gtdoug
	Sorry for the newbie post... but... I wanted to know opinions on the following before forking out the cash (I'm very stingy). 1. Is it worth upgrading my FREE position to a political (I know I get another 2 free ships - but I haven't done much with the first one yet). 2. Do I have to spend vast amounts more than the political position cost to get lotsa fun from this game? 3. Do I NEED operatives and agents and starbases and specail actions and such???? I'm after opinions (as well as 'flame the Newb'). Thanks guys GTDoug.
finalstryke
	If your running more than say 4 ships then a political will be of help as all your stellars are accessible from a central account, otherwise each position will have it's own isolated amount. Starbases are fun and can help make lots of money - agents and stuff are optional, how fun/useful they are depends on individual circumstance.
Lord Scrimm
	Depends upon what you want to do within the game and how much time you are willing to devote to it really. The initial Courier can be played by someone who wants to poke around and sightsee in the vast Phoenix universe. The larger ships are pretty much a necessity for those that want to go about making stellars (or trouble). Starbases form a very stable economic (and defensive) position from which to continue your activities and Special Actions really open up the game - allowing you to see how things works and "tinker under the hood" so to speak. ...as for Agents and Operatives <EG> In answer to your specific points: 1 - depends upon where you want to take the game and what you want to do with it. If you're sightseeing, then no. If you want to get involved in the politics, intrigue, wars, trade, history of Phoenix - then yes. 2 - no. It is possible to run a cargo fleet of 100 ships, use Agents and Operatives and have Ground Parties waging war across the peripheries with just your Political Position. It's not very likely unless you have a lot of support from your Aff, but it is possible to trade enough to be able to supply the wages for all those ships without having a starbase. That being said, a decent starbase does make things much easier, and if you were intending to get involved with Phoenix, then I would suggest that administering a starbase would help your situation very much (so another 2 quid a week in addition to your political). 3 - no. Eventually you'll want them, but no, you do not necessarily NEED them. Cheers, Rich Fanning aka Lord Lawrence Scrimm CIA Intelligence Director
gtdoug
	Thanks for all your opinions guys... I've just submitted a turn including the 'make me political order'. Well done for convincing me. Cheers Doug.