Each choice you make during assembly will ultimately impact your journey. Will you focus on Combat or take the more passive route and load up on Mining modules? Do you select a balanced crew or choose one that best supports your favorite activities? Once your journey begins, you’ll discover a number of Enhancements for your ship, but finding the right combination is never easy…

Tips:
Select the resources that best meet the needs of the modules you’ve installed on your ship.
o Resource counts on board can be maximized by shared requirements across modules

Resource availability varies per planet – Update your module choices to match the desired route
o Multiple play sessions will reveal each planet’s resource combination

Balanced Resource Requirements

There are 4 Captain Bios to choose from, each with a unique gameplay benefit

Play with each to see which best fits your style of play / approach
o Scientist (+5 Eng) is very useful for combat and ship events
o Military Officer (+5 Tgh) great for combat and planet exploration
o Businessman (Trade Discount) perfect if you rely on alien traders
o Survivalist (% Success Bonus) works for those who like risky exploration

The massive world of Into the Stars is yours to explore, but no approach to your new home of Titus Nova is free from peril. Each of the 90 sectors in this system present unique opportunities along with challenges, and only you can find the path to success. Along the way you’ll discover countless Planets to investigate, Obstacles to avoid and Aliens both Hostile and Friendly. Not all interactions will be of your own choosing, but using sound judgement with each is critical to your survival.

Tips:
Resource gathering is advised at every opportunity
o Quickly get what you can from planets before moving on to avoid the Skorn
o Not every planet will have what you need, so focus on critical resources

Shuttle and Mining Rig missions will put your Crew in danger, but they can be quite rewarding
o The lower the % of Success the greater the potential reward
o Crew injury and death is a possibility, so choose wisely
o Parts/Enhancements/Crew Members/Module Replacements found on Shuttle Missions

The 10,000 Civilians on board consume a lot of resources
o As they perish, consumption rates for Life Support / Protein Sequencer will reduce
o Civilian population impacts your Final Score – They’re not totally expendable

Crew are needed for all Interactions, but they’re not available if On Task / in Sick Bay
o They can be pulled from these assignments in the Crew Screen even while in combat
o Wise to keep Crew in reserve for Combat / Interactions

Some Enhancements can reduce the resource cost for your Modules
o Apply them when you’re running low to stretch your resource availability

The Skorn won’t be satisfied with the destruction of your home planet and will be tracking your movements. Avoiding combat is in your best interest, so it’s advised you keep moving and resist the urge to linger in any one sector for too long. You should also steer clear of Patrols and approach Traders with caution as the hostile Menkhet often conceal themselves by using friendly vessels. If you do come into contact, use the frequencies of your Battle Stations to block enemy shots and ensure yours penetrate their shields.

Tips:
Use Management Mode (Pause Game) to gather yourself and examine your ship’s status
o Check on Module HP / Ship Hull HP in Engineering Screen
o Determine if Enhancements are still active
o Apply Repair Parts to prolong / recover from Combat

Understanding Frequencies is CRITICAL for combat (See Below)
Target enemy Modules to facilitate engagements and reduce damage taken (See Below)


Use Red Enhancements on Combat Systems to reduce charge time

Pause Game and Enhancement usage should increase with number of Enemies faced
o Attempt to block multiple shots at once by timing your Deflect

Countless difficulties await you on this journey, and as Captain you must do everything in your power to protect the crew and civilians of the Ark 13. By properly managing your resources, maintaining your modules and handling events on the ship you’ll be well on your way. But a truly successful voyage to Titus Nova will require you to make difficult choices, and whether you’re mining for resources or searching for vital repair parts your crew will always be at risk.

Tips:
Keep Moving – The Skorn are on your tail!
o The more damage you take, the longer you’ll spend attempting to recover
o You can manage your ship in flight and should do so to keep Threat Levels low

Pause Game is your friend – Use it at any time to take stock of your situation

Use the time after combat to lick your wounds
o After each engagement, floor your engines and head towards your next destination
o This is a great time to fix up your ship and Crew

Don’t be discouraged – Success comes in many forms
o Whether you limp into Titus Nova with a couple Crew Members or make it there mostly intact, you’ll be a hero for all of humanity