newbe q's

[tombo]

hello,

Thought i try this game and very surprised to date.[:)] the game is a sleeper. good combination of strategy and tactics.
Questions:
what do the ratings numbers mean?
what do the numbers mean during combat results? not sure how to understand results.

more q's to come.

thanks in advance

[oi]

Tombo,
     That's a good question.  I could not find an answer in the manual, and like you do not know the answer.  I looked at a bunch of ships from my current game and it seems to vary quite a bit (from 2 to 46).  It appears to be a function of the type of ship, the number of trained crew, the level of experience of the crew, and whether or not you have any useful artifacts (like repair crew) on board.  In my experience, what really counts in the game is how well designed your starships are, and how well you maneuver them in a battle.  If your ships survive, then both crew experience and ratings gain in value.
     oi