Tempo

Topic: Initiative, pressure, and timing
Principle: The player who sets the pace controls the game. Reactive play loses.

What Is Tempo?

Tempo is the speed and direction of the game. The player ahead on tempo acts; the player behind reacts. Acting first means choosing the engagement, the target, the moment. Reacting means responding to someone else’s choices—always at a disadvantage.

Being Ahead vs Behind

Ahead on tempo:

You explore before others claim
You raid before they fortify
You build before they can respond
You set the terms of engagement

Behind on tempo:

You’re always catching up
Your builds are reactions to threats
You defend when you’d rather expand
Others choose when and where to fight

The Entrepreneur and Explorer naturally seek tempo. The Achiever follows a plan that may or may not match the game’s pace. The Killer creates tempo through aggression—or loses it by overcommitting.

When to Slow Down

Sometimes the right move is to accumulate, not act.

Slow down when:

You’re overextended—consolidate before expanding again
You lack resources for the next move—build reserves
The opponent is baiting you—don’t take the fight they want
Depletion is coming—prepare migration, don’t waste on attacks
Allies need time—coordination requires patience

The Speculator understands this: sometimes the best trade is no trade. The Socializer knows that rushing alliances creates weak bonds. Tempo is not always speed.

When to Speed Up

Pressure wins when you have the advantage.

Speed up when:

You’re stronger—attack before they catch up
They’re vulnerable—raid before they refine, hit before they fortify
The window is closing—depletion, guild mobilization, their next build
You have initiative—use it or lose it

The Killer feels this instinctively. The Entrepreneur builds to create these windows. Strike when the moment is right.

Build Orders and Tempo

Your opening build order sets early tempo:

Command Ship first—mobility, exploration, raiding option
Ore Extractor before Reactor—faster ore, but power risk
Reactor before second Extractor—stable, slower

Each choice trades tempo for security, or security for tempo. The Early Game playbook favors security. Adjust if you’re an Entrepreneur or Killer and willing to gamble.

The Danger of Reactive Play

Reactive players:

Build defenses only after being raided
Explore only after neighbors claim the good planets
Join guilds only when isolated
Refine only when under attack

By then it’s too late. The raider already took the ore. The planets are gone. The guild has no slot. The attack is underway.

Break the cycle. Act before you must react.