Get Starship Traders MMO for PC

Starship Traders MMO is a space MMO with mechanics reminiscent of a graphical version of a traditional MUD. You begin as a stranded pilot in an unknown galaxy, lured there as a would-be colonist by the promise of an Earth-like planet that does not exist. Trading-post mechanics reveal this backstory as part of a mission.

Survive in the galaxy

You start in a minimalist spaceship and learn to survive by trading among ports and planets. Later, you can hunt aliens for money and ship upgrades, explore for wormholes and unclaimed loot, or excavate planets to earn money. You can also trade with ports.

Combat costs resources, so you need to weigh whether you can win before attacking; even a victory may not make a profit from the loot. An honorable kill earns experience and honor. You can buy drones with your cash to hunt aliens, and even low-level aliens carry cash and may have a better spaceship than yours.

Fuel and travel

Your ship launches with a large fuel supply, and you gather more gradually whether you are active or offline. Travel uses relatively little fuel, especially when you travel light, but repeatedly scanning for nearby ships consumes it much faster. Towing large objects also costs a lot of fuel.

Corporations and star clusters

You can create a corporation or apply to join one. Corporation members can share defensive resources and combine their strength to monopolize a valuable star cluster. Wormholes leading to star clusters can usually be guarded; wormholes to other galaxies can also be guarded indirectly, but only temporarily.

Open loot flags

Attacking a ship below your level can flag you as “open loot,” with several disadvantages. While flagged, you become an honorable target that anyone can attack without penalty, and a winner can take your cash and ship. Your ship also remains visible after you log off until the flag expires, rather than disappearing after its usual short cooldown, and any stealth effects you have are disabled.

These penalties do not apply when you attack a ship that is already flagged as open loot, regardless of its level. Flagged ships have red nameplates.