Terraforming mechanics

[sven]

What do "Orbital Mirrors" do than?

Right now, "mirrors" are actually giant floating heat-shields, so, they let you terraform hot planets that would otherwise be un-terraformable. (And I'm starting to think that "Orbital Mirrors" may not be the greatest name for a tech with this side-effect)

[bjg]

So why can I terraform all Hot planets without it? Or do you mean Arid Hot planets?

[sven]

So why can I terraform all Hot planets without it? Or do you mean Arid Hot planets?

It removes any restrictions on terraforming that prevent you from terraforming worlds because they're too hot. For example, you can turn a "Hot" world into a Garden planet if you have Orbital mirrors unlocked. However, without Orbital Mirrors, Garden terraforming is only possible on "Warm" worlds.

[bjg]

Thanks again for the explanation.
I was hoping that "Orbital Mirrors" work on Inferno planets now, but Inferno is probably hot from inside.

[sven]

Thanks again for the explanation.
I was hoping that "Orbital Mirrors" work on Inferno planets now, but Inferno is probably hot from inside.

Again, to get a bit technical about it, the physical quantity that "temperature" value is supposed roughly correspond to, in terms of universe building, is "solar irradiance per square meter". I.e., "temperate" isn't actually telling you how warm the planet is on the surface (which can change dramatically depending on atmosphere, volcanic activity, and other variables), it's telling you how much raw energy the planet is getting from its host star.

"Inferno" worlds are modeled roughly on Venus -- so the core problem with terraforming them is not so much the heat they're getting from their sun, but, the incredibly toxic properties of their surface/atmosphere. Again, at one point, there was a tech in the tech tree that did let you transform Inferno worlds (it was called "Atmospheric Condensation"), but, I've taken it out until we have time to take another look at the terraforming mechanics and UIs.

[bjg]

Interesting. The definition of Inferno (besides Hell) is "a large fire that is dangerously out of control". The Venus is hot indeed, but not that hot. It might make sense to change the name (nothing better than Toxic comes to mind yet).

[sven]

Interesting. The definition of Inferno (besides Hell) is "a large fire that is dangerously out of control". The Venus is hot indeed, but not that hot. It might make sense to change the name (nothing better than Toxic comes to mind yet).

Well, we're always trying to walk a line between "harder" sci-fi concepts and "softer" military sci-fi tropes. In the case of the Inferno planet type, another major source of inspiration is Char, which, while hot and toxic, hypothetically isn't nearly as much so as Venus. So the Inferno type looks kinda like Char, and behaves kinda like Venus

[SirDamnALot]

It would be neat when your race advisor would pop up when complex gameplay topics become relevant.
Either through research or encountering the mechanic the first time (e.g. space or ground combat) and explain how it works.
Not down to the math, but the general idea.
(And with a menu switch to turn off the tutorial pop ups. Beginners need them, grognards hate them )

In case of terraforming, maybe add a line in the fluff description of the planet why you can't apply terraforming right now.
e.g. "It's too hot/small/gremlins! Maybe in the future we have the technology to remedy that..."

Of course, the mechanic must be bolted down before investing work in a tutorial for it

[Arioch]

We definitely need tutorials and they're on the list, but they'll be one of the last things we do before release (for obvious reasons).

[bjg]

... at one point, there was a tech in the tech tree that did let you transform Inferno worlds (it was called "Atmospheric Condensation"), but, I've taken it out until we have time to take another look at the terraforming mechanics and UIs.

It seems like you've (silently) returned it.

[sven]

... at one point, there was a tech in the tech tree that did let you transform Inferno worlds (it was called "Atmospheric Condensation"), but, I've taken it out until we have time to take another look at the terraforming mechanics and UIs.

It seems like you've (silently) returned it.

Um, oops? It looks like I set it up to be an Orthin-only tech, for some reason that I'm sure seemed very reasonable at the time. Um, I won't take it out now, as that would needlessly break current save games, but, that will need to be changed, the next time we do a tech tree revision.

[bjg]

I'll enjoy it while I can.

[bjg]

... at one point, there was a tech in the tech tree that did let you transform Inferno worlds (it was called "Atmospheric Condensation"), but, I've taken it out until we have time to take another look at the terraforming mechanics and UIs.

It seems like you've (silently) returned it.

Um, oops? It looks like I set it up to be an Orthin-only tech, for some reason that I'm sure seemed very reasonable at the time. Um, I won't take it out now, as that would needlessly break current save games, but, that will need to be changed, the next time we do a tech tree revision.

I might know that reason. You didn't give them Hives.