IDIOT'S GUIDE TO FED2
FED AND THE ART OF SPACESHIP MAINTENANCE
BUYING A SHIP
Federation is a space trading game. The operative word here is 'space', so you are going to need a spaceship to get around in. Of course, this is optional - you could decide to become the oldest GroundHog in the history of the game, but the Idiot's Guide does not recommend this approach because you will miss out on an awful lot of things, not least of which is the chance to visit Chez Diesel (Social Centre of the Solar System) to sample the famous ale, Diesel's Old Peculiar, and perhaps buy a pint for the regulars.
Assuming you choose to become upwardly mobile, you first need to obtain a Shipowner's Permit. This can be had from the appropriate department in the Galactic Administration's HQ, a huge office block in the commercial district of Earth. The route from the Meeting Point, where you start out, to the GA HQ is shown on the starter map of Earth at http://www.ibgames.net/fed2/maps/earth.html.
Bureaucracy being rampant in the Galaxy, finding the ship permit department isn't the end of your problems; getting a permit without getting tangled up in time-consuming red tape isn't an easy task - you have to resort to bribery, which involves paying out cash and a slithy tove (a token used for high-level corruption).
Having successfully outwitted the bureaucracy of the Galactic Administration, you should rush off to the Jarrow Shipbuilders office, (which you passed on the way to the GA HQ) clutching your permit in your sweaty palm (or equivalent), and order yourself a ship.
Ships come in all shapes and sizes, with many configurations of features. GroundHogs are spared the confusion of having to make a decision; the SalesDroid will offer you the starter special, a standard model for first-time buyers that is extremely good value. Type 'BUY SHIP' and the droid will tell you about the deal; agree to the terms by typing 'YES', and the purchase will be complete.
Your new ship will allow you to leave the confines of the planet Earth; it has a cargo hold in which you can pack goods for delivery or sale on other planets; and it also has a ship storage locker in which you can stash objects you don't want to lug around with you. All mod cons, in fact!
