There are multiple types of in-game communications:
**5.1 Forum - **A public message board available to all players. You can post a new topic or comment on an existing one. Because this is an open forum, please adhere to the game rules on language, bullying and other potentially offensive content. Inappropriate or outdated content may be removed as needed by the Game Administrators. To view individual posts, tap on a subject. Some subjects are created by Game Administrators to cover important game issues (like Official Rules), while other subjects may be created by players to discuss specific topics of interest. Unless “locked”, you may add your comments to any Forum post, or respond to comments left by others.
**5.2 World Chat - **A live, real-time chat open to all players. Because this is an open chat, please adhere to the game rules on language, bullying and other potentially offensive content. You can change the color of your own posts from the Settings screen.
**5.3 Alliance Chat - **A closed chat available only to members of your alliance. You can change the color of your own posts from the Settings screen.
Note: World and Alliance Chat are somewhat limited, and you can’t easily play the game and chat at the same time. We also make use of a third-party chat application called Discord, which is much more robust and feature-rich, and allows simultaneous chat and gameplay. Discord is available as a free download for Mac, PC, iOS and Android. Instructions for joining our Discord chat server are found in the in-game welcome message you received when joining (check your Private Messages folder), and on the Support Information screen (tap the “i” button on the Menu Bar).
**5.4 Buddy List - **A valuable tool to help you cooperate with close friends in the game, in your alliance or not (best viewed in landscape mode on some devices). Making someone a Buddy adds ACS Invite options, advanced Galaxy View features, and more enhancements in the future. The Buddy List allows you to see your current Buddies and their online status, and manage pending Buddy requests. You can send a Buddy request to others from the Galaxy View.
**5.5 Messages and Reports – **To read incoming items, tap the Messages icon (looks like an envelope) on the right side of the Menu Bar. The Messages Screen lists all incoming Messages and Reports, organized and color-coded. To the right is an indicator showing the number of new/read messages. To view them, tap the desired message folder. You can also view all messages at once by tapping “View all messages” at the top of the screen. Messages can be selected for deletion individually or deleted all at once.
**5.5.1 Private Messages – **direct messages between two players. Private Messages may be sent from many places in the game:
**5.5.2 Alliance Messages - **(also called Circular Messages, or “Circs”) are group messages that are sent to all the members of your alliance. These messages are sent from the Alliance page using the “Send Circular Message” button. You may also send a Circular Message by opening a new message dialog window from anywhere else and addressing the message to “Alliance” (if you are an alliance member). The privilege to use the Circular Message function is given by the Founder of an Alliance. Many Alliances have policies as to what can and cannot be posted via circular messages, so be sure to check your alliance rules before you post them.
**5.5.3 Spy Reports – **when you launch a Spy mission against another planet or moon, the Espionage Probe transmits a report back to you. Received reports are stored here. At the bottom of the report are buttons allowing you to attack the target, or “Simulate” an attack by opening the Combat Simulator and automatically filling in the “Defender” information with data from the spy report. For more information on obtaining this information see Technologies > Espionage Technology; Fleets > Ship Types > Espionage Probe; and The Game Interface > Main Menu > Fleet Screen > Combat Simulator.
**5.5.4 Battle Reports – **Whenever a battle occurs, a report is generated and sent to all battle participants. The report provides the details of all fleets and defensive units involved, their relative strength, unit types, the number of rounds, and final battle results (winner/loser or draw). It also details the total losses of all participants, the amount of debris left in orbit, and any plunder taken by the victor (see Fleets > Combat).
**5.5.5 Transportation Reports – **Whenever your ships complete a Transport or Deploy mission, a report is generated detailing the date and time of the fleet’s arrival, and what resources were delivered. A report is also generated when someone else transports resources to one of your planets.
**5.5.6 Recycling Reports – **Whenever you send a fleet on a recycle mission, a report is generated when the fleet reaches the location of the debris field. The report details the date and time of its arrival, and the amount of debris gathered. A second report is generated when the recycle fleet returns to its point of origin and delivers the resources.
**5.5.7 Construction Reports – **When you have ordered a construction project that could not be completed due to insufficient resources, a report to that effect is generated.