Main configuration reference
This reference compares the stock configuration options in classic 3.2e MBMGEMSG.MSG and ge-next MPOGEMSG.MSG. 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 MPOGAMSG.MSG 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
| Option | Purpose | Classic default | ge-next default | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PLAYKEY |
BBS key for entry | DEMO | DEMO | Access control. Allowed: 15 characters. |
SYSKEY |
BBS key for SYS | SYSOP | SYSOP | Sys command. Allowed: 15 characters. |
REGNO |
Registration/identifier | 00000000 | Required in classic; optional startup identifier in ge-next. See Classic registration and security system. Allowed: 8 characters. | |
FRONTEND |
DATA pairing code | — | OFF | ge-next only; see Data command. Allowed: ge-next 8 characters. |
GEMNU |
BBS menu name | Galactic Empire | Galactic Empire | MajorBBS 5.x only. Allowed: 30 characters. |
GESEL |
BBS menu letter | G | G | MajorBBS 5.x only. |
FREEBIES |
Allow non-paying users | 0 | 0 | Legacy MajorBBS 5.x option; use BBS keys on later systems. Allowed: 0–1. |
PROFON |
Profanity filtering | YES | NO | lol |
SHOWOPT |
GE log verbosity | 0 | 0 | Allowed: 0–5. |
LOGFLG |
Extended trace log | NO | NO | |
OPTMENU |
Optional game-menu entry | YES | YES | See MBMGEMNU.TXT. |
OPTTXT |
Optional entry text | Whats New! | Release notes | Allowed: 30 characters. |
OPTCHR |
Optional entry key | N | N | |
SYSCMDS |
Enable SYS commands | YES | YES | Sys command. |
SYSONLY |
Restrict SYS to sysops | YES | YES | Do not disable casually. |
GEUSER |
User database filename | MBMGEUSR.DAT | MPOGEUSR.DAT | Database files. Allowed: 40 characters. |
GESHIP |
Ship database filename | MBMGESHP.DAT | MPOGESHP.DAT | Database files. Allowed: 40 characters. |
GEMAIL |
Mail database filename | MBMGEMAL.DAT | MPOGEMAL.DAT | Database files. Allowed: 40 characters. |
GEPLNT |
Planet database filename | MBMGEPLT.DAT | MPOGEPLT.DAT | Database files. Allowed: 40 characters. |
GESHIPCL |
Compiled class-table filename | MBMGESHP.MCV | MPOGESHP.MCV | Ship class configuration. Allowed: 28 characters. |
USEGEMSG |
In-game rather than BBS mail | YES | — | ge-next uses in-game mail without this switch. |
GEROSTXT |
Write text roster nightly | — | YES | ge-next only; Scoring and rosters. |
Players and galaxy
| Option | Purpose | Classic default | ge-next default | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MAXPLRS |
Concurrent game players | 30 | 32 | Allowed: 1–256. |
MAXLIST |
Roster entries displayed | 10 | 10 | Roster command. Allowed: 3–50. |
MAXSHIPS |
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. |
MAXPLNTS |
Owned planets per player | 20 | 200 | Planet command. Allowed: 1–256. |
MAXPLSE |
Generated bodies per sector | 5 | 4 | Does not cap sector 0 0 or wormhole destinations; Galaxy configuration. Allowed: 1–9. |
SE100DAM |
Neutral-zone hostile-action penalty | 10 | 10 | Neutral zone. Allowed: 0–101. |
TRANSOPT |
Transfer to unowned planets | YES | YES | Transfer command. |
PLANTOCK |
Minutes to cycle over planets | 360 | — | Classic scheduler; replaced by PLANUPD. Planetary update cycle. Allowed: classic 1–32760.
|
PLANUPD |
Planet update passes per day | — | 4 | ge-next scheduler; replaces PLANTOCK. Planetary update cycle. Allowed: ge-next 1–15.
|
PLODDS |
Planet generation divisor | 3 | 3 | Galaxy configuration. Allowed: 1–20. |
WORMODDS |
Wormhole generation divisor | 6 | 6 | Wormholes. Allowed: 1–100. |
NEBODDS |
Nebula generation factor | — | 3 | ge-next only; Nebulas. Allowed: ge-next 0–10. |
UNIVMAX |
Galaxy radius | 300 | 300 | Classic boundary has an edge error; ge-next treats ±300 as inclusive. Galactic perimeter. Allowed: 10–32000. |
UNIVWRAP |
Wrap instead of edge barrier | NO | NO | Galaxy configuration. |
MAXPLREC |
Planet database size ceiling (KB) | 32767 | 32767 | Database files. Allowed: 10–32767. |
S00PLNUM |
Sector 0 0 body count | 6 | 6 | See sector 0 0 configuration. Allowed: 3–9. |
NPCs, ship systems, and weapons
| Option | Purpose | Classic default | ge-next default | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NUMSHIPS |
Additional NPC ship slots | 30 | — | Classic-only setting; ge-next uses class-table allocations. Allowed: classic 0–500. |
MAXDROID |
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. |
TOOCLOSE |
NPC proximity threshold | 2500 | 2500 | Cybertrons. Allowed: 1–32000. |
CYBGOLD |
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. |
HYPDST1 |
Cybertron hyperwarp upper threshold | 25 | 30 | Cybertrons. Allowed: 1–32000. |
HYPDST2 |
Cybertron hyperwarp lower threshold | 10 | 20 | Cybertrons. Allowed: 1–32000. |
CATTKD |
Cybertron attacks on Droids setting | — | 5 | ge-next only; Droids. Allowed: ge-next 0–10. |
GCNUM |
Neutral-zone faction code | — | 7 | ge-next only; Factions. Allowed: ge-next 0–8. |
TORFACT |
Torpedo lock divisor | 40 | 40 | Torpedoes. Allowed: 1–50. |
TDAMMAX |
Torpedo damage cap | 35 | 35 | Torpedoes. Allowed: 1–100. |
TORPSPED |
Torpedo movement speed | 2441 | 2441 | Torpedoes. Allowed: 1–10000. |
MISFACT |
Missile lock divisor | 21 | 21 | Missiles. Allowed: 1–50. |
MDAMMAX |
Missile damage cap | 25 | 35 | Missiles. Allowed: 1–100. |
MISLSPED |
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. |
MISENGFC |
Missile charge-to-flux divisor | 100 | — | Classic only; ge-next uses direct flux withdrawal. Missiles. Allowed: classic 1–2000. |
IDAMMAX |
Ion cannon damage cap | 50 | 50 | Ion cannon. Allowed: 1–100. |
NUMMINES |
Active mine cap | 12 | 18 | Mines. Allowed: 1–200. |
USRMINES |
Mine cap per user | 3 | 3 | Mines. Allowed: 1–200. |
MNDAMMAX |
Mine damage cap | 75 | 75 | Mines. Allowed: 1–200. |
DECODDS |
Decoy intercept odds | 11 | 11 | Decoys. Allowed: 1–20. |
REPAIRRT |
Spontaneous repair rate | 6 | 6 | Maintenance. Allowed: 1–50. |
HPFIRDST |
Hyper-phaser distance factor | 5 | 5 | Smaller means more reach. Hyper-phasers. Allowed: 1–20. |
HPDAMMAX |
Hyper-phaser damage cap | 50 | 40 | Hyper-phasers. Allowed: 1–200. |
PFIRDST |
Phaser distance factor | 5 | 5 | Smaller means more reach. Phasers. Allowed: 1–20. |
PDAMMAX |
Phaser damage cap | 50 | 40 | Phasers. Allowed: 1–200. |
PHATOWRP |
Minimum phaser mark for warp targets | 5 | 3 | 5 in distributed classic, 3 in ge-next. Phasers. Allowed: 0–20. |
JAMTIME |
Initial jammer duration counter | 3 | 3 | Jamming. Allowed: 1–10. |
CLENGUSE |
Cloak flux use per update | 7500 | 5000 | Cloaking. Allowed: 1–32000. |
MENEAT |
Men consume food | — | YES | ge-next only; Planetary update cycle. |
Scoring, teams, and planets
| Option | Purpose | Classic default | ge-next default | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MAILDAYS |
Mail retention days | 3 | 3 | Allowed: 1–7. |
STRTCASH |
Starting cash, in thousands | 100 | 100 | Cash. Allowed: 1–32000. |
SCRBONUS |
Top-player kill bonus | 1000 | 200 | Classic and ge-next calculations differ; Scoring and rosters. Allowed: 1–32700. |
SCRFACT |
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. |
CHGLOSER |
Loser cash penalty percentage | 2 | 2 | Scoring and rosters. Allowed: 0–100. |
SHOWDOC |
Captured-document odds | — | 5 | ge-next only; Combat. Allowed: ge-next 0–10. |
TEAMBONU |
Team score bonus per member, ×100 | 5 | 5 | Teams. Allowed: 0–32000. |
TEAMMAX |
Maximum team membership | 10 | 10 | Teams. Allowed: 0–32000. |
PLTVDIV |
Planet inventory scoring divisor | 10000 | 10000 | Scoring and rosters. Allowed: 1–201288837. |
PLTVCASH |
Points per million planet cash | 10 | 10 | Scoring and rosters. Allowed: 1–201288837. |
PLATTRF1 |
Defending troop effect on attacking fighters | 18 | 18 | Attacking planets. Allowed: 5–100. |
PLATTRF2 |
Defending fighter effect on attacking fighters | 100 | 100 | Attacking planets. Allowed: 5–1000. |
PLATTRF3 |
Attacking fighter effect on defending fighters | 55 | 55 | Attacking planets. Allowed: 5–1000. |
PLATTRT1 |
Defending troop effect on attacking troops | 125 | 125 | Attacking planets. Allowed: 5–1000. |
PLATTRT2 |
Attacking troop effect on defending troops | 35 | 35 | Attacking planets. Allowed: 5–1000. |
Sector 0 0 planet definitions
S00PLNUM sets the number of defined bodies in sector 0 0. Each S00Pn group has DEF (enabled), NM (name), OWN (owner), TYP (normal planet, Zygor, Tahanian Station, or wormhole), X/Y (position), and ENV/RES (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 *EMPIRE* as the owner; ge-next uses *Galactic Command*. 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.
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