The StarShips pages contain a library of game boards to choose from when creating a game. There are two StarShip sections: Fleet and Prototype.

New StarShip designs start out in the Prototype Section and after a test cycle, they are either promoted to the Fleet or destroyed. Click here for more information about the promotion procedure.

To create a game, click on the thumbnail of the StarShip of interest.

To see a larger view of the StarShip, click on its preview button.

The Fleet

RRS Nucleus Launch Date: 1/26/2002 Class: Infinity Builder: JoeBot Missions: 209 Damage: 6 Example

If a StarShip is in the Fleet section, the design has been finalized and will not change in the future. These are the ships which are typically destined for the front line in the war effort. When serving on a StarShip from the Fleet, game performance statistics are recorded during gameplay, and affect your ranking. A Fleet database entry displays: a thumbnail of the StarShip, its launch date, its class, the name of the builder, the number of missions that it completed, and the amount of hull damage it has. In addition, a preview button is available to get a larger view of the vessel.

Prototypes

RRS Enterprise Launch Date: 3/14/2002 Version: 3 Class: Infinity Builder: JoeBot is NOT READY Missions: 14 Damage: 6        Example

If a StarShip is in the Prototype section, its design is a work in progress. While its layout will not change while you're playing it, it may be different the next time you create a game with it. Keep an eye on its version number to determine if it has changed. When you serve on a Prototype vessel, performance statistics are not recorded. This gives you a chance to test a new design without it affecting your rankings. If you win the prototype game, however, your "StarShip Prototypes Tested" statistic is incremented, and you are eligible to win the Test Pilot Award. After your prototype game is finished, please write a review about the design in the COM Center's StarShip Design forum. This will help the builder determine whether the design is complete, or whether it needs more work. A Prototype database entry displays: a thumbnail of the StarShip, its launch date, a version number, its class, the name of the builder, the number of missions that it completed, and the amount of hull damage it has. In addition, a preview button is available to get a larger view of the vessel, and a deletion button allows the builder to destroy the vessel.

StarShip Class

StarShips come in many shapes and sizes. The overall size can be determined by looking at the class:

• StarBase: >= 324 tiles
• Infinity: >= 225 tiles
• Constellation: >= 169 tiles (Standard)
• Stellar: >= 81 tiles
• Shuttle Craft: < 81 tiles



• Arena: any StarShip without inspection points regardless of size

Keep in mind that larger ships tend to result in longer games.

Promotion Procedure

StarShips can be built using StarShip Builder.

Before building a ship, you should become familiar with the policies and procedures which are used to go from a design in your head to a playable Fleet worthy ship.

The StarShip Design Principles are guidelines to help you build a fun and interesting StarShip. Give the document a quick read, as it'll save you the trouble of making common design mistakes.

When your ship is ready for its maiden voyage you can upload it to the StarShip Prototype page on the EyePlay Games server, using the StarShip Uploader.

All StarShips start out as Prototypes. To become a functioning member of the Fleet , the Prototype vessel must first be evaluated by the StarShip Design Committee.

The goal of the StarShip Design Committee is to prevent ships with design flaws from becoming part of the Fleet. A design flaw is anything that negatively affects playability, with the most common flaws being outlined in the StarShip Design Principles.

This is an interactive process between the StarShip Builder and the StarShip Design Committee.

To start the evaluation process, the Builder must create a discussion topic in the StarShip Design Forum and then press their prototype StarShip's ready button. This will inform the Committee that the StarShip is ready for evaluation.

The Committee will review the design, test its playability, and provide constructive feedback to the Builder via the StarShip's discussion topic.

The Builder must listen to Committee feedback, and make design changes as necessary, in a timely fashion.

The Builder does not have to incorporate Committee suggestions if the intent of the suggestion is not to fix a flaw with playability.

The Committee will vote on all prototypes in the Voting Booth. A committee member cannot cast a vote for their own StarShip Designs.

If 11 (or more) members of the 20 bot Committee vote in favor of promotion, the StarShip will be promoted to the Fleet.