PAX IMPERIA EMINENT DOMAIN The ultimate on real-time intergalactic strategy and combat. Overview The goal of Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain is nothing short of total domination and the complete destruction of all the enemy forces. Your species will be competing on a galactic scale for limited resources. Only skillful management of each of the game's critical components will lead to victory. Select Single Player Game from the opening menu, select New Game from the next menu. The Species Select Screen appears. (Note: The demo version only allows the user to select one species from the eight pre-designed. The full version will allow a user to design a custom species). Species Selection: Each of the Species in the tubes comes with a predetermined set of attributes, tendencies, tolerances and aptitudes which give it unique advantages (and disadvantages) within the game. The Kar'Tsoran species has been selected for the demo. Kar'Tsoran Incredible economists, the Kar-Tsoran manage worlds very effectively, maximizing resources and developing rapidly. Below you will find a comparison of the Kar'Tsoran species' traits to that of the human species: Kar'Tsoran Human Atmospheres One One Physical None None Cultural 2 None Research Characteristic 5 6 Reproduction Characteristic 5 6 Construction Characteristic 10 6 Espionage Characteristic 5 6 Finance Characteristic 10 6 Temperature Pref./Tolerance Cold/High Very Cold/High Weapons Research Level Low Normal Shielding Research Level Low Normal Ship Research Level Low High Colonial Research Level High Normal Space Research Level Normal Normal After you have selected the Kar'Tsoran species you will enter the Game Setup Screen. Game Setup Screen You will need to make a few more adjustments before you can begin the game Number of Stars: 5 (The full version will allow up to 80.) Computer Opponents: 1 (The full version will allow up to 15.) Difficulty: 1 (The full version will allow player to adjust the difficulty level.) Selecting Fleet: 2 different fleets are available (The full version will offer 16.) Selecting Flag: Scroll through the available flags. Name Your Domain: Type in the name of your empire. When you have made all of the necessary adjustments, press the START button in the lower, left corner of the screen. (Note: Changing the number of stars, opponents, or difficulty level will not effect the demo.) You will now enter the Control Room. You will be able to access all areas of the game from this screen. Sector Display (F2 button) The Sector Display is accessed by double-clicking on the large central view screen. This interface allows you to examine individual planets and control Fleet movement, either within the Sector or through wormholes (which connect Sectors). (Note: Only 5 Sectors are available in the demo version, the full version allows players to colonize up to 80 different Sectors.) Research (F3 button) The Research screen controls which projects your Species is currently working to develop in the five integral areas: Weapons, Shielding, Ship, Colonial, and Space. The sliding scale for each allows you to control the percentage of Research points allocated to each area. You can toggle between Theoretical and Developed systems to see how each area is progressing, and also highlight any one item to get a brief description. (Note: Limited research is available in the demo version.) Fleet Command (F4 button) The Fleet Command window lets you inspect each Fleet and ship. Ships can easily be transferred from one Fleet to another, and upgraded with new technology as it becomes available. You can also assign projects to your Shipyards from this screen. Domestic Policy (F5 button) The Domestic Policy scree allows you to compare economic information on all the planets which you have discovered, using filters and different pertinent data to prioritize the list. You can also make economic adjustments to your larger economy through this screen. Foreign Affairs (F6 button) The Foreign Affairs screen lets you control the nature of your contact with other Species, instigating trade, treaties and espionage. (Note: Trades and treaties are not available in the demo version.) Planetary Surface (F7 button) The Planetary Surface window lets you view each individual planet and study the current state of the planet's economy, controlling the production of new technologies as they are researched. Ship Design (F8 button) Each of the ships your Species is capable of building can be viewed from the Ship Design screen, allowing you to make modifications as new technology becomes available. (Note: Limited research in the demo version limits the types of ships that can be designed). Options (F9 button) Adjust the volume of the game. (Note: You cannot save a game in the demo version.) Controlling the Interface Understanding and properly controlling each of the menu screens is a complicated task, but balancing all of the game's aspects is, of course, the key to success. The following short sections look at each screen in detail, and also point to how the game's components work together to form the complex Universe of Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain. Sector View At its most basic, the Sector View is used to examine the planets in each system where you have explored, and also to move your Fleet between the planets in each individual Sector, and into the Universe beyond. Planet Types Each planet in the Pax Imperia Universe is rated with regard to your Species' ability to inhabit it, based on the planet's atmosphere and temperature. Planets are rated either Poor, Mediocre or Optimum, and, though any planet can be claimed as part of your domain, the rating is a good general barometer of the planet's potential productivity. As your level of technology increases, your Species will be better able to inhabit Poor planets, but Mediocre and Optimum worlds generally have a more favorable impact on your economy. Notice that clicking on the star in the center of any solar system brings up a list of all the planets in that system in the left-hand column, allowing you to quickly identify prime targets for Colonization. Wormholes Wormholes provide the only means of moving your Fleet from one Sector to another. Each trip through a wormhole is considered one "Jump," and ships have different Jump ranges based on the ship type and current level of technology. To explore beyond the range of your specific ship type, you will have to Colonize planets (or build Refueling Stations) along your route. Fleet Movement Moving your Fleet from one area to another is as simple as selecting the Fleet with the mouse(left button), and clicking on its destination(right button): a planet or wormhole. To Attack or Interdict with a Fleet is the same process as moving the Fleet. Simply click the Attack or Interdict button and then click on your target. Colonization The act of Colonizing a planet adds it to your universal domain. Then, as the planet's population begins to grow, it begins to contribute to your domain's Research and Construction capabilities. Colonizing a planet requires that you have a ship in orbit which has "colonization potential". Colonization units come in a wide variety. The more technologically advanced units are required to Colonize worlds that fall far outside your Species' Atmosphere and Temperature preferences. Once you've selected the Colonize Planet option from the Sector View screen, your flag is affixed to the world. You'll find that, in the Planet View mode, you can toggle between all the worlds in your domain by using the scroll bar bearing the planet's name. Orbitals Orbitals are constructions in space that you may build near Colonized planets. There are several varieties such as Shipyards and Defensive Systems. As new technology becomes available, highlighting a colonized planet in the Sector View presents any current options for building Orbitals. The Orbital Shipyard is the easiest type of Orbital to construct from a technology standpoint, but completion takes awhile. As soon as you have several planets in your domain, beginning construction of another Shipyard is usually prudent. Later in the game, Orbital defensive systems can play an integral part in protecting your planets from your competitors. (Note: Limited research restricts the total number of Orbitals that can be built in the demo version.) Universe View: An Eye on Expansion As part of the Sector View screen, and central to the Main Control screen, the Universe View provides a map of the star systems available for exploration. Notice that each unexplored system is denoted by a small, five-point star. Once each system is explored, its Universe View icon becomes a small node, connected to other explored star systems by a thin blue line. Moving from one star system to the next is accomplished by selecting one of your Fleets, and then clicking on the Move Fleet button. By positioning the cursor which appears on a Wormhole, you direct your ship to enter the hole in the space-time continuum, and travel to the adjacent star system. Each ship in your Fleet has a range of movement derived from its particular engine type. Thus expanding your domain must be done in an even, methodical manner. Colonizing at least one planet in each system you explore ensures that ships passing through will be able to refuel, but the simple act of Colonizing doesn't prevent another Species from coming along behind you and claiming the same planet for its own. A moderate rate of expansion, claiming at least two of the planets in each system as you explore, helps to ensure that an enemy doesn't disrupt your exploration route. Planetary Surface The Planetary Surface screen is one of the most important controls in the game, allowing you to monitor a planet's individual economic profile, and direct current projects. Directing Construction As each new Research discovery is made, your population is directed to construct the advancements that allow you to expand your universal domain. Each individual planet is assigned a scheme for prioritizing construction of each new development option, either choosing the quickest available project to complete, or focusing instead on one of the key areas that furthers your universal expansion goals: Population, Construction, Research, Espionage, or Finance. Selecting Quickest First in the dialogue box means just That - as new technologies are researched, the game determines which project can be completed fastest, and begins construction. By designating one of the other areas of technological advancement, the planet in question will focus on new developments within that specific discipline. For example, selecting the Construction option means that the particular planet will concentrate exclusively on manufacturing new Construction technologies as they become available through Research. (Note: Limited technologies are available in the demo version of the game). To see the entire construction list that is in the queue, you can click on the Extend List button. The displayed list includes the projects that the planet will undertake in order, as determined by the prioritization indicated in the box above (Quickest First, Construction, etc.). If you would like to change any of the prioritization profiles, the lists can be modified from the Game Options Control Screen - Edit Planetary Profiles. Planetary Economic Profile The right-hand side of the Planet Surface view screen shows the particular planet's current state of development, including not only population and income, but also the game-specific measurements of Research, Espionage and Construction that contribute to your domain's overall vitality. Ship Design and Construction Designing and building the space ships that constitute your Fleet is a relatively straight-forward task, though there is also some room for creativity. The straight-forward aspect of Ship Design is the simple act of upgrading each ship's component pieces as new technology becomes available. This is easily accomplished by deleting the current design for a certain ship type, and then using the Design and Auto buttons to configure each particular class of ship with the newest improvements. Your own creativity comes into play most often in case- specific terms. For example, a certain foe displays a tendency or weakness which you would like to take advantage of, so you configure your weapons systems with that particular enemy in mind. Building ships, as opposed to creating your own ship design, is done from the Fleet Command interface, or by highlighting a planet with an Orbital Shipyard in the Sector View, and clicking on the Build option. Ship Types The various ship types all serve a specific purpose within the game, though it will require some technological advancement before the full potential of each can be realized. (Note: Ship types are limited to 3 hulls in the demo version of the game). As the game begins, the three types of ships you have available for construction are the Scout, the Transport and the Destroyer. Scouts: Scouts are just that - short range, recon ships that help you to see what is in the next star system. They can only make one Wormhole jump before they must return to a system with a Colonized planet and refuel. Transports: Transports are the method by which you Colonize new planets. As fast as you can build Transports, send them off to explore the next uncharted star system. Make sure at least one planet in each new system is Colonized, so that other ships moving through can refuel. Destroyers: Destroyers are the muscle of your Fleet. Load them up with the best weapons, and use them to escort Transports or protect Colonized planets. Ship Components As new technology becomes available for your Fleet, incorporating the latest advancements via Ship Design or the Upgrade option in Fleet Command is essential to keep your Fleet on par with the competition. (Note: Limited technology is available in the demo version.) Drives: Star Drives are for use in travel between star systems, whereas Tac Drives are the propulsion method used within a star system (and for combat). Weapons: Each ship has, at most, four arcs of fire - Primary, Port, Starboard, and Point. Each of those areas can be outfitted with its own independent weapons system. Additionally, the Targeting Computer is considered a part of this subsystem. Defense: Defensive systems consist of the ship's Armor and Shielding, and also any Counter Measures designed to throw off the targeting attempts of the enemy. Fleet Command The Fleet Command screen allows you to monitor the current status of the ships in all your Fleets, and also to properly assemble large Fleets of ships with ease. Additionally, Fleet Command lets you Build ships at any of your Shipyards, and also Upgrade ships with the newest technologies. Fleet Composition Early in the game, your Fleets are bound to be one or two Ships - usually a Transport and/or a Scout. As the game progresses, you will begin to switch away from Colonization mode, and towards constructing ships with the intention of fighting your opponents, and so large Fleets of Destroyers and Scouts are not uncommon. Tailor your ship construction and Fleet composition to suit the current task at hand. You can ascertain the size of an enemy's Fleet by clicking on it and choosing the Examine Fleet option from the Sector View screen. This can give you a good idea if your own Fleet composition is going to measure up to the challenge. Upgrading and Scrapping Ships In order to Upgrade a specific ship with the current technology, it must be in the same Sector as a Shipyard or a ship equipped with a Repair Bay. If this is not the case, it is occasionally easier to scrap a ship than it is to send it back across the known universe to get the latest Worm Drive. Especially in the case of the second or first wave of ships you send out, following your initial Colonization effort, building newer ships may ultimately be more efficient than retrofitting older ones. Research Performing Research is the means by which your Species makes technological advancements, and expands your domain across the Universe. Until an item is researched, it cannot be constructed. (Note: Limited research is available in the demo.) Controlling Research Research is performed in each of five critical areas - Weapons, Shielding, Ship, Colonial, and Space technologies. (Note: Limited technologies can be researched in the demo version of the game.) The five tabbed menus in the upper left-hand corner of the screen show the current list of projects, both Theoretical and Developed. The Theoretical list is the one from which new Research projects are initiated, and the current project name is highlighted there. That specific project's progress is recorded in the five Research discipline boxes along the right-hand side of the screen. Ultimately, controlling Research is a relatively passive Endeavor. The slider bars beside each of the ongoing projects let you manipulate the percentage of your domain's Research points which are being allotted to each specific area, but it's rare that you will want to emphasize one area over another. Foreign Affairs The Foreign Affairs screen lets you communicate with your computer opponents through the use of Treaties, Trade agreements and Espionage. (Note: Treaties and Trades are not functional in the demo version.) Compare One of the more useful features in the game, the Compare function lets you toggle through graphical representations of your domain's resources, comparing them with your opponent's resources in the same crucial areas. Espionage Perhaps more often than sharing information and resources with other universal powers, you will use the Espionage functions to try to undermine their accomplishments. The Steal, Subvert and Sabotage functions are self- explanatory, each evoking a dialogue box that displays the information pertinent to the task at hand. Black Operations Black Ops are, in essence, all the nasty Espionage projects that do not fall under the general headings of Steal, Subvert or Sabotage. That includes instigating Rebellion, Assassinating government officials, and even seeking to Topple the opposition's Empire. Domestic Policy The Domestic Policy screen provides a quick, concise summary of all the planets in all the star systems which you have explored. The same information as is included in the Planet Surface screen is summarized here, allowing you to quickly review all of the planets' economic numbers, and adjust the CP Subsidy and Project parameters quickly and efficiently. The upper left-hand corner of the screen provides an overview of your domain's resources, and also lets you manipulate the percentage of the maximum amount being spent in the areas of Research, Espionage and Construction. NOW BEGIN YOUR REIGN! For more information on Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain log onto to www.paximperia.com.