Game Setup Options

Planets.nu differs in many ways from the original THOST version that was written in the 90s. Joshua has tried to keep the changes utilitarian and cosmetic in the VGA Planets format. In Classic games, it is rare that anything major, or anything that would impact game balance, has been changed.

Early in Nu, however, variants were introduced. The first and still the most flexible venue that was created was the Campaign setting, which permits players to customize their race abilities within certain very strict limits. Since then, other variations have been created, and now that some custom (player-created) games can become public, these options can be put together in a wide variety of new and interesting ways.

Here's a list of the basic styles of game that are regularly offered:

• Blitz - This type of game has very few parameters that may be set. For information on creating this type of game, please look here. The current scoreboard can be found here.
• Classic - As close to the original VGA-Planets game from Tim Wisseman as we can make it. This type of game uses the Priority Build Queue system. The known differences between the latest version of THOST and a Classic game at Planets.nu are described here. It should be noted that, even with the numerous changes between THOST and Classic Planets.nu, numerous easily fixed bugs and logical inconsistencies have been left in.
• Standard - This version of Planets is the default for most games, including system-generated, Championship, and long-format League. On January 1st 2021, Standard games received some major changes, most notably the implementation of the new Planetary Production Queue.
• Campaign - Permits Campaign race abilities and uses Stellar Cartography, the Planetary Production Queue, and Fight Or Fail.
• Beginner - Introduced in many formats, but usually Standard. Beginner games prohibit high-ranked players so as to give new players an equal chance at winning.
• Mentors and Midshipmen - A variant of Standard which permits a number new players to be pitted against either a single experienced player (or the computer player, Hiatus) over a fixed time. Fight or Fail is not active here. No Tenacity penalty is incurred for dropping from one of these games. Mentor vs. Midshipmen games use the Production Queue.
• Melee - a variant of Standard or Campaign which pits 30 commanders against each other on a standard-sized map. These can be brutal.
• Teams of 2 (or 3) - Team games usually open with allied players neighboring one another. Teams can choose their races and players in advance for maximum advantage. These exist in Standard and Campaign format.
• Custom - These are player-designed games, and can have almost any configuration.

The differences between many of these games are described here.

There are also some common custom games that should be mentioned.

• Lone Wolf

  These games test a player's ability to play a game without assistance from others.

  1. The spirit of this game is that everybody is on his/her own. Be certain that you can act in accordance with this spirit before you join.
  2. There may not be any communication about the game with any of the other commanders in the game.
     1. Communications about non-game events is allowed in the Public Board. This is sometimes relaxed by the game creator to allow any communications in the Public Board.
     2. In a Lone Wolf Team game, the members of the team are encouraged to communicate with each other.
     This is probably not the game you wish to play with your spouse or the friend you always discuss your games with.
  3. No changes allowed to the default diplomacy settings.
     1. A player may choose to block the Ambassador of another player, but that changed setting must stay in place for the remainder of the game.
  4. No renaming of ships allowed.
  5. No ship transfers or gifting of ships allowed.
     1. Ships may be transferred between team members.
     2. Ships captured in combat and with Tow Capture (including Ghost ships) may be kept.
     3. Ships transferred to an enemy with the purpose of destroying the ships to gain Build Points.
     4. Should your enemy decide to break the transfer ships to you, the ships should be taken to the closest planet and the Land and Dissassemble mission should be used on it. The other players should be informed of the rules infraction in the Public Board.
  6. Do not try to circumvent the spirit of the game. Your honor is at stake.

• Highlander

  These games can only be won by an individual player. No alliances are allowed. Usually, normal communications, Safe Passage and Share Intel are allowed, along with giving and/or trading of starships.

• Die Hard

  This is a series of games that was started by Big Beefer. The goal of these games is to get players who are willing to play a game out to the end no matter what. No quitters, droppers, idlers, resigners, permanent holiday moders, etc.. This sort of game is ideal for players who are frustrated with opponents quitting when they still have plenty of strength left, and are looking for a game that will not have this issue.

  1. The game should be based on the Standard Officers game, optionally decreasing the maximum number of allies to 1.
  2. In general, Diplomacy works as normal, but this may be restricted.

• Non-standard Starting Scenarios

Here's a list of a few of the individual features that can be chosen in a Custom game:

• One of the Starship Build Queues must be selected.
• Campaign - permits individual race customization
• Fight Or Fail - automatically eliminates weak or defeated players
• Kill Dead Races - removes ships and starbases when a player is no longer in the game
• Stellar Cartography - introduces some interesting (and deadly) objects in space
• Sphere - a variant with a wraparound map.
• Stealth Mode - Hides most scores from other players.
• Emork's Legacy - Five Ancient Artifacts of Power.
• Extra Planets - Start the game with more planets - Private games only.
• Extra Ships - Start the game with more starships - Private games only.
• Training and Beginner Settings - Settinge to make the game easier to learn.
• Non-standard Starting Scenarios - Start the game with different planet and starship positions.
• Accelerated Start - Plays the first few turns of a game without waiting for other players.
• Setup Customization - These are the minor tweaks and changes that can make such a huge difference in game setup.

It is possible to examine the detailed settings of a game. This can be done by selecting the game, either from a player's "My Games" or "History" list or from the "Game List". Under the bar graph showing the minerals, there is a "SETTINGS..." link. Selecting that link will display the detailed settings for the game. Most of these settings are described in the Setup Customization page.

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