Manual:Game Mechanics/Galaxy

The galaxy map is too large to reasonably post on these forums, however a convenient zoom-able version may be found | here.

If you look at the galaxy map you will note there are various types of terrain. Asteroid fields, nebulae, etc. These have a substantial effect on ships and worlds;

Asteroid Fields
(-2 to Communications and Sensor values) Ships without at least 6 Engine value that are larger than size 1 take an asteroid hit upon entering the field (Strength 4 solid hit). Each size beyond 2 has the strength of the asteroid hit increased by 2. Ships in the field take another hit every 0.1 turn. Ships cannot warp within or through asteroid fields (or else they will be destroyed). In addition, ships that are in combat within an asteroid field may use it as cover against enemy attacks. Ships receive damage reduction from this terrain equal to 3 minus their size. Ships also have -2 to their Engine value here while in combat, though this cannot reduce their engines to less than 2 in this way (this has no effect on the damage sustained by the asteroid field for having less than 6 value).

Ionic
(-2 Communications and Sensor values) Ships with shield systems in the field have their shield value reduced by 6 for as long as they remain in the nebula and cannot warp. Ships passing through the nebula while warping are immediately dropped out of warp.

Volatile Gas
Ships inside the nebula suffer 2 additional explosive damage when damaged, and also suffer 2 explosive damage when they attack while inside the nebula (note that the nebula does not trigger off of its own damage).

Shrouding
(-2 Sensor values) Ships inside the nebula have +1 to their stealth value, in addition, ships in combat here receive damage reduction from this terrain equal to 2 minus their size.

Resonating
(+1 to Communications and Sensor values) Ships inside the nebula have -1 to their Stealth value, in addition any ships warping through this nebula have their maximum distance increased by 1 Hex (limit 1/jump).

Invisible Terrain
These are things which you are likely to find in space, but which don't show up on the Galaxy map.

Wormholes
Wormholes appear randomly and may disappear just as suddenly, traversing them is always dangerous. Ships without 8+ sensor value and 4+ warp value suffer a strength 6 energy damage hit. Ships attempting to use a wormhole without warp suffer a strength 12 energy damage hit. The wormhole itself forms a gateway between two random locations, travel takes 0.2 turns.

Jump Gates
Left by a race long since gone, these immobile rings can be used by those with warp to launch themselves to other gates. Until you have coordinates for multiple gateways, you will jump blindly towards a random gate. Movement for using the gates is 3 hexes/warp value, this travel ignores all terrain. If the craft doesn't have the warp value to reach the other side of the gate in a single jump, it becomes temporarily trapped in the gate until its warp drive is available again. Note that each time this occurs there is a 15% chance the craft is ejected from the gateways wherever it is currently, suffering a strength 4 energy damage hit and has its warp drive damaged to 0 ranks. Note that once the jump is made, this cannot be stopped without destroying the craft.

Gravity Wells
Ships here have -2 to their engine and warp values. When a ship passes through a gravity well while warping, its maximum distance is reduced by 2/hex traveled through. Ships above size 4 do not suffer the penalty to engines (but still suffer the penalty to warp). Size 0 ships here suffer a -4 penalty to their engine value, possibly trapping them. Note that wreckage disperses at half normal speed here (so 1/20 per turn normally, 1/10 per turn in orbit of a planet in a hex with a gravity well).

Rifts
Ships warping through this area have their distance increased by 4 hexes once per jump, however suffer a strength 4 energy weapon hit that inflicts 2 additional damage to shields.

Debris Fields/Derelicts
Space is a dangerous place, and yours are not the first species to attempt to explore it. Occasionally you will find bits of debris from age old battles or ships whose crew abandoned them long ago, exploring and or restoring these ancient vessels can of course grant obvious benefits, but who knows at what price to those tasked with the endeavor.