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.
| 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 |
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 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 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. |
Mars
Mercury
Ganymede
Callisto
Luna
Titan
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. |