Overview

Welcome to AD2460!
So you've decided to give AD2460 a shot. You've already visited the game website , registered, received your password, and are now logged in. You will be presented with the game's UI, at the default screen of 'Homeworld'. it will look a lot like the below screen. We'll go into plenty of detail about what you're looking at, what the options are, and how to get started in a bit. First, let's talk a bit about the background of the game.

Before AD2460
A few pop up windows illustrate the background of the game and the conflict you will be entering into. They are as follows:

The Reckoning
"Throughout time, mankind has always measured time in relation to certain significant events. Our way of counting is no different. According to our records, our current prefix is actually older than our year-count. It used to have a religious significance, though as we all know, it now marks the end of our planet of origin, the planet Earth. 'After Destruction' (AD) is rarely in use, but when we use it, it is always a reminder of our history and where we came from. It is the one thing that unites us in this infinite universe.

Excerpt from the text

 'Pasts and Predictions' 

by Archdoctorate Emol Gras

The Scattering
AD2460 is set in the distant future, where mankind has been scattered, mostly by their own free will, across the universe. They have created their own cultures and traditions, in many cases based on ancient national or religious customs inherited from different regions of Earth.

The ability to travel throughout the universe was discovered very late in the historical cycle of Earth. A gate that would allow ships to travel almost infinite distances in an instant was discovered on the outskirts of the solar system, as space travel became more prevalent. No one knows where the gate came from, or who constructed it, but it was soon discovered that it was not an uncommon structure at all. The universe was littered with them. To date, no real clues as to their age or construction has been revealed, but mankind has nevertheless made good use of the gates, and they are in daily use throughout the known universe.

Once the function of the gates was discovered, and its use no longer restricted, the scattering began. Groups of people began to travel outwards to find habitable planets in other star systems and galaxies. With this, the slow exodus from the Sol system began. For hundreds of years, settlements were created and new nations evolved, as well as new conflicts.

It was unnoticeable at first, but over time, it became apparent that new technologies and research was moving at a rapidly decreasing rate. The population of Earth had declined over a long period, and as a result, manpower throughout the established society was becoming an increasingly critical problem. It was also known on the other inhabited planets that maintaining technologies and infrastructures was becoming problematic as the population grew.

The result of this is now known as The Scattering. It wasn't just the scattering of people, but also a watering down of all knowledge, a decline in all manner of production, as well as an almost complete standstill in research.

Realignment of Power
Over the next centuries, lines of communication became more open between Earth and all the other new planets. Cooperation increased, but it was slow. Historians compared this new situation to historical eras where everything required more time. Travel times, time to relay information, and time to clear up misinformation and disagreements. Things were not as efficient or instantaneous as before. Until now, a lot of the new planets were founded on a collective idea or the notion of being a unified nation. Over centuries, the new planets also grew into societies where political polarization increased, and with this, a realignment of many of the political structures that were present after The Scattering.

The new planets had found new and valuable resources. Trade increased, but also tension, as it became apparent that not everyone was dealt the same hand in this game. Trade conflicts arose, and along with this, a slowly emerging arms race began to take shape. Everything was still very slow. Production was limited, transportation was not considerable, and the only nation with any real military power was Earth. Regardless, with the new situation in the universe, Earth was in an increasingly defensive position, and needed to assert its power before newer nations could rise to rival it.

The result was disastrous.

2460
Although no conclusive reports remain, it is theorized that scientists on Earth were working on a weapon that would be able to target entire planets, and destroy them. Unfortunately, Earth was its first and most likely only victim. The realignment of power in the universe was complete. Almost every other nation was in its infancy in comparison to Earth, and the only link binding all other nations together was now severed.

Some lines of communication were still open, but over time, each nation became more introverted, interested mostly in its own survival and progress. Minor wars broke out sporadically over access to resources. Alliances were forged and broken, but no major empires emerged. And so it has been for a long time. The gates allow travel to and from almost every habitable planet, but increasingly militaristic systems make travel not only prohibitive, but also in many cases, dangerous.

This is still the situation in 2460.

The Game
AD2460 is a browser-based MMO, like many before it. In this case, it is the spiritual successor to Planetarion by developers Fifth Season. An overview trailer can be viewed here.

It is a game composed of three primary elements:
 * Long term, paced changes
 * Every decision you make takes time. Most buildings, developments, research, and production (as well as Missions) will take minutes, hours, or even days to complete. This is not a game of instant payoff, but of delayed gratification after planning a succession of moves to lead to the resulting changes. Decisions matter.
 * Alliances and Enemies
 * It is unlikely anyone will succeed alone in this game. It is very social. You will want to join an Alliance, probably earlier than later, to avoid being attacked and alone. Enemies exist everywhere. You are ripe for the picking if you are a lone gunman, but your Alliance will also open you up to conflict. This is the spice of the game and fuels many decisions you make.
 * Combat
 * Combat plays out visually and is often brutal. The build up of a fleet, the production of ships and grooming of Commanders can come to a head and end swiftly. A sweeping victory is fist pump worthy, but a devastating loss can set you back hours or days. Combat occurs at your Homeworld and Outposts, and can come at any time.

Getting Started
That screen up top? It has a lot of info and ... well, things, on it. Let's go over them. Starting from the top left, we'll work our way around the edges, then cover the middle four panels.
 * On top there are the resources, and hovering over them will tell you more information.
 * Clicking on any of them will bring up a drop down menu with additional information about each one:
 * Capacity - The total amount of the resource you can store.
 * In Trade - The amount currently being traded.
 * Fill Level - The percentage of the Capacity currently in use.
 * Icon and Description - There will also be a icon of the 'Table of Elements' number and name, as well as a brief description of the resource.


 * Hassium - Used by everyone, this is a resource you will always want to have some of. In the three Tech Trees you will specify a secondary resource, but Hassium is the primary one used by all.
 * "Hassium has been found to be one of the most versatile elements in the galaxy. In ancient times, it was largely disregarded, but has shown itself to be extremely useful in many of the important processes of material production. It is also used in many chemical processes, and even as part of many end-products in the galaxy of today."
 * Indium - This secondary resource is used in great quantities by those who choose the InTech Tech Tree spec.
 * "Indium was a common metal in the old days, but it is now rarer, and it's properties are widely regarded as exceptional, especially in certain alloys which will strengthen metals to exceedingly high levels. At its most sophisticated, it can create incredibly strong constructions with relatively little material."
 * Strontium - This secondary resource is used in great quantities by those who choose the StronTech Tech Tree spec.
 * "Strontium has come to be a main proponent of energy amplification, and is a key component in the energy technology branch of research. It is used both in the production of weapons as well as propulsion systems, and even works as part of the energy storage systems."
 * Neodymium - This secondary resource is used in great quantities by those who choose the NeoTech Tech Tree spec.
 * "Neodymium has always been known for its high magnetic property. It is an absolute necessity in the displacement technology field, as it can, with the right treatment, become a very powerful field-adjustment component, and has been proven to affect gravitational fields to great effect."


 * In the upper left, this is where you will find your primary navigation list. The six main parts of the game are: Homeworld, Outposts, Alliance, Military, Missions, and Starmap. Below is a brief description, but their respective pages go into further detail.
 * Homeworld - This is the screen you are seeing above. This is the default home screen. You see all of your important Homeworld stats, places to manage your facilities, research, development, and production, and see statuses on all of your in progress actions.
 * Outposts - Exactly what it sounds like, this is the link to the screen where you will find applicable information related to your Outposts, their names, resource production and currently stored volume, etc.
 * Alliance - You will navigate here whenever you want to see various Alliance specific functions. Here you can view (or manage, if you have the appropriate rank in your Alliance), the Alliance Management, Members, Marketplace, and Alliance Development. This is all predicated on you being part of an Alliance first.
 * Military - Albeit named after the forces you command, this is also the place where you will manage non-combat fleet units alongside of combat fleet units. You will also recruit, interact, and assign Commanders here, view your combat log, and also see any applicable Intelligence.
 * Missions - Here you can view the available missions, completed ones, and those in progress (as applicable). These are presented in 'packs' or groups of missions that are successive or linked.
 * Starmap - Here you can view the entire galaxy and find outposts and targets to attack.
 * The middle area is the homeworld section, allowing you to enter the production, Homeworld, research, and development panels to build, upgrade, and develop your planet. The panel nearby displays your xp level, tech choice, score, location, planet name, and "outlook."
 * On the bottom left, there are a series of popups that display settings, the tech tree, your resource production, Personal Messages, Forums, and ways to support the developers. Click them to find out more, as you will need to be acquainted with them to understand the game.
 * On the bottom midsection, there is the galaxy, quadrant, and alliance chat where you can chat in real time.
 * On the Bottom Right there are the forums in which players discuss objects of interest.
 * Above that is the galaxy news with exciting and noteworthy battles and achievements.
 * On the Right hand side above the news is a panel displaying brief information about production, upgrades, research, and development, telling the amount of time left and what is upgrading.
 * On the top right corner is a box telling you news about when upgrades and productions are finished, as well as spy reports and other important information. Basically it gives you information about what has happened.