The tutorial instructed me to get going by turning on StarMaster mode (I think that's the name), and choosing "instant" on several researches. It also had me produce several ships from the "Fast OOB".
Is this how you start your own games? It feels like cheating or something. If it isn't how you do your own games, then how do you?
2) Also, I have three cargo vessels transporting auto-mines to Mars. Three just arrived and have already started mining. How do I go about getting those minerals from where they are now (Mars) to where all my production is (Earth?)
3) Can I transport auto-mines to mine an asteroid? If so, how do I get those minerals back to Earth?
4) Jump points, jump gates, what does it all mean? Can someone point me to a good explanation of what all this talk of jump stuff is?
5) Civilians. I'm very hazy on what civilians do for me, and what I need to do. I made a colony on Mars. I am working on adding oxygen. When the air is breathable, will the civilians automatically start colonizing it? I understand from the tutorials that civilians will sometimes build the luxury liners and cargo vessels I have designed. Can I control those ships when they are created? Will I even know about it? What will the civilians do automatically? What should I NOT expect them to do automatically?