Getting started

Commander's guide

Everything you need for your first game of StarLite II: controls, the economy loop, building, and opening strategies for each faction.

Basic controls

StarLite II plays with the mouse, like most classic RTS games.

• Left click: select a unit or building.
• Click-drag: box-select a group of units on the fly.
• Right click: move the selected units, or attack an enemy target.
• Command panel (bottom): produce units, start builds and evolutions.

The economy loop

Every game begins with harvesting. Your basic harvesters collect minerals (the primary resource) and, later, gas (the advanced resource needed for high-tier units). Without a healthy economy, no army holds.

1. Send your harvesters onto the nodes right away.
2. Build production structures to unlock new units.
3. Raise your population cap so you can field a larger army.
4. Move to gas to access tier-2 and tier-3 units.

Build and evolve

Each faction has its own tech tree. Units are split into three tiers: T1 units are available early and cheap, T2 units require gas and intermediate buildings, and T3 units are the decisive late-game pieces. For the Zglenglo, the hive evolves through levels — the Brood Titan, for instance, requires a level-3 hive.

Opening strategies by faction

Zglenglo — overwhelm by numbers

Produce Swarmlings in a constant stream and attack early, before your opponent has splash defenses up. Spread your creep for vision and follow up with Burstlings against massed infantry.

Helias — the patience of the shield

Your shields regenerate out of combat: engage in bursts, pull back to recharge, come back. Don't throw your expensive units into a war of attrition — micro to preserve every shield.

Humans — versatility

The easiest faction to learn. Mix infantry, armor and a little aviation, keep support (healer, radar) behind the line, and adapt your composition to what the opponent does.