Hi, 

It seems strange and unrealistic most star systems have like 1-4 planets. 

With our current instruments we usually detect much fewer planets around stars than in our Solar System but it's reasonable to suspect usually there are more. In our system there are 8 but we could count the asteroid belt as 9th which just didn't form because of Jupiter's gravity. 

But most importantly, distances of planets from the Sun are predicted by a certain formula. It's called Titius-Bode law and its updated Blagg's formulation also applies to Jupiter's, Saturn's and Uranus' moon systems. Thus, we can safely assume it should apply to most star systems as well. More precisely, of course, those in which nothing extraordinary happened in recent (in astronomical scales) history that shifted their position. In the long term the concentration points of mass around heavy gravitational objects most probably goes to a similar state. 

It's possible our current instruments let us discover only planets which are the closest to their parent stars. Those extraordinary systems with planets big enough and close enough to rapidly affect the movement of the star. Usually hot Jupiters in red dwarf systems. 

Besides, the universe feels empty with those lonely small packs of planets. 

On the other hand, I think larger planets on the screen look better so I don't mind that much in the game the systems are 5 planets max. But 1-3 feels empty, imho. At least there could be always 5 places some of which filled with graphics of asteroid belts or one or two few steroids. 

On the side note, I like good views of things in space, other worlds, etc. I miss it in Stellaris, for example. Also, I think big views in games like these are great for immersion. And there is no real need for 3D. Pictures would be enough. Endless Space 2 only lacks some views that would create a feeling of a big space faring civilization so you almost never have that impression. 

Best regards, 

Tom

You could check out, if this mod still works: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1233946283&searchtext=

It works great. I even tweaked it a little bit. But I also thought it would be a good idea for future patches or maybe Endless Space 3 if it's going to be developed one day. 

Mostly for gameplay reasons, to avoid excessive micromanagement and UI clutter. ES1 had up to 6 planets in system.

You can imagine that systems have way more celestial bodies in orbit, but only up to 5 in habitable zone or of higher then planetoid size, or any other criteria of interest.

And 1-3 planet systems are abundant to create difference between "good" and "bad" systems, since 5-planet systems will always sport huge production numbers.

Glad the mod is of use for you.