Galaxy & Colonization
A vast procedurally generated galaxy awaits. Thousands of star systems, diverse planet types, and four distinct security zones — from safe havens to lawless frontiers.
Galaxy Structure
The galaxy is a spiral with six arms radiating from a central bulge. Each arm is divided into sectors, and each sector contains dozens of star systems.
Hierarchy
| Level | Contains | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy | 6 Spiral Arms | The entire game world |
| Arm | ~50 Sectors | Outer sectors are safer; the core is more dangerous |
| Sector | ~50 Systems | Each sector has a security zone |
| System | 4-8 Planets + Asteroid Fields | Star type varies (yellow, red dwarf, blue giant, etc.) |
| Planet | Building Slots + optional Moons | Type determines bonuses |
Security Zones
The galaxy is divided into four security zones running from the guarded outer arms toward the broken core. Each zone offers different risk-reward tradeoffs.
Sentinel
The safest space on the outer arms. New players start here. Wardens patrol Sentinel space and respond instantly to PvP aggression, effectively shutting it down. Pirate camps are limited to weak scavenger bands.
Asteroid fields are poorer and restricted to ore. Low-class wormholes can appear here. A solid place to build your economy without fear.
Open
The frontier. Moderate risk with better rewards — no warden protection, full PvP allowed, and pirate camps include both scavengers and raiders. More camps, better loot.
Asteroid fields are standard-richness and include ore, ice, gas, and plasma types. Low-to-mid class wormholes appear. Surveys typically want a combat escort.
Dead
Dangerous space closer to the ruined core. No warden protection and aggressive pirate camps roam freely. Planet colonization is not possible here; only outposts on asteroid fields can operate.
Asteroid fields are substantially richer than Open space and can include ore, ice, gas, plasma, quantum, and dark matter fields. Mid-class wormholes are common. Expect serious combat on routine missions.
Rift
The shattered inner Rift around the fallen Nexus, where reality breaks down. The Cataclysm destroyed all planetary ecosystems here, making colonization impossible. In the current game, Rift space is primarily for expeditions and special events. Dread Fleet threats are tied to this deepest endgame space.
Do not treat the Rift as a normal asteroid-mining zone. The highest-class wormholes and the most unusual expedition content appear here, and Rift expeditions require the Rift Navigation research.
Fog of War
You can't see the entire galaxy — visibility is limited to areas around your colonies and explored systems. There are four visibility levels, each revealing different amounts of information.
Visibility Levels
- Full — complete real-time information. You see everything: planet details, asteroid fields, fleets, pirate camps. Applies to systems you've explored (via probes/scouts) or where you have colonies.
- Partial — star types, planet counts, and security zones are visible, but no detailed planet information. Applies to systems in your home sector and systems revealed by Omniscience Array research.
- Outline — sector outlines only, showing the general structure. Applies to adjacent sectors within range (default 2 sectors), your entire spiral arm, or arms revealed by Galactic Cartography.
- Fog — completely unknown. You can see the arm structure but nothing else. Applies to other spiral arms you haven't reached.
Expanding Visibility
- Probes — auto-explore nearby systems, granting full visibility.
- Survey missions — reveal full system details.
- Sensor research — extends your adjacent sector visibility range.
- Alliance shared vision — see what your allies see.
- Galactic Cartography — reveals your entire spiral arm (outline level).
- Omniscience Array — full galaxy visibility (partial level everywhere).
Field Scanning
Even with full system visibility, asteroid fields only show basic information (type and position). To get detailed data — exact richness, total resources, and depletion status — you need to send ships on a field scan mission.
- Send a fleet to an asteroid field and select the scan mission type.
- The scan takes time and produces a detailed field scan report.
- Reports reveal resource quantities and richness, helping you decide where to mine or place outposts.
Planet Types
There are six planet types you can actually colonize. Each type has different resource bonuses, size range, temperature range, and moon count distribution. Choose colony locations based on what you need.
Rocky
Rich in minerals. Excellent ore and solid silicate production. The most common planet type and a natural industrial backbone.
Ore Bonus Silicate Bonus
Crystalline
Mineral-rich crystalline formations make these the best planets for silicate production.
Silicate Bonus
Gas Giant
Massive planets with enormous hydrogen production — by far the best source. However, gas giants have far fewer building slots than terrestrial planets. They tend to have more moons.
Huge Hydrogen Bonus Fewer Building Slots
Ice
Frozen worlds whose subsurface ice is the only place to mine cryo-ice via the Rare Extractor. Cold temperatures give a small hydrogen bonus but a small energy penalty. Can have multiple moons.
Cryo-Ice (Extractor)
Terra
Earth-like worlds with mild climate. Highest natural population capacity, and the only place where the Bio Complex produces doubled bio-extract. One of three types your starting homeworld may roll on (alongside rocky and crystalline). Only found in the habitable zone (mid orbital positions).
Population Bonus Bio-Extract (Bio Complex ×2)
Volcanic
Extreme-heat worlds with superior energy production. They are also the only place where the Rare Extractor can pull plasma core. Hot temperatures give a small energy bonus on top of the planet's native advantage, but are harsh on population.
Energy Bonus Plasma Core (Extractor)
Orbital Position Matters
A planet's orbital position (distance from the star) influences what type of planet it can be:
- Inner orbits (1-2) — mostly volcanic and rocky planets. Hotter.
- Middle orbits (3-5) — terra planets possible here (habitable zone). Mix of all types.
- Outer orbits (6-8) — gas giants and ice worlds dominate. Colder.
Colonization
Expanding your empire requires settling new worlds. Colonization is available in Sentinel and Open zones. Dead space does not support planet colonization, but outposts can operate on its asteroid fields. Rift space is reserved for expeditions and special events.
How to Colonize
- Research Colonization Technology.
- Build a Colony Ship at your shipyard.
- Send the colony ship to an unoccupied planet in a Sentinel or Open sector.
- The colony ship is consumed — it becomes the foundation of your new colony.
- Your new colony starts with basic infrastructure.
Colony Limits
You can only control a limited number of colonies. Research increases this limit:
- Colonization Technology — initial colony slots
- Colonial Governance — additional slots
- Genetic Adaptation — additional slot
- Terraforming — additional slots
- Advanced Governance — additional slots
- Megastructure Engineering — additional slots
Moon Colonization
Moons orbit planets and serve as platforms for specialized buildings — including the all-important Moon Dockyard for capital ship construction.
How to Colonize a Moon
- Research Lunar Operations.
- Build a Lunar Shuttle.
- Send it to a moon orbiting one of your planets.
- The shuttle is consumed — it becomes your moon colony.
Moon Types
Moons come in six types, each with different characteristics:
| Moon Type | Character |
|---|---|
| Barren | Standard moon — no special bonuses |
| Metallic | Mineral-rich — better for resource extraction |
| Icy | Frozen surface — good for ice harvesting |
| Volcanic | Geologically active — energy potential |
| Hollow | Vast internal caverns — more building slots |
| Ancient | Shows signs of past civilization — mysterious |
Moon Limits
You start with a limited number of moon slots. Increase them through research:
- Lunar Operations — first moon slot
- Lunar Expansion — additional moon slots
- Lunar Mastery — maximum moon capacity