Let’s delve into a bit more detail with planets and how to manage them. If you’ve played Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion with its DLCs, this won’t seem too different on the surface, but the devil’s in the details.
Planet Types
In the first Technical Preview build you may see the following gravity well types (note that we’ll switch between planet and gravity well but are referring to the same thing):
Terran
Desert
Ice
Volcanic
Ferrous
Oceanic
Gas Giant
Asteroid
Dwarf Planet
Pirate Base
Star
Terran
Players begin on a terran planet as their homeworld. These are lush worlds full of planet and animal life and feature large populations. Terran planets also feature both metal and crystal resource types which makes them very versatile.
Maximum Credit Income: Very High (5)
Maximum Resource Income: Average (0.3)
Maximum Military Slots: High (35)
Maximum Civilian Slots: Average (24)
Maximum Surface Slots: Average (4)
Desert
Desert worlds are arid and fairly inhospitable due to the lack of water resources. Due to the scarcity of water, populations tend to center around oasis with additional water pulled out of the atmosphere via moisture collectors or from ice asteroids. Desert planets can contain both metal and crystal resources, plus allow for more orbital facilities.
Maximum Credit Income: Low (2)
Maximum Resource Income: Low (0.2)
Maximum Military Slots: High (35)
Maximum Civilian Slots: High (32)
Maximum Surface Slots: Low (2)
Ice
What desert planets lack in liquid water ice worlds make up for in solid form. Ice planets feature rich crystal resources, making them extremely valuable for empires to obtain. Colonization of these planets requires specialized research and the initial investment required for them to break even is quite high.
Maximum Credit Income: Low (2)
Maximum Resource Income: Very High (0.6)
Maximum Military Slots: High (35)
Maximum Civilian Slots: Average (24)
Maximum Surface Slots: Low (2)
Volcanic
These hot, hostile worlds are rich in metal ores but little else. Special research is required to allow settlers to control volcanic planets since their surfaces are several thousand degrees with molten lava coursing over them.
Maximum Credit Income: Very Low (1.8)
Maximum Resource Income: Very High (0.6)
Maximum Military Slots: High (35)
Maximum Civilian Slots: Low (20)
Maximum Surface Slots: Low (2)
Ferrous
Ferrous planets are thought to come about either when a volcanic world finally solidifies, or when a gas giant’s atmosphere is ripped away by some event. Whatever their origin, they are extremely rich in metal but lack any kind of surface life. What’s more is that they rarely have any kind of atmosphere, so special research is needed to facilitate colonization.
Maximum Credit Income: Low (2)
Maximum Resource Income: Extremely High (0.8)
Maximum Military Slots: Average (30)
Maximum Civilian Slots: Very Low (16)
Maximum Surface Slots: Low (2)
Oceanic
Oceanic worlds tend to be 95%-99% water, with deep oceans and very little land mass. With so little land available to build upon, special research is needed in order to establish oceanic bases for living space.
Maximum Credit Income: High (4)
Maximum Resource Income: Low (0.2)
Maximum Military Slots: Low (25)
Maximum Civilian Slots: Below Average (24)
Maximum Surface Slots: Average (4)
Gas Giant
The ability to colonize gas giants is a recent development and is accomplished by a series of low-orbit space stations. This requires special technology to construct, but the short-term investment pays off due to the huge surface area of the giant world.
Maximum Credit Income: Extremely Low (.8)
Maximum Resource Income: Low (0.2)
Maximum Military Slots: Extremely Low (20)
Maximum Civilian Slots: Extremely Low (14)
Maximum Surface Slots: High (5)
Asteroid
Little more than large hunks of rock and ice, these planetoids typically serve as waystations or mining colonies. Asteroids are one of the most common gravity well types.
Maximum Credit Income: Low (1)
Maximum Resource Income: Above Average (0.4)
Maximum Military Slots: Low (25)
Maximum Civilian Slots: Extremely Low (12)
Maximum Surface Slots: Minimal (1)
Dwarf Planet
A tiny planet that managed to build enough matter to form a sphere, but little else. These airless worlds are barren and typically serve the same purposes as asteroids.
Maximum Credit Income: Low (1.2)
Maximum Resource Income: Average (0.3)
Maximum Military Slots: Low (25)
Maximum Civilian Slots: Extremely Low (12)
Maximum Surface Slots: Minimal (1)
Pirate Base
The home base of the perfidious pirate faction! This small asteroid base is heavily defended by structures and a plethora of enemy ships.