Prototype Satellites and Contracts

One of the more powerful features of Space Race is the ability to design your own satellites and write your own contracts. This guide walks you through what that means and how to use it.

What You Can Do

  1. Design your own satellite prototypes using the Satellite Designer
    1. Choose a name, size, and abilities that match what you want to build
    2. Your prototype is saved and available to launch like any other satellite
  2. Write your own contracts using the Contract Editor
    1. Specify what you are giving (cash, satellites, tech) and what you receive in return
    2. Set a duration and a reward amount
  3. Add your custom satellites as requirements in your contracts
    1. This lets you specify that the contract winner must operate a specific type of satellite
  4. Put your contract in auction so other players can bid on it

How the Money Works

  1. If you write a contract that pays the winner, the winner earns money each turn the satellite operates
    1. You pay out of your own cash — so make sure the deal makes sense for you too
  2. If you write a contract that costs the winner (give_cash > 0), you collect money when the auction closes
  3. You can sell satellites, assets, or tech to other players via contracts — that's one of the main ways to trade
  4. Consortiums are possible: multiple players can write contracts that trade resources around and benefit everyone's position

Late Game Potential

  1. Late game contracts may require custom satellites with specific abilities — only players who have researched the right tech can fulfill them
  2. If winning conditions are flexible, coordinating with other players through contracts can be mutually beneficial
  3. You can get someone else to launch a satellite for you by writing a contract that pays them to operate a satellite of your prototype type

Testing This Feature

  1. Design a satellite prototype
    1. Go to Satellite Designer and create a prototype
    2. Make sure you have the tech to build it
  2. Launch your satellite
    1. On your turn page, build and then launch the satellite
  3. Write a contract
    1. Go to Contract Editor
    2. Create a contract — try one that gives cash in exchange for operating your satellite type
  4. Put the contract in auction
    1. Mark it as auctionable in the Contract Editor, then queue it for auction on your turn
  5. Have another player bid on it and win
    1. As the contract creator you can pick the preferred winner if multiple players bid
  6. Report your findings in Jira — what worked, what was confusing, what broke