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Vendetta Online is a massively multiplayer game which permits thousands of players to interact as space ship pilots in a vast universe. You'll take on the role of explorer, trader, or stalwart defender of your nation's borders as you grow your character and hone your piloting skills.
This manual provides an in-depth description of Vendetta Online and the ways in which you will interact with the game, the universe, and the players within it. Use the menu bar on your above left to navigate.
=Your Character=
Three nations control most of the territory in the Vendetta Online universe, and as a beginning pilot, you'll ally yourself with one of these races. Your race determines your starting location, faction alignments, and indirectly, the equipment available to you when you begin the game.
There's an in-depth history of the Vendetta Universe and the three racesavailable [http://www.vendetta-online.com/h/storyline.html here]. For a brief profile of the factions, read on.
====The Itani Nation====
The Itani are an advanced people, having the longest history of space travel among the three races. Their civilization, living in isolation and peace for a thousand years, has made great developments in science, the arts, and spiritual, mental, and martial powers. However, a darkness lingers in their past. The Serco, once fellow colonists on Terra II, suffered countless atrocities commanded by the purist Itani leaders. The climactic battle of this war drove the Itani people near to extinction, and they fled the planet in search of a new life. Though the culture as a whole has moved beyond their bloody past, the Serco seem committed to reviving old hatreds, and the Itani have had no choice but to fight back.
====The Serco Dominion====
The Serco Dominion is a proud nation, valuing personal strength and honor in combat above all else. They were once a peaceful people, scientists and thinkers whose advanced research methods proved crucial for the Exiles' survival. However, philosophical and cultural differences with the other Terra II colonists quickly began to alienate the Serco people, eventually leading to all-out war. Their enemies, the Itani, were driven off the planet, and Serco military leaders instated a provisional government to protect its people against any future attacks. This government, and the culture of war it fostered, have persisted for over a thousand years, leaving the Serco with the largest military in known space.
====The Union of Independent Territories====
The Union of Independent Territories is a loosely knit union of corporations, merchants and explorers clinging to life in deep space. They are widely revered as innovators, as life without a homeworld has called for truly unique advances in space station and ship construction technology. However, this societal structure has also made UIT space a haven for pirates, unscrupulus merchants, and the results of autonomous technological experiments gone awry. Like the Itani, the UIT has occasionally fallen under the ill graces of the Serco. However, many UIT merchants have highly advantageous trade agreements with the Serco government, so past affronts are often overlooked.
==Character Progression==
====License Levels====As you participate in the world of Vendetta Online, you will gain skill points in five categories: Combat, Light Weapons, Heavy Weapons, Commerce, and Mining. Your government will monitor your skill progression, and once you've reached a high enough levelproficiency in a skill category, you will be granted a new license. Higher license levels give you access to better equipment and more advanced missions.
Once you've gained license levels, you can never lose them. There are no penalties for having your ship destroyed (except for beyond the monetary cost to replace it.) However, you can lose skill points within a license level by attacking a player who has much lower license levels than you. You will be warned before any penalties are applied.
====Faction Standing====
There are thirteen factions in the Vendetta Online universe. Beyond the three major nation factions, there are nine corporations loosely affiliated with the UIT, and one pirate faction, Corvus Prime. The nation you start out with determines your standing with these nations; Itani and Serco pilots will not be allowed into each others' territory, though either can travel into UIT space. You can improve your standing with any faction by completing tasks such as missions for them.
Unlike license levels, however, faction standing can go down. Most factions have zero tolerance for combat in within the vicinity 'No-Fire Zone' of their stations, and you will temporarily lose standing if you attack anyone (even enemies) in this space. You will permanently lose standing with a faction if you manage to destroy the ship of a player or NPC that faction holds in high regard within space they monitor or control. You may also lose standing if you fail (or abort) certain missions, but this will be minor compared to the penalties for attacking or killing someone.
====Accomplishments====
Accomplishment medals may be awarded to you for exemplary behavior. Many statistics, such as the number of players you've killed or the number of users you've mentored, may merit an award once you've proven yourself worthy.
====Other Statistics====
Many other statistics about your character are recorded and available to view either in-game on your Character Information screen or on the Vendetta Online web page.
==Equipment==
A great variety of equipment is available to Vendetta Online players. Every pilot needs a space ship, of course, though it's important to carefully choose your weapons, power cells, and other custom addons for the situation at hand.
A number of things determine which equipment you can purchase. Not every station carries every item - some stations are larger than others, and have a greater inventory. A Barracks-class station will carry more weapons than a mining station will.
Your character's stats will ultimately decide what a station will be willing to sell to you. You need to have earned enough credits, of course, to afford the item, but most equipment requires that you've reached a sufficient license level before buying it. Your standing with the local faction also affects what you can buy. If you have low standing, you'll only be able to buy generic equipment, and you'll be charged an escalated price. If your standing with the station owner is high, you may be granted access to rare equipment. It's up to you to explore and see what's offered where.
===Addons=======Power Cells====
Every ship needs a power cell to supply energy to its engine and weapon systems. There are a number of different models available, with varying storage capacities and charge rates.
====Weapons====
Ships come configured with varying numbers of weapon ports. Small weapon ports generally allow you to attach lighter weapons to your ship (energy weapons and some light rockets and missiles.) Large ports allow you to attach heavy weapons, such as gatling turrets, swarm missile launchers, and mine launchers. Other non-weapon addons, such as scanners or repair modules, can also be attached to these ports.
===Ship Selection===
There are twelve basic ship types available, each of which has several variants.
====Nation exclusive special ships:====
*Itani Valkyrie**Advanced Fighter, small and extremely agile**Length: 12m
*Serco Prometheus**Advanced Bomber/Transport, heavily armored behemoth**Length: 21m
*UIT Marauder**Advanced Transport, agile with excellent cargo capacity**Length: 12m
====Common ships:====
*EC-88**Small Fighter/Transport, standard variant is provided free to the nation's pilots.**Length: 10m
*Centurion**Light Fighter, high maneuverability and basic weapons capabilities**Length: 10m
*Warthog**Small Attack Ship, mixed weapon ports and decent armor**Length: 15m
*Wraith**Assault/Transport, good mix of cargo capacity and weapon loadout**Length: 13m
*Vulture**Light Fighter, light and agile with a small front profile**Length: 12m
*Atlas**Medium Transport, good mix of maneuverability and cargo capacity**Length: 14m
*Hornet**Heavy Attack Ship, powerful and well-equipped for weapon support**Length: 17m
*Ragnarok**Heavy Bomber, high armor and excellent weapon capabilities**Length: 19m
*Centaur**Heavy Transport, best cargo capacity of any mass-produced ship**Length: 18m
=Playing Vendetta Online=
==Controlling Your Ship==
Vendetta uses a very powerful dual-flight model. By default, your ship is configured to fly in the direction it is facing, like a fighter jet. You can use the throttle controls to set your desired speed, and the ship's computer will automatically calculate thrust so that you move in the direction that you're facing, at the correct speed.
This mode, "Flight Assist Mode", allows a great deal of maneuverability, but for even greater control, you can turn it off and control your ship's movement directly. This disables your ship's auto-thrusters, causing it to behave more like a true space ship. With Flight Assist off, you are not necessarily moving in the direction you're facing. Some people find this disorienting at first -- it is a bit like sliding around on wet ice. Once you get going, you keep moving until you thrust in a different direction. This is invaluable in a dogfight, since you can easily turn around and fire at someone who is chasing you without worrying about them catching up with you.
To help make flight easier in this mode, you can bring your ship to a complete halt by using the auto-brakes(Default: spacebar). Your computer will automatically calculate the thrust needed to stop your ship.
You can change flight modes in the "Controls" menu, or by pressing the "Toggle Flight Assist" key. Press "F1" while within the game to find out the current key bindings.
==Combat==
====Flight====
First and foremost, to become an expert at combat, you'll need to learn to control your ship. The basics, like using your leadoff target, are a given. But more advanced techniques like strafing and rolling will make your movement less predictable, which in turn will make it harder for your enemy to hit you. Reference the Flight section of this tutorial for more information, or challenge another player to a duel next time you're online.
====Weapons====
You'll have four basic types of weapons at your disposal.
Energy weapons will be your primary choices for most situations. They require no ammunition, which can be a lifesaver when in the depths of space. Energy weapons come in all configurations and price ranges, from wimpy ion blasters to powerful auto-aiming gatling turrets.
Straight-fire rockets pack a powerful kick, but usually require ammunition. Most go off on proximity to their target (so a direct hit isn't strictly necessary), and do area-effect damage.
Homing missiles are also available - these weapons lock onto their targets and track their position, however. However, they generally don't carry as large a payload as straight-fire rockets do.
Mines come in a variety of configurations, and are useful for traders trying to lose a pirate who's close on their tail.
Other addons, like a repair module or scanner, can be very useful for pilots who are fighting in a group.
====Targeting====
You can keep track of your enemies by targeting them. This will help you keep track of their positions, as well as enabling auto-aim and missile tracking on their ships. For more information, refer to the Tactical Display section of this manual.
==Trading==
The Three major methods for making money in Vendetta Online are scavenging, taking missions, and trading. Though any of these methods will yield sufficient credits to keep your ship upgraded, trading is by far the most lucrative.
Different space stations produce different items based on the facilities that the station has installed, and the resources available. A mining station will output a steady stream of refined ores. A barracks will produce more weapons and ships, manufacturing stations will make consumer goods, and commercial stations will tend to have a little bit of everything. Also, some stations are bigger than others, and will produce a wider variety of goods.
Stations will pay the most money for items that they don't produce. Mining For instance, mining stations will often pay well for consumer goods, for instance. However, certain Certain items, like common unrefined ores, are traded openly. All -- all stations buy and sell these items, and the price will never fluctuate, but different stations have wildly varying base prices. Once you have a rough idea of the prices for these goods, it's easy to set up a consistently profitable trade route. One thing to keep in mind, don’t oversaturate the market. Consistently selling the same item to a station will drive down the price, cutting into your profits. Vary your trade route, and you'll see a consistent influx of credits.
Be careful not to oversaturate the market! Consistently selling the same item to a station will drive down the price and cut into your profits. Vary your trade route and you'll see a consistent influx of credits.
==Navigation==
====The Known Universe====
Thirty solar systems make up the world of Vendetta Online. These systems are connected by wormholes, through which all manner of space ships can travel.
As indicated on the map above, each nation has a number of systems under its control. The Itani Nation, marked in blue, controls a long chain of colonized space at the top of the map. The Serco Dominion controls the Sol II system and the systems immediately surrounding it. UIT space is a loosely defined cluster of systems surrounding the Dau system, though many UIT corporations hold territory in unclaimed space (marked in gray.).
====Solar Systems====Each solar system is divided by your nav computer into a 16x16 grid of sectors, by your nav computer which contain all the space you will explore. Asteroid chains, ice fields, space stations, and the wormholes that connect systems will appear depending on the sector you're in. Check your nav map for more detailed information before jumping. You can reference the Navigation Interface page for more information.
==Missions==
In addition to these job postings, you'll also find tutorials and license tests listed with the missions.
Most missions will give you some sort of reward. Often this will be monetary, but you will also earn more skill points when participating in missions than you would otherwise, when not and sometimes you can earn special rewards or medals.
More information on interacting with missions is available at the Mission Interface page.
==Mining==
Mining is a skill in Vendetta Online, which allows a player to extract various minerals and ores from asteroids and crystals in the universe. These ores can then be sold to stations for profit, or potentially used for other purposes. Minerals are extracted through the use of a Mining Beam, which is equipped exactly like a weapon. Mining Beams come in both Small and Large port sizes, but most are designed for Large Port usage. Once the Beam is equipped, you may leave the station and find an asteroid or crystal. Point your ship at it and select it using the lowercase "b" key. Once you close to within 100 meters of the selected object, you may press the fire button you have associated with the Mining Beam to begin mining. The beam will continue mining until you fly outside of mining range (100m) or press the fire button again to abort mining. A progress bar on your HUD displays the filled percentage of the current crate you are mining. If you abort mining in the midst of filling a crate, you lose however much you had mined into that crate. Only completed crates are retained in your hold after the mining beam is aborted. Mining Heat - The act of mining heats up the object being mined. As the object increases in heat, it becomes less efficient to extract minerals or ores from the object. Larger objects heat more slowly than smaller ones, but also take longer to cool (days, even weeks). The heat of the object is displayed on the HUD after being selected. It is possible to continually mine any object, but the process of mining will become very slow. It is best to then find another object suitable for mining.
Mineral Scanning '''Mining Heat''' - A Mineral Scanner addon is also availableThe act of mining heats up the object being mined. As the object increases in heat, which can be equipped it becomes less efficient to display information on extract minerals or ores from the contents of the individual asteroid or other object. Different Larger objects can contain varied percentages of ores and minerals. Certain minerals are much heat more valuable on the open marketslowly than smaller ones, but also take longer to cool (days, and are much rarereven weeks). The percentage heat of a given ore in an asteroid demonstrates the chance of mining that ore, assuming you have a generic Mining Beamobject is displayed on the HUD after being selected. For instanceIt is possible to continually mine any object, if an asteroid has 42% but the process of ferric ore, and 58% of xithricite, you mining will have a 42% chance of receiving ferric ore in each individual crate you minebecome very slow. These chances can be improved by purchasing a special Mining Beam that It is tuned to a particular type of mineral or ore. Mineral and ore deposits are spread throughout the galaxy, and their locations are affected by a number of factors. The only way best to then find certain types of these resources is to explore, scanning various objects and noting their location (or asking other players what they have found)another object suitable for mining.
Group Mining '''Mineral Scanning''' - Mining with friends A Mineral Scanner addon is also available, which can be equipped to display information on the contents of the individual asteroid or other object. Different objects can contain varied percentages of ores and minerals. Certain minerals are much more efficient than mining alonevaluable on the open market and are much rarer. If you group with other players to mine The percentage of a specific given ore in an asteroiddemonstrates the chance of mining that ore, your assuming you have a generic Mining Beams will operate In Phase Beam. For instance, if an asteroid has 42% of ferric ore, and reduce the overall heating 58% of the objectxithricite, allowing you all to will have a 42% chance of receiving ferric ore in each individual crate you mine more quickly and effectively. Equipping multiple These chances can be improved by purchasing a special Mining Beams on Beam that is tuned to a single ship also gives an efficiency benefitparticular type of mineral or ore. Mineral and ore deposits are spread throughout the galaxy, but not as great as with multiple and their locations are affected by a number of factors. The only way to find certain types of these resources is to explore, scanning various objects and noting their location, or asking other playerswhat they have found.
'''Group Mining''' - Mining with friends is more efficient than mining alone. If you group with other players to mine a specific asteroid, your Mining Beams will operate in phase and reduce the overall heating of the object, allowing you all to mine more quickly and effectively. Equipping multiple Mining Beams on a single ship also gives an efficiency benefit, but it is not as great as with multiple players.
=Space Stations=
Space stations are the commercial and military hubs of the galaxy. In fact, the entire population of the Union of Independent Territories has no homeworld, and their entire population lives ; they live and works work exclusively in space. As a pilot, you'll use stations as your launch point for missions, as a place to repair , re-arm, or upgrade your ship, as a golden opportunity to profit via trade, or simply as a safe haven from the dangers of space.
This section will cover the basics of the station interface.
==Cargo==
The station interface offers a variety of menus for managing your cargo. The '''Buy ''' menu will be of primary interest for pilots who need to configure their ship and get out into combat quickly. The '''Cargo ''' menu is convenient for traders or scavengers, as you can unload and sell cargo directly from your ship's cargo hold. The '''Sell ''' menu will let you sell anything in the station's cargo hold, including your ship, provided the ship's cargo hold is empty and no addons are attached. The '''Character Info ''' screen contains, among other things, a listing of all the cargo and equipment you have stored in stations all over the galaxy.
Detailed information on some of these menus follows.
====Buy Menu====
Items that are for sale at a station can be viewed on this menu. Ship addons (for which you have sufficient standing and license levels) are listed first, with trade goods following. Any addons that are purchased are automatically fitted to your ship, assuming an appropriate port is available.
For more information, visit the trading section of this manual.
====Cargo Menu====
Selling cargo is very easy. Select the "Cargo" tab from the top of the menu to see what is currently in your ship and station cargo holds. "Ship Cargo" can be unloaded to your station inventory, or sold all at once. "Unloaded Cargo" can either be sold to the station or loaded onto your ship. Clicking any of the cargo will also display its description on the lower-right part of the panel.
Detailed information follows.
====Ammunition====
Purchasing ammunition is important for all non-energy-based weapons. This includes rockets, homing missiles, swarm missiles, mines, repair modules, and the like. To purchase ammo for a weapon, click the "Ammo" tab, then select the weapon which you wish to purchase ammo for, then click the "Buy Ammo" button. On the left bar it will show how much ammo is currently left and the weapon's information. The "Replenish All" button will purchase the maximum ammo for all configured weapons, which should be used with care for weapons that require expensive ammo.
====Equipment====
Each ship has a power cell port and one or more weapon ports. When you purchase one of these addons from the "'''Buy" ''' menu, it is automatically installed into the appropriate port. However, you can use the "'''Ship" ''' menu to swap out existing addons, as shown above.
====Weapon Groups====
Weapon groups are automatically configured for your ship when you purchase it. Default groups bind all small weapon ports to your primary fire button, and all large ports to your secondary button. You can change this, if you wish, to have different combinations of weapons fire when different weapon groups are selected.
<INSERT PICTURE HERE>
The picture above shows that "Group 1" will fire both gauss cannons simultaneously. When in-ship, groups 1-7 can be selected by numbers 1-7 on your keyboard. The three firing modes are "Primary Fire(Left Mouse Button)", "Secondary Fire(Right Mouse Button)", and "Tertiary Fire(v)".
For more information on the different types of missions available, go here.
=Heads Up Display=