SHIP COMBAT
(CONT.)
The question mark icon appears when the mouse
is placed over one of your ships. Clicking the icon allows
you to view the specifications for the ships in your fleet.
The red slashed-circle icon indicates that no valid action
can be performed in that space. Auto Button: turns control of your fleet over
to the computer. The computer will continue to automatically move
and fire your ships until you click the mouse again.
Done Button: ends the turn of the currently moving
ship. If the ship has not yet fired its beam weapons, it may still
fire if enemy ships move into range later.
Missile Button: turns missiles on or off for
the currently moving ship. Since ships are equipped with only a
limited number of missiles, you may want to fire your other weapons
without also launching your missiles. The missile button can then
be toggled to turn your missiles on or off.
If your planetary missile bases have Scatter Pack missiles, the
MISSILE button can be used to toggle between firing regular missiles
and scatter packs. In Auto-Combat mode, the computer automatically
selects the more effective type.
Retreat Button: removes the current ship from
combat. The enemy will have one turn to fire on your ship as it
retreats off the screen. If you are victorious the ships will rejoin
your fleet immediately after combat.
Scan Button: may be used if at least one of your
ships is equipped with a battle scanner, or if the combat is taking
place at one of your colony planets. The scan button allows you
to view all specifications of the enemy fleet.
Special Button: is used to activate and deactivate
certain special devices, such as Stasis Fields and Pulsars.
Wait Button: delays the currently moving ship
until all other ships have moved. At the end of the turn, the ship
may utilize any remaining movement and fire any weapons that have
not already been used during the turn.
Defensive Fire: If a ship has already had its
turn, did not fire all of its beam weapons, and an enemy ship moves
into range, the waiting ship gets an opportunity to fire its beam
weapons first before the moving enemy ship can fire.
Victory and Defeat: The last player to have surviving
ships or missile bases remaining on the combat screen is the victor.
If any of the loser’s ships retreated, they will set course
for the nearest colony on their side. Any of the victor’s
ships that retreated during combat will rejoin their fleet.
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