RETURN TO SWITCHBOARD

1A. How to Play a Game

1B. How to Host a Game

1. Introduction to VGA Planets

7. Minefields Sub-Menu

2. Race Information Sub-Menu

8. Combat Sub-Menu

3. Friendly Codes Sub-Menu

9. Ion Storm Sub-Menu

4. Planet Information Sub-Menu

10. Misc. Information Sub-Menu

5. Starbase Information Sub-Menu

11. Strategy and Strategy Guides

6. Ship Information Sub-Menu

12. Add-on Information

INTRODUCTION TO VGA PLANETS:

What is VGA Planets:

VGA Planets is a DOS driven, play by email war game created by Tim Wisseman circa 1990.

There is also a Windows version which is compatible with the DOS version.

The game is a fairly simple, space combat game with just a touch of economic stability to keep the game real.

About VGA Planets:

Up to eleven Players, each representing a different Race, vie for control of the galaxy, known as the 'Echo Cluster'.

One person hosts the game, while up to eleven others play the game. The Host will generate RST files to send

out to the Players. The Players do their turns and send back to the Host TRN files, which the Host uses

to determine the results of the turn. New RST files are generated and so on and so forth.

The game can be played for free, using Shareware versions of the game, or it can be played with Registered copies

of the game. The Registered version allows the Players access to more advanced technology in the game.

Since the Registered file is on the Player's end, the game can be mixed, Registered and Shareware.

However, if this is the case, the Registered users will have a substantial advantage.

If two Players both use the same Registered version in the same game, they will be attacked by the 'Tim Continuum'

(That is, an anti-cheat program built into the game).

All the information needed to play the game is included in this Guide. (Hopefully)    :  )

About the Game:

Each Player begins the game with the following: a Homeworld, a Starbase (Hconfig), and 2 Freighters (Hconfig).

Each Player represents the leader of his/her Race. The Homeworlds are where each Player begins his attempt

at galactic domination.

There are 500 Planets in the galaxy and they are the central means to buidling an economy (and an Empire).

The Homeworld will begin with the following:

Colonists: used to colonize other Planets and attack enemy Colonists.

Megacredits: used to purchase just about everything in the game. It's money.

Supplies: used to build just about everything in the game.

Mineral Mines: used to extract Minerals from a Planet's core.

Factories: used to create Supplies.

Defense Posts: used to defend the Planet from invasion.

Minerals: there are 4 types of Minerals:

Neutronium is fuel for Ships.

Duranium, Tritanium, and Molybdenum are used for buiding Starbases and Ship Hulls and Ship Components.

Some Minerals will already be mined and on the surface of the Planet ready to be used.

The bulk of the Minerals will still be in the Planet's core and will need to be mined.

The Home Planet will be the central Planet in a Player's empire for a long time, if not the entire game.

Use the resources available to expand your empire to other Planets to be able to use their resources as well.

Each Planet can only have 1 Starbase. Starbases are used to build Ships.

If the Homeworld does not begin with a Starbase, build one as soon as possible.

If the Homeworld does not begin with any Ships in orbit, build a Freighter as soon as possible so you can

colonize new Planets.

Colonize Planets by dropping Colonists and Supplies and Megacredits onto the Planet from a Ship in orbit. Do not actually use the

Ship Mission 'Colonize'. That Mission will destroy the Ship. Just drop the Cargo using transfer commands.

Once a new Planet is colonzied, build Factories for Supply production, Mineral Mines for Mineral production, and

Defense Posts to keep those nasty enemies away.

After you have built a Planet's economy, build a Starbase at that you can build more Ships at that Planet location.

The Starbase is primarily used to build Ships, Fighters, and Weapons.

There can be only 1 Starbase in orbit of a Planet.

There are 4 technology levels that each Starbase is capable of utilizing and they range from 1 to 10:

Ship Hulls: the higher the Ship Hull level at a Starbase, the more unique Ships Hulls you will have access to building.

Engines: all Ships require Engines to move. The higher the tech level of Engines, the more fuel efficient a Ship is.

Beam Weapons: the primary weapon on most Ships. Generally, the higher the Beam tech, the more damage it does.

Beams are also used to Sweep away enemy Minefields.

Torpedo Tubes: similar to Beams in that the higher the tech, the more powerful Torpedoes can be built.

Torpedoes are also used to create Minefields. The higher the Torp tech, the more Mines it can create.

Starbases also build Fighters to be launched from Carrier Ships and Torpedoes to be launched from Torpedo Ships.

Starbases can hold 60 Fighters for Planetary defense.

Starbases can also repair damaged Ships, recycle old Ships that are outdated technologically, and can force enemy Ships

to surrender and become yours.

A Starbase can hold an unlimited number of  Ship Components in storage. But it can only assemble one Ship per turn.

A Starbase can also Clone an enemy Ship that you have captured, one that you would not normally be able to build.

Ships are the essence of VGA Planets. Without them, you will not be able to do much.

Ships are used to move Colonists, Supplies, and Megacredits to new Planets for colonization.

Ships are used to combat enemy Ships and Planets.

Ships are used to move Minerals to Starbases to be used for building more Ships.

Some Ships have special Abilities unique to that particular Ship and some Ships can perform actions that are unique

to an individual Race.

There are several types of Ships:

Freighters: are Ships designed for hauling Minerals and Colonists. Freighters have no weapons.

Capital Ship: Capital Ships are Ships that have at least 1 Beam, 1 Torpedo Tube, or 1 Fighter Bay.

Beam Ships: are Ships that have at least one Beam Weapon. Generally, if a Beam Ship also has Torpedo Tubes or

Fighter Bays, it is referred to as a Torp Ship or Carrier.

Torpedo Ships: are Ships that have Torpedo Tubes for launching Torpedoes. Most Torpedo Ships also have Beam Weapons.

Carriers: are Ships that have Fighter Bays for launching Fighters. Most Carriers also have Beam Weapons.

NO SHIP CAN HAVE BOTH TORPEDO TUBES AND FIGHTER BAYS.

Only Ships with Fighter Bays can carry Fighters.

Only Ships with Torpedo Tubes can carry Torpedoes. And then, they must be matching Torpedoes and Tubes.

Only Ships with Torpedo Tubes can create a Minefield. They can also recover a Minefield and convert the Mines into Torpedoes.

Only Ships with Beam Weapons can Sweep (destroy) a Minefield.

That's it! You now know what to do in VGA Planets…

Colonize and economically develop Planets to gain access to the resources of the Planet to expand your empire.

Build more Starbases so you can build more Ships every turn so you can use them to expand your empire.

Build more Ships at your Starbases so you can use them to move Colonists to new Planets to expand your empire.

Build more Ships to destroy your enemies' Ships and expand your empire.

Rape, Pillage, and Plunder! Oh yes, and expand your empire!

Sounds easy doesn't it.