Sorry for the newbie questions but...

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Originally posted by Shoujo:
9) Gold supposedly adds new stellar phenomena (or is it -non?). Do these significantly alter gameplay in any way?
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** Lord_Shleepy strides behind an annoyingly overexcited Lieutenant as he tours his newly constructed MondoCruiser...trying in vain to remember the chattering fool's name and why he wasn't enjoying a nice mid afternoon nap. **

Lt. Fool: "And through the main viewport on the left you may catch a glimpse of the magnificent Omega Growth...a gigantic system eating organic parasite that..." [Continues yammering ad infinitum]

Lord_Shleepy: "Ooooh...Aaaaah....lovely."

**Lord_Shleepy stares at the gigantic greenish glob in fascination for a few moments...temporarily mesmerized by the swirling strands of goo...becomes rapidly bored, flushes the Lieutenant throught the nearest airlock, lets forth a satisfied sigh, and shuffles back to his shuttle pod for a quick snooze**

Answer: No...they don't do much...but they're perdy.