You start out your adventure in
Time of Defiance by selecting the beginner's server and diving right in. There is a lot of ground to cover, and I don't just mean that literally either. The area is 4,000 km x 4,000 km. It takes days and lots of fuel and support ships to cross. There is also the story of Nespanona and its subsequent demise. The story is pretty long, having read it frame by text frame on the screen. And, let's not forget just the basics of running your mining operations.
Your goal is simple - gain more points than your opponent. You get points for the islands you claim. These islands I speak of are not floating in any sea. The islands are the remnant crust of what once was planet Nespanona, suspended in the air. There are also points for the buildings you have, and some other points for ship ratios.
Your mission is one of either exploration or of domination. Depending on which you choose and the way you play, determines your personal game experience. Given the sheer size, Time of Defiance has a clean map system that lets you know what you own and what is still up for grabs. Find empty islands. Or make them empty. Mine the resources and return them for financial gain. You sell your goods and trade at The Eighth House of the Cog Tribe. This is a central location where you can bank, purchase vehicles and resources, and chat with other visitors.
Games last anywhere from one week to a month. This gives you plenty of time to experience different strategies. Given that these games are longer, the fear of being defeated and removed is there. Not to worry. If you are defeated, you can start over inside of the current game. You just start over in a different area. This isn't going to help you in the points, but you're still in the game. They have had experiences where people have been defeated early in a game and have come back to finish in the top 5.