1. General Rules

1.1 Do not circumvent mechanical enforcement

This is game about engineering, and we welcome creative ways to solve problems. However, exploiting bugs or loopholes to bypass enforced game mechanics is not permitted.

A non-exhaustive list of examples include:

1. Bypassing block limits or directional constraints

2. Bypassing weapon targeting by using blocks or grids owned by other factions/players (including NPCs or Nobody), or by using “Share with All” in a combat scenario

3. Merging NPC-owned weapons/drives (marked as “Damaged” or “MES”) onto your ship

1.2 Do not attempt to keep duplicate grids or items

Grid duplication can happen for a range of reasons, and just as lost ships are tracked, so are duplicates. We expect players to quickly remove duplicates they receive from server issues without any duplicated cargo being taken.

If you attempt to keep, salvage, or hide a duplicate ship you will be punished. We will also remove the original and duped grids (or cargo) involved in any attempts to hide/keep dupes.

1.3 Do not intentionally harm server performance

• Try to avoid building “contraptions” with subgrids as much as possible.

• To avoid excessive physics calculations by the server, spread your grids out if possible (1.5+ km between grids, the more the better) and hangar any grids that are not in active use.

• Intentionally ramming voxels is prohibited. The key word here is intentionally. It is bound to happen throughout normal gameplay. We understand this.

ReadServer Performance and Policies to learn more about performance considerations and gameplay restrictions.

If anything you have built or are doing has been identified to be significantly impacting server performance, you will be contacted by staff and given a reasonable timeline to address the issue.

1.4 All players must belong to a faction

Yes, solo players too. You may create your own or join an existing faction.

Visit #🧊faction-advertisments (for picking a faction) or #🧊player-linkedin (for getting picked by a faction) if you’re looking to get recruited.

1.5 Do not use unauthorised custom plugins

If you plan on using/developing a custom client plugin that is not already available through Pulsar on our servers, you must follow the rules outlined on the Client Plugins page.

We reserve the right to disallow certain plugins available through Pulsar. If this occurs, we will publish an announcement and provide a list of prohibited plugins on this page.

Expanse specific plugin rules

• Accessing data from Spectrum via plugin is forbidden.

2. Building Rules

2.1 Do not exceed block limits

All grids must abide by our block limits. Block limits are managed by Ship Cores, which provides mechanical enforcement and tools for viewing limit usage.

Additionally, grids (and attached subgrids) must not exceed 100 total functional blocks of each type. That means 100 per category of any combination of Thrusters, of LCDs, of Cargo Containers, etc.

2.2 Do not abuse block ownership

All blocks must be owned by an active player at all times.

Limited use of "Share with all" is allowed for non-combat reasons such as a shared refueling station.

• No grid may have all functional blocks set to "Share with all": there must be some functional blocks that do not use that setting.

• "Share with all" must be disabled when a grid is intentionally being taken into combat.

• Beacons and weapons may not be set to "share with all" for any reason

You may not hold the ownership of a globally-limited grid against another player’s will (e.g. Installation Cores).

2.3 Grid names must be readable in English

All grid names must only use English characters and numbers. Symbols may mess with logs and admin support commands. Grid names, Beacons and Antennas must abide by our Global Rules.

2.4 Avoid Automatic Cleanup of your grids

Periodic Cleanup will delete grids that meet any of the following conditions:

• Majority ownership by "Nobody" or by NPC factions (excluding Trade Stations)

• Grids with "Grid" in the name. (Includes anything with letters G-r-i-d in that sequence)

• No Beacon Block or Ship Core present on the grid

• Grid has less than 20 blocks

3. Combat Rules

3.1 Do not use the world hangar or !fixship near other players

• You’re not allowed to hangar or unhangar your grid from the world hangar (!h save or via the M menu) within 30 km of an enemy or neutral player. Use of hangar blocks is permitted.

  • This rule is mechanically enforced, but kept here for visibility.

• Do not use !fixship within target distance (~24 km) of a enemy or neutral player, unless all parties involved agree to it.

3.2 Green-on-green actions are not permitted

You are not allowed to attack allies or manipulate their grids in any way without their consent.

Enemies and Neutrals are fair game.

3.3 Don’t use PMWs or combat drones

This includes use of any script-piloted playerless grids during combat or for surveillance purposes, and any grids designed to ram other ships, stations, or voxels.

Utility drones are permitted in non-combat scenarios such as mining, up to 2 per player-controlled grid in the vicinity.

3.4 Don’t abuse Safe Zones or No-Fire zones

Safe Zones are the visible bubbles around each Trade Station and some other places. In Safe Zones, weapons, drilling, welding, grinding, maglocks and collisions are disabled.

No-Fire Zones include all places where combat and damage is disallowed or mechanically prevented. These are, for example, the “weapons-off” zones extending 10 km from any NPC trade station.

• It is not permitted to engage in any form of PvP if one of the parties is within a Safe Zone or No-Fire Zone

  • Using a Safe Zone or No-Fire Zone as tactical cover during combat (i.e. peeking in and out while fighting) is strictly forbidden

  • Waiting outside for someone to leave the Safe Zone or No-Fire Zone (“camping” or blockading) is not considered PvP and is explicitly allowed

• Grids left unattended within a Safe Zone or No-Fire Zone for more than 30 minutes may be subject to a player Salvage Claim, or removal by staff

• It is not permitted to place grids within a Safe Zone in such a way that prevents other players from accessing a station

• It is not permitted to attempt to “bump” or push another player's suit or grid out of any Safe Zone, unless a valid Salvage Claim has been completed

• If you board another player’s ship inside a Safe Zone or No-Fire Zone and are asked to leave while still there, you must comply