Game play consists of a series of wars fought between the two players until one player completely conquers the map (or the other player concedes). A single war may be fought over an evening, but a "Campaign" of multiple wars can take several weeks to complete. Starting positions for each new war are determined by the outcome of the last war, modified by rules for events during peacetime. Each war consists of a sequence of turns with alternating player-turns, each consisting of multiple phases. Each turn represents a period of two years. The game includes an economic system in which the units on each side are produced and maintained. The Terran income is based on what type of world the player currently possesses, and whether it is connected by friendly jump paths to Sol. The Imperial income on the other hand has a fixed budget, but an increment for each connected outpost and world.