Solar Wars Game Controls

Game Controls:

Check World Information:

To check the known information on a world, right-click on it. At the start of the game, one piece of information (production, class, shield or ships) is known on each unclaimed world; no information is known for enemy owned worlds.

After a scout is sent to any world, all information is known for the turn the scout arrived. This information is placed in the game history window and in the world history (left-click).

For owned worlds, you can also calculate the distances to and from all worlds, set proximity and pulse bombs (by clicking on "Bombs", gather nearest ships and scout nearest worlds.

Show Travel Distance Between Two Worlds:

To show the travel distance between two worlds, left-click on an owned world that ships or bombs are currently on, and then left-click the world that they will be sent to. Both worlds will be highlighted and a line will be drawn between them. A menu will popup that shows the travel distance between the worlds, and allows a player to send a scout, send 10, 25, 50, 75 or 100% of the ships from the world, or send a bomb.

To show the optimum travel path between the worlds for the ships, select the travel distance line. Keep in mind that worlds closer to the sun travel faster than worlds further out, and sometimes it is easier to wait for worlds to come closer rather than chasing them around the sun.

Estimate Number of Ships Needed To Take Over a Specific World:

To estimate the number of ships needed to take over a specific world, left-click on an owned world, then left-click the world that you want to attack. Both worlds will be highlighted and a line will be drawn between them. A menu will popup with the travel distance, and an approximate number of ships needed to take over the world.

This calculated number of ships is based on the latest intelligence about the world, including scout information, battle information and crystal information (if available). Keep in mind this is an estimation more than an exact number and should be used accordingly!

Calculate Travel Distances To All Worlds From a Specific World:

To calculate the travel distance to all worlds from a specific world, select the world to travel from by clicking on it with the middle mouse button (or wheel), or right-click the world to bring up the information window and then left click on "Distances From". The number of turns to each world from the specific world will be shown next to each world.

This can be useful for planning attacks to nearby worlds.

Calculating Travel Distances From All Worlds To a Specific World:

To calculate the travel distance from all worlds to a specific world, select the world to travel to by right-clicking on it to bring up the information window and then left click on "Distances To". The number of turns from each world to the specific world will be shown next to each world.

This can be useful for reinforcing nearby owned worlds.

Sending Ships/Bombs In-between Worlds:

To send ships or bombs between two worlds, left-click on an owned world that ships are currently on, and then left-click the world that they will be sent to. Both worlds will be highlighted and a line will be drawn between them. A menu will popup that allows a player to calculate the travel distance between the worlds, send a scout, send 10, 25, 50, 75 or 100% of the ships from the world, send an annihilation bomb or send a proximity bomb. If a proximity bomb is selected, a window will popup to set the bomb threshold.

Traveling fleets are represented on the destination worlds with bomb/scouts/ships icons.

Send/Gather Nearest Ships:

To gather the nearest ships to any world, right-click on the world and then left click on “Gather Nearest Ships”. This will send ships from nearby worlds to this world, as long as the travel distance is less than or equal to the “Maximum Gather/Scout Turns” game option setting (default is 3 turns, see Game Options).

Include/Exclude Ship Gathering:

You can include/exclude worlds from ship gathering by left-clicking on ships indicator next to the world, or by right-clicking on the world and selecting include/exclude gather. When a world is excluded from ship gathering, the ships indicator next to the world will have brackets around it, e.g. [10].

Send Nearest Scout:

To sent the nearest scout to an unowned/enemy world, right-click on the world and then left-click on “Send Nearest Scout”. This will send a scout from the nearest available world. When the scout arrives, a temporary crosshair will be placed on the world for 5 turns to indicate up-to-date information on the world is known.

Send Nearest Bomb:

To sent the nearest bomb to an unowned/enemy world, right-click on the world and left-click on “Send Nearest Bomb”. This will send a bomb (if you have any left) from the nearest world.

Scout Nearest Worlds:

To sent scouts to the worlds nearest to an owned world, right-click on the world and then left-click on “Scout Nearest Worlds”. This will send out scouts to the nearest unowned/enemy worlds, as long as the travel distance is less than or equal to the “Maximum Gather/Scout Turns” game option setting (default is 3 turns, see Game Options). When the scouts arrive, a temporary crosshair will be placed on each world for 5 turns to indicate up-to-date information on the world is known.

Turn World Shields On & Off:

To toggle a world’s shield, double click on that world’s information in the Owned Worlds window; or right-click on the desired world to bring up the world information window and then left click on “Shield”; or right-click on the ships indicator next to the world.

Set Proximity Bomb or Pulse Bomb on World:

To set a proximity on a world, left-click on an owned world that a bomb is currently on, and then left-click on the world again, or right-click to bring up the world information window and then left click on "Bombs". A window will popup to set the bomb threshold.

When a radar alert is shown, a menu will popup instead that allows a player to send a proximity bomb or set a pulse bomb. The pulse bomb can only be set on a player’s home world.

Show Proximity Bomb Threshold:

To show the ship threshold of an existing proximity bomb, click on the proximity bomb icon around the world. This is useful when you set a proximity bomb early in the game and can’t remember the threshold setting.

Recall A Traveling Fleet:

If you sent a traveling fleet by accident and want to recall it in the SAME turn only by left clicking on the listed traveling fleet and selecting “Yes” at the prompt.

Show Traveling Fleet Positions/Information:

To show the information on a traveling fleet of ships to a certain world, left-click on the fleet in space or click on the specific travel information in the Traveling Fleets window. To toggle showing traveling fleets, click the “Fleets” button, or hit Ctrl-T.

Show World Labels:

To show the world number of all worlds, click the "Labels" button or hit "Ctrl-L".

Show Solar System Status & Game Rating:

To show the current status of the Solar System, left-click on the sun or click the "Status" button. This will list for each player the number of worlds owned, total production and total ships on owned worlds. A game rating will also be displayed. This is calculated based on the total production and class of the owned worlds and the number of turns so far in the game. Conquering the solar system quicker will result in a higher rating.

Show World History:

To show the history of a world (battles, reinforcements, traveling fleets, scout information), left-click on the world. If there is a history for the world, a dialog box will popup showing this information.

Marking Worlds:

To place a crosshair mark on a world, right-click on the world and then select “Mark World”. This can be useful to remember the location of a strong world or a world targeted to be taken over.

Ending A Player’s Turn:

To end a players turn, click the "Done" button. This will highlight the owned worlds of the next player, or complete the turn and rotate the solar system.

Saving A Game/Loading A Game:

To save a game in progress, select "File: Save Game" from the pull-down menu, or hit Ctrl-S. To turn on AutoSave, select "File: Turn on AutoSave" from the pull-down menu, or hit Ctrl-A.

To load a game, select "File: Load Game" from the pull-down menu.

Starting a New Game:

Single player Game:

To start a single player game, type your name in the box, select the game options and click on the "Start New Game" button.

Multiplayer Game:

Computer Opponents:

You can also play a single player game against up to three computer opponents by checking the “A.I.” box next to the player names box. You can select their difficulty level from 1 (easiest) to 6 (hardest).

- Level 1 – Pandora:            Beginner, looks at 1 world at a time to attack
- Level 2 – Phoebe:             Novice, looks at 2 worlds at a time to attack
- Level 3 – Calypso:             Intermediate, looks at 3 worlds at a time to attack
- Level 4 – Atlas:                  Advanced, looks at 4 worlds at a time to attack
- Level 5 – Titan:                  Expert, looks at 5 worlds at a time to attack, starts with Information Crystal
- Level 6 – Hyperion:           Master, looks at 6 worlds at a time to attack, starts with Info. Crystal and Double-Speed

All computer opponents use proximity bombs, pulse bombs and shields as needed to protect their worlds, so look out!

In Person:

To start a multiplayer game in person, type the names of the players into the boxes and select the game options. When you are ready to start, click on the “Start New Game” button. Each player takes their turn sequentially. When the last player is done their turn, the solar system will rotate, world travels and battles will take place and the next turn will begin. Keep in mind that each player will see the battles and ships movements of other players in-between turns.

Internet Game:

In an online multiplayer game, one player runs a server and the other of the players run clients. To start an online game, first type your name and then click the "Internet Game" checkbox. This will load the active servers currently running on the Internet. Servers show with a * in front of the name indicate a LAN game; if you are not on the same LAN as the person listed, you will not be able to connect!

To connect to one of the active servers listed, double-click the listing. This will attempt to connect to the server; if the server is not available any longer, you will get a "Server Timed Out" error and that server will be removed from your active server list. Your active server list is automatically updated every minute with the most recent servers.

To run a server, select the game options and then click the "Host a New Game" button. This will automatically list you as a server on the Internet and will allow other players to find your server. You may have to wait several minutes for client players to arrive, depending on the number of players online. When a player connects, a chat window will appear. When you have enough players for your game, click the "Start" button. This will launch the game and synchronize all the client players. Each player in an online multiplayer game takes their turn at the same time. When all the players are done their turns, the solar system will rotate, world travels and battles will take place and the next turn will begin.

To chat with other players during the game, a communications window is provided. Players can type messages to each other during their turn or after they are done.

To start a new game while already connected, the server player must select "File: New Game" from the pull-down menu. This will reset all game information, generate a new solar system and synchronize all of the clients. To load a saved game while already connected, the server player must select "File: Load Game" from the pull-down menu. This will load the saved game information, and synchronize all of the clients.

Network LAN Game:

In a network LAN game, one player runs a host server and the other of the players connect as clients. To start a network LAN game, first type your name and then click the "Network LAN Game" checkbox.

To run a server, select the game options and then click the "Host a New Game" button. This will show the IP address of the server; the clients will need your IP address to connect to your server. When a player connects, a chat window will appear. When you have enough players for your game, click the "Start" button. This will launch the game and synchronize all the client players. Each player in a network LAN game takes their turn at the same time. When all the players are done their turns, the solar system will rotate, world travels and battles will take place and the next turn will begin.

To connect to an active server, make sure “Connect to Game” button in selected and then type in the IP address of the server. You may need to talk to the person running the server to get their IP address. Click the Start button to attempt to connect to the server; if the server is not available any longer, you will get a "Server Timed Out" error.