The Big One - Surface update

Time for the Big One.

This update adds a new Surface system and greatly expands the early history of civilizations.

It is something I wanted to release since day 1. Civilizations no longer appear directly in the Space Age. Intelligent life can now form primitive societies, split into competing factions that grow, build, fight and slowly work toward unifying their planet. I kindly ask for your patience and understanding regarding potential bugs and balance changes that may be needed after an update of this scope. :)

Also, this is just a foundation for upcoming updates related to both early and Space Age civilization activities on the planet surface, so please let me know what you would like to see next!

If you run into any game-breaking issues, you can roll back to the “previous” branch.

Planet Surface

• Added the new Surface view for planets.

• Planet surfaces are divided into individual tiles.

• Surface tiles can include Water, Grass, Rock, Sand, Lava and Ice.

• Plants and animals from the biosphere are now visible directly on the Surface.

• Selecting a tile shows its terrain, local life and buildings.

• Civilization buildings are now visible directly on the planet Surface.

• Building construction progress and building status can be checked from individual tiles.

• Buildings can affect the life present on their tile.

Primitive Civilizations

• Intelligent life can now form a Primitive Civilization before reaching the Space Age.

• Primitive Civilizations can begin as several independent factions.

• Up to four factions can exist on one planet.

• Each faction controls its own territory on the Surface.

• Factions have their own population, military strength, resources and plans.

• Factions act on their own and compete for control of the planet.

• Primitive Civilizations advance through the Stone Age, Classical Age, Medieval Age and Modern Age.

• Technology progress is required to advance between eras.

• Reaching the Space Age also requires the planet to become unified.

Primitive Economy

• Added Food, Ore, Wood, Gold and Technology to primitive factions.

• Different Surface tiles can provide different resources.

• Plants can provide Wood.

• Animals can provide Food.

• Rocky and other terrain can provide Ore and Gold.

• Population now consumes Food.

• Population is now a resource used by primitive societies instead of only being a number.

• Expanding territory costs Population.

• Recruiting military units also uses Population.

• Population growth comes from buildings and requires enough Food.

• Each starting faction receives a Camp so it can begin growing without relying on passive population growth.

• Added detailed resource tooltips showing where faction income and costs come from each generation.

Primitive Buildings

• Primitive factions can construct buildings directly on the Surface.

• Added Camp.

• Added Bonfire.

• Added Monument.

• Added City.

• Added Mine.

• Added Fortress.

• Added Temple.

• Added Market.

• Added Bank.

• Added University.

• Added Factory.

• Different buildings provide population, resources, military units or technology.

• Buildings have their own construction costs.

• New building types become available as the civilization enters later eras.

Faction Actions

• Factions can expand into nearby territory.

• Factions normally prefer land when choosing where to expand.

• Factions can also expand onto water when needed, allowing island societies to reach the rest of the planet.

• Creator inspired expansion can target both land and water.

• Factions can attack rival factions.

• Water territory can also be fought over.

• A faction that loses all useful land can now be eliminated instead of surviving forever on water tiles.

• Wars can cause military losses on both sides.

• Factions can peacefully integrate other factions.

• Integration slowly builds progress between factions.

• Failed wars can reduce integration progress.

• A planet can be unified either through integration or conquest.

Creator Interaction

• You can inspect the current and planned action of each primitive faction.

• You can switch between factions directly from the Surface view.

• You can inspire factions to change their next action.

• Expansion, attacks and integration can be inspired.

• You can inspire the construction of specific primitive buildings on selected Surface tiles.

• Inspired actions still depend on the faction being able to carry them out.

From Primitive Society to the Space Age

• A Primitive Civilization must develop enough Technology and unify its planet before reaching the Space Age.

• The dominant faction helps define the civilization that enters the Space Age.

• Some primitive buildings can survive this change in a new form.

• Up to four Mines can become Mining Industry buildings.

• One Monument can become an Obscure Artifact.

• One Temple can become a Creator's Hall.

• The old primitive faction system is removed once the new Space Age civilization is formed.

Space Age Surface Buildings

• Space Age buildings are now placed directly on Surface tiles.

• The old fixed building slot limit has been removed from normal gameplay.

• Civilizations can continue developing a planet as long as suitable Surface space remains.

• Building management in the General view is now only a summary.

• Building interaction and placement now happens through the Surface.

• You can Inspire or Demand construction on a selected Surface tile.

• Existing buildings can be replaced directly from the Surface.

• Civilization building tooltips are available directly from their Surface tiles.

• Added City Centers as a source of planetary Housing.

• Newly colonized planets receive a City Center so new colonies do not immediately suffer from missing Housing.

Surface Interface

• Added faction buttons for quickly switching between primitive factions.

• Added separate displays for Population, Military, Food, Ore, Wood, Gold and Technology.

• Added faction resource income and cost breakdowns.

• Added Last Action and Next Action information.

• Added integration progress between factions.

• Added civilization Generation progress.

• Added current Era and era progress.

• Added detailed information for the currently selected Surface tile.

• Added building status information directly to the selected tile panel.

• Surface information now changes as the planet develops from primitive factions into a Space Age civilization.

Tutorial

• Expanded the tutorial to introduce Primitive Civilizations before the existing Space Age civilization section.

• The tutorial now explains factions and planetary unification.

• Players are guided to open the Surface view and inspect different factions before continuing.

• The tutorial then waits for the primitive society to unify and reach the Space Age before continuing with the existing civilization tutorial.