Further, each planet confers different advantages to its owner, although some bonuses are specific to a faction.
The player receives funds from controlled planets to research, build defenses, and train troops. Grand strategy, production, and resource management is facilitated through a two dimensional galactic map. Galactic Conquest is the sandbox campaign, where the player controls the struggle for freedom with the Rebel Alliance, or galactic domination with the Empire. Skirmish battles require the least time investment, and so are best suited towards casual players. The space station can also be upgraded to better defend itself without requiring the player to leave ships behind to defend it. The player can advance in 'technology levels' to access more powerful ships as the player gains more money. The player 'buys' ships to attack the enemy with, until the enemy space station is destroyed or the enemy forces are destroyed (depending on what option you choose). In space skirmish, the base is replaced with a space station that can be upgraded. In land skirmishes, all players start with bases, and must research upgrades and capture resource nodes, while ultimately destroying the enemy's base.
Skirmishes come in two types: land and space. Skirmish mode is the 'classic' RTS mode, and the most likely mode to be used online. There are four different game modes: Skirmish, Storyline-Campaign, Galactic Conquest and Multiplayer.
