Table of Contents

Planetary selection in OutpostHD is a little more streamlined than it was in OUTPOST. Instead of sending out probes to various star systems and preparing a colony ship using funding and weight limitations, OutpostHD will provide the user with a set of conditions for the simulation including stellar properties, planetary properties and difficulty.

This is still a work in progress and you can follow the discussion as it evolves on the forums here and here.


Overview

Stellar Properties
Variable Luminosity
Low Metallicity
High Metallicity
Young
Old
Planetary Types
Mars
Mercury
Ganymede
Callisto
Luna
Titan
Planetary Attributes
High Gravity
Low Gravity
Molten Core
Solid Core
Dense Atmosphere
Thin Atmosphere
No Atmosphere

Stellar Properties

Variable Luminosity

These stars produce varying amounts of light, typically on a predictable cycle. This cycle of light output will mostly affect solar power generation.

Advantage Disadvantage
Periods of higher luminosity will result in better agricultural yields and better power generation. Luminosity cycling also affects thermal radiation which will affect atmospheric turbulence on your planet and can lead to more frequent catastrophic weather.

Low Metallicity

Low metallicity stars produce very few planets and tend to only have Gas Giant type planets. While the Gas Giant planets aren't habitable, it is possible to colonize an orbiting moon. Low metallicity stars are generally poor in mineral diversity which extends to the resource abundance available on colonizable bodies.

Advantage Disadvantage
Lower occurrence of stellar storms. Fewer, less resource rich terrestrial bodies to land on.

High Metallicity

High metallicity stars produce more rocky planets which are richer in resources than low or average stars.

Advantage Disadvantage
More terrestrial planetary bodies with more abundant resources. Very frequent solar storms.

Young

Young stars burn much hotter, are generally brighter, more radioactive and have a high occurrence of stellar storms.

Advantage Disadvantage
Lots of solar energy for high agricultural yields and solar power generation. High radioactivity and frequent solar storms.

Old

Old stars are much cooler than young and middle-aged stars so they don't put out as much light and thermal energy. On the flip side, the solar system is much more predictable and settled.

Advantage Disadvantage
Few stellar events. Low light and thermal output.

Large

Large stars

Advantage Disadvantage
Lots of light. Abundance of minable resources. High radioactivity and frequent solar storms. Hostile planets only.

Small

Old stars are much cooler than young and middle-aged stars so they don't put out as much light and thermal energy. On the flip side, the solar system is much more predictable and settled.

Advantage Disadvantage
Few stellar events. Lots of rocky planets to choose from. Low light and thermal output. High asteroid scarcity.

Planetary Types

Mars

Mercury

Ganymede

Callisto

Luna

Titan

Planetary Attributes

High Gravity

High gravity planets are abundant in resources but require more resources to build structures able to withstand the additional weight under the increased gravity.

Advantage Disadvantage
More abundant resources. Buildings cost more.