Asteroid

Stub This article is incomplete This is an article about a topic that should be covered in more detail by the FreeAllegiance Wiki, but is lacking in content. You can help by improving it!

Asteroids are also called "rocks".

Asteroids are an essential element of the Allegiance game environment. At the start of a game, they are scattered randomly through every sector, depending on the game settings. They are focal points for much of the game's action. For any base to be built, a Constructor must first reach the asteroid where it is to be placed; for any money to be earned by a team, Miners have to constantly travel to and from Helium-3 asteroids; for the team to pursue any of the three main tech paths (Tactical, Supremacy, and Expansion), a corresponding special asteroid must first be secured.

Types of asteroids

• Generic rocks
  • This is by far the most common sort of asteroid -- plain greyish-brown rocks scattered across every sector. Most minor stations, such as Outposts and Teleport receivers, must be built on such asteroids. Garrisons are also built on these, and, in some Cores, Shipyards. There will be many of these rocks in every sector.
• Helium asteroids
  • These asteroids look similar to generic rocks, but have a special icon on the command map, along with an additional indicator over their health bar that shows remaining Helium-3 content. To earn money for its team, a Miner will travel to one of these rocks, sit at it for a time harvesting He3, and then return to a Refinery, Outpost, or other appropriate base (depending on faction) to "offload," at which point the team receives the money. The enemy will usually place probes near He3 rocks to hunt miners, and will try to attack miners while they are motionless at the asteroid. The Dreghklar Empire can also build He3 mines on these rocks to earn extra income. There will usually be four rocks of this type in every sector, though home sectors usually get only two, and some sectors on some maps have more; this also depends on the game's settings.
• Special rocks
  • There are three kinds of "special" asteroids in Allegiance. To access one of the game's main tech paths, a tech base must be built on its matching kind of special rock. Some other bases make use of special asteroids, such as GigaCorp's spec mines; in some Cores, the Shipyard may be built on any special rock, instead of regular asteroids. Usually, only one special rock will be found in each sector (though this depends on game settings). Which asteroids your team has access to determines which tech paths you may pursue; if you can't find a Uranium asteroid in a defensible sector early in the game, for example, it's probably not wise to invest in the Expansion path (unless you are able to secure, and defend, a rock in enemy territory). One or more tech paths may become completely inaccessible to one or both teams later in the game if all the asteroids of the matching type are consumed and/or destroyed.
  • Silicon asteroids
    • The Tactical Laboratory must be built on this rock type, granting access to the Tac tech path. These asteroids have a greenish tint, and get a green or teal icon on the mini-map.
  • Carbonaceous asteroids
    • This is where the Supremacy Center must be built, granting access to Sup tech. These asteroids have a purple tint, and purple icons on the mini-map.
  • Uranium asteroid
    • The Expansion Complex is built here. These rocks appear orange, and have an orange icon.

---