PAX IMPERIA
EMINENT DOMAIN

Overview:
The goal of Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain is nothing short of 
total domination and the complete destruction of all the 
enemy forces. Your species will be competing on a galactic 
scale for limited resources. Only skillful management of 
each of the game’s critical components will lead to 
victory.

Select Single Player Game from the opening menu, select New 
Game from the next menu.  The Species Select Screen 
appears.  (Note: The demo version only allows the user to 
select one species from the eight pre-designed.  The full 
version will also allow a user to design a custom species).

Species Selection:
Each of the Species in the tubes comes with a predetermined 
set of attributes, tendencies, tolerances and aptitudes 
which give it unique advantages (and disadvantages) within 
the game.  The Kar’Tsoran species has been selected for the 
demo.


Kar’Tsoran:
Incredible economists the Kar-Tsoran manage worlds very 
effectively, maximizing resources and developing rapidly.  
Below you will find a comparison of the Kar’Tsoran species 
with the human species:

						Kar’Tsoran		Human
Atmospheres					One			One
Physical					None			None
Cultural					2			None		
Research Characteristic			5			6
Reproduction Characteristic		5			6
Construction Characteristic		10			6
Espionage Characteristic		5			6
Finance Characteristic			10			6
Temperature Pref./Tolerance		Cold/High		Very Cold/High
Weapons Research Level			Low			Normal
Shielding Research Level		Low			Normal
Ship Research Level			Low			High
Colonial Research Level			High			Normal
Space Research Level			Normal		Normal 

After you have selected the Kar’Tsoran species you will 
enter the Game Setup Screen. 


Game Setup Screen:

You will need to make a few more adjustments before you can 
begin the game:

Number of Stars:	5 (full version will allow up to 80)

Computer Opponents:	1 (full version will up to 15)

Difficulty:		1 (full version will allow player to	
			   adjust the difficulty level)

Selecting Fleet:	2 different fleets are available
			  (full version will have 16)

Selecting Flag:	Scroll through the available flags

Name Your Domain:	Type the name of your empire


When you have made all of the necessary adjustments, press 
the START button in the lower, left corner of the screen.
(Note: changing the number of stars, opponents, or 
difficulty level will not effect the demo.)

You will now enter the Control Room.  You will be able to 
access all areas of the game from this screen.  

Sector Display (F2 button):
The Sector Display is accessed by double-clicking on the 
large central view screen. This interface allows you to 
examine individual planets and control Fleet movement, 
either within the Sector or through wormholes (which 
connect Sectors).  (Note: Only 5 sectors are available in 
the demo version, the full version allows players to 
colonize up to 80 different sectors.)

Research (F3 button):
The Research screen controls which projects your Species is 
currently working to develop in the five integral areas: 
Weapons, Shielding, Ship, Colonial, and Space. The sliding 
scale for each allows you to control the percentage of 
Research points allocated to each area. You can toggle 
between Theoretical and Developed systems to see how each 
area is progressing, and also highlight any one item to get 
a brief description.  (Note: Limited research is available 
in the demo version.)

Fleet Command (F4 button):
The Fleet Command window lets you inspect each Fleet and 
ship. Ships can easily be transferred from one Fleet to 
another, and upgraded with new technology as it becomes 
available. You can also assign projects to your Shipyards 
from this screen.

Domestic Policy (F5 button):
The Domestic Policy screen allows you to compare economic 
information on all the planets which you have discovered, 
using filters and different pertinent data to prioritize 
the list. You can also make economic adjustments to your 
larger economy through this screen.

Foreign Affairs (F6 button):
The Foreign Affairs screen lets you control the nature of 
your contact with other Species, instigating trade, 
treaties and espionage. (Note: Trades and treaties are not 
available in the demo version.)

Planetary Surface (F7 button):
The Planetary Surface window lets you view each individual 
planet and study the current state of the planet’s economy, 
controlling the production of new technologies as they are 
researched.

Ship Design (F8 button):
Each of the ships your Species is capable of building can 
be viewed from the Ship Design screen, allowing you to make 
modifications as new technology becomes available.  (Note: 
Limited research in the demo version limits the types of 
ships that can be designed).

Options (F9 button):
Adjust the volume of the game.  (Note: you cannot save a 
game in the demo version.)


Controlling the Interface:
Understanding and properly controlling each of the menu 
screens is a complicated task, but balancing all of the 
game’s aspects is, of course, the key to success. The 
following short sections look at each screen in detail, and 
also point to how the game’s components work together to 
form the complex Universe of Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain.

Sector View:
At its most basic, the Sector View is used to examine the 
planets in each system where you have explored, and also to 
move your Fleet between the planets in each individual 
Sector, and into the Universe beyond.

Planet Types:
Each planet in the Pax Imperia universe is rated with 
regard to your Species’ ability to inhabit it, based on the 
planet’s atmosphere and temperature.

Planets are rated either Poor, Mediocre or Optimum, and, 
though any planet can be claimed as part of your domain, 
the rating is a good general barometer of the planet’s 
potential productivity.

As your level of technology increases, your Species will be 
better able to inhabit Poor planets, but Mediocre and 
Optimum worlds generally have a more favorable impact on 
your economy.

Notice that clicking on the star in the center of any solar 
system brings up a list of all the planets in that system 
in the left-hand column, allowing you to quickly identify 
prime targets for Colonization.

Wormholes:
Wormholes provide the only means of moving your Fleet from 
one Sector to another. Each trip through a wormhole is 
considered one “Jump,” and ships have different Jump ranges 
based on the ship type and current level of technology. To 
explore beyond the range of your specific ship type, you’ll 
have to Colonize planets (or build Refueling Stations) 
along your route.


Fleet Movement:
Moving your Fleet from one area to another is as simple as 
selecting the Fleet with the mouse(left button), and 
clicking on its destination(right button): a planet or 
wormhole.

To Attack or Interdict with a Fleet is the same process as 
moving the Fleet. Simply click the Attack or Interdict 
button and then click on your target.

Colonization:
The act of Colonizing a planet adds it to your universal 
domain. Then, as the planet’s population begins to grow, it 
begins to contribute to your domain’s Research and 
Construction capabilities.

Colonizing a planet requires that you have a ship in orbit 
which has colonization potential. Colonization units come 
in a wide variety, and the more technologically advanced 
units are required to Colonize worlds that fall far outside 
your Species’ Atmosphere and Temperature preferences.

Once you’ve selected the Colonize Planet option from the 
Sector View screen, your flag is affixed to the world. 
You’ll find that, in the Planet View mode, you can toggle 
between all the worlds in your domain by using the scroll 
bar bearing the planet’s name.

Orbitals:
Orbitals are constructions in space that you may build near 
Colonized planets. There are several varieties such as 
Shipyards and Defensive Systems.

As new technology becomes available, highlighting a 
Colonized planet in the Sector View presents any current 
options for building Orbitals.

The Orbital Shipyard is the easiest type of Orbital to 
construct from a technology standpoint, but completion 
takes awhile. As soon as you have several planets in your 
domain, beginning construction of another Shipyard is 
usually prudent. Later in the game, Orbital defensive 
systems can play an integral part in protecting your 
planets from your competitors.  (Note: Limited research 
restricts the total number of orbital that can be built on 
the demo version.)

Universe View: An Eye on Expansion:
As part of the Sector View screen, and central to the Main 
Control screen, the Universe View provides a map of the 
star systems available for exploration. Notice that each 
unexplored system is denoted by a small five-pointed star. 
Once each system is explored, its Universe View icon 
becomes a small node, connected to other explored star 
systems by a thin blue line.

Moving from one star system to the next is accomplished by 
selecting one of your Fleets, and then clicking on the Move 
Fleet button. By positioning the cursor which appears on a 
Wormhole, you direct your ship to enter the hole in the 
space-time continuum, and travel to the adjacent star 
system.

Each ship in your Fleet has a range of movement derived 
from its particular engine type, and thus expanding your 
domain must be done in an even, methodical manner.

Colonizing at least one planet in each system you explore 
ensures that ships passing through will be able to refuel, 
but the simple act of Colonizing doesn’t prevent another 
Species from coming along behind you and claiming the 
planet for its own domain.

A moderate rate of expansion, claiming at least two of the 
planets in each system as you explore, helps to ensure that 
an enemy doesn’t disrupt your exploration route.

Planetary Surface:
The Planetary Surface screen is one of the most important 
controls in the game, allowing you to monitor a planet’s 
individual economic profile, and direct current projects.

Directing Construction:
As each new Research discovery is made, your population is 
directed to construct the advancements that allow you to 
expand your universal domain.

Each individual planet is assigned a scheme for 
prioritizing construction of each new Research development, 
either choosing the quickest available project to complete, 
or focusing instead on one of the key areas that further 
your universal expansion goals: Population, Construction, 
Research, Espionage, or Finance.

Selecting Quickest First in the dialogue box means just 
that: As new technologies are Researched, the game 
determines which project can be completed fastest, and 
begins construction.

By designating one of the other areas of technological 
advancement, the planet in question will focus on new 
developments within that specific discipline. For example: 
Selecting the Construction option means that that 
particular planet will concentrate exclusively on 
manufacturing new Construction technologies as they become 
available through Research.  (Note: Limited technologies 
are available in the demo version of the game).

To see the entire list that’s in the queue, you can click 
on the Extend List button. The displayed list are the 
projects that the planet will undertake in order, as 
determined by the prioritization indicated in the box above 
(Quickest First, Construction, etc.).

If you’d like to change any of the prioritization profiles, 
the lists can be modified from the Game Options control: 
Edit Planetary Profiles.

Planetary Economic Profile:
The right-hand side of the Planet Surface view screen shows 
the particular planet’s current state of development, 
including not only population and income, but also the 
game-specific measurements of Research, Espionage and 
Construction that contribute to your domain’s overall 
vitality.  

Ship Design and Construction:
Designing and building the space ships that constitute your 
Fleet is a relatively straight-forward task, though there 
is also some room for creativity.

The straight-forward aspect of Ship Design is the simple 
act of upgrading each ship’s component pieces as new 
technology becomes available. This is easily accomplished 
by deleting the current design for a certain ship type, and 
then using the Design and Auto buttons to configure each 
particular class of ship with the newest improvements.

Your own creativity comes into play most often in case-
specific terms. For example, a certain foe displays a 
tendency or weakness which you’d like to take advantage of, 
so you configure your weapons systems with that particular 
enemy in mind.

Building ships, as opposed to creating your own ship 
design, is done from the Fleet Command interface, or by 
highlighting a planet with an orbital Shipyard in the 
Sector View, and clicking on the Build option.

Ship Types:
The various ship types all serve a specific purpose within 
the game, though it will require some technological 
advancement before the full potential of each can be 
realized.  (Note: Ship types are limited to 3 hulls in the 
demo version of the game).

As the game begins, the three types of ships you have 
available for construction are the Scout, the Transport and 
the Destroyer.

Scouts: Scouts are just that: Short range recon ships that 
help you to see what’s in the next star system. They can 
only make one Wormhole jump before they must return to a 
system with a Colonized planet and refuel.

Transports: Transports are the method by which you Colonize 
new planets. As fast as you can build Transports, send them 
off to explore the next uncharted star system. Make sure at 
least one planet in each new system is Colonized, so that 
other ships moving through can refuel.

Destroyers: Destroyers are the muscle of your Fleet. Load 
them up with the best weapons, and use them to escort 
Transports or protect Colonized planets.

Ship Components:
As new technology becomes available for your Fleet, 
incorporating the latest advancements via Ship Design or 
the Upgrade option in Fleet Command is essential in keeping 
your Fleet on par with the competition. (Note: Limited 
technology is available in the demo version.)

Drives: Star Drives are for use in travel between star 
systems, whereas Tac Drives are the propulsion method used 
within a star system (and for combat).

Weapons: Each ship has, at most, four arcs of fire: 
Primary, Port, Starboard, and Point. Each of those areas 
can be outfitted with its own independent weapons system. 
Additionally, the Targeting Computer is considered a part 
of this subsystem.

Defense: Defensive systems consist of the ship’s Armor and 
Shielding, and also any Counter Measures designed to throw 
off the targeting attempts of the enemy.


Fleet Command:
The Fleet Command screen allows you to monitor the current 
status of the ships in all your Fleets, and also to 
properly assemble large Fleets of ships with ease. 
Additionally, Fleet Command lets you Build ships at any of 
your Shipyards, and also to Upgrade ships with the newest 
technologies.

Fleet Composition:
Early in the game, your “Fleets” are bound to be one or two 
ships: Usually a Transport and/or a Scout.

As the game progresses, you’ll begin to switch away from 
Colonization mode, and towards constructing ships with the 
intention of fighting your opponents, and so large Fleets 
of Destroyers and Scouts are not uncommon.

Tailor your ship construction and Fleet composition to suit 
the current task at hand. You can ascertain the size of an 
enemy’s Fleet by clicking on it and choosing the Examine 
Fleet option from the Sector View screen. This can give you 
a good idea if your own Fleet composition is going to 
measure up to the challenge.

Upgrading and Scrapping Ships:
In order to Upgrade a specific ship with the current 
technology, it must be in the same Sector as a Shipyard or 
a ship equipped with a Repair Bay. If this is not the case, 
it’s occasionally easier to scrap a ship than it is to send 
it back across the known universe to get the latest Worm 
Drive.

Especially in the case of the second or first wave of ships 
you send out, following the initial massive Colonization 
effort, building newer ships may ultimately be more 
efficient than retrofitting older ones.


Research:
Performing Research is the means by which your Species 
makes technological advancements, and expands your domain 
across the universe. Until an item is Researched, it cannot 
be constructed.  (Note: Limited research is available in 
the demo

Controlling Research:
Research is performed in each of five critical areas: 
Weapons, Shielding, Ship, Colonial, and Space technologies.
(Note: Limited technologies can be researched in the demo 
version of the game.)

The five tabbed menus in the upper left-hand corner of the 
screen show the current list of projects, both Theoretical 
and Developed.

The Theoretical list is the one from which new Research 
projects are initiated, and the current project name is 
highlighted there. That specific project’s progress is 
recorded in the five Research discipline boxes along the 
right-hand side of the screen.

The list of Developed technologies are those currently 
available for Construction on your domain’s planets.

Ultimately, controlling Research is a relatively passive 
endeavor: The slider bars beside each of the ongoing 
projects let you manipulate the percentage of your domain’s 
Research points which are being allotted to each specific 
area, but it’s rare that you’ll want to emphasize one area 
over another.

Foreign Affairs:
The Foreign Affairs screen lets you communicate with your 
computer opponents through the use of Treaties, Trade 
agreements and Espionage.  (Note: Treaties and trades are 
not functional in the demo version.) 

Compare:
One of the more useful features in the game, the Compare 
function lets you toggle through graphical representations 
of your domain’s resources, comparing them with your 
opponent’s resources in the same crucial areas.

Espionage:
Perhaps more often than sharing information and resources 
with other universal powers, you’ll use the Espionage 
functions to try to undermine their accomplishments.

The Steal, Subvert and Sabotage functions are self-
explanatory, each evoking a dialogue box that displays the 
information pertinent to the task at hand.

Black Operations:
Black Ops are, in essence, all the nasty Espionage projects 
that don’t fall under the general headings of Steal, 
Subvert or Sabotage.

That includes instigating Rebellion, Assassinating 
government officials, and even seeking to Topple the 
opposition’s Empire.


Domestic Policy:
The Domestic Policy screen provides a quick, concise 
summary of all the planets in all the star systems which 
you’ve explored.

The same information as is included in the Planet Surface 
screen is summarized here, allowing you to quickly review 
all of the planets’ economic numbers, and adjust the CP 
Subsidy and Project parameters quickly and efficiently.

The upper left-hand corner of the screen provides an 
overview of your domain’s resources, and also lets you 
manipulate the percentage of the maximum amount being spent 
in the areas of Research, Espionage and Construction.
