• The complete alien FAQ -- reposted, not updated ever since V1 of forum thread!



    A new feature always brings up plenty of questions. With this FAQ
    we want to give you an overview of the new items and how to use them.



    Basics:

    • Who and what are those aliens?
    • What effects do the aliens have on me?
    • How can I recover my normal production level?
    • How and where to find the aliens?
    • How long do the alien planets stay?
    • Are aliens able to upgrade?

    Ships & Defence:

    • What kind of ships do the aliens have?
    • What kind of defences do the aliens have?
    • What is the scanner ship for?
    • Why does the construction of a scanner ship take so long?
    • What is the EMP bomb and how to use it?

    Attack & Counterstrike:

    • How to calculate the attack zone of the aliens?
    • How can I spy or attack aliens?
    • How does an alien respond, when will he attack me?
    • Why do the alien suddenly have a shield again?
    • What is Xtra power and what is it good for?
    • What happens if I attack an alien, but during the outbound flight he is defeated and the planet disappears?

    Data Discs & Fragments:

    • What are those data discs?
    • How do I obtain those fragments?
    • How to repair damaged fragments?
    • How many data discs can be collected?
    • Can I select which data disc I can gather/steal from the aliens?
  • Who and what are those aliens?
    The aliens in SI are a system generated AI (Artificial Intelligence).
    Aliens are coming from a galaxy very far away and warp their planets through wormholes into our galaxies.



    What effects do the aliens have on me?
    The presence of aliens will result in a decrease of production by 20%
    for all players within their radius. You must be in their attack zone
    range.
    This is indicated in a warning message over the chat.
    Aliens will not attack on their own drive ... as long as they are left in peace.



    How can I recover my normal production level?
    As soon as an alien is completely defeated or leaves our galaxies on his
    own, the production will automatically be set to it`s original level.



    How and where to find the aliens?
    Aliens are represented by a wormhole behind the planets in the solar system.
    The contaminated solar systems in the Galaxy overview are aswell marked with a wormhole.



    How long do the alien planets stay?
    Aliens have a different lifetime. Some aliens can upgrade, then they
    will stay a little longer. An alien who is not destroyed by players,
    will remain at least one week in the galaxy, but it can also be 3 weeks.



    Are aliens able to upgrade?
    Yes, some of the aliens can upgrade one or even two stars. This will prolong their lifetime.

  • What kind of ships do the aliens have?
    Aliens of course have different ships as we do. However their power and
    speed are certainly comparable. Here is a list of the alien ships and
    their human counterpart:

    • Small loader - Small transport
    • Loader - Large transport
    • Huge loader - Transmitter
    • Delta fighter - Small fighter
    • Fighter - Starcruiser
    • Large fighter - Battleship
    • Blocker - Destroyer

    What kind of defences do the aliens have?
    Aliens of course have other defenses than us. In their firepower they
    are certainly comparable. However, alien defences can be only attacked
    by ships and are not affected by our particle cannon. A special feature
    is the defence unit XT. This can only be attacked when all other
    defenses were destroyed. This defence structure protects the power cell
    of aliens. Once all XT are destroyed, the alien is defeated and
    disappears from our universe. Because of the high energy demand of the
    XT those are inactive with a 1 Star alien and for a 2-star Alien only
    two XT are active. Here is a list of the alien guns and human
    counterpart:

    • Small laser gun - Mortar
    • Large laser gun - Heavy graviton cannon
    • Large laser cannon - Positron lighter
    • Defence unit Erasor - Laser cannon battery
    • Defence unit XT - Solar cannon

    What is the scanner ship for?
    The scanner ship searches during attacks and in debris fields for
    fragments of data discs. Each ship can carry only one fragment. Of
    course only if it survives the battle. In the final destruction of
    aliens several fragments can be captured immediately. There is a daily
    maximum. Up to 3 fragments in recycling, 3 more through attacking and up
    to 10 fragments can be captured in the destruction of aliens.



    Why does the construction of a scanner ship take so long?
    The scanner ship is an alteration of a small fighter. This process is
    very time consuming and can not be accelerated. Only one ship can be
    placed in the build queue at a time. But it is possible to build scanner
    ships on every planet.



    What is the EMP bomb and how to use it?
    The EMP bomb is solely designed for the destruction of alien particle
    shields. Each bomb can destroy 250,000 units of an alien particle
    shield. It is possible to send several bombs in one attack. Please note
    that any attack on the alien shields will increase the enrage counter.
    EMP bombs do not produce debris field and do not return. Upon arrival at
    the destination planet they explode.

  • How to calculate the attack zone of the aliens?
    Even aliens have some sort of attack zones. This is, however, different from ours, defined in star ratings.
    The assignment is as follows:


    • 1 Star - AZ 2, 3 and 4




    • 2 Star - AZ 5, 6, 7 and 8




    • 3 Star - AZ 9, 10 and 11




    • 4 Star - AZ 12, 13 and 14




    • 5 Star - AZ15




    How can I spy or attack aliens?
    Spying and attacking aliens is only possible with a jammer probe. At
    least one jammer probe has to be included in any attack on the aliens.



    How does an alien respond, when will he attack me?
    An alien will never attack anyone who never spied or attacked him. Any
    action against aliens will give so called enrage points. Those points
    are given in ascending significance for spying, attacking shields,
    destroying defences and destroying alien ships. When the enrage counter
    reaches its top the player who did the last action will be attacked. It
    may happen that a player who attacks an alien the first time completes
    the counter and suffers an enrage attack. Enrage attacks will not be
    sent imediately, they can be launched even hours later because the alien
    has to call for reinforcement through his wormhole.



    !!! Warning: A planned enrage attack of the
    aliens will block to change into vacation mode until the attack is
    started. !!!

    Why do the alien suddenly have a shield again?
    Once the alien ships were destroyed, a particle shield is erected. If
    the alien starts an enrage attack, even with double shield strength.
    These shields can be reduced and destroyed either with normal fleet or
    with EMP bombs. Our particle cannons are useless against alien shields.



    What is Xtra power and what is it good for?
    There are several power buffs. Some of them can be collected with disc
    fragments, other can be bought with Urplasma. Some buffs will give more
    firepower, more shields strenght, more resources or even some Urplasma
    in a successful attack.



    What happens if I attack an alien, but during the
    outbound flight he is defeated and the planet disappears?

    In this case the attack is canceled and the flight will return.

  • What are those data discs?
    Data discs can be collected as fragments. As soon as a disc is complete
    it gives a new technology or a buff. Technology discs can be completed
    just once. Buff discs can be accumulated.



    How do I obtain those fragments?
    Fragments are found in the debris fields of alien planets. Each
    recycling flight has a 10% opportunity to find a fragment. The use of
    scanner ships increases this chance. Fragments in debris fields are
    damaged by the fight and have to be reconstructed by research. In the
    fight against aliens and the destruction of the aliens, there are more
    chances to capture intact fragments.



    How to repair damaged fragments?
    Through a new research damaged fragments can be reconstructed. This is a
    laborious process and takes time. The longer the research, the better
    the chance is to repair the fragment. Another option is to research with
    Urplasma, this option is sure to get a positive result.



    How many data discs can be collected?
    Data discs, which are a bonus, can be unlimited collected. Fragments of
    these discs can be found on several occasions. It is possible you can
    find a certain fragment of a data disc several times. Data discs that
    unlock a new technology are assigned only once, once completed, no more
    fragments of this disc will be obtained.



    Can I select which data disc I can gather/steal from the aliens?
    No, the type of data disc you steal is randomly generated