# Introduction
Welcome to the Knowledge Base of Aephia Industries, a Star Atlas DAC and aspiring Metaverse Enterprise!
Aephia dedicates itself to mastering ship crafting, sharing knowledge with the community, and growing the Star Atlas ecosystem.
This knowledge base will expand over time, but at present, it contains some core fundamentals that set Aephia apart from other Star Atlas DACs.
Here you can find:
* Our [Vision](https://kb.aephia.com/foundation/metaverse-pioneers#vision), [Mission](https://kb.aephia.com/foundation/metaverse-pioneers#mission), and [Core values](https://kb.aephia.com/foundation/metaverse-pioneers#core-values)
* Our [approach to multi-faction gameplay](https://kb.aephia.com/foundation/multi-faction) in Star Atlas
* Our stance towards some [gameplay aspects](https://kb.aephia.com/foundation/gameplay) in Star Atlas
> **Note**
>
> Aephia Industries is one of the oldest and largest guilds within the Star Atlas metaverse, having opened its doors on July 18th, 2021.
>
> On February 29th, 2024, the ATMTA unanimously [awarded Aephia Industries](https://twitter.com/staratlas/status/1763323827323617355) the title of best DAC in the second-ever DAC Competition, known as the Council of Peace Assembly (COPA)!
# Metaverse Pioneers
About Aephia Industries
Aephia is not just another company or a traditional gaming guild; it’s a groundbreaking venture that aims to be one of the first true metaverse enterprises. Built around the emerging metaverse economy in _Star Atlas_, Aephia blends the structure of top-tier gaming guilds with the innovation of decentralized, player-owned organizations. We aim to create a global, collaborative enterprise where every contributor has a real stake in the company’s success.
In _Star Atlas_, a grand strategy MMO built on top of the Solana blockchain, the economy is driven by the players. Aephia’s vision is clear: to become the premier manufacturer and seller of in-game spaceships, a vital and complex (to produce) asset in the game’s universe. Through our members’ combined resources, expertise, and industrial capabilities, we will produce top-tier ships to power the in-game economy.
What sets Aephia apart is our commitment to **decentralized ownership**. We are building an organization that belongs to its contributors—where **profits flow directly to those who do the work**, not to investors. Leveraging the power of DAOs, we will **empower our members** to shape leadership and make strategic decisions, fostering a truly democratic organization within the metaverse. Together, we’re creating the blueprint for future businesses in the metaverse—where anyone, anywhere, can participate and thrive.
- **Build. Own. Earn.** A straightforward way to express our shared objective: Build spaceships + Own the means of production = Earn.
- **From Rock to Rocket** Highlighting our focus on Vertical Integration. Aephia Industries is home to the entire supply chain required to build spaceships in Star Atlas.
## Vision
Aephia envisions becoming the **leading manufacturer of spaceships** in _Star Atlas_, renowned for both our exceptional ship-crafting capabilities and our positive impact on the game’s economy and community.
As a **DAO-led, player-owned** organization, we aim to establish new benchmarks in decentralized governance and foster a global, inclusive, and collaborative environment where all members can thrive.
Our vision is to create a **blueprint for future metaverse enterprises**, where decentralized ownership—earned through contribution—community collaboration, and democratic decision-making are the foundations of success.
Expanded Vision Statement
Our vision is to establish Aephia as the premier manufacturer of spaceships within the _Star Atlas_ metaverse. We aim to achieve this by producing ships from all 12 in-game manufacturers, supported by highly skilled players and crew who ensure the best crafting bonuses and the highest quality components.
Through the vertical integration of our supply chain across all three factions—MUD, ONI, and Ustur—we seek to gain access to all necessary resources while strategically positioning ourselves to serve the entire _Star Atlas_ market.
As a DAO-led organization, Aephia pioneers a new standard in decentralized governance within the gaming world. Our members have a direct voice in the organization’s leadership and strategic decisions, promoting active engagement and ownership. We aim to ensure decentralized ownership, rewarding those who contribute to our success with real stakes in the company. By being member-owned and DAO-operated, Aephia exemplifies how a guild can operate with fairness, transparency, inclusivity, and innovation at its core.
Our ultimate goal is to establish Aephia as not only a leader within Star Atlas but also as a model for future metaverse enterprises. We envision creating a blueprint for decentralized, player-owned companies that thrive on collaboration, innovation, and democratic decision-making.
We aim to set a new standard for metaverse enterprises, demonstrating that a player-owned, decentralized organization can thrive in virtual worlds. Our goal is to make a lasting impact both within the Star Atlas metaverse and in the future of metaverse-based economies.
> **Note**
>
> Aephia Industries is dedicated to the empowerment of every sentient being—to making interstellar travel accessible to each and every individual so as to help us experience true personal freedom and gain control of our own destiny.
>
> _\[In-lore] Mission Statement - as defined by_ [_Albert & Elpis in 2564_](https://aephia.com/the-history-of-aephia/)
## Mission
Our mission at Aephia is to empower our members to succeed in every endeavor within Star Atlas. We are building tools to scale production efficiently while contributing to the growth of the Star Atlas ecosystem. By sharing knowledge and fostering a collaborative environment, we ensure that our members and the community thrive together.
Our goal is to power the game’s player-driven economy while ensuring that profits flow directly to those who do the work.
Expanded Mission Statement
Our mission at Aephia is to master the art of ship crafting within _Star Atlas_ and become the premier provider of ships across all player factions—MUD, ONI, and Ustur.
We are building tools and services designed to scale our future ship production seamlessly and efficiently once the game’s full crafting loop comes online. These programs form a Layer 2 of gameplay, tightly integrated with Star Atlas’ core mechanics. This meta layer gamifies our ship crafting operations in a way that is both efficient and fun for our members, ensuring they thrive in the ever-evolving metaverse.
At the same time, we remain focused on growing the Star Atlas ecosystem as a whole. Our success is intertwined with the success of the game, and we are committed to sharing knowledge, onboarding new members, and helping the community grow. By fostering a collaborative environment, we aim to lift everyone, ensuring that the “rising tide” benefits all within Star Atlas.
**Our Game Plan (_or:_ Mission – Chapter 2)**
As addition components of Star Atlas come online, we have a clear game plan for how to produce the highest quality ships and serve the entire _Star Atlas_ market profitably:
- **Establish strong relationships with the 12 in-game ship manufacturers**, in order to unlock access to a diverse range of ship blueprints, ensuring that our portfolio meets the needs of every player.
- **Construct Tier 5 shipyards and vertically integrating our supply chain** within each faction.
By leveraging the collective expertise and industrial capabilities of our members, we will build and sell ships that power the game’s economy, maximizing both profitability and enjoyment for everyone involved. Additionally, unsold ships will be available through a fair and attractive rental system, ensuring that all members have the tools they need to thrive.
## Core Values
1. **Inclusive, Collaborative, and Respectful Community**—We are committed to building a fun, open, inclusive, and collaborative environment where every member feels respected and valued. Every member is able to contribute to and benefit from our collective success. We ensure that no one is left behind, and all members have access to the resources and opportunities needed to thrive.
2. **Knowledge Sharing and Empowerment**—We believe that knowledge is power and that a rising tide lifts all \[space]ships. We are committed to sharing our knowledge with the wider _Star Atlas_ ecosystem, believing that shared growth leads to greater success for everyone involved.
3. **Sovereign Members and Decentralized Ownership**—We believe in the freedom, independence, and empowerment of our members. As a future DAO-led organization, we ensure that ownership, decision-making, and rewards are distributed fairly among all members, reflecting their contributions. We want to empower you through education and by sharing knowledge.
4. **Ethical Business Practices**—Integrity is at the core of our operations. We are committed to ethical business practices, ensuring that our actions reflect the highest standards of fairness, transparency, and respect. Our reputation as a trustworthy and principled organization is paramount, and we strive to conduct all our dealings with honesty and integrity.
5. **Business Minded**—There is no place for grifters, warlords, and pirates. We build, own, and earn. We do not plunder, steal, or burn.
6. **Innovation and Excellence**—We prioritize creativity and forward-thinking in all our endeavors. Whether it’s in ship crafting, business strategies, or community engagement, we strive to remain at the forefront of technological and strategic innovation within the _Star Atlas_ metaverse. Our commitment to excellence drives us to constantly improve and excel in all areas.
# Multi-Faction
An overview of Aephia's multi-faction approach.
In the earliest strategy meetings, whose records predate the name "Aephia", our team identified significant opportunities in the strategy of inhabiting all 3 factions of the Star Atlas metaverse. \
Today, well over three years later, we still see that as one of the most critical ingredients for our success.
In the following sections we'll share:
* [**Why**](https://kb.aephia.com/foundation/multi-faction/why-multi-faction) we chose the multi-faction approach
* Common [**Counterpoints**](https://kb.aephia.com/foundation/multi-faction/counterpoints)
* Our view on [**Operating Across Borders**](https://kb.aephia.com/foundation/multi-faction/operating-across-borders)
# Why Multi-Faction
What Aephia Industries hopes to achieve by setting up shop in all three major Factions.
Our focus on _ship_ and _component_ crafting drives many of our strategic decisions, multi-faction included. \
To deliver on Aephia's vision of being the premier shipbuilder within Star Atlas, we'll require access to networks of resources, manufacturing, and distribution that no single faction can provide.
> **Important**
>
> It was never our intent for other DACs to adopt the same approach. As such, Aephia Industries' success does not hinge on other DACs following the multi-faction path. That said, we, of course, welcome everyone to give it serious consideration!
Aephia Origins – Lore
According to the [official lore](https://aephia.com/the-history-of-aephia/), Aephia Industries started as a team-up of a member of the Manus Ultima Divina (MUD) and one hailing from the Ustur Sector. Their early success fueled the growth of Aephia in both Factions, eventually allowing them to expand into the ONI Region as well. Since then, Aephia Industries has operated in all three major factions.
### First Order Benefits – Local Access
Being present in all factions goes a long way towards reaching our goal. Clear **first-order** benefits include:
1. **Access to all resources**—Each faction has near-exclusive access to a few resources (at present, the one faction crystal) within its domain. It stands to reason that the six proprietary and dual-faction manufacturers rely on these faction-specific resources to produce their ships.
2. **Access to local blueprints**—Most ship (and component) blueprints can only be obtained from their manufacturer directly. However, to be able to do so, players will first have to [build their reputation](https://lore.staratlas.com/ship-manufacturers-configurations-and-politics/manufacturer-politics) with that manufacturer. With the six proprietary and dual faction manufacturers headquartered in a single faction, it will likely be a lot easier to increase one's reputation when residing within that faction's borders.
3. **Access to our customers**—Crafting ships is only half of the equation for Aephia. Once built, we'll need to make delivery and provide parts to our customers. With access to local markets, we can reach the entire population of the Galia Expanse. At this point in time, ship sales go through the Galactic Marketplace or OTC deals, but in the future, ships will be geo-locked, and many (most?) trades will occur in-game through local marketplaces.
Note that resources could be obtained from the marketplace as well, and this may indeed often prove the better choice. Blueprints, on the other hand, are expected to be soul-bound and are, therefore, untradeable.
### Vertical Integration
The marketplace may often be a good source of faction-specific resources or compounds. However, since its inception, Aephia Industries has been striving to achieve full **vertical integration** of _all_ of its supply lines. As such, direct access to the faction-specific resources and blueprints is highly desirable.
Note that we do not expect Vertical Integration to lead to a monopoly, as the threshold to get into any particular process is very low in Star Atlas.
> **Note**
>
> Vertical integration is a strategy where a company expands its business operations into different steps on the same production path. Essentially, it involves a firm moving up or down in its supply chain, taking control of multiple stages of the production process rather than relying on external companies. This can include everything from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing products to distributing them to consumers.
### Second Order Benefits
Having local operations (presence) set up in each of the three major Factions, combined with one (or several) local bases of operations, sets the stage for additional operational benefits. Having [secured guild housing](https://aephia.com/star-atlas/aephia-acquires-habs-in-all-three-central-space-stations/) on all three Central Space Stations factors into this as well.
* **Inter-faction Travel**—Having a presence at their destination makes it easier for our members to travel between factions. This is important as we expect some players from Faction A will want to spend some time in Faction B (using a **Faction Passport**) to work on their reputation with one of the Ship Manufacturers headquartered there.
* **Inter-faction Freight**—Having multiple footholds throughout the galaxy makes transporting freight between Factions safer and more efficient—which can be done either through the direct gate between CSSs or the long way around by crossing the HRZ. We want to be able to transport both ships and resources across Factions—the Ships to sell and the resources to allow Faction A members to work on ships from Faction B and C.
* **Galactic Security** - With interests spread across the stars, Aephia will support all factions in protecting Starbases and shipping routes. Our presence will increase the overall safety of non-pirate players as we plan to maintain a defensive stance.
The above points allow our members to more easily work on foreign ship designs while mostly staying within their _home_ Faction. This leads us to two more benefits:
1. **Cross-Faction Ship Sales**—We are able to offer ships from any major Faction manufacturer to players residing in any of the other Factions. This ship may have been produced inside of either faction.
2. **Distribution Channels**—Additionally, having sales channels in all three major factions enables us to offer all players direct access to ships from minor Faction manufacturers as well. Note that there are 3 single-faction, 3 double-faction, 2 global, and 4 minor-faction manufacturers. Aephia Industries intends to construct and offer ships from **all 12 manufacturers**.
## Player Flexibility
Beyond the above gameplay-related reasons to pursue multi-faction operations, there are several additional practical benefits to this.
The first and most obvious one is that players don't have to consider their choice of Faction when wanting to join Aephia. They may still want to look into Aephia's operations within each faction before making their choice, but at least they know they can join us either way.
Regardless of initial Faction choice, players may want to branch out (multi-account) or even migrate to another Faction completely. This could be incentivized by simple things such as real-life friends joining another Faction or a desire to explore new surroundings and new quests.
Of course, the _Faction Balancing_ mechanic, introduced by the team to _SAGE Labs: Starbased_, also encourages players to look beyond their faction's borders.
### Supporting Multiple Accounts
The team fully expects players to want to dabble with multiple avatars in (potentially) different factions. This is, of course, backed up by data on player behavior in other (traditional) MMO games. Because Aephia Industries operates in all three factions, players can easily create a new avatar elsewhere and have that account join Aephia as well. This way, they are able to remain involved with their DAC, increase their ownership of Aephia (as opposed to spending time outside of Aephia, not doing so), and expand their operations there.
### Easier Migration
Changing Factions is not possible, or at least not in a way where you can bring your Player XP, Council Ranks, and License progression with you to a new faction. Instead, a brand-new account would need to be created, meaning your in-game progression would start from scratch. Of course, moving your assets to your new account will be possible (but not straightforward, at least not further down the line). Of course, your Crew members will thankfully also retain their experience and unlocked abilities.
This hefty penalty should encourage most players to stick to the faction they chose originally. But if it does not, then with Aephia Industries, players at least have the option to remain in the same DAC and with the same friends. Of course, directly collaborating with your old pals from your old faction will have become a few magnitudes more difficult (in most cases).
While strict limitations are imposed by the team, with Aephia being present in all three factions, at least there is no need to compromise your involvement with Aephia.
### Moving to Aephia
Similarly, players who want to join Aephia at a later point in their Star Atlas careers do not need to create a new account in a different faction. They can take their current account with all its progress and simply join the Aephia branch in their faction.
# Inter-Faction Travel
Travel and Freighting between Factions is a key foundational pillar of Aephia Industries.
At present, the team is _planning_ to allow free traffic between the three major factions. This is unsurprising as, after all, they are at peace with one another. The Council of Peace still stands.
There are two ways we know of through which players can enter another faction's space:
1. Through a direct, instant teleportation option at a Faction's Central Space Station (CSS). This is the safest way, with you ending up in the safe/secure zone, which means you can not be attacked by anyone. However, it will most likely come with certain limitations. The team is considering not allowing you to travel outside the Star system where the CSS orbits.
2. Alternatively, you can fly your fleet through the HRZ to the other faction's MRZ. Though the NPC forces policing the area will most likely allow this, the same can not be said for most players. As such, this is a far more risky endeavor. However, Aephia won't be the only one pursuing this, as inter-faction trade is poised to be a very lucrative business.
On the topic of trade, free travel does not mean free trade. The team is still planning to require _Faction Passports_ to trade between factions. Note that a fee is likely to be levied on such trades as well.
These Faction Passports could potentially also be required for players to accumulate a reputation with a manufacturer residing in another faction. At least, that was the [team's thinking as of January 2022](https://aephia.com/star-atlas/faction-passport-update/).
> **Note**
>
> The topic of Inter-Faction Travel and Trade is a perfect example of why Aephia is not thinking so much about faction vs. faction but more about win-win. If there exists healthy inter-faction trade, this is beneficial to all factions involved! At Aephia, we want to contribute to this and help improve the Star Atlas economy.
_p.s. Note that the old Faction Passport SFT assets may not be used for this system (see this_ [_old news item_](https://aephia.com/star-atlas/faction-passport-update/)_)._
# Counterpoints
Let's analyze some of the misconceptions and misleading rhetoric regarding the multi-faction approach.
## 1) This is not how the game is meant to be played
The team _fully_ anticipates players creating multiple accounts, expecting many of them to want to try out a different major faction (similar to many other MMOs). Multi-accounting and playing in different factions are supported and intended by the team.
As for DACs existing across multiple factions, the team has discussed this a good bit, notoriously going back and forth on this topic in the early days. The final verdict could be loosely summarized as "It will be possible, but we won't encourage it."
The following is a quote from **Danny** **Floyd** (CPO) from _September 2021_ (in response to a question regarding multi-faction guilds being possible):
> In short yes, it should be supported. But it's going to get complex allowing cross faction economic activity and tracking faction progress with multi-faction crew and guilds. Like I want players to make a choice between either getting their own faction passports or bringing someone from another faction onto their ship to be able to perform economic activity in either faction region. So I want players to feel like they have value by just being part of a different faction.
When the DAC registration system [came online](https://medium.com/star-atlas/the-rise-of-corporations-star-atlas-launches-dac-platform-v0-b6eb60df626a) in early February 2024, it became clear that it fully supports multi-faction DACs. Every DAC can even explicitly highlight the factions in which it operates.
## 2) Faction Loyalty
The idea that players should be fiercely loyal to the faction they were born in (chosen during registration) is a false premise.
There is no need to bring _factionalistic_ mindsets into the game. You are certainly welcome to do so, but the team has not made this a requirement. In fact, they have done quite the opposite.
We can break this down into the following:
* The Narrative (lore) does not support this.
* The Gameplay does not encourage this.
### Narrative
Let's look at the narrative first:
According to official lore, a little over 100 years ago, the three major factions decided to end their Convergence War by having their representatives sign a [Treaty of Peace](https://lore.staratlas.com/governments-and-groups/the-federation/treaty-of-peace). Not only does this treaty still stand today, but the three factions unified themselves in a Federation, the _Council of Peace_.
It's important to realize that the Council of Peace does not exclusively concern itself with protecting Federation members. It governs shared [aspects](https://lore.staratlas.com/governments-and-groups/the-federation/treaty-of-peace) such as Commerce, Mining, New Discovery Regulations, Galactic Law Enforcement, The Species Rights Directive, the Armed Forces & Military Defense Warrior Mandate, and The De-escalation Accords.
Just recently, the Council of Peace [waged a campaign](https://medium.com/star-atlas/prelude-a-galaxy-in-movement-the-first-day-e3c716b1ecde) to push the ECOS and Jorvik pirates in the Medium Risk Zone back towards the High-Risk Zone and/or pacify them.
The Council of Peace is not going anywhere anytime soon!
### Gameplay
Like many MMOs, the game allows players to improve their reputation/standing with in-game factions/groups/organizations. Among these are the 3 major – and countless minor – factions. It will also be possible for players to improve their reputation with the Council of Peace itself. On the other end of the spectrum, players can work on their reputation with the ECOS and Jorvik pirate factions. And they may want to consider this if they desire access to their ship blueprints.
There are many other groups as well, some of which reside in the major factions and are affiliated with them, such as the individual ship manufacturers.
A _factionalistic_ mindset would prohibit a player from engaging in activities that would inadvertently help out any faction other than their own. If a DAC were to go down that road, they would close a great many doors to their members.
Reaching back to the narrative for a moment, let's say a DAC allows its members to improve their standing with the ECOS or Jorvik, even though these are the sworn enemies of all three major factions. In such a case, it would be quite hypocritical for that DAC to accuse others of collaborating among the three factions that have been at peace for the past 100 years!
## 3) Territorial Conquest
The White Paper states the following (emphasis ours):
> In this distant future, three major factions have emerged \[...] These factions are in an ongoing struggle for resources, **territorial conquest**, and political domination. \[...] You, a faction citizen of Star Atlas, will have the ability to influence the outcome of this intergalactic conflict.
Some have interpreted this to suggest that the game is all about territorial conquest between factions. And, if that is the case, how could a DAC ever be multi-faction?
Instead of rehashing the narrative section from the previous section here again, let's take a longer look at the White Paper before diving into the upcoming gameplay.
### Key Differentiator
The above quote can be found in the Introduction of the White Paper. Early on, the team highlighted their high-risk **Play for Keys™️**_, high-risk, high-reward_ gameplay during nearly every interview. And for good reason: Beyond the _Play-to-Earn_ narrative that every Web3 game offers, this is easily one of the features that really sets Star Atlas apart. The thrill of risking your assets that way really speaks to people's imagination!
Perhaps more importantly, the team envisions combat as a way to balance the economy. Combat leads to value being **burned**, offsetting the otherwise rampant inflation of both assets and ATLAS.
**In short, the team has a good reason to spotlight combat in Star Atlas.**
### Professions
One of the game modes people are most excited about is the Grand Strategy. This mode touches on the _struggle for resources_ and is all about the _territorial conquest_ mentioned in the White Paper's Introduction.
Of course, the introduction also mentions the struggle for _political domination_, which is another path players can pursue. The struggle for resources does also not necessarily require (PvP) combat, but of course, it will (likely) be the prime motivator for combat. Note that, besides Grand Strategy, the "What is Star Atlas?" section of the White Paper also has sections on Exploration, Role-playing, and Space Flight Simulation.
Beyond listing additional features that live side-by-side with combat in Star Atlas, the many professions listed in the White Paper perhaps make clearer the many avenues players can embrace to play the game:
> Players can earn in game by having the correct ships, crew and components for their desired roles. Examples of roles: Transport, Rescue, Freight, Repair, Construction, Refueling, Miner, Salvage, Entrepreneur, CEO, Broker, Bounty Hunter, Pirate, Smuggler, Data Runner, Commander, General, Mercenary, and Scientist.
### 426
Star Atlas is not a straightforward multiplayer game in which every player has to participate in all aspects of the game in order to be successful. In this modern MMO, players will be able to choose from a wide range of activities to partake in and professions to embrace. And it's good to know that the team's ambitions do not stop there (e.g., Metaverse)!
Let’s step out of 2021’s White Paper and focus on some of the upcoming gameplay in the (near) future. In the three years since the White Paper was released, the team has shared a great deal about the gameplay we can expect.
The recently released [roadmap](https://portal.productboard.com/staratlas/1-star-atlas-roadmap/tabs/5-season-0) gives a great overview of all that will come over the next few years. Besides totally new gameplay, some of the current gameplay will grow much deeper than it is today. All of this will ensure that the Star Atlas economy will gradually grow _a lot_ more complex.
Here are some of the things we can expect:
* **Crafting/Refining**—Today, everyone can refine/craft items at the Starbases, but in the future, this will require you to have (access to) dedicated facilities and equipment. Some of this was published when the team made their [CSS habs sales announcement](https://staratlas.com/newsroom/star-atlas-news/the-path-towards-tomorrow-phase-2-css-land-plot-and-claim-stake-sales), as these come with Crafting Stations. But (briefly going back to the White Paper) the real work will happen at dedicated player-owned Space Station modules (decks), such as:
* Shipyard—For ship manufacturing, repairs, refueling, configuration and docking
* Refinery—For refining raw ore into higher tiers
* Cargo—For storing materials and components
The paper further states: "Cargo and refinery decks will be needed to access higher tier ore, advanced materials, and components requiring physical intergalactic shipping".
* **Mining**—In the future, asteroid mining will continue to yield some resources, but the bulk will come through Claim Stakes that have been installed on patches of land on the many planets in the Galia Expanse. Two big factors that add complexity:
* Each Claim Stake has a number of slots for additional buildings (that need to be constructed and can be upgraded), which together determine the output and efficiency of a player's planet-side operations.
* You will need to assign Crew members to operate all of these different facilities.
* **Crew**—Talking about Crew, there will be player-run universities (another Space Staton module/deck) where Crew members can be trained. This is a profession in itself and yet another avenue for players to pursue.
* **Gameplay License Introduction**—Even ignoring Star Atlas, just looking at SAGE, the licenses the team plans to add to the game are a great indicator of new gameplay chunks going live:
* Freight
* Racing
* Rescue
* Refuel
* Repair
* Salvage/Tow
* Bounty Hunting
Note that the team acknowledged this list is not yet complete. Furthermore, the team’s goal is that nearly no one can do everything. They want to make specialization count.
These are just a few samples of the incredible number of activities players will be able to dabble in in SAGE. Note that we have not even begun exploring the additional game activities Star Atlas (UE5) will offer, such as racing and monster hunting.
So, clearly, it is not all about Territorial Conquest.
> **Note**
>
> ## Sidenote: We Love Grand Strategy
>
> _There sure is a lot to do in Star Atlas, but we really love (Territorial) Conquest!_
>
> Come again? Yep, you read that right! The Grand Strategy and high-risk, high-reward gameplay with real asset destruction played a major role in pulling Aephia’s founders into the project!
>
> Clearly, this was not because they desperately wanted to participate from the front lines. Rather, they saw an opportunity to focus on other aspects of the game, that are supportive of, and supported by, that type of gameplay!
>
> It’s these high stakes, the dangers lurking in the dark, which make every other in-game activity matter more. It's what provides the shine to this game and to the full suite of activities one can partake in in-game.
>
> Now that we are sharing: We also love the High-Risk Zone! We can’t wait to explore it and discover its secrets. We know we’ll lose some of our ships while doing so. If not because of other players, then the hazardous environment or NPC fleets will no doubt do the trick.
>
> It’s exciting to think about! And once again, it is really cool that these high-risk, high-reward activities exist and seamlessly feed into the many other non-combat activities (e.g., data running, research, construction). We're here for it!
# Operating Across Borders
Aephia Industries is DAC first, Faction second. There is no room for animosity between members from different Factions.
Within Aephia Industries, we do not welcome individuals who take issue with members from factions other than their own. We _cooperate and_ _collaborate_ across faction boundaries, there is no room for discrimination of any kind. We pride ourselves in our inclusive approach to all races and species that populate our galaxy.
From our members, we expect them to be able to visit (our operations in) other factions without issue. In fact, we expect them to be received with open arms by the Aephians over there! This is how we succeed as a corporation!
Though Aephia Industries operates across borders, our branches adhere to the laws of the faction in which they operate, on top of Council of Peace rules and jurisdiction.
# Gameplay
Some thoughts on emerging gameplay in Star Atlas
## Fixed Faction Earnings
Since the introduction of SAGE Labs: Starbased, the base ATLAS emissions/earnings for each Faction are fixed\* per epoch (day).
Every day, each Faction slices its ATLAS pie based on each of its members' relative contributions compared to the total contributions by all members. The result is that every player will receive a slice based on:
1. **Individual Contribution** — The effort they put in that day
2. **Collective Contribution** — The effort everyone else put in on that same day and within the same faction.
Note that not all effort is rewarded. Only the gameplay loops that have been singled out as benefiting the Faction will earn a player _Loyalty Points (LP_) and through that ATLAS. Immersively speaking, each Faction's government earmarked a certain daily budget to reward all of its constituents for the work they have put in, which benefits the Faction directly.
This has two obvious consequences:
1. **Internal Competition** — Because the size of the pie is fixed, the amount of ATLAS earned by a player does not solely depend on the effort _they_ put in (i.e., the amount of LP they earn) but also on the amount of effort everyone residing in that same Faction puts in. Consequently, if a player puts in less effort one day, everyone else earns a little more. On the other hand, if that player puts in more effort, then everyone else earns a little less. Of course, this is only a theoretical example, as the effort of the other players will not remain constant either.
2. **External** **Balancing** — If, on average, the total effort put in (expressed as LP earned) in Faction A is higher than the total effort in Faction B, then a player could improve their earnings by migrating from Faction A to B. After all, with ATLAS budgets for each Faction being close to equal, their slice of the pie would, on average, be bigger over there.
> **Note**
>
> In our [New Economic Paradigm](https://aephia.com/star-atlas/a-new-economic-paradigm/) article, we covered the above in more depth \[before Starbased was released].
Let's go a little deeper into these two topics.
_\* Every Faction rewards its contributing members a base of 2 million ATLAS per epoch. However, every Starbase upgrade \[within that Faction] unlocks a small bonus emission in addition to that._
### Internal Competition
Labeling this Internal Competition is perhaps an overly one-sided view. However, it has quickly become the predominant way players characterize the internal dynamics of this approach. After all, one player's effort affects everyone's earnings within the faction. If a player puts in twice as much effort, their earnings will be higher, whereas the others would earn a little less (all other things remaining equal).
However, the team may not have intended this. It is more likely a side-effect of putting a hard limit on the amount of ATLAS the team emits daily.
When the world outside of crypto has a limited budget, government bodies often subsidize/reward citizens/companies until their budget runs out. The team's approach to this ensures everyone is rewarded and no one loses out, although the amount you're getting is not clear until received.
Because every blockchain transaction is visible, the level of transparency regarding individual earnings is a day and night difference compared to similar approaches in the "real" world. This means that besides looking at their own contributions, players are now also easily able to see what other players brought to the table, which could lead to animosity/jealousy that would likely not be present were such a system introduced by governments (which would be a black box solution).
### External Balancing
The team has always promoted the fixed ATLAS earnings per Faction as a great way to balance the game's factions. After all, if there is a runaway Faction attracting more and more players, the earnings of the players in that Faction will likely trend downward. As a result, the earnings potential in the other two Factions will then become increasingly attractive.
New players coming into Star Atlas have many things to ponder when choosing their faction. Their earnings potential (in the short-term) across the various factions is one of them. If the difference between factions is big enough, it could sway them to go with the one where they would earn more. Of course, what number constitutes a big enough incentive to get new players to abandon their initial choice will differ from person to person.
If the rate of new players joining doesn’t quickly balance out the disparity in earnings, the temporary spike in earning potential in another Faction may tempt existing players to switch to—or create a secondary account in—that faction. **At Aephia, we fully support and encourage this.**
It remains to be seen what the primary driver of Faction adoption will be. If new players exclusively cared about their bottom line, then the faction earnings would even out. But, while one faction may offer highly attractive earnings today, the situation could change within days. Therefore, both new and existing players may want to take historical earning trends into account as well.
## Maximizing Profit – Collectively
A core part of [our mission](https://kb.aephia.com/foundation/metaverse-pioneers#mission) is to **help our members maximize their in-game profit**. With fixed daily ATLAS emissions, an individual’s profit would naturally increase if others in their faction played less. However, we cannot encourage players to underperform or stop playing altogether just to boost someone else’s earnings.
Instead, we focus on **empowering every team member to enhance their own profit through proactive strategies**, _not by limiting others_. We want to give our members the tools to do more and/or to adopt different strategies to improve their bottom line.
Our goal is to ensure that every member benefits rather than shifting profits from one player to another. Our focus is on collective progress. **We** **want to grow the size of the pie** for Aephia and increase everyone's profitability.
Ultimately, everyone is playing the game to enjoy themselves and earn profits. Our goal is to enrich that experience. It’s not about creating a trade-off at the expense of some players for the benefit of others. We are always looking at the collective, not at specific individuals.
> **Note**
>
> We are not here to judge the value someone has put into their game assets. We don't know if the $10, $10k, or $1 million worth of assets acquired represents their lunch money or life savings.
## Faction Sniping
A few Brews _before Starbased was released_, ZeSKK/José (Community Team) shared that the game would come with an interesting mechanic bound to upset some people. Whoever finishes the last part of a component upgrade would be rewarded with Loyalty Points, but all other upgrade jobs still ongoing (or unclaimed) would see their input materials refunded to the player without them earning LP.
He predicted this would spark intense competition among players—and he was right!
Naturally, players with greater crafting capabilities can finish the job before you do. This game dynamic introduces a layer of risk, making participation in these upgrades a more strategic and potentially riskier part of the game. Figuring this stuff out and rolling the dice is what makes this game fun!
Now, what game devs perhaps did not expect is players focusing on producing (only) the most lucrative components and then going from 0% to 100% with an upgrade in a matter of hours. However, this has turned out to be a viable strategy for playing the game. Like with any multiplayer game, this game is not played in isolation. Other players affect your gameplay and the outcome of your actions. If you don't like that, a single-player game might be more for you.
_Note that with the update that introduced auto-redemption of LP for ATLAS, Faction Sniping has become less prevalent._