Beginner Tutorial

Introduction

VGA Planets is one of the deepest and most complex strategy series ever developed, and Planets Nu is no exception.

The objective of Planets Nu is to achieve galactic conquest by conquering as many planets as you can.

The First Turn

When you join a non-Giant Melee multiplayer game, you typically start with one planet, accompanied by a starbase and a Medium Freighter.

The freighter

To start colonizing planets, you load up cargo on your starting freighter (about 85% clans and 15% supplies is usually fine, invert it if you are The Cyborg) and move to adjacent planets. Make every attempt to avoid going into deep space (or use Disguising Ship Movement if unavoidable). Your freighter can move up to 81.54 ly each turn, although a warp well can allow you to go further.

The planet

With respect to the home planet, there are two different approaches to taxation practices that you can use to raise megacredits. It is imperative that you learn to growth tax, especially if you are playing as The Lizard Alliance. This way, you get the most of your colonists and, therefore, your megacredits.

It is also a good idea to build some mines and factories, but do not go overboard on mines unless you are playing The Solar Federation, as the Feds suffer from reduced mining.

The starbase

Starbases are key Space Objects that orbit a planet. If you are a premium member (and newly registered players get their first month free), always raise the Engine tech level to 10 so that you can build the most efficient engine, the Transwarp Drive.

The first build is a key choice to make, and ultimately depends on the race you are playing and what you would like to do. Another Medium Freighter with 1 Transwarp Drive is usually fine, but Cyborg players might be better off building a B200 Probe instead. If you are playing as The Evil Empire or The Rebel Confederation, then the Pl21 Probe and Falcon Escort respectively are good choices as well. Don't forget that each of these hulls has a dedicated tech level that you must raise the Starbase's hull tech to.

If you are building something other than a freighter as your ship build, then X-Ray Laser beams are usually fine accompanied with Mark IV Torpedo tubes (if your hull supports this). In any case, study your Ship List carefully.