I was just wondering... are there any discussions about adding a minimap? Some way for us to see the entire zoomed out view in the corner of the normal screen?

Oh yeah, by the way... I'm the new guy... Hello all!

if you want something like that, ur better off just using the selection based empire tree



well since the entire zoomed out view in some maps is just 5 stars, it would be kinda useless... also theres a button that lets you instntly adjust from planet view to galaxy view

options -> user interface -> check selection based empire window, ull love it

just put your planets that you are constantly using into control groups

Welcome Braddock!
There will be more advanced empire tree options in the final release that will give you more than you are looking for

Regarding the mini-map - Personally I feel this is an outdated UI crutch that will soon become a thing of the past as games become more zoom friendly.  I think after a few more games you will see that there is little need for a seperate map in the game

 

I'm in perfect agreement with that, unlike your compass reasonings

WE DIDNT START THE FIREEE

there are four tutorials you can use.

Because everyone knows space is navigated by using a compass to pinpoint North, South, East, and West.. right? Right?

It's simple actually, Hubward, coreward, turnwise and widdershins.

@Logic - that is a big part of why I suggested a built-in encyclopedia and reference section for ship, planets, races, techs and development paths. It would start with limited knowledge and new entries get "enabled" as you trigger them within the game.

Or mabey comment on this. its what i thought worked but many of the of the origonal beta testers said I had it all wrong, and on maps where I start close to the AI, I get ovewhelmed easly....Just a comment or 2 from the devs on what Im doing right or wrong

1. Mine HW Astroids

2. Buld Flagship (normaly the one that colonizes)and a scout

3. Send scouts in opposite directions, build a civic research plant

4. Research adv metal mining and somtimes probes if an arrid planet is next door research terran

5. Build Military Research

6. Build a few fridgates

7. *this is about 4-6 min in* Now i send my 4-6 fridgates nd colony ship to the closet planet with the most crystal (unless my HW has alot)

8. Build 2 defence platform on new planet get PU pop cap and fleet cap

9. send fleet to other close roid or planet

10. Build another civ bace and get adv crystal and 2/2 metal

11. **about 8-10min in** Get second colony take same steps as firs(defence pop cap fleetcap)

12. Build 2nd mitary platform and start on getting flak and javlis (only get the Protov Seige if needed)

13. *15-20min* Now I have 3 planets the basic military upgrades, all the econ upgrades a small fleet of about 7-10 ships, Now that my econ is going I start pumping out more ships (javlis and flak) I normall build a second lt. factory too.

14. Upgrade the planets alittle more with logistcs, tacticle and fleet slots

15. Now about 20-25 min I go out looking for a fight. From this point stratgy depends on whats going on in the planets and astroids around you. I have no problem if i get raided because defence platforms are up and running on all planets and My ships are upgraded. I also have a stable economy to produce more or buy fleet spots.

Steps 1-3 are solid in just about any game. Step 4 varies by which race you're playing as the tech trees are totally different from what's in Beta 4, as is the resource/economic system (well not totally different on these, but somewhat changed) - plus which planets are closest to you. I would do 6 before 5 always - again, depends somewhat on the race you're playing and the map. Point 7 is no longer valid as a general strategy, depending on the map. Point 8 is good, but planets no longer control fleet cap.

The rest are somewhat wishful thinking. Again, it comes down to the map and odds are you're going to be in a fight well before you get that far.   If you want more time to expand, then stick to the small maps (with 1 AI player). After you step-up to Medium and Large maps, it gets a lot tougher.