Combat ==


== Alliances ==
This is a space war game in which [[combat]] is an important part.


Thohugt it wouldn't to give it a shot. I was right.


Along with galaxies, your other main line of defence is [[alliance|alliances]]. Alliances are groups of people that agree to send each other ships when others are attacked, and attack together to make it more difficult for others to defend. More information is available [[New Player Manual:Alliance|here]].
=== Inititative ===


== Combat ==
[[Initiative]] defines the order that ships fire in battle. Generally, [[Race|Cathaar]] EMP ships fire first, then [[Race|Xandathrii]] ships, then [[Race|Terran]] and [[Race|Zikonian]] kill ships and [[Race|Cathaar]] kill ships, and then the astropods, and then steal ships, and then structure killers.
 
=== Arm/Cost and Dam/Cost explained ===
 
In the [http://game.planetarion.com/stats.pl?page=33 ship statistics] these are, in some ways, more important than the armour, damage and cost columns themselves. They summarize these columns by saying, per cost, how much armour or damage the ship does. This means you can quickly compare ships no matter their different costs. looking at Terran, you can see their "Arm/Cost" column is much bigger than the other races. [[Race|Cathaar]] and [[Race|Xandathrii]] have bigger "Dam/Cost" columns, but keep in mind that 6 of the [[Race|Cathaar]] ships only stun their opponents (the ships that are listed as EMP).


==== Attacking ====


This is a space war game, so obviously [[combat]] is an important part. It includes how combat works, what ships to build, and basic strategys to winning. The person with the highest number of ships doesn't always win, as often bigger ships are more powerful and untouched by those smaller. The combat section is located [[New Player Manual:Combat|here]].
Look around for targets you can handle, unit scan, produce a [[battle calculation]] and attack. Remember to send enough [[pods]] to capture 25% of the targets [[asteroid|roid]]s, which have an armour of 50. Get a News scan at [[ETA]] 1 or a Jump Gate Probe scan between [[ETA]]1-4 to be aware of any defence the planet might have obtained. It is advisable to watch your targets resource spending during the attack not to be caught unaware of ships coming out of production. The [http://pirate.planetarion.com/showthread.php?t=185199 How to Attack] thread on the [Strategy] Forum outlines a procedure for attacking, however it does include some more advanced [[:Category:Terminology|Terminology]] so it may be initially confusing, however it is still a good viable guide. Furthermore, a description of the various [[Fleet Strategy]] is also available - it outlines common names for the various tactics involved, provides an example, and identifies counter-strategy too. Again, it uses complex [[:Category:Terminology|Terminology]] and so it is something to work towards :).

Latest revision as of 10:04, 1 January 2013

Introduction

Little experience in Planetarion? You've come to the right place.

Browse around before the beginning of the round to gain an advantage about the inner workings of the game.

A Relaxing Browser Game For The Whole Family

In Planetarion you compete with thousands of other players over a 2 month period of non-stop gaming. Activity, skill, endurance and a solid alliance are the building blocks of a winner in this game. Use of IRC, while not required to play the game, is extremely important to communicate between other players and to succeed in the game.

At the beginning you construct structures and initiate asteroids. You will gain resources by mining these asteroids. With these resources you are able to construct 6 different classes of ship. Two classes are capable of stealing asteroids from enemy planets while another is capable of bombarding enemy planets ruthlessly destroying their structures. There are 5 races to choose from, and each is equipped with unique ships.

Planets are ranked by their score. The planet with the highest score wins the game.

Each planet (including your own!) is grouped into galaxies. Planetarion is a turn-based game with turns being called a tick. In standard rounds, there is one hour between ticks.

Rounds are generally announced 2-3 weeks before the ticks (turns) start. Around a week before a round starts, signups are opened allowing everyone to register their very own planet. When the game starts, everyone is placed in protection mode and temporarily grouped into large galaxies. At tick 12, planets are "shuffled" and placed into their true starting galaxy using a highly intelligent AI. You can form buddy packs with friends, which can contain up to 3 people, which will allow you to play in the same galaxy throughout the round.

The First 72 Hours: Under Protection

During the first 72 ticks of the game your planet is under protection. During this time, get used to the game, and as often as possible visit the mining page to initiate asteroids, the research page to start new researches and the construction page to start new constructions.

It is recommended to have some ships built by tick 82, as that is when the first attacks will be able to reach your planet. In the beginning of the game it is nearly impossible to stop attacks on your planet. As such, it is preferable to build mainly pods and send them out to attack others.

Alliance: 1st line of support

Beside galaxies, your main line of defence is alliances. Alliances are groups of players that agree to defend and perform coordinated attacks together.

Super excited to see more of this kind of stuff onilne.

How Do I Get An Alliance?

Most alliances require IRC activity. The established alliances require vouches (people already in the alliance knowing you and saying you're a good player), but many just interview and require a minimum activity time. New players should look in the Alliance Recruitment Forum in particular the Alliance Overview at the top.

Combat

This is a space war game in which combat is an important part.

Thohugt it wouldn't to give it a shot. I was right.

Inititative

Initiative defines the order that ships fire in battle. Generally, Cathaar EMP ships fire first, then Xandathrii ships, then Terran and Zikonian kill ships and Cathaar kill ships, and then the astropods, and then steal ships, and then structure killers.

Arm/Cost and Dam/Cost explained

In the ship statistics these are, in some ways, more important than the armour, damage and cost columns themselves. They summarize these columns by saying, per cost, how much armour or damage the ship does. This means you can quickly compare ships no matter their different costs. looking at Terran, you can see their "Arm/Cost" column is much bigger than the other races. Cathaar and Xandathrii have bigger "Dam/Cost" columns, but keep in mind that 6 of the Cathaar ships only stun their opponents (the ships that are listed as EMP).

Attacking

Look around for targets you can handle, unit scan, produce a battle calculation and attack. Remember to send enough pods to capture 25% of the targets roids, which have an armour of 50. Get a News scan at ETA 1 or a Jump Gate Probe scan between ETA1-4 to be aware of any defence the planet might have obtained. It is advisable to watch your targets resource spending during the attack not to be caught unaware of ships coming out of production. The How to Attack thread on the [Strategy] Forum outlines a procedure for attacking, however it does include some more advanced Terminology so it may be initially confusing, however it is still a good viable guide. Furthermore, a description of the various Fleet Strategy is also available - it outlines common names for the various tactics involved, provides an example, and identifies counter-strategy too. Again, it uses complex Terminology and so it is something to work towards :).