View source for Mechanics

{{Version|2.5}}
'''Mechanics''' are aspects of the game which require detailed discussion. Herein is a brief about each mechanic and a link to a more detailed page.

== Exploration ==
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| [[File:Fungoid massive 12.png|24px|link=]] || [[Species]] || 2.8 || Planet-based intelligent life, divided into species class groups and defined by their traits.
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| [[File:Fanatic Spiritualist.png|24px|link=]] || [[Ethics]] || 2.8 || Ethics represent an empire's official view on different subjects, like other species, science and religion, war and personal freedom. Each pop has its own attraction to each ethic representing its own values. 
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| || [[Traits]] || 2.8 || A species' traits define their qualities and modify their resource output, housing and amenity needs and empire sprawl per pop.
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| {{icon|Trait point}} || [[Population modification]] || 2.8 || The act of modifying a species' traits in order to make them more (or sometimes less) beneficial to an empire.
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| [[File:Trait ruler explorer.png|24px|link=]] || [[Exploration]] || 2.8 || A core component of the game, every empire needs to engage in it. Usually done by science ships. 
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| || [[FTL]] || 2.8 || Faster than light travel. The main method of closing distances between stars. Includes: hyperlane travel, tactical jumps, experimental subspace navigation, wormholes and gateways.
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| || [[Anomaly]] || 2.8 || An irregularity winch occurs while surveying a planet. It can be researched by a scientist in a science ship and often leads to events.
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| [[File:PM Chthonian Planet.png|24px|link=]] || [[Celestial body]] || 2.8 || Stars, planets moons and asteroids, from which resources can often be exploited. Planets and moons can also often be colonized or terraformed.
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| [[File:Alien Pets.png|24px|link=]] || [[Spaceborne aliens]] || 2.8 || AI-controlled nations or fleets, without any colonized planets.
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| [[File:Alien extradimensional 01.png|18px|link=]] || [[Crisis]] || 2.8 || Crises are difficult end-game event chains with enough strength to either unite or destroy the galaxy.
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| [[File:Leader trait scroll.png|24px|link=]] || [[Events]] || 2.8 || Events occur throughout the game. They can be both positive or negative.
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| || [[Fallen Empires]] || 2.8 || Age-old empires fallen from grace. They can influence galactic politics in mostly minor ways, or awaken to try and reclaim their long lost glory.
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| [[File:Trait indolent.png|24px|link=]] || [[Pre-FTL species]] || 2.8 || Can be primitives or pre-sapients. Primitives are civilizations, which started ascending the steps of the technological ladder, but not yet mastered FTL travel. Pre-sapients are species with limited sapience. They can be uplifted by more advanced civilizations.
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| || [[Colonization]] || 2.8 || Empires can colonize planets in order to bring them under their control, exploiting its resources.
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| || [[Terraforming]] || 2.8 || Empires can terraform planets to make them more (or less) habitable for certain species.
|}

== Empire ==
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| || [[Empire]] || 2.8 || A group of planets and star systems that are ruled by the same government and controlled by a single acting entity
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| [[File:Direct Democracy.png|24px|link=]] || [[Government]] || 2.8 || Government types fall into one of three broad categories: autocracies, oligarchies and democracies.
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| [[File:Edicts.png|24px|link=]] || [[Policies]] || 2.8 || Empire-wide laws of behaviour that outline the empire's governing precepts
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| [[File:Edicts.png|24px|link=]] || [[Edicts]] || 2.8 || Instant or temporary modifiers which can be applied to either a single planet or an entire empire 
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| [[File:Trait ruler military pioneer.png|24px|link=]] || [[Leader]] || 2.8 || Characters that are significant in an empire. Leaders have traits associated with them and belong to one of these categories: Rulers, Governors, Scientists, Admirals or Generals
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| [[File:Army rebel.png|24px|link=]] || [[Factions]] || 2.8 || Powerful political groups within the empire based on the population's ethics
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| || [[Population]] || 2.8 || The empire species, divided into units called pops
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| {{icon|enc}} || [[Economy]] || 2.8 || Production, use and transformation of resources
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| [[File:Building modern 2.png|24px|link=]] || [[Buildings]] || 2.8 || Planetary structures that provide jobs for pops or have some other planetary effect
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| || [[Technology]] || 2.8 || 
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| || [[Traditions]] || 2.8 || Bonus and abilities unlocked with Unity
|}

== Diplomacy ==
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| [[File:Diplomacy alliance.png|24px|link=]] || [[Diplomacy]] || 2.8 || Available diplomatic actions, attitude and opinion modifiers
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| [[File:Diplomacy isvassal.png|24px|link=]] || [[Subject empire]] || 2.8 || Empires which fall under other empires' control or jurisdiction
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| [[File:Diplomacy federation.png|24px|link=]] || [[Federation]]s || 2.8 || A group of empires in a semi-autonomous union with a rotating leadership
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| [[File:Diplomatic trade icon.png|24px|link=]] || [[Trade]] || 2.8 || Trade options between two empires
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| [[File:Army xenomorph.png|24px|link=]] || [[AI personalities]] || 2.8 || AI behaviour patterns as dictated by their randomly assigned personality types
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| {{icon|Intel}} || [[Intel]]  ||3.0|| Information about other empires Espionage
|}

== Warfare ==
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| [[File:Army assault.png|24px|link=]] || [[Warfare]] || 2.8 || 
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| [[File:Damage vs country type.png|24px|link=]] || [[Space warfare]] || 2.8 || Spaceships organized in fleets for engaging in space battles and conquering star systems
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| [[File:Diplomacy war.png|24px|link=]] || [[Land warfare]] || 2.8 || Ground forces for invading and defending planets as well as handling out of control rebellions
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| [[File:Menu icon ship designer.png|24px|link=]] || [[Ship designer]] || 2.8 || A tool for creating and customizing of new or existing ship and station templates
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| || [[Ship]] || 2.8 || 
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| || [[Starbase]] || 2.8 || A large space station that serves as a planets' orbital construction facility which can also be used for defense purposes
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== Meta ==
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| || [[Modding]] || 2.5 || 
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| || [[Patches]] || ~ || 
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| || [[Downloadable content]] || 2.8 || 
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| || [[Achievements]] || 2.8 || 
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| [[File:Unknown.png|24px|link=]] || [[User interface]] || 2.7 || 
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[[Category:Game concepts|#]]