Randomize asteroids for different planets

from Sins Forums
There needs to be some variation between the quanity and type of asteroid from planet to planet. Frankly, it's rather boring when every single ice planet is exactly the same with the exact same 3 crystal 'roids.

Here are some suggestions for randomizing the asteroids somewhat:

For ice/volcanic:
First determine the number of asteroids, 2-4, 33% chance of each
Generate at least 2 asteroids of the matching type
If the planet should have at least 3 asteroids, generate an additional metal or a crystal asteroid at random.
If the planet should have 4 asteroids, generate a matching asteroid if it already has a non-matching asteroid, or a metal or crystal asteroid at random otherwise.
(net result, on average, a planet will have 2 7/12th asteroids of matching type, and 5/12th of an asteroid of the other type)

Colonizeable asteroids:
25% chance of 1 asteroid, 50% chance of 2, 25% chance of 3
If one asteroid, pick ice or crystal at random
If 2 asteroids, generate one of each
If 3 asteroids, generate one of each and one at random

Terran/desert planets:
1-3 asteroids, 33% chance of each. Otherwise, same pattern as colonizeable asteroid.

This would keep the same distribution of asteroids on average, as well as maintaining the tendency of ice/volcanic planets of having specific types of asteroids, but it would add a nice layer of strategy: do I first go for the ice planet with 4 crystals, or the one with 2 crystals and 1 metal, etc.
9,578 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
there used to be random resource option before this patch :/
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I disagree. It's nice to look at a map and be able to tell how many resources are around unconquered planets that your scouts have visited without having to zoom into the gravity well to see which ones are "better".

-- Retro
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Would be quite easy if the moddings files were using a proper progrmming language...
But atm you can only adjust how many asteroids there are in general and of each type.
But if you set for example:
Iceplanet max 4 asteroids , 0-1 Metal, 1-3 Crystal
Volcanic max 4 -"- , 1-3 M, 0-1 C
Colonizeable asteroid max 3 -"- , 0-2 M, 0-2 C
Terran max 3 -"- , 1-2 M, 1-2 C

You would have pretty much the chances you wanted...
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
I disagree. It's nice to look at a map and be able to tell how many resources are around unconquered planets that your scouts have visited without having to zoom into the gravity well to see which ones are "better".
End of quote


You can tell which asteroids are present at a planet if you hover over it and look at the tooltip, so no zooming necessary.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Bring back randomized asteroids! Just make it a toggle at least. C'mon why was this even changed? It makes things far more predictable and boring now.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
ayli, you missed a bit of my point. I can be at the galactic map level when planets are just dots and know how many asteroids are around each planet without having to even do a mouseover. It's nitpicky, I know, but I like it.

-- Retro
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
It's also boring and predictable. Why no word from the devs about this? Would it really be so hard to make it a toggle since you've the code for both random and non random asteroids now?
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Random asteroids by nature of being random, means 'balanced'. You should want for nothing, and generally have a 1:1 ratio of crystal:metal coming in. And that doesn't sound boring to you?

I almost prefer the current method, because if I start in a frosty section of the galaxy, I'm going to be hunting for some volcanic land to grab to make up for my metal deficit. It makes the game more interesting that way. (Or since most of us are using Sins Plus, then I go hunting for a Barren world...)

That said, I *AM* happy they changed the 'low resources' to simply reducing the amount of income per asteroid, rather than removing them altogether.
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
Well now you've lost me. Random means balanced and 1:1? Ehm no I would imagine random means just that. Random. You never know what you might get (or not get!) and thus more interesting than a static playing field where you know exactly what is where and how much. What fun is a roll of the dice if you know it's always going to come up a particular number? Maybe it might be fun for a while but surely not all the time? I do find it curious the devs have remained quiet about this particular change as it was not mentioned before the patch and not since...