The following section provides an overview of the game rules. If you’re wondering what the MSD is, check out our About page.
tl;dr
The MSD is a game where player services compete to achieve the highest possible score. Each player service controls a swarm of robot. Robots move across the game board, mine resources, purchase upgrades, and battle each other. Most actions earn points.
The map is a 2-dimensional grid of star systems. Resources are distributed across it. They can be mined, picked up by robots, and sold at space stations. Space stations are also placed on the map and serve as a kind of home base and safe zone. There, robots can sell resources, get repairs, and purchase upgrades. Combat is not allowed on space stations.
Each player has a money account, and starts the game with an initial amount of money. This can be used to purchase new robots. New robots always start at the player’s allocated space station. Selling resources and killing robots increases a player’s account balance. With more money, a player can buy additional robots or upgrade existing ones.
Map
Each game takes place on a map, visible on start for players. The map itself is a stationary grid consisting of tiles - similar to a chessboard. Each tile has up to eight adjacent neighbors, except at the edges of the map. The positions of the tiles are stationary, meaning they do not move.
The map for an MSD game is configurable. There are a couple of standard map types, and it is possible to add other types as well for dedicated games. Please refer to the map details page for an in-depth explanation of what elements a map consists of.
Games
The MSD is played in individual games. To participate, players register once and join an open game. This is possible even after the game has started, but late joiners do not receive any compensation for missed playtime. The number of participants is limited and defined at game creation.
Win Condition
A game ends either when an administrator intervenes, or when the predefined game time runs out. The player with the most points wins the game, though there are several categories to score a ranking.
Once a player has joined a game, they cannot leave. If they lose all their robots and have no funds left to purchase new ones, their game ends.
Robots
Every player controls robots to compete against other players.
A robot is exactly what you’d expect — a mechanical unit with health points, energy for performing actions, having the ability to move, engage in combat, and upgrade itself through the purchase of upgrades.
Buying a Robot
Players can purchase new robots at any time during the game using their money. Newly bought robots spawn instantly at a space station dedicated to a player or by choice.
Action-Cooldown / -Queue [to be discussed]
After performing an action, a robot requires a short pause before executing the next one. This cooldown applies regardless of whether the action was successful or not. As a result, robots may not respond immediately to new commands.
Robots queue up actions and execute them in order. Players should carefully plan the number of commands they issue, as each action has a different cooldown duration. For instance, attacking another robot has a shorter cooldown than moving. Upgrades are available to reduce cooldown durations.
External actions do not trigger a cooldown, such as applying upgrades or collecting resources.
This mechanism is similar to the mining system, with one key difference: Robots execute actions immediately, followed by a cooldown. Mines require processing time before yielding resources.
Energy
Robots have both health points and energy. Some actions consume energy, and if a robot runs out of energy, it pauses and cannot perform further actions until it has recharged enough energy.
Energy automatically regenerates over time. This process is increased on space stations.
Repairing
Robots automatically restore health points over time on space stations. No action required.
Movement
Robots can move horizontally, vertically, and diagonally across the map. Each movement consumes energy and triggers a cooldown. To track enemy robot positions, players must listen to the movements of other robots.
Fighting [to be discussed]
Robots can attack other robots. Attacks consume energy and trigger a cooldown, regardless of whether the attack is successful or not. To attack, a robot must have enough energy and be in range of the target. Caution, friendly fire is possible!
When an enemy robot is destroyed, the attacker becomes stronger, receives a financial reward and collects the destroyed robot’s resources, regardless of its position.
Mining [to be discuessed]
To extract resources, a player starts the mining process at a specific mine. If the player’s robot is on the same planet, it will automatically collect the resources once the mining process finishes.
Starting the mining process consumes energy and triggers a cooldown - even if the mining fails or the robot is elsewhere. Collecting mined resources does not consume energy nor does it trigger a cooldown. But in order to work, the robot must be present on the planet when the mining completes.
Trading
Trading is an essential part of the MSD and takes place at space stations. Players can sell mined resources, purchase new robots, and upgrade existing ones — all in exchange for in-game currency.
Selling Resources
Resources collected by robots can be sold at any space station. To initiate a sale, a robot carrying resources must be present at a space station. Once the sale is started, all resources on that robot are sold to the market, and the player receives the corresponding amount of money in their account.
The value of each resource depends on its rarity. Currently, prices are hardcoded and fix, but may fluctuate (based on market demand) in the future. In that case, if a large volume of a specific resource is sold in a short time frame, its market price will drop. Players should consider these fluctuations when planning their mining and trading strategies.
Buying Robots
Players can purchase additional robots at any time during the game. To do so, they must have sufficient funds in their account. New robots are delivered to a space station. If the player does not specify a station, a random one will be chosen.
Purchases are made through robot vouchers, which define how many robots will be spawned. Vouchers are immediately redeemed upon purchase.
Upgrading Robots
Robots can be upgraded to enhance their capabilities. Upgrades can improve:
- Carrying capacity
- Combat strength
- Attack damage
- Health points
- Health point regeneration speed
- Energy
- Energy regeneration speed
- Energy capacity
- Cooldown time
Upgrades are purchased in the form of vouchers, which are tied to a specific robot. To apply an upgrade, the robot must be located at a space station. If the robot is not at a station when the upgrade is purchased, the voucher will be discarded without refund, and the player will be notified.
Debt
Player cannot go into debt. If they do not have enough money to make a purchase, the transaction will be declined and an error message will be published.
