Setting up the game basically set ups the play of the game. Thus a good setup can result in a better experience while playing the game.
Backstory[edit]
The Single player mode pits your wits against computer AI opponents. The victory conditions will depend on who gets the condition first. The computer AI can pull a rabbit out of the hat and surprise you with their victory.
With the Antaran option enabled and like in the preceding Master of Orion II (MOO2) story line, the Antarans are stuck in a pocket of space. They can break out every so often to wreak havoc on the best race of inhabitants in the game. Unlike MOO2, if the Antarans stop harassing you, then you are not the best race of the game (victory condition 1 - Score Victory)
You have the option of excluding the Antarans from the victory conditions. When you choose that option, the Antarans will not appear.
A basic game setup[edit]
Start a new game from the single player menu. You will see the pre-built races buttons and the custom race button. Make a new customized race by selecting the Custom Race button.
Custom Races[edit]
- After selecting the race attributes, click on Next to set up the game parameters.
- Leave the galaxy settings as defaults.
- Click on Show Advanced Settings.
[edit]
- Population Growth - to Normal
- In Victory Conditions:
- If you selected Repulsive in the Race Attribute Settings, uncheck the Diplomatic victory.
- Up the Score turns from 500 to 600.
- The rest of the Victory Conditions are up to you whether to use them or not.
Click on Start Game button to get the game rolling
Starting a new game[edit]
Ship Design[edit]
Click on the Blueprints icon and pull up the only ship design which can be built. Click on Edit to enable changing the design.
- Change the neutron blaster to a nuclear bomb - quantity of 1
- Increase the nuclear missile by a count of 1
- Increase the laser cannon by a count of 1
Then Save the design and then Done to exit the blueprint menu.
A ship upgrade menu will appear. Accept the upgrade and close the menu.
Sending out your fleet[edit]
Click on your fleet and select the frigate with 
. Move your mouse to the destination and use 
to move the ship. Explore the unknown planet (or asteroids) in your system.
Select each scout with and send them exploring with on their destinations (warp points).
Select the colonization ship and set it to sleep.
Setting the default tax rate[edit]
Pull down the empire menu and set the tax rate from 3 to 4.
Research[edit]
Depending on what your attributes are during the game configuration, you will want to research in this order (skip any technology which you already have):
- Physics
- Biology
- Government
- Engineering
- Deep-Space Exploration
Use the Done button when finished. With these areas researched, you will have a basic technology for colonizing.
Home World Production[edit]
- Click on the Show Queue selection
- Click the + button
- If you have the Automated Factory available, select it and click on Start Building.
- Select the Space Factory and click on Start Building.
Then close the menu.
Advancing the Game[edit]
On the galactic map, click on Next Turn. The frigate ship will need new orders. Select the ship and send it to a warp point. Then select the guard mode (shield icon). Depending on the galaxy configuration and some randomness during the start up, you could have between 1 to 4 warp points to select from. Pirates are abound. You will be using the frigate to block pirates from your home world system. If you should have more than 1 warp point, be prepared to move the frigate as necessary and re-select the guard mode.
Protecting your Home World system[edit]
Once the Space Factory is built, send it to a warp point and start building a Military Outpost. When the Space Factory finishes with the Military Outpost, send it to another warp point and repeat.
The Scout Ships[edit]
The scout ships will eventually arrive at the selected warp points. Select the ship and enable the automatic explore option (leftmost icon). Many times the scouts will encounter the pirates. The ensuing battle is a 100% loss of the scout. If this should happen, build a replacement scout ship at your home world.
Home World Production[edit]
As new technologies become available, set them up in the production queue. However, you will need to manufacture ships for colonization and war.
Suggested technologies to build first[edit]
| Technology | Effect |
|---|---|
| Automated Factory | Boosts productivity |
| Biospheres | Adds food and research points |
| Hydroponic Farm | Adds food points |
| Research Laboratory | Adds research points |
| Star Base | Adds fleet command points and assists ships with repairs after a battle. |
| Marine Barracks | Adds marine defense and 5% morale |
| Government Support Facilities | Adds 10% morale |