View source for Distant Worlds Universe: Beginner Guide - Help and Tips

[[File:Distant worlds universe large box.jpg|thumb|right|Distant Worlds Universe]]
This is a very basic introduction to a few concepts in Distant Worlds Universe. I am giving recommendations for beginners that are playing as humans, starting a pre-warp society without ships or bases to begin. This is where I recommend starting your DW experience.

'''Game: Distant Worlds Universe 1.9.5.4'''

==Create a new game==
This will give you a good basic game setup for beginners to learn Distant Worlds Universe from the ground up.
*Playstyle (page 1)
**Custom game as standard empire
*The Galaxy
**Make sure all is set to normal then edit the following
**Pirates: none
**Star Amount: Standard
**Physical Size: Medium
**Expansion: Pre-Warp
**Aggression: Optional (peaceful for first time)
**Difficulty: Optional (easy for first time)
*Colonization and Territory
**Use defaults and recommended settings
*Race Screen
**Human
*Your Empire Screen
**Home System: Normal (excellent for first game)
**Size: Starting
**Tech level: Pre-Warp
**Government: Republic
*Other Empires
**Auto generate 10 empires
*Victory Conditions
**Territory: 30%
**Population: 30%
**Economic: 30%
**Allow race specific victory conditions

==Buildings==

===Custom Designs===
You do not need to use custom designs, but they will make you win harder.
*Baby Space Port (builds MUCH faster, good for new worlds)
**Copy the design of a small space port
**delete all weapons and armor
**save as "baby space port"
**When you get Medical Center and Recreation Center, include them in this design!

===Planetary Wonders===
Work in progress

===Research Facilities===
*Build 1 research facility to start- hightech or energy
*Build 1 of each type of research facility at your home planet before you colonize more
*Never build more than 1 type of each facility at your world
*Use the button on the left "Potential research locations" to find NEARBY planets to build stations at


===Space Ports===
*You can Retrofit any space port to a larger one by right clicking
*Start with a small space port to get your ships out fast, then retrofit to a larger space port

==Ships==

===Construction Ships===
*Build two construction ships immediately and send them to the closest worlds to build mining stations
*When you get hyperdrive technology finished researching build a third construction ship
*Build up to 1 construction ship per planet from now on, they will travel as needed

===Exploration===
*Send your first two ships to the planets in your system with 3 white squares near the icon then let them automate
**The 3 squares indicates ruins and one of them contains hyperdrive technology (warp field precursors)
*After you have hyperdrive, ramp up to 8 exploration ships

==Diplomacy==
===Pirates===
*Pay off pirates at the beginning of the game, up until you colonize your second world
*The pirates will build pirate bases at your worlds eventually if you maintain protection arrangements

==Research==
I recommend a focus on these areas
===Weapons Research===
*Beam Weapons - good for stations and ships
*Fighters - good for defense bases and space stations
===Energy Research===
*Energy Collectors - First order of business, allows ships to collect energy bypassing reactors
*Space Construction - Do the first couple of these after hyperdrive
*Hyperdrive - Very very important or all your ships are slow
===HighTech Research===
*Medical Systems - For population growth
*Entertainment Systems - For population happiness (increases growth too)

==Economy and Money==
===Tax Rate===
*Tax rate is not for getting more money- it is to balance civilian vs state spending
*The lower the tax rate, the faster your population grows
*If you lower the tax rate, you still get that money when civilians spend it on ships
*Early Game: Tax rate balances civilian ship building with state ship building, you want it VERY low to get population
*Later Game: You use tax rate to force people to migrate to new worlds. High tax on homeworld and low tax on new worlds


==External Links==
*[http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3497284 Matrix Games Forums] Beginner Tips

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