Open Space

Open Space is scheduled for a rework! More information will be available in early 2017.

Open space is the open world "sandbox mode" of Star Conflict, and is one of the major parts of the game. After choosing a faction, a player can undock from their faction's station and fly wherever they want, to do whatever they want. Options include:

• Completing missions (more on missions later).
• Fighting AI enemies, such as Aliens and Pirates.
• Fighting other players.
• Looking for resources and crafting materials.
• Moving to another faction's station.

Open Space Basics

"Listen up Mercs, these are the basics you need to know before blasting off!"

Systems and Sectors

Open Space is divided into several systems... these are the boxes on the map. In each system, there are multiple sectors (or "maps") where you fly around and interact with the Open World. You go to different sectors through Jump Gates, more on those soon.

Loot

There is a lot of junk floating around in space! Much of it is valuable, though: Loot items are rocks, crystals, spaceship parts, or containers that you can collect and place in your ship's cargo bay. Most enemies drop loot when they are destroyed, so don't be afraid to fight AI enemies if you are not having much luck with finding resources.

To pick up a piece of loot, fly close to it until the prompt appears ("press C to pick up ____")... and press [C]. You will have to wait a moment while your ship's tractor beam tows the cargo to your ship. When this is done, the loot appears in your Cargo Bay.

Cargo Bay

Each ship has space used for carrying whatever treasures you discover in Open Space back to base for credits, loyalty, or crafting materials. Each ship class has a limited number of cargo slots:

• Interceptors have 3 slots
• Fighters have 5 slots
• Frigates have 6 slots
• Destroyers have a whopping 12 slots

If you run out of space, or you don't want a particular piece of space junk, you can jettison it by activating the mouse curser and clicking on the object in your cargo bay (which can be shown by pressing [ i ]). You can pick jettisoned cargo back up if you want. If you destroy another player in Open Space, they will drop whatever they were carrying in their Cargo Bay as loot containers. This is the essence of Open Space pirating.

Fuel

Your ship has a fuel tank... without fuel, your engines won't work. You consume fuel for almost everything you do in Open Space, from using afterburners to active modules. You always start with 100 fuel (a full tank). You can find Fuel Cells (glowing cans of goodness) in nearly every sector, usually around destroyed cargo ships. But be careful, enemies often guard these Fuel caches...

When you pick up a Fuel Cell, it will automatically be used to fill your fuel tank. Any extra fuel goes into your cargo bay. You can use fuel in your cargo bay to refill your fuel tank by pressing [O]. This is extremely important: you can fill your cargo bay with fuel cells to keep yourself topped-off for long trips! As stated above, you can jettison any fuel you don't need.

Jump Gates

Jump Gates look like giant blue portals... which is exactly what they are. Jump Gates allow travel between different sectors and systems. However, warping vast distances use up a LOT of fuel... 25 fuel points each jump! Make sure to carry some fuel with you, especially if you will be making several jumps.

Blue gates are Jumps that are available to you. When you jump into a sector, you are invincible for a short time, or until you fire your weapons.

Red gates are Jumps that your ship cannot use because the ship your flying doesn't have a jump drive that's powerful enough. Flying up to a red Gate will display a message that tells you what rank ship you need to use that specific Jump Gate. Mouseing-over a sector on the map will also display what ship rank you need to access that sector.

There are huge, green portals with rocks floating around them. These are not ours... they are alien portals! jumping through one of these will send you to alien-controlled space. BE CAREFUL! Alien sectors are very dangerous, and are swarming with aliens! There are usually some good loot and lucrative missions in these sectors, though.

Station Protection

Automatically turned on by default, Station Protection prevents you from damaging yourself through collisions, and prevents other players from damaging you. This is meant to allow newer players to become accustomed to the game without being dominated by veteran players. This is also for long-time players who do not want to PvP in Open Space.

In certain sectors, Station Protection will be turned off, and such sectors are usually labeled "Dangerous Sector" or "PVP Sector" to warn you. Players can damage each other and you can take damage from collisions.

Missions and Quests

"Time to do some work for your faction! Your loyalty will be rewarded."

Missions

Missions are special assignments that members of a faction give you, in exchange for credits and synergy. This is explained more in-depth on another page, but the basics apply here:

You accept missions in the hanger of your faction's station. Once you have done this, a yellow ! appears over the sector where the mission takes place on the map. When you launch into Open Space, the yellow ! will float over Jump Gates that you need to go through to reach the mission area. A tally of the mission status is on the right side of the HUD.

When you have completed the mission, you must return to the station to receive your reward. If you die after completing a mission, you still get the reward!

Quests

Quests (AKA: "Jobs") are much the same as Missions, but you can have multiple Quests at the same time (up to 4) Quests are visible on the map as blue !, but they do not appear over Jump Gates. You must use the map to get to a quest sector. Upon entering the quest sector, you will be given a brief prompt informing you of what you need to accomplish.

When you complete a quest, the reward is given to you immediately. After completing the available quests, return to your faction's station to generate more!

• For both Missions and Quests, most of them are progressive. This means that, aside from assassination and escort missions, you can do some of the mission, die or log out, and come back to finish it later.

For example: You must collect 5 minerals in a sector. You fly there and collect 3 of them, but then you are ambushed by aliens and are killed! Your mission progress was saved, and next time you arrive to that sector, you will still only need to collect 2 more minerals!

AI NPCs

"Your ship has guns for a reason... there are many who do not share your faction loyalty!"

Enemies There are many enemies you will encounter in Open Space. They get harder the further away from the stations you go, and the higher ranked the sector is. All enemies except certain aliens will attack you if you get too close (around 3000m) or if you attack them. Here are the basic enemies:

• Pirates

Exactly what they sound like. In higher-ranked sectors, they will shoot missiles and use active modules on you!

• Cartel Pilots

Black Market dealers and thugs... much like the Pirates, they will shoot missiles and use modules in higher-ranked sectors.

• Cybers

Jericho renegades and rebels, these pilots generally fly Jericho ships, and act much like pirates/Cartel above.

• Cargo Ships (usually Cybers)

See Cargo Ships / Escorts below.

• Biomorphs (aliens)

Glowing-green rocklike creatures. Some look like human ships, others look totally bizarre. They mostly use EM weapons and make odd sounds when they are angry. There are different types of aliens.

Allies

There are a number of allied NCPs you will come across as well. These will be on your team as long as you don't shoot at them. If you damage them, they will likely revert to an enemy and will fire back. Guards/Police units and Cargo Escorts will radio all players in the sector for help if they are attacked by AI enemies or hostile players, and helping the allied AI when the call for help will increase your reputation (more on this later). Here are most of them:

• Imperial Guardsmen, Military Police, Federal Sheriffs, and Family Guard.

These AI come in squads of four, and will roam about a sector and engage any enemies they come across. Think twice about getting on their bad side... they are rather powerful!

• Miners, Explorers, and Scavengers.

Weak NPCs, they come in groups of 3 or may be alone. They are somewhat weak, and often attacked by hostile AI. They do not call for help when attacked.

• Cargo Ships and their Escorts.

Cargo ships are large, slow vessels that cruise through sectors carrying cargo from one Jump Gate to another. They are escorted by 3-4 Escort ships what will fire upon enemy ship that attack the Cargo ship or get too close. They will call out for help when attacked.

Neutral

There is only one "neutral" NPC: Bounty Hunters. Sometimes, they are friendly, sometimes hostile. They are very tough tanks that can take a lot of damage and will fire long-range missiles at you if hostile.

Karma (reputation)

"You can make a name for yourself, either a good one or otherwise"

There is a reputation system in Star Conflict, referred to as "Karma". Doing "good" actions such as destroying hostile NPCs and helping allied NPCs that have called for help, will increase your Karma rating (shown at the top of the HUD). Getting enough Karma will allow you to gain Karma levels, which other players can see when they lock onto you. In this way, another player can assess whether you are a friendly player or a dangerous one.

Doing "bad" actions, such as attacking friendly NPCs and allied facilities will earn you negative Karma. If you get enough, you can be labeled as a "wanted" or a "criminal". If you are labeled in this way, you will be attacked by friendly as well as enemy NCPs! It is also very difficult to return to the station without dying in this state, since the missile defense batteries surrounding each station, as well as the local guard units, will attack on sight.

Attacking other players and friendly NPCs while you are not a "criminal" will simple result in you gaining "aggressor" status for a period of time. The effects are similar to "Criminal" status, but the effects will go away after a short time.

Color Coding

"Your scanner system will automatically identify friend from foe"

When you spot another ship, it will be highlighted by a specific color, denoting it's disposition towards you / your faction:

• Blue

Friendly. Blue AI will not attack you and Blue players have "good" Karma.

• Green

Players who are in your squad. You cannot damage squad members.

• Red

Enemies. Red AI will attack you, and Red players have either "Aggressor" or "Criminal" status.

• Purple

Aliens and Cybers. Will attack you on sight or within a certain distance.

• Yellow

Players who have bad Karma... be cautious!

WIP