Will probably get.
What's the multi-player like?
The game seems to feel a lot like a turn-based strategy game, but is technically real-time in that each turn (day) ticks automatically at a rate that you can slow down or speed up. I imagine the situation is the same in multiplayer, with the game speed being set based on majority vote. So it can slow down when there's lots of choices to be made and sped up when there's less on your plate.
Combat is handled in a RTS-style manner - you form fleets from individual ships and can move them around/between systems and have them engage enemy fleets or attack structures/planets. Different weapons deal different amounts of damage to different defense methods - so shields absorb lasers, lasers ignore armour, torpedoes pass through shields, autocannons deal equal damage to shields and armour, etc. This means you can be rewarded for designing ships to counter the designs of others - which will certainly come into play in multiplayer.
Diplomacy and politics is partially 'out of your hands' as in other Paradox games. Your civ won't like it if you adopt incompatible policies, your ability to wage and maintain wars depends on your government, policies and war 'aims'. Unless you're a dictator, you'll have to deal with your leader changing now and then in a semi-random way as the population elects new leaders and even with dictators you might have to deal with your new heir being an inbred dolt. In multiplayer you'll have to actually negotiate and communicate with other players when designing alliances,federations, trade deals and the like - and watch your back for betrayal! Players can also be conquered and turned into vassals of other players - but there is always the chance at liberation!
