Global Game Network
A Guide to Galactic Command, by Clown Guy (AKA Clowns)

I suggest reading the Galactic Command instructions before reading this guide, or at least having them available for reference.

Introduction

Galactic Command is one of the games you can play at global game network, and is definitely my favorite. During this sites hiatus while being updated, I truly missed this game. The game play is similar to that of games like chess or poker where your options are fairly limited but the tides of the game are based off how players use those options. The tactics of the game are what make it so enjoyable.

Purpose of the Guide

A new player can be crushed within a day by making a simple mistake and then notice a significant increase in skill by fixing that same simple mistake next game. However, I've seen many players experience such defeats and never try the game again. Although the game isn't very complex, all elements of the game must be considered from the time players make their first decisions. Simple mistakes can be made due to inexperience that result in a quick loss and a long waiting period before trying again. People that quit after only one try will never get to enjoy this game like I have.

I am writing this guide to help players get a better understanding of the game before they play so that they can make more informed decisions and get a decent start. I am not going to provide specific tactics, but rather an overview of game play. I hope this guide will help players understand how the instruction guide material is utilized in the game. My ultimate goal is to increase the number of new and return players which is good news for all players.

THE GUIDE

What is the Goal of this Game?

The goal of this game is for a player or alliance (up to 3 people) to wipe out their enemies and control 200 planets. The planets provide the resources needed to wage this war and are simply cash and minerals. Cash and minerals are the key variables in this game as all actions involve their use. Cash comes from the population of the planet and the resources come from mining the available ore on the planet.

The Importance of Atmosphere and Cash

Planets cost you $10,000 per 15 minutes that you control it. Each population unit provides $1 per 15 minutes. Population goes up over time until it is capped due to the atmosphere level of the planet which determines how many people can survive on the surface. Each atmosphere supports 500 people, so any planet with under 20% atmosphere will always cost you money to hold. On the other hand, a planet with 100% atmosphere will hold 50,000 people which means you could be eventually making $40,000 every 15 minutes from that planet. That cash is necessary to compete in this game, and therefore high atmosphere planets are highly prized. Even if you run them dry of minerals, they will always be providing cash.

The Minerals

All the tools of war you can produce involve minerals and include all ships and planet defensive structures. Basically, more minerals is always better.

Atmosphere is Generally More Important Than Minerals

Cash and minerals are both used to build things, but cash is used to build everything. More cash will allow you to not only build more ships and weapons, but also will help you make your ships ands weapons stronger through research. Atmosphere is also constant while minerals can be mined, moved, and used.

Research and the Math of Galactic Command

The most complex part of learning this game is learning the math in the game and how it applies to the game. The instructions explain it better than I can, so I would suggest studying those so that you understand movement, combat, and turns. You have to know what the stats mean and how they interact, such as weapons and shield level. Once you know that, the basic concept of research and how it applies to the game should come naturally.

Key Instruction Guide Material Reviewed
  • When attacking ship to ship, the attacker strikes first. If you do enough damage to kill their ship, their ship will be destroyed before it can fire back.
  • When attacking planets, the planet fires first. Say you have weapons 10, and believe that a planet has less than 10 defense stations. If the planet can do enough damage to destroy your ship, don't attack. The planet will fire first, your ship will die and the planet will remain in enemy hands.
  • Your enemies planets can do damage to your ships just for entering their orbit. The formula for that damage is in the instructions and is very important as it can help you estimate the number of defense stations they have.
  • All math is rounded in the normal fashion to whole numbers.
  • Ships can still attack while being repaired, but can not move. No matter how many times you repair the ship during a day, the ship will be able to move when turns reset at 9:00.

General Tips
  • Focus on only one research option at a time. Basically, if you start researching something, plan to continue researching it until you get to the next level. Your strength is tied to your research levels.
  • Don't be afraid to waste scout ships. The information they provide is usually well worth their cost.
  • Always have some sort of strategy and base your decisions on that strategy. Be decisive.
  • Alliances are basically necessary to win. Make your alliance choices carefully, and if you learn you can't trust a certain person, don't ally with them in the future. Of course, you should also make an effort to be a good ally. Don't be discouraged if a more experienced player is reluctant to ally with you as they are also trying to make the best alliance possible as well.
  • If you think there is a chance your planets will be attacked, defend them.
  • Keep your war ships safe, which usually means keeping them far away from enemy space.
  • Set up an income you wish to receive from your planets to fund your war effort. If you find you have more cash than you can use, that means you didn't use it when you should have, on research.
Game Play is basically divided up into different stages. Although tactics used differ, most players use similar strategies during each stage. A general knowledge of these stages is a helpful tool, especially if you have never played during that stage before. Stages flow into each other so future stages must be prepared for.

Early Game Info and Tips (Days 1-3 Approx.)

Primary Resource Necessity: Cash
Primary Minerals Needed: Iron
Primary Strategy: Expansion through colonization
Secondary Strategy: Information Gathering
Other Strategies: Alliance (Diplomatic) Choices
Planet Selection Criteria: Atmosphere, planets with unusually high mineral levels
  • The first planet you colonize must have a good atmosphere. This planet is your initial proverbial cash cow as it will be your first planet to start making money and first to reach its atmosphere capped population. Above 90 atmosphere is good, and near 100 is great. Between 80-90 is playable, but not recommended the closer it gets to 80. Below 80 percent atmosphere is not recommended for your first planet.
  • The first planet you colonize must have enough iron to build your first colony ships, as well as the spaceport and shipyard your first planet needs. It needs to have at least 1000, with closer to 2000 being what you really want to have.
  • The first planet you colonize must have enough titanium to build defense, and to build a cruiser if early attacking is a tactic you plan to use the first couple days. Titanium is not as important as iron immediately. You really only need between 100-200 for defense the first few days. Closer to 500 is recommended, even if you don't plan to attack, since a situation may arise where attacking would be a logical tactic to consider.
  • The first planet you colonize must have enough fuel for early colonizing, unless you have a lot of unused fuel from your original colony ship. Fuel really isn't a factor at all yet, and to this day I have never had to not choose a planet as my first because of fuel. I can't even remember if I have ever seen a planet with that little fuel ore.
  • On your first planet, build a spaceport and shipyard right away, and build an appropriate number of refineries to mine each ore based on how much of that resource you will need and when you will need it (this choice must be made with every planet you colonize).
  • Your primary objective during this stage is to expand and get the best planets you can. The number of planets one has and their quality is the source their power.
  • Each game of Galactic Command is unique. This fact stems mainly due to your location relative to other players and individual planet variables. Don't be afraid to build a scout ship in order to scan planets close to you. The amount of information shared with or received from other players is a personal preference.
  • Once you have the information to do so, you should seek out alliances. Most alliances are formed early.
  • Defend your planets if there is any chance they will be attacked.
  • Attacking may be a tactic to consider within the first couple days if you have to take out a close enemy. However, the earlier the attack, the more you must be sure it is the right move to make. Attacking is more expensive than defending, and this is most evident early when cash is scarce.
Middle Game Info and Tips (Days 4-8 Approx)

Primary Resource Necessary: Cash
Primary Minerals Needed: Iron and Titanium
Primary Strategy: Expansion through any means necessary
Secondary Strategy: Increasing technology levels
Other Strategies: None
Planet Selection Criteria: All must be considered except fuel
  • During the early part of this stage there will probably still be some planets worth colonizing that you can be the first to grab and you should grab any planets that can help you. If you are already in a fierce battle with someone, this could even include planets with average minerals and very low atmosphere. There are only so many planets, get whatever is worth getting.
  • By the early part of this stage you should have a pretty good idea of what you and your alliances space is. Defend that space. Don't be afraid to colonize a bad planet in order to solidify a border with an enemy. Having enemies within your space is bad, you want them to attack from the outside not from within.
  • You will most likely start fighting someone during this stage if you have not already. You need to expand and its getting to the point where in order for you to gain, another must lose. Be prepared.
  • As each day passes, the technology race becomes more important, a driving force behind expansion.
  • If you are still in contention, you should have enough minerals to devise tactics with. However, you will start to notice the importance of titanium when waging war.
Pre Nova Stage (Days 8-12 approx)

Primary Resource Necessary: Both Cash and Minerals
Primary Minerals Needed: Titanium
Primary Strategy: Get to weapons 10 and nova first
Secondary Strategy: Attack in order to accomplish first strategy
Other Strategies: Pray
Planet Selection Criteria: Anything you don't want your enemy to have
  • You are most likely in a war of attrition with someone. Even if you are winning, you probably are not gaining much. You will be expending lots of resources to take planets that you would not have during the early stage.
  • Your primary objective is to be prepared to launch a nova before your enemy. If you and your enemy are both in contention, you will not destroy your enemy during this stage.
  • Titanium is King
  • Work as team as much as possible (if you are allied). Help your allies out and don't be afraid to ask for help.
  • Prepare an emergency plan if you will or may be hit with the nova first. One thing you should definitely do is print your planet report if you will survive the nova. You will know which planets to retake first in case you get hit.
Nova Stage (Days 13 - ?)

Primary Resource Necessary: Minerals and Turns
Primary Minerals Needed: All
Primary Strategy: Elimination of enemies
Secondary Strategy: colonizing the void left by novas
Other Strategies:
Planet Selection Criteria: Minerals, Location
  • You may have been able to get this point without an alliance, but now is when you notice their true importance. A lot of turns are needed during this stage and you will always wish you had more. An alliance of three will have three times as many as a single player, and will usually have more combines resources by this point than a single player.
  • Your goal during this stage is for you and your alliance to launch novas at your enemies and kill them. Colonize as seemed necessary.
Cleanup and Victory Stage (Time Varies)

Primary Resource Necessary: Minerals and Turns
Primary Minerals Needed: Fuel and Iron
Primary Strategy: Finishing off enemies and colonizing 200 planets
Secondary Strategy: none
Other Strategies: none
Planet Selection Criteria: iron and fuel
  • This stage starts when victory is assured. Your enemies are crushed and you just need to finish them off. If this was a long and intense game, chances are even the winning team is low on resources. Titanium shouldn't be a factor if you have enough ships to eliminate your enemy, but iron and fuel will be needed to colonize, and excellent resource management may still be needed.
That is just about all the information I can give without getting into very specific tactics. I hope it helped. See you in the next game hopefully.

The End





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