A Few Noob Questions

from Sins Forums
Ok I got the game on release and have played a few games now to completion with each race.
So far I've found I like the Advent the best.

Anyway, I played a full game that I just finished as Vasari where I completed the entire tech tree in all branches just to try everything out.

I had a few questions.

Under the Vasari Tech tree there is an ability called 'Returning Armada'. I tried using the ability and I didnt really see it do anything. Could someone please explain what this actually does?

Also, what exactly are Artifacts and when do you get them? In all of the solo games I have played have been on reality small systems with 12 or less planets. I have explored all of my planets til I had no slots left and I controlled the entire system but I have yet to find an artifact.

I had other questions but I cant remember them off hand. If anyone can answer these it would be great.
19,421 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Under the Vasari Tech tree there is an ability called 'Returning Armada'. I tried using the ability and I didnt really see it do anything. Could someone please explain what this actually does?
End of quote


Returning Armada is an added ability to your phase gates. Basically, once they fill up on antimatter, they'll spawn a few random ships that will phase jump to the gravity well of the phase gate. This shouldn't bring you over the fleet cap, but it's free ships for every phase gate you have :)

Also, what exactly are Artifacts and when do you get them? In all of the solo games I have played have been on reality small systems with 12 or less planets. I have explored all of my planets til I had no slots left and I controlled the entire system but I have yet to find an artifact.
End of quote


By default, artifacts are set to appear on 15% of planets I believe. You get them by doing the exploration upgrades. Since they're random, you're not guaranteed too much on the smaller maps, but on large maps there are quite a few artifacts floating around. As to what they are is basically permanent boosts to your empire. One artifact increases all ship damage, another cuts research costs by 25%, another increases your antimatter regen rate by 10%, etc :P
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Ok. thanks. I probably didnt see the ship spawn because I had a huge fleet there with the phase gate. Being an final-tree item I was expecting something dramatic like the planet buster cannon. :d

Guess I just havent been lucky with the artifacts.

CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
got the game on release and have played a few games now to completion with each race.
So far I've found I like the Advent the best.

Anyway, I played a full game that I just finished as Vasari where I completed the entire tech tree in all branches just to try everything out.

I had a few questions.

Under the Vasari Tech tree there is an ability called 'Returning Armada'. I tried using the ability and I didnt really see it do anything. Could someone please explain what this actua
End of quote


I might be wrong here, but I recall reading somewhere in the forums that the artifacs only show up in medium and large maps. It might be wrong tho, not even sure that i recall correctly
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
no I'm sure I've seen artifacts on small maps
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Returning Armada is an added ability to your phase gates. Basically, once they fill up on antimatter, they'll spawn a few random ships that will phase jump to the gravity well of the phase gate. This shouldn't bring you over the fleet cap, but it's free ships for every phase gate you have
End of quote


And, if you get it early enough and build enough phase gates (having rear planets which don't need defense is good for this) it can be a huge boom. Last game I played as the Vasari I simply stopped building frigates/cruisers as soon as I got Returning Armada (never did research any of the cruisers come to think of it). By the time the game ended my small group of 20 or so frigates had ballooned to 2 seperate fleets of frigates and cruisers, there were too many to keep in one group :). I just love free ships...

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
There are two confirmed artifacts in the small map I'm playing now.

Also, the "Call Dark Fleet" has put me over my reinforcement points twice now...don't know if its a bug or not (my game currently stands at -11).
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
There are two confirmed artifacts in the small map I'm playing now.

Also, the "Call Dark Fleet" has put me over my reinforcement points twice now...don't know if its a bug or not (my game currently stands at -11).
End of quote


I had one game with a -50 or -60 some points due to Dark Fleet. This can actually be an annoyance with the current fleet supply limit cap.