Murphy's Laws For VGA Planets
by Matt Clouser

(A clever adaptation of Murphy’s Law’s … "If you’ve discovered the error then there are another four that you haven’t found!")

• No offensive plan EVER survives contact with an opponent.
• Attacking with a plan does not guarantee success, but attacking without one ensures defeat.
• When you are short of everything except enemy starships, you are in combat.
• The largest warship has the right of way.
• Anything you do, including nothing, can get your ships fired at.
• Your torpedo miss rate will be directly proportional to the criticality of the battle.
• The reliability of your combat sims will be inversely proportional to the criticality of the battle.
• The easiest route is ALWAYS mined.
• An experienced player is predictable - the boards are chock-full of amateurs.
• NEVER assume your opponent is smart enough not to attack.
• When in doubt, MINE!
• If your opponent is within attack range, so are you.
• If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush.
• The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack.
• Try to look inconspicuous - they may be low on fighters!
• The Law of the Torpedo states the ship with fighters wins.
• Remember: the lowest bidder made your torpedoes!

DIPLOMACY/ALLIANCES

• Alliances are important. It gives your opponents someone else to shoot at!
• Friendly fire - isn't.
• Your allies will miss their turn the day you'll most need their support.
• If you can't remember, your ally's starbases are set to NUK.
• An ally who appears to put your priorities over his own may not be as stupid as you think.
• Alliances are made via subspace - rather fitting as both have about the same chances of actually existing.
• Capturing or destroying allied starships that "accidentally" violate treaties are the best way to "remind" your ally you are paying attention.
• Believing your opponents sub-space messages is almost as stupid as ignoring them.
• When in doubt - lie.
• When lying, stay as close to the truth as possible - it makes the details easier to remember!
• Deny EVERYTHING!
• Murphy plays VGA PLANETS!!!