Planets
Current image about planet view
Planets have been redesign for 0.26.0 release. They now have five attributes: gravity, radiation, temperature, size, water level. There are 3 gravity levels low gravity, normal gravity and high gravity. Gravity depends on how big planet is, bigger planet bigger gravity. Planet size defines how many planetary improvements can be fit to planet. It can vary from 7 to 16. Planet size is also the maximum number of population allowed on planet. This maximum population is multiplied by suitable value. There are also space race traits solitary and communal which also increase amount of population is available on planet.
There are 4 radiation level: no radiation, low radiation, high radiation and very high radiation. Each space race is limit that they can tolerate and if planet radiation is above that planet is not suitable, unless there is technology to drop the radiation level. There are 7 temperature levels: Frozen, arctic, cold, temperate, tropical, volcanic and inferno. Each space race has certain range which temperatures are tolerable for it. Frozen and inferno are intolerable for all space race.
There are 6 different water level: Barren, desert, arid, humid, marine and ocean. Water level indicates how much food planet can naturally produce. Barren planets produces zero food and are practically not suitable for population which eat food. Desert produces single food per star year and it increase by one until at ocean it produces 5 food per star year.
Star affects greatly what kind of planet is being generated. Blue hot stars tend to have hotter and more radiated planets than yellow or red starts. Temperature also affects how much water planet has.
Planets have different types: barren world, volcanic world, water world, ice world, swamp world and desert world. There is also artificial planet but those are not found naturally from galaxy. Artificial planets needs to be built in game or start from it. World type is generated based on water level and temperature.
Planets may have event which is triggered on colonization or with away team. These are ancient building or artifacts. Planets can have special status that grant bonuses. Some of these maybe found during colonization or few star years after or with away team. Some of these are hidden and can happen much later.
Each planet can produce following commodity: Credits, production, metals, food, research, culture and happiness. Credits can be used to rush production, pay GBNC to fake military size, update old designs, pay maintenance cost or use in diplomacy. Production is something that is needed to make things. Metals are mined from the planet via mines and it can run out from the planet. Metal is required to make ships and planetary improvements. So building something on planet requires both production and metal. Food is something that most races require to survive. Sur plus food means that planet population grows. Research points are used to research new technology. Culture points are used to acquire sectors nearby the planet. More culture points planet has more sectors it will gain. Happiness is level how happy or unhappy population generally is. For happiness government, number of population, buildings affect. Happy population produce extra something, where unhappy produce less and may even start breaking buildings.
Planets can also build one single orbital construction which does not take place planet size. Orbitals can contain same modules as star bases. Orbitals are also taking part when planet is being attacked by enemy fleet.