Terraforming

Terraforming is the process of making an uninhabitable planet habitable. There are a variety of tools available for this.

T Score
Each planet has a Score of T0, T1, T2 or T3. This effects how many cities you can build, and how many forms of life can reside here.


 * T0 - This is a barren world with no life and often no atmosphere.
 * 1 city, cannot build beyond City Hall
 * T1 - Basically inhabited planet with:
 * 1 Species small, medium and large tree
 * 2 Herbivores
 * 1 Carnivore (or an omnivore as it also eats meat)
 * A balanced atmosphere
 * A reasonable Temperature
 * 1 city, minimal civilian structures


 * T2 - A moderately inhabited world
 * 2 species of each plant
 * 4 Species of herbivore
 * 2 species of carnivore/omnivore
 * A very nice temperature
 * A good balanced atmosphere
 * 2 cities, moderate building space


 * T3 - A perfect world.
 * 3 or more species of each size of plant
 * 6 or more herbivores
 * 3 or more carnivores/omnivores
 * Perfect atmosphere density
 * Perfect Temperature
 * 3 cities (or more in the case of a home-system), with full building capabilities

Prior inhabitation
T1 to T3 planets are often already inhabited (but not neccesarily with a complete ecosystem). If a sapient lifeform inhabits any planet in a system then no planets in that system can be colonised.

Any creature at or above tribal stage blocks colonisation of a system. Destroying every city or village of a planet in tribal or civilization stage makes it possible to colonize, but every single city must be destroyed, which is time-consuming in the Tribal stage where many villages dot the map. It's possible to "de-terraform" a planet to T0 and then re-terraform it, but this takes significantly more money and/or energy than just destroying cities.

Races in the Space stage will fight back if they are attacked as usual, and cities in the Civilization phase can fire at the player with their turrets (if they have them) and do some damage.

Spice
Although not really terraforming, it is one of the motivations for terraforming. See Spice.

Most planets put out a certain colour of spice. Place efficient cities to get the most spice from a world.

Note that one can purchase single-use tools that can be placed on a planet to reduce the occurance of biological disasters, as well as to protect abducted species. See Wildlife Sanctuary.

Relation Bonus
Terraforming a planet where a space age creature already is living will give the player a Relation Bonus with the notable exception that the Grox consider this an act of war, as they can only live on T0 planets. This bonus can be positive or negative, depending on wether the T-score is being improved or degraded.

Tools
There are 2 main kinds of tools, single-use and re-usable. Re-usable tools consume energy and typically have a longer cast time. Further these tools can be divided into 3 more groups:


 * Life Affecting: Change atmosphere and heat for life to exist. These tools can be used as weapons, destroying the atmosphere to kill off an enemy.
 * Terrain Forming: Change land by adding mountains, lakes, craters etc.
 * Colouring: Change the colour of the oceans, land, and the sky.

Single Use:
 * Atmosphere Generator: Place on a planet to raise its atmosphere level.
 * Ice Storm: Place on the planet to lower its temperature.
 * Meteor Shower: Use to hurl meteors at a planet to raise its temperature.
 * Drought Generator: Place on a planet the lower the atmosphere level.
 * Asteroid Call Button: Raise temperature, Lower Atmosphere.
 * Atmosphere Freezer: Lower temperature, Lower Atmosphere.
 * Volcano: Raise temperature, Raise atmosphere.
 * Ice Comet: Lower temperature, Raise atmosphere.

Multi Use:
 * Refrigeration Ray: Cools planet
 * Cloud Accumulator: Use on a planet to raise its atmosphere level.
 * Cloud Vacuum: suck away atmosphere
 * Heat Ray: Use on a planet to raise the temperature.
 * Hot Cloud Vacuum: Raise temperature, Lower atmosphere.
 * Cold Cloud Vacuum: Lower temperature, Lower atmosphere.
 * Hot Cloud Seeder: Raise temperature, Raise atmosphere
 * Air Conditioning: Lower temperature, Raise atmosphere

Using Tools
This a 2 part process to terraforming a planet.

Obtaining Tools
The quickest way to obtain all terraforming tools is to collect the Empire 5 badge. However you can also collect the Missionista 4 badge to earn access to all single use tools. The multiuse tools can then be obtained by earning the Terra-Wrangler 5 badge.

Changing T-Score
There are 2 factors that determine the T-Score of a planet. Atmospheric Denisity and Temperature. The levels of each can be found in the Terraforming/Minimap section on the bottom left of the screen while on a planet. The goal is to use your terraforming tools to bring the red dot to the center of the "bullseye." Vertical movement represents a change in atmospheric denisity, while horizontal movement is temperature change. It is also important to introduce plant and animals when you increase the T-Score. To de-terraform a planet, bring the red dot away from the center of the bullseye.

Planetary Creation
There is a prototyped set of tools designed to create planets and similar objects that did not make it into the final game. For more information, see Galactic Editor.