Explore Planet

Some questions about the costs and benefits of exploring planets.

from Sins Forums
So I was curious about this explore planet feature.  I understand that by exploring colonized planets I can sometimes find artifacts or "other features."  I have found heavy glaciers exploring but I could not find any place telling me what those do.  I've noticed other planet "features" like dense core that don't require exploring but I can't find what they do either.  Has anyone compiled a list of all the different features a planet can have and what effect they have?  I have not found an artifact yet.  Are the artifacts really good?  Do they offset the cost of having to explore (possibly) several planets to find one.  Also, are you more likely to find something on a terran world than an asteroid, for example?  And finally, how long do people usually wait before exploring?  Does finding an artifact early help more then upgrading your planets infrastructure?
8,422 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
The effects are listed on the infocard.

I tend to explore later in the game when I have the credits to do so. It's not a good idea early game. Smaller maps will have more, but it's still quite a remote possibility.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
The artifacts and bonus perks ya find exploring are pretty random as far as I can tell... the only constant one I've found is that when you finally get strong enough mid to late game to get rid of those damn pirates... their asteroid is almost always a penitentary<--sp colony that gives you the same bonus all the time. Taking it over isn't worth much other then tactical positioning...and also the satisfaction of kicking those pesky bastages out of their home..... after they've been bugging you all game.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
I'm really wondering if the '+/- X% Gravity Well' bonuses actually do anything. The gravity wells look the exact same size...
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
It depends. I mean, if you use them correctly, glaciers can be quite useful. On the info-card you should find out that they give you a 30% boost to tradeports, so naturally my planet I found that on was entirely saturated in tradeports before long, and bringing in 40 credits per second for my efforts.

Some are less useful, some are more. Same goes for artifacts - some just make phase jumps quicker or more efficient. However, some give you a 25% damage increase, or boost your antimatter regen rates, or increase gold supplies, which can be pretty useful. Is it worth the cost? Depends how many planets you need to explore to get one.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
I'm really wondering if the '+/- X% Gravity Well' bonuses actually do anything.
End of quote
Yes they do - build a phase inhibitor or a turret and see how much its area or fire covers in relation to other similar planets.

-- Retro
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

They should have more positive traits.

Also, perks which would be good getting the hands on early game, such as credit/metal/crystal mother lodes, but which deplete over time.

Also random tech discounts, like a 'Ancient Data Core' or something to justify it. They could be a fixed bonus, like a 500/100/100 credit/metal/crystal discount on the next research, or on a tech tree, or a specific tech.

 

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Did this need to be discussed 4 years later? x_x