Eschaton is a persistent space simulation spanning thousands of solar systems and a Team Action Strategy game that merges space sim action, tactical ship combat, and real-time strategy. Player-run militaries are a large part of the game, possessing a chain of command similar to those found on modern Earth. Starting their careers as pilots, gunners, captains, and small squad leaders, players can achieve higher rank by demonstrating talent to their leaders. Promotion entails the control of more units, a bigger part in the military planning process and enhanced modes of gameplay resembling that of a space-based RTS game, with the twist that orders are assigned to players rather than AI's. Central to the Team Action Strategy concept is the idea that players should be able to lend a hand in combat anywhere, anytime. Players can join and leave at will, jumping into a battle in progress and taking over available units. The chain of command is dynamic and flexible, naturally adapting to the available players and units. This flexiblity is the key to an epic team strategy game. Unlike other online games that have attempted large scale team combat, in Eschaton the size and strength of two battling fleets is in no way dependent upon the number of players who happen to be currently online. Nor is it dependent upon how much time one has invested in playing. In other massively multiplayer games, players must invest huge amounts of time repeating boring tasks to build up their characters before they can even begin to compete. In Eschaton, player skill wins the day, and the coordination and skill of the team wins the battle. Having proven yourself in the heat of battle and demonstrated your combat effectiveness to your superiors, accept a promotion and join the military chain of command. As you prove your ability to motivate, command and effectively manage the players under you, you will advance according to your merits. At the highest levels, supreme commanders are indirectly responsible for the thousands of players and hundreds of thousands of units under their command. All missions in Eschaton are hand-crafted and unique, as they are assigned by other players. Commanders define objectives and assign tasks to those under them. Fleet Admirals send forward scouts out ahead of the main fleet on dangerous recon missions. Supply convoys must be protected by enemy raids. The fleet must be moved quickly and carefuly to strike opportune targets. Battle group commanders carry out these orders and plan an attack strategy, coordinating their various capital ships, strike groups, and fighter squadrons. Individual captains and pilots, once given targets and objectives, carry out the details of ship combat, managing energy and shields, directing weapons fire and tactical maneuvers. The specifics of the military hierarchy can vary depending on the political philosophy and military doctrines espoused by your nation. In the extreme cases, the power structure of your nation's military will be something completely unheard of on 20th-century Earth (such as the continuously shifting and multivariate hive-oriented nature of the Ixtek military command). But the people you lead are real, and your decisions have real consequences. The military chain of command does not exist in a vacuum. Nations in Eschaton are administered by a government of players. The government is responsible for managing the economy: development of the nation's resources, allocation of and distribution of materiel and labor, and even tax collection. The political systems of ESchaton's fictional nations are based on the same principles underlying modern governments, albeit streamlined. Natural leaders will arise, win the minds and votes of their fellow players, and advance into positions of great power and responsibility. The evolving story of Eschaton is not just a preplanned work of fiction. Its fate will enfold through the deeds of players, its history will be written about their actions. Features: * Fight Join the military ranks and take part in an epic space war involving thousands of other players working together in a cohesive chain of command. Fight in massive battles where everyone fulfills a role in their preferred tier, whether it be action, tactical or strategic. Pilot a fighter or corvette; lead a squadron; take the helm of a capital ship and navigate it into battle; become a commander and direct a squadron or battle group; become an admiral and direct the operations of an entire fleet. * Explore Explore the most intricate and detailed realization of the galaxy to date. There are countless stars in the galaxy, and each solar system is realistically portrayed. All solar bodies and planets are to scale and infinitely detailed thanks to our fractal terrain system. Discover ancient alien artifacts, find the distant scattered descendants of the Diaspora, encounter alien races, and perhaps solve the universe's great mysteries. Exploring the Eschaton universe is the next best thing to exploring our own! * Build Construct stations and outposts on planets, moons, asteroids, or in space itself. Harvest and refine resources to supply materials for your factories, allowing them to create new ships and units. Research and discover new technologies to gain an edge on your opponents--and on your allies!. * Cooperate Team together with thousands of other players to run a nation. Start your own corporation, faction, or state, if you can rally enough other players to your cause. Your power is only limited by the extent to which you can gain other players' cooperation. * Adventure Join the Valtavech Republic's Ministry of Information and undertake dangerous and all-important diplomatic and exploration missions. Enlist with the Valtavech Navy's special operations branch and foray deep into hostile territory. Become an outlaw and live a dangerous life on the frontier. Delve into the underworld as a smuggler or weapons dealer, or from the other side as a contracted bounty hunter or guardian. * Achieve Carve out your destiny. Advance in the political, social, military, or corporate worlds. There are no experience points or levels, and all ranks and priviliges are rewarded through actual achievements as determined by other players. The fate of the universe is in your hands: make history! * Command Having proven yourself in the heat of battle and demonstrated your combat effectiveness to your superiors, accept a promotion and join the military chain of command. Direct the action strategically at any level of the command hierarchy: lead a fighter squadron into battle; captain a kilometer-long capital ship; command a strike force, a battle group or a fleet. As you prove your ability to motivate, command and effectively manage the players under you, you will advance according to your merits. At the highest levels, supreme commanders are indirectly responsible for the thousands of players and hundreds of thousands of units under their command.