Overview
The game menu is the “pause” menu that you get by pressing the esc button on your keyboard or by pressing the start/menu button on your controller. This part will cover the right hand side only, as the left one will be in the other chapter.
Geminipedia
Geminipedia is the first of your options in the game menu if we start from the top and work our way to the bottom. This encyclopedia of all that is Gemini contains a lot of background information about everything that you can find on your travels. There are thirteen categories which you can either select with your mouse, or scroll through using the R1/RB and L1/LB buttons on your controller. If you’ve just started to enjoy the SPGW title, your geminipedia will most likely be very thin, meaning it won’t have much entries in it aside the “Tutorials” tab. This is because in order to learn about something you have to discover it first. As you discover planets, ships, asteroids, landmarks, factions, stations, regions and such, you’ll get your entries. Entries contain descriptions and stories about the subject they’re entry of, which can give you more context if you’re a lore driven player.
Starchart
To Access the SPGW map, aka. The Starchart, you have to open the Game Menu and select the Starchart option, or, if you’re using the mouse and keyboard, you can use the default keybind which is the M button. To select an object on the starchart, you use the left mouse button or X/A button if you’re using the controller. This action will open the infopanel on the left hand side of the screen, if it’s available for the object you’ve selected. You can also order your ship to move through the starchart panel, and you do that by using the right mouse button or R2/RT button on your controller. You can also chain commands using the SHIFT+Right Mouse button combination, or the L1/LB+R2/RT combination, if you’re playing on a controller. If you’re using a controller, you can use the Select/View button to open up some additional information boxes about the objects on the starchart, as well as the resource panel that’s located above the starchart itself. As for the Starchart content, with the Rise of Numibia DLC there are now two different starchart maps available for exploring. The Numibia starchart partly contains the vanilla starchart locations and objects, with the addition of new planets and structures.
Vanilla
The original starchart that you play on during your story driven scenarios, or any other scenarios that do not include the Numibia factions, is made up of 50 regions. Each of this regions has anywhere from two to five zones. It contains sixteen planets and two suns.
Numibia
The starchart that was introduced with the arrival of the Rise of Numibia DLC is somewhat different than the original one, with the addition of new zones, planets and factions.
Records
Records panel will bring up information about your captain and his/her ship. There you can see what level you are, how much experience you need to level up more, what is your ship named, what sort of damage reduction stats you have, and ofc your portrait. That is all contained in the first tab labeled “Personal”. Next to it you’ll find another tab labeled “Reputation”. This is where you’ll find information about all your relationships with other factions. You will have only the factions that you’ve discovered either by exploration or warfare, however there are some special factions that will not show up in your reputation panel. On the top right hand corner you can see how much trade deals you have left to create, and you can do that only with the factions that have a little contract icon above their reputation bar. You can use the “Ambassador” button on the bottom of the screen, or use the square/X button on your controller to start a diplomatic dialogue and possibly set up a trade deal.
The same diplomatic dialogue is used to start a war with a friendly or neutral faction, or to make amends with a hostile one. To be friendly with a faction you need to be anywhere from 3001 to 10000 in reputation standing. The same goes for the hostile side, -3001 to -10000 will get you a rough treatment by the related faction.
Ship
Ship panel, like the name suggests, will hold information about the ship you’re currently commanding. The ship’s name, class, chassis, stats, resistances, weapon loadout, systems, and more will be presented to you on this panel, in the tab labeled “Overview”.
Equipments
Tab next to it, called “Equipment” is where all the equipment you have on your ship, or equipped on your quick bar , will be listed. On your left hand side, you’ll have a list of equipment you own, but is not currently equipped, while on the right hand side, you’ll see four slots where you can equip your items and then use them in game from your quick bar.
Inventory
Following the equipment tab is your inventory tab. This is where all the commodities you’ve bought, or collected on your travels,will be stored. Selecting an item will give you some additional info on the right hand side, as well as the legal status of the item, so if you get caught with it you won’t be able to defend yourself with a simple “I didn’t know it was illegal, officer”. While selecting an item you can also destroy or jettison the item. Destroying it will make it perish and you won’t be able to get it back, while jettison option will “kick” the item out of the ship and it’ll float in the space, where you can pick it up again. You can also check for the prices of commodities you own, so that you can get the information about where you should sell the mentioned item for the best profit.
Troopers
The final tab you’ll see on the ship panel is the troopers tab. There is no action you can perform on the troopers tab, it’s purely informational about the status of your boarding troops, their endurance, enhancements, and more.
Classes and Skills
Every game mode you play will start of with you selecting your captain’s class. This class will determine the skills you will have on your quick bar. There are currently three available classes for you to pick from, and they are Sharpshooter, Marauder and Vanguard. Classes can be changed at the Gladiatrix Quartermaster, and skills from different classes can be combined in order to create a perfect build that perfectly suits your playing style. Skills can be improved by investing skill points into them. Every skill, regardless of the class, will get a modifier once you’ve upgraded it to its fifth level. You obtain skill points by leveling up or collecting artifacts around the Gemini. The final skill that the class offers is only available after you reach level 5. That skill is not improved using skill points, but rather by further leveling.
Sharpshooter
Sharpshooter class is best if you like to battle from a distance. As a sharpshooter, you get a passive bonus that increases your light weapon damage the further you are from your enemy. This is a tricky one, as light weapons have a certain range that they have to be in in order to hit your enemy, so you’ll have to balance the two in order to output maximum damage. Along with this passive, you get four skills that are suitable for this kind of playstyle. First let’s talk about the Precision Shot skill. This shot has a long range, good damage output, and, once you invest enough skill points in it, it becomes an AOE (area of effect) attack, meaning it will hit multiple targets at once. Second skill in this class arsenal is the Holo Decoy skill. This skill will make a holographic copy of your ship, that will cause the enemy vessels to target it, rather than you. If you decide to upgrade this skill by spending skill points, your “twin” will get the ability to mimic your attacks and cause damage to your enemies. The third skill you get as a sharpshooter is your Gravity Push. This skill is convenient when you’re trying to get some distance between you and your enemies, as it pushes them away. By upgrading this skill, once you push your enemies away, you “cleanse” your ship of all negative effects that they might have infected you with. The final skill you’ll get as a sharpshooter class is the Warhead skill. This is your powerhouse weapon that will dish out more damage, the further you are from your target, as it charges while traveling.
Vanguard
Everything that the sharpshooter isn’t, vanguard is. It’s a perfect class if you like to get down and dirty, right in your opponent’s face. Vanguard passive does the same as the sharpshooter one does, but instead of increasing your light weapon damage with distance, it will increase the closer you are to your target. Its first skill, the Shotgun, also increases in damage, the closer you are to the victim, so being up and personal really pays off with this class. Second “trick” in your bag is the Ram skill. It launches you towards your target, smashing into it with brute force. If you upgrade this skill, it will not only cause massive damage, that bypasses shields, but will also cause a system shutdown to your opponent, causing it to be disabled for some time. Along with the close quarter combat theme comes the third skill, which is the Gravity Pull. This skill will pull all hostile ships within the range of the skill, that increases as you upgrade it with skill points. Upgrading it will also cause you to get a protective shield that will increase in strength the more ships your skill pulls. Final skill for the vanguard class is the Overload skill. It causes a massive punch radiating from your ship and out in a certain range.
Marauder
Marauder class revolves around stealth, ambush, and burst damage. Its passive ability increases your critical strike rating, giving you the opportunity to burst down your target. The first skill you have as a marauder is the Expose skill. This attack will hit your enemy with force, but it will also increase the damage you deal to its shield by a large amount for a set amount of time. Investing in this skill will cause it to become AOE (Area of Effect) oriented ability, hitting unlimited number of opponents within range. Second ability you have is your Cloak. Cloak will hide you from all enemies no matter their level. It can also abruptly end combat between you and your foes, as long as you don’t get hit while attempting to disappear. Upgrading your Cloak ability gives it an advanced feature of backstabbing while cloaked which gives a fair amount of damage to the unsuspecting target. The third skill is the Disable skill, which is basically a “turn off” button for your enemies for a set amount of time. You can use it on anyone and upgrading it will cause it to hit multiple enemies at once. The final skill for the marauder class is the Execute skill. The skill is best used on a dying target (when it’s below 25% health), as destroying a ship with this skill will greatly reduce its cooldown.
Perks
Perks are located on the same panel as the skills, just one tab over. Perks are unlocked using the perk points that you can obtain the same way you obtain skill points, and that is by either leveling or by visiting the artifact vaults that are scattered all across the Gemini. Perk points can also be reseted the same way skill points can, and that’s by visiting the Gladiatrix Quartermaster. There are six different perk categories, and some of them do have certain requirements in order to be unlocked, and that is to either unlock its earlier perk, i.e. to unlock Hacking II perk, you need to unlock Hacking I perk, and so on. The only perks you don’t unlock through perk points are the Savvy Chief perks, that are explained in the perk panel once they’re selected.
Personal log
The personal log panel contains all your main, side, and freelance mission info, whether the missions are currently active, or are already done. Along with that you have your “News” tab which brings all the latest news and gossip around the Gemini, and is a reliable source of information, just like any other news station. The final tab are your bounties. These are special warmaster individuals that are wanted by the law. You can find hints to their locations in their description, and once you’ve located them you can use the starchart option on the bottom of the panel to show their location on your starchart. Keep in mind, these are some tough foes, so it isn’t a good idea to go on a hunt without backup.
