Stars! is a complex turn-based computer game based around the management of planets and fleets of spaceships following the 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit & eXterminate) model. The game has been around since 1995, and still has a strong following, eight years later, which gives some idea of the level of replayability it allows.
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2 Graphics 3 Race design 4 Gameplay 5 Ship design 6 Battles 7 Victory 8 Advanced play 9 External links |
An alternative to play-by-email is to use an online system such as the Stars! Autohost. This system automates most of the hosting duties, and can handle a large number of games simultaneously.
Many games are run at a rate of 1 turn per calendar day, giving plenty of time for strategic thinking. In large games this can be quite necessary, with turn generation dropping to only 3 times per week in cases, due to the complexity of the game and the level of micro-management required to effectively control a large empire competitively.
There is also a reasonably competent artificial intelligence (AI) that can take part in the game. The player can opt to play against AIs only (up to 15 of them), and this is the way that new players typically get to learn the game mechanics before launching into multi-player games. A well-regarded tutorial helps with getting started.
In multi-player games diplomacy can be a major factor in the outcome of the game.
Which hulls are available, as well as which components can be placed in those hulls, depends on the technology research level that the player has reached at a given point in the game.
Due to the complexity of the game there are no best designs. Advanced players continually counter-design ships as they battle against their opponents.
Due to almost infinite number of possible ship designs, combined with a number of possible battle orders for each fleet, battles can be very difficult to predict. Advanced players will frequently try out a battle in a test-bed game against themselves prior to a particularly significant battle.
Modes of play
The game is well adapted to the Play-By-Email (PBEM) style of multiplayer gaming. One player takes on duties as host, and the other players send their instructions (turn files) by email to the host. The host then generates the results of those instructions and emails back the results.Graphics
The graphics in the game are rudimentary, which is not surprising given its age. It is entirely 2D, and the graphics consist of the main map view and static pictures of planets, ship hulls and components. Even battles consist of moving unanimated icons around a grid.Race design
Stars! games begin with race design, in which the player creates an alien race using the custom race wizard. This is a points based system, with advantages costing points and disadvantages giving them back. The total points left at the end of the design must be zero or greater. Each race has a primary racial trait, possibly several lesser racial traits, economic settings, environmental settings and technology research capabilities, all of which can be adjusted.Gameplay
Each player begins the game with one (or possibly two, depending on race design) planets and a small fleet of starting ships. From these beginnings they develop their empire until they come into contact with the races of other players.Ship design
Another element that adds to the complexity of the game is ship design. The game defines a number of standard hulls, each of which has different numbers of slots into which various components can be placed. Some slots can contain only engines, some only weapons, etc. There are also general purpose slots on some hulls.Battles
Battles occur whenever fleets from two different races arrive at the same point, unless the players have set each other to "friend" in the player-relations manager.Victory
When a new game is started, the host defines the victory conditions for the game. Victory conditions can be managed by the game (for example, winner must have 100 capital ships and a score over 10,000) or, in multi-player games, may be by a simple vote.Advanced play
As Stars! has been around for so long, the community has developed some very effective techniques for getting the best out of a race design. There is still a lot of discussion along these lines in the discussion forums. Examples of the techniques that have evolved over the years include:External links
