Manicpop at 03:04, 18 October 2026

2026-10-18T03:04:09Z

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This reference compares the stock configuration options in classic 3.2e <code>MBMGEMSG.MSG</code> and ge-next <code>MPOGEMSG.MSG</code>. The numbers and words below are distributed defaults, not a live BBS configuration. A dash means the option is absent, not necessarily that the gameplay feature is absent. ge-arena uses <code>MPOGAMSG.MSG</code> and is outside this two-column comparison. See [[Configuring Galactic Empire]] for editing and compilation, [[MBMGEMSG.MSG]] for the classic file, and [[Item and equipment configuration]] for indexed item and equipment values.

The names and values were checked against both MSG source files. Explanations summarize their purpose; linked articles cover gameplay behavior and changes that may require a new game or restart. The numeric bounds in the MSG file are validation limits, not a recommendation to use the extremes.

== Access, display, and files ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Option !! Purpose !! Classic default !! ge-next default !! Details
|-
| <code>PLAYKEY</code> || BBS key for entry || DEMO || DEMO || [[Installing Galactic Empire|Access control]]. Allowed: 15 characters.
|-
| <code>SYSKEY</code> || BBS key for SYS || SYSOP || SYSOP || [[Sys command]]. Allowed: 15 characters.
|-
| <code>REGNO</code> || Registration/identifier || 00000000 || || Required in classic; optional startup identifier in ge-next. See [[Classic registration and security system]]. Allowed: 8 characters.
|-
| <code>FRONTEND</code> || DATA pairing code || — || OFF || ge-next only; see [[Data command]]. Allowed: ge-next 8 characters.
|-
| <code>GEMNU</code> || BBS menu name || Galactic Empire || Galactic Empire || MajorBBS 5.x only. Allowed: 30 characters.
|-
| <code>GESEL</code> || BBS menu letter || G || G || MajorBBS 5.x only.
|-
| <code>FREEBIES</code> || Allow non-paying users || 0 || 0 || Legacy MajorBBS 5.x option; use BBS keys on later systems. Allowed: 0–1.
|-
| <code>PROFON</code> || Profanity filtering || YES || NO || lol
|-
| <code>SHOWOPT</code> || GE log verbosity || 0 || 0 || Allowed: 0–5.
|-
| <code>LOGFLG</code> || Extended trace log || NO || NO ||
|-
| <code>OPTMENU</code> || Optional game-menu entry || YES || YES || See [[MBMGEMNU.TXT]].
|-
| <code>OPTTXT</code> || Optional entry text || Whats New! || Release notes || Allowed: 30 characters.
|-
| <code>OPTCHR</code> || Optional entry key || N || N ||
|-
| <code>SYSCMDS</code> || Enable SYS commands || YES || YES || [[Sys command]].
|-
| <code>SYSONLY</code> || Restrict SYS to sysops || YES || YES || Do not disable casually.
|-
| <code>GEUSER</code> || User database filename || MBMGEUSR.DAT || MPOGEUSR.DAT || [[Database files]]. Allowed: 40 characters.
|-
| <code>GESHIP</code> || Ship database filename || MBMGESHP.DAT || MPOGESHP.DAT || [[Database files]]. Allowed: 40 characters.
|-
| <code>GEMAIL</code> || Mail database filename || MBMGEMAL.DAT || MPOGEMAL.DAT || [[Database files]]. Allowed: 40 characters.
|-
| <code>GEPLNT</code> || Planet database filename || MBMGEPLT.DAT || MPOGEPLT.DAT || [[Database files]]. Allowed: 40 characters.
|-
| <code>GESHIPCL</code> || Compiled class-table filename || MBMGESHP.MCV || MPOGESHP.MCV || [[Ship class configuration]]. Allowed: 28 characters.
|-
| <code>USEGEMSG</code> || In-game rather than BBS mail || YES || — || ge-next uses in-game mail without this switch.
|-
| <code>GEROSTXT</code> || Write text roster nightly || — || YES || ge-next only; [[Scoring and rosters]].
|}

== Players and galaxy ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Option !! Purpose !! Classic default !! ge-next default !! Details
|-
| <code>MAXPLRS</code> || Concurrent game players || 30 || 32 || Allowed: 1–256.
|-
| <code>MAXLIST</code> || Roster entries displayed || 10 || 10 || [[Roster command]]. Allowed: 3–50.
|-
| <code>MAXSHIPS</code> || Ships per player || 8 || 45 || In classic, allowing a player to own more than 15 ships can overwrite another channel's scan table during ship selection; see [[Classic bug: Ship-selection output overflow]]. ge-next paginates the list. Allowed: classic 1–50; ge-next 1–60.
|-
| <code>MAXPLNTS</code> || Owned planets per player || 20 || 200 || [[Planet command]]. Allowed: 1–256.
|-
| <code>MAXPLSE</code> || Generated bodies per sector || 5 || 4 || Does not cap sector 0 0 or wormhole destinations; [[Galaxy configuration]]. Allowed: 1–9.
|-
| <code>SE100DAM</code> || Neutral-zone hostile-action penalty || 10 || 10 || [[Neutral zone]]. Allowed: 0–101.
|-
| <code>TRANSOPT</code> || Transfer to unowned planets || YES || YES || [[Transfer command]].
|-
| <code>PLANTOCK</code> || Minutes to cycle over planets || 360 || — || Classic scheduler; replaced by <code>PLANUPD</code>. [[Planetary update cycle]]. Allowed: classic 1–32760.
|-
| <code>PLANUPD</code> || Planet update passes per day || — || 4 || ge-next scheduler; replaces <code>PLANTOCK</code>. [[Planetary update cycle]]. Allowed: ge-next 1–15.
|-
| <code>PLODDS</code> || Planet generation divisor || 3 || 3 || [[Galaxy configuration]]. Allowed: 1–20.
|-
| <code>WORMODDS</code> || Wormhole generation divisor || 6 || 6 || [[Wormholes]]. Allowed: 1–100.
|-
| <code>NEBODDS</code> || Nebula generation factor || — || 3 || ge-next only; [[Nebulas]]. Allowed: ge-next 0–10.
|-
| <code>UNIVMAX</code> || Galaxy radius || 300 || 300 || Classic boundary has an [[Classic bug: Galactic perimeter edge errors|edge error]]; ge-next treats ±300 as inclusive. [[Galactic perimeter]]. Allowed: 10–32000.
|-
| <code>UNIVWRAP</code> || Wrap instead of edge barrier || NO || NO || [[Galaxy configuration]].
|-
| <code>MAXPLREC</code> || Planet database size ceiling (KB) || 32767 || 32767 || [[Database files]]. Allowed: 10–32767.
|-
| <code>S00PLNUM</code> || Sector 0 0 body count || 6 || 6 || See [[Galaxy configuration#Sector 0 0|sector 0 0 configuration]]. Allowed: 3–9.
|}

== NPCs, ship systems, and weapons ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Option !! Purpose !! Classic default !! ge-next default !! Details
|-
| <code>NUMSHIPS</code> || Additional NPC ship slots || 30 || — || Classic-only setting; ge-next uses [[Ship class configuration|class-table allocations]]. Allowed: classic 0–500.
|-
| <code>MAXDROID</code> || Droid slot ceiling || 6 || — || Classic loads this setting but never uses it to limit Droid creation; class-table counts determine allocation. ge-next has no separate option. Allowed: classic 0–500.
|-
| <code>TOOCLOSE</code> || NPC proximity threshold || 2500 || 2500 || [[Cybertrons]]. Allowed: 1–32000.
|-
| <code>CYBGOLD</code> || Maximum Cybertron gold || 1200 || 1200 || [[Cybertrons]]. Classic accepts 0 but divides by it when creating a new Cybertron, which can crash the module; see [[Classic bug: CYBGOLD zero crashes Cybertron creation]]. ge-next skips the gold roll at 0. Allowed: 0–32000.
|-
| <code>HYPDST1</code> || Cybertron hyperwarp upper threshold || 25 || 30 || [[Cybertrons]]. Allowed: 1–32000.
|-
| <code>HYPDST2</code> || Cybertron hyperwarp lower threshold || 10 || 20 || [[Cybertrons]]. Allowed: 1–32000.
|-
| <code>CATTKD</code> || Cybertron attacks on Droids setting || — || 5 || ge-next only; [[Droids]]. Allowed: ge-next 0–10.
|-
| <code>GCNUM</code> || Neutral-zone faction code || — || 7 || ge-next only; [[Droids#Factions and distress in ge-next|Factions]]. Allowed: ge-next 0–8.
|-
| <code>TORFACT</code> || Torpedo lock divisor || 40 || 40 || [[Torpedoes]]. Allowed: 1–50.
|-
| <code>TDAMMAX</code> || Torpedo damage cap || 35 || 35 || [[Torpedoes]]. Allowed: 1–100.
|-
| <code>TORPSPED</code> || Torpedo movement speed || 2441 || 2441 || [[Torpedoes]]. Allowed: 1–10000.
|-
| <code>MISFACT</code> || Missile lock divisor || 21 || 21 || [[Missiles]]. Allowed: 1–50.
|-
| <code>MDAMMAX</code> || Missile damage cap || 25 || 35 || [[Missiles]]. Allowed: 1–100.
|-
| <code>MISLSPED</code> || Missile movement speed || 1212 || 2441 || [[Missiles]]. All missiles in classic travel at this speed, in ge-next this value is modified by missile charge. Allowed: 1–10000.
|-
| <code>MISENGFC</code> || Missile charge-to-flux divisor || 100 || — || Classic only; ge-next uses direct flux withdrawal. [[Missiles]]. Allowed: classic 1–2000.
|-
| <code>IDAMMAX</code> || Ion cannon damage cap || 50 || 50 || [[Ion cannons|Ion cannon]]. Allowed: 1–100.
|-
| <code>NUMMINES</code> || Active mine cap || 12 || 18 || [[Mines]]. Allowed: 1–200.
|-
| <code>USRMINES</code> || Mine cap per user || 3 || 3 || [[Mines]]. Allowed: 1–200.
|-
| <code>MNDAMMAX</code> || Mine damage cap || 75 || 75 || [[Mines]]. Allowed: 1–200.
|-
| <code>DECODDS</code> || Decoy intercept odds || 11 || 11 || [[Decoys]]. Allowed: 1–20.
|-
| <code>REPAIRRT</code> || Spontaneous repair rate || 6 || 6 || [[Maintenance]]. Allowed: 1–50.
|-
| <code>HPFIRDST</code> || Hyper-phaser distance factor || 5 || 5 || Smaller means more reach. [[Hyper-phasers]]. Allowed: 1–20.
|-
| <code>HPDAMMAX</code> || Hyper-phaser damage cap || 50 || 40 || [[Hyper-phasers]]. Allowed: 1–200.
|-
| <code>PFIRDST</code> || Phaser distance factor || 5 || 5 || Smaller means more reach. [[Phasers]]. Allowed: 1–20.
|-
| <code>PDAMMAX</code> || Phaser damage cap || 50 || 40 || [[Phasers]]. Allowed: 1–200.
|-
| <code>PHATOWRP</code> || Minimum phaser mark for warp targets || 5 || 3 || 5 in distributed classic, 3 in ge-next. [[Phasers]]. Allowed: 0–20.
|-
| <code>JAMTIME</code> || Initial jammer duration counter || 3 || 3 || [[Jamming]]. Allowed: 1–10.
|-
| <code>CLENGUSE</code> || Cloak flux use per update || 7500 || 5000 || [[Cloaking]]. Allowed: 1–32000.
|-
| <code>MENEAT</code> || Men consume food || — || YES || ge-next only; [[Planetary update cycle]].
|}

== Scoring, teams, and planets ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Option !! Purpose !! Classic default !! ge-next default !! Details
|-
| <code>MAILDAYS</code> || Mail retention days || 3 || 3 || Allowed: 1–7.
|-
| <code>STRTCASH</code> || Starting cash, in thousands || 100 || 100 || [[Cash]]. Allowed: 1–32000.
|-
| <code>SCRBONUS</code> || Top-player kill bonus || 1000 || 200 || Classic and ge-next calculations differ; [[Scoring and rosters]]. Allowed: 1–32700.
|-
| <code>SCRFACT</code> || Loser score deduction factor || 35 || 35 || Classic truncates the award to whole hundreds before applying the percentage, so the deduction can be smaller than advertised or zero for awards below 100 points. ge-next multiplies before dividing. [[Scoring and rosters]]. Allowed: 1–100.
|-
| <code>CHGLOSER</code> || Loser cash penalty percentage || 2 || 2 || [[Scoring and rosters]]. Allowed: 0–100.
|-
| <code>SHOWDOC</code> || Captured-document odds || — || 5 || ge-next only; [[Combat]]. Allowed: ge-next 0–10.
|-
| <code>TEAMBONU</code> || Team score bonus per member, ×100 || 5 || 5 || [[Teams]]. Allowed: 0–32000.
|-
| <code>TEAMMAX</code> || Maximum team membership || 10 || 10 || [[Teams]]. Allowed: 0–32000.
|-
| <code>PLTVDIV</code> || Planet inventory scoring divisor || 10000 || 10000 || [[Scoring and rosters]]. Allowed: 1–201288837.
|-
| <code>PLTVCASH</code> || Points per million planet cash || 10 || 10 || [[Scoring and rosters]]. Allowed: 1–201288837.
|-
| <code>PLATTRF1</code> || Defending troop effect on attacking fighters || 18 || 18 || [[Attacking planets]]. Allowed: 5–100.
|-
| <code>PLATTRF2</code> || Defending fighter effect on attacking fighters || 100 || 100 || [[Attacking planets]]. Allowed: 5–1000.
|-
| <code>PLATTRF3</code> || Attacking fighter effect on defending fighters || 55 || 55 || [[Attacking planets]]. Allowed: 5–1000.
|-
| <code>PLATTRT1</code> || Defending troop effect on attacking troops || 125 || 125 || [[Attacking planets]]. Allowed: 5–1000.
|-
| <code>PLATTRT2</code> || Attacking troop effect on defending troops || 35 || 35 || [[Attacking planets]]. Allowed: 5–1000.
|}

== Sector 0 0 planet definitions ==
<code>S00PLNUM</code> sets the number of defined bodies in sector 0 0. Each <code>S00Pn</code> group has <code>DEF</code> (enabled), <code>NM</code> (name), <code>OWN</code> (owner), <code>TYP</code> (normal planet, Zygor, Tahanian Station, or wormhole), <code>X</code>/<code>Y</code> (position), and <code>ENV</code>/<code>RES</code> (quality). Definitions are sequential; do not skip an index. Stock body 1 is [[Zygor]], body 2 [[Tahanian Station]], and body 3 the [[Enforcer Planet]]. Classic defaults use <code>*EMPIRE*</code> as the owner; ge-next uses <code>*Galactic Command*</code>. The configured names do not automatically rewrite text elsewhere in the MSG/help files. See [[Galaxy configuration]] and [[Neutral zone]].

== Related references ==
* [[Item and equipment configuration]] for production, storage, weights, prices, and item point values.
* [[Ship class configuration]] for ship-class fields and allocations.
* [[MBMGEMSG.MSG]] for the classic file and its historical message remnants.
* [[Galaxy configuration]] for galaxy-level consequences.

{{GE navigation}}
[[Category:Sysop documentation]]

Main configuration reference - Revision history

Manicpop at 03:04, 18 October 2026