What Each Player Needs to Do in a Multi-Player Game

More Hosting Topics

Other Game Set Up Topics

This is just a matter of knowing your player number, opening your turn file, submitting your turn and opening your turn file again when the new turn is ready. If you're playing via e-mail, FTP or in some other remote fashion, the only extra step is sending your log file to your host. Read on for the details.

Before the Game Starts

All Players

⇒        (Optional) Before the host creates a game, use Stars! Custom Race wizard to create a customized race, then give the race file to the host.

Modem/Email Players

1.        Create a playing directory to contain your game files. The directory location is your choice -- to keep things simple, we recommend creating a play directory within the Stars! directory.

2.        Obtain the gamename.xy and gamename.mN files from your host and place them in a playing directory you've created on your own system. N is your player number; for example, if the game was saved under the file name of nonstop, and you are player number 1, your player file would be nonstop.m1.

Place your game files in the same directory each turn.

Starting the Game: All Players

1.        Start Stars! and click on Open Game from the opening screen.

2.        Open your player file, gamename.mN.

Note: If you're a network player, these files should be located on a sharepoint designated by your host.

Your game begins, with your home world displayed on the screen and in the Command, Scanner and Selection Summary panes.

3.        For your first turn, read the Message pane – it contains tips that help you get started. Investigate your home planet, start basic production and research, and send your scouts out to learn about the nearby worlds.

If you've never played Stars! before, we recommend you play the tutorial game first to learn basic strategies and to familiarize yourself with all the player tools.

At the End of Each Turn

Hot Seat and Network Players

⇒        Once you finish the turn, select the menu command Turn (Wait for New). Stars! will minimize, waiting for a new turn. When the new turn is ready, it will beep once and flash, while displaying "Turn available".

Modem/Email Players

1.        Select File (Save and Submit), then File (Exit). Or, if you're trading turns quickly or leave your computer on for long periods of time, you can also use Turn (Wait for New) -- a much simpler scenario.

2.        Upload or email only your log file, gamename.xN file to the host system.

Exiting the Game: All Players

⇒        If you wish, you can exit the game before or after you finish the turn. You can save your changes or start the turn again if you don't like the way things are going. Read Exiting Stars! for more information.

⇒        If you plan to be absent for a turn or more, follow the instructions in Being Absent from Play.

Learn about:

Your Home World

Production

Research

Setting Fleet Waypoints and Tasks

Files Used in Stars!