How do you expand in this game?

[White Shadow]

So, after spending hours in the "tutorial," I have fully mastered flying my ship, the ins and outs of navigation, the concepts of weapons, skills, ship customization, etc.

I didn't feel like dragging the tutorial out any longer, so the only other aspect of the game I need a quick rundown on is the "4X" mode. I have my overall strategy in mind; I know the importance of upgrading my station, acquiring resources, and all of that. What I don't understand, though, is how do I acquire more "hex" tiles? Also, how do I defend them when I'm not around?

[dave4985]

You get more tiles by seizing control of the outpost/guard stations/garrisons in those areas. Beat the defending fleet, and the sector falls under your control.

[Vytae~[Ikk]]

The game has a few balance curve issues at certain points. As a general rule - dont bother trying to expand until your atleast a destroyer, just build up. Cruiser to battleship to dreadnought is a dangerous curve. once your in a battleships you can take dreads but its not easy (as a side note, my very first dreadnought was a captured magistrate with a hail mary 4% capture chance)

Step 1: Scout, its worth it to keep a gunship for yourself for blasting about, grab artefact vaults while your at it, they give you a good boost early
Step 2: Capture ships and either recycle for materials and/or credits
Step 3: Ensure your civie fleets are always going out
Step 4: upgrade to lvl 2 resource structures asap, then tgates next (critical)
Step 4, start attacking outposts ( NOT stations) . focus on leveling up and holding what you got
Step 5: Battleships - get one - with some skill and a couple cruiser/battleship allies you can now attack lower level stations (15k atk power)
Step 6: Upgrade outposts (research first obviously) and get a wrecking crew of 5 battleships to follow you about for station capture.
Step 7: get a dreadnought and start expanding everywhere into pirate territories (leave main factions alone until later) and building up your own dreadnought fleet. You can npow do almost whatever you want.

[ponsemen_bg]

Hmm well sayd Vytae...i can just add , try to find your Warmasters along that road you gonna need them sometimes!