Home 14. You can build starbases anywhere. Simply hit the button (14) and you get the build starbase prompt. The best places are on trade routes, in sectors where your planets are, and Galactic Resources. 15. Once you find a Galactic Resource(15), you may want to mine it for it's precious mineral fluids. Galactic Resources provide benefits to your entire empire if you add the correct Mining modules. You can see a list of Galactic Resources in the manual. 16. To harvest the resource you need constructors(16), which are special, expensive units that take a long time to build but can build or improve starbases. Build a constructor, send it over there, and move the constructor over it. You will be asked if you want to build a starbase or mine this resource, just click Yes. You now have a basic starbase. To fully utilize any starbase, you need to add modules. Do this by moving another constructor to the starbase. You will be asked if you want to upgrade the starbase. Click Yes. This particular resource is for Influence, making all your planets spread your culture out further. You have several options. For now just choose the yellow Mining option on the left. To get the empire-wide benefit a Galactic Resource brings, simply choose the Mining Barracks module. Other modules increase trade, defense, production, attack, etc. These are sector wide except for those specific Mining modules provided when you are on a Galactic Resource, these are empire-wide. The types of Galactic Resources are explained in the GalCiv manual. Several starbases in one sector are also possible. The benefits from the modules stack on top of each other (except for the defensive modules that toughen starbase defenses). It is quite possible to have your production doubled or tripled due to heavily developed starbases! Build starbases in your home systems to strengthen the defense/attack of your ships, increase military production, cultural influence, ship attack ability, etc. Increase trade revenue by building them along trade routes and adding Economic modules. And be sure to protect them. Eventually you can upgrade them to Terror Stars and make them mobile. Those modules are under the Military tab when you research the appropriate techs. Also good reading: Informative GalCiv forum thread regarding Starbases.