Gaining awareness about each faction comes into play throughout the whole multiplayer contest, but most often during wartime. The time to make an aggressive move against an enemy faction, particularly computer-controlled, is often hazy. If a human opponent who hasn't allied with you knows that you are engaged in a war with a computer faction, he could seize the opportunity and move into your land. Being engaged in battle with a faction will leave you with insufficient units and manpower to withstand two aggressors.

Discover the location of any human opponents as early as you possibly can. This can be accomplished through scout exploration or exchanging world maps with other factions. If the human challenger rests a great distance from your colony, the odds of a quick or early strike against you are slim. Because this type of information is so vital, don't reveal too much to a human opponent unless you feel it's absolutely necessary. A crafty opponent will use every hint or clue about your situation and use it to his advantage.

Matching Wits with a Human Opponent
Trust no one. It's as simple as that. Sure, he may seem friendly now. He may be trading you all kinds of technologies and asking for little in return. Everything seems just peachy and you're confident you have a new friend. Suddenly, his forces are amassing on your borders, and he launches an assault, surprising your forces, and quickly beating them into submission. Don't let this happen to you!

Exploration and Making Contact
When the game begins, explore as much territory as quickly as possible. Stake your claim to the landscape and set up patrol units on guard duty. Most importantly, track down as many opponents as possible and determine who your temporary friends are. It's of utmost importance that you develop some strong ties in the early portion of the game. Everyone needs support and backup, and this should be your first priority. Examine the following list of duties and make sure you're on the right track:

1. Try to be the first to gather all the comm frequencies for the various faction leaders. Trade and barter as much as you have to and get every number. Once you have the goods, you'll be in a solid position to get elected governor of Planet, giving you the ever-important veto authority.

2. Place sentries and sensors along your border so you can easily monitor enemy (and friendly) movement.

3. Try to seal as many Pact of Brotherhood as possible. This will increase your commerce rate, in turn pumping up the rate at which you'll manufacture new military units and explore new technologies.

4. Try not to hand out your most powerful technologies without getting something in return. Chances are, your high-ticket items will be used against you.

5. Build cities as quickly as possible in key regions of your territory. Claim as many monoliths as possible and make sure you're building water bases for future aircraft movement into enemy territory.