In-Game Tutorial
There is an in-game tutorial in addition to the resources you find here. To start it simply read the in game message titled "Welcome" you receive from the Lacuna Expanse Corp when you start the game.
Video Tutorials
These videos will show you how to tackle some common aspects of the game.
Creating an account.
Using the in-game tutorial.
The user interface tour.
Sending a probe.
Trading with other players.
Sending a spy.
Web User Interface Reference
Hover your mouse over the red arrows to see a description of the user interface element.
The details window allows you to see information about and access the services of a particular building.
Upgrade cost information displays within the details window showing you how much of each resource it will cost to upgrade the building to the next level.
Upgrade production information displays within the details window showing you how much of each resource will be produced or consumed by upgrading the building to the next level.
Current production information displays within the details window showing you how much of each resource is produced or consumed by the building's current level.
The zoom indicator allows you to view the surface of your planet at various levels of detail. Note that the image files at maximum zoom are quite large and will be slow over all but the fastest internet connections.
The move planet surface area allows you to move the surface of your planet in all four directions. You can also move around the planet surface, by clicking down on the map and dragging it around.
The number of plots icon displays how many empty plots are available on your planet to build. The number of plots available on a planet is determined by the size of the planet.
The happiness indicator displays the current amount of happiness your planet has and the amount of happiness per hour being produced. Your happiness can go below zero and you need a positive happiness to colonize other planets, fend off attackers, and to keep your workers producing at a rapid pace.
The waste indicator displays the current amount of waste your planet has stored and the amount of waste per hour being produced.
This area displays the name of your planet. You can change the name of your planet in the star map.
Clicking in this area displays all of the planets in your empire, allowing you to jump from planet to planet with ease.
The energy indicator displays the current amount of energy your planet has stored and the amount of energy per hour being produced.
The water indicator displays the current amount of water your planet has stored and the amount of water per hour being produced.
The ore indicator displays the current amount of ore your planet has stored and the amount of ore per hour being produced.
The food indicator displays the current amount of food your planet has stored and the amount of food per hour being produced.
The logout icon allows you to log out of your empire. Be sure and do this when you are done managing your planet, especially if you are playing on a shared computer.
The about icon displays information about Lacuna including the server version, and the people involved in created the game.
Clicking the stats icon displays current game stats and leaderboard information.
Clicking the support icon launches a browser window bringing you to the Lacuna support forums.
Clicking the tutorial icon brings you to this game tutorial.
Enabling self-destruct starts a 24 hour countdown until your empire will self-destruct. If you click the icon again within 24 hours it will stop the countdown.
This area displays the name of your empire.
This is the amount of Essentia that is available to use by your empire.
Clicking the essentia icon brings up a window displaying various essentia options. Here you can see how much time remains on your boosts. Boosts allow you to increase production and storage for your planet by 25%. You can also purchase essentia, or redeem essentia codes to get more essentia.
Clicking this icon opens the profile window which allows you to set and update account information.
Clicking this icon brings up the in game messaging system, which lets you read and send messages in game.
The star map icon brings you look around the space that makes up The Lacuna Expanse.
The planet details window allows you to see information about a particular body.
Unoccupied planets display with no border around them. These are planets that can be colonized by your empire provided your species can inhabit them.
Planets inhabited by your allies appear with a purple border on the star map.
Planets in your empire appear with a green border on the star map.
The type of ore available on a planet determines whether or not you will be able to build certain buildings or look for certain types of glyphs.
Spies can be sent to enemy or alliance planets and set to either attack or defend.
This area displays general information about a planet. This information includes whether or not the planet is habitable, how many plots are available on the planet, where in the galaxy the planet resides, etc.
Hostile planets display with an orange border and are inhabited by empires that are not your allies. This doesn't necessarily mean that they are your enemy, but you shouldn't consider them your friends either.
The surface map brings you to the surface view of your planet.
