Note: I've seen that major changes to the system has been rejected, however this is not the same suggestion and is not a complete rework.



Note: This could be considered 2 suggestions, however they would not achieve the goals set, and wouldn't make much sense, if presented individually.



Problem: In certain circumstances smaller planets can hold more population that bigger planets of the same type, and the maximum population progression based on planet size/type is inconsistent. This is awkward and doesn't make much sense.



Goals:

1. Without any traits or improvements, an increase in planet size should ALWAYS result in an increase in maximum population.

2. With all possible trait and improvement combinations, an increase in planet size should NEVER result in a decrease of maximum population.

3. The changes and the end result should be simple and easy to remember.







The Crowded Planets level 2 race trait coupled with Endothermic Structures improvement, add 4/3/1 maximum population to Tiny/Small/Medium planets, which results in disproportionate population size for Tiny and Small planets. The simplest solution and most effective solution to this is to modify the race trait, since the trait has the biggest effect and would require just one change.



Current Crowded Planets level 2 stats: Adds 2/2/1 maximum population to Tiny/Small/Medium



Suggested stats: Adds 1 to maximum population to all planet types.



Now only level 1 will affect smaller planets and coupled with Endothermic Structures they will add 3/2/1 maximum population to Tiny/Small/Medium planets, which can make them even with larger planets, but not be able to hold more population, if planets size increases consistently increase maximum population as well.



Alternative: Remove level 2 of the trait.

If you REALLY don't want to have a trait that adds maximum population to Large/Huge planets, then this is an option.







The second part of the problem is the inconsistency in planet populations, and I've provided tables with the current stats, my main suggestion and 2 alternatives(I guess they'll make a nice 3 choice if people would have to vote on it). Gas giants can't spawn with the smaller sizes, so the impossible combinations are not listed. Class 1 planets are Terran, Ocean and Jungle, Class 2 are Arid and Tundra, Class 3 are Desert and Arctic, Class 4 are Barren and Lava and Class 5 are Asteroids and Gas Giants.



The first table shows the current maximum populations. Red marks the planet sizes that aren't actually larger than their previous smaller counterpart, and one outlier - Class 2 Large planets, which break the consistency of the progression, with population going 4-5-7-8, i.e. +1, then +2 and then +1 again.



In the other tables red Red marks the changed values compared to the current ones.



Main Suggestion

This is the simplest overall. Progression goes by +1 for each planet quality/size change(1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) and is the easiest to remember. This is done by changing the least amount of values and as such, asteroids now have a maximum population of 5 compared to gas giants 4, which are the in the same planet class, however since gas giants can't spawn with the smaller sizes, the average maximum population of asteroids is still lower.



Alternative 1

The difference with the main suggestion is that the top 3 planet type/size combinations remain the same. This has the least amount of changes, however the progression is not entirely linear(1-2-3-4-5-6-8-10).



Alternative 2

The difference with the main suggestion is that the gas giant maximum population is increased to match asteroids, which are in the same planet class. Don't be fooled by all the red, since the Class 1-4 planets are combined in one field per class - the total planet type/size combinations changed are 20 out of 157 possible or 12% and the average maximum population of all planet types and sizes changes very little, since some are increased and others reduced.







Note: Planets are actually limited to 14 max population, even if the base population + anomalies and improvements can add up to 16 currently(up to 15 with my main suggestion).



Edit: I guess this may not be in the appropriate forum. I'll let the mods move it, instead of reposting, so it doesn't look like spam.

Moved to the right section. Please post suggestions only in the proposals section, not in the design discussion.