I'm puzzled. I am trying to design a new ship. When I click on the "Buy Ship" button though, most of the coloured rectangles asociated with various systems turn pink and the coloured blobs on the design area change to two diagonal smaller squares. What's happening?

It means that they are not 'controlled'.
Every unit must be in contact with a habitat via a path which goes N,S,E or W, and not diagonal.

Does that make sense?

Jonathan

GameAdmin wrote:

It means that they are not 'controlled'. Every unit must be in contact with a habitat via a path which goes N,S,E or W, and not diagonal. Does that make sense? Jonathan

Yep, that makes complete sense. Thanks.

different (but vaugely related);
if I try to build a ship that uses the bottom row of dots it won't let me purchase. This happens regardless of connectivity. (one experiment was a solid block, another had both habitat and engines in that row, which was completely filled)

any non-habitat non-engine system in that row is treated as unconnected regardless of other consideration (like a system between a habitat and engine on that row).

Hmm, OK.
A feature I recon.

upgrading a ship in system, allowed one of these systems to be built in the "forbidden row," (accidentally) but now will not recognize the system as connected or (because it's unconnected) allow me to reclaim it.

I quite like forbidden - a bit like event horizon maybe. Warped reality where bad things happen.