Buildings

Overview

Buildings are constructed on planets to produce resources, generate energy, and increase housing capacity. All resource production in the game comes exclusively from buildings — planets have no inherent base output.

Each planet has a fixed number of construction slots based on its size:

One slot holds one building at a time (levels 1–5). Only one construction order can be active per planet at a time.

Building Output Formula

Each completed building contributes to its planet's per-tick output:

output = base_output[level] × efficiency_modifier × stability_modifier × specialization_modifier × energy_ratio

• efficiency_modifier — housing ratio effect (see Planet System)
• stability_modifier — stability / 100, floored at 0.5 for Hydroponic Farms
• specialization_modifier — planet type bonus (see Planet System)
• energy_ratio — clamp(energy_produced / energy_demand, 0.5, 1.0)

Energy System

How it works

Some buildings produce energy; others consume it. The ratio of production to demand scales all extraction and farming outputs.

energy_ratio = clamp(total_energy_produced / total_energy_demand, 0.5, 1.0)

• Minimum ratio: 0.5 — even completely unpowered planets produce at half efficiency
• Maximum ratio: 1.0 — full output when supply ≥ demand

Power plants (Solar Array, Nuclear Reactor) produce energy and consume none. Extraction and farming buildings consume energy and produce none.

Example

A planet has one level-1 Solar Array (+20 energy) and one level-1 Metal Mine (−5 energy):

energy_ratio = clamp(20 / 5, 0.5, 1.0) = 1.0   // fully powered

A planet has one level-2 Metal Mine (−10 energy) and no power plants:

energy_ratio = clamp(0 / 10, 0.5, 1.0) = 0.5   // half output

Construction

Queuing a building

1. Select an empty slot and choose a building type
2. Resources are deducted from the planet's stockpile upfront
3. A construction order is created with ticks_remaining = build_ticks[level]
4. The building does not produce until construction completes

Tick advancement

Each economic tick reduces ticks_remaining by 1. When it reaches 0 the building is added to the planet's slot and begins producing immediately from the next tick.

Upgrading

An existing building can be upgraded one level at a time. The upgrade follows the same construction order flow — the building continues operating at its current level during the upgrade.

Cancelling

An active construction order can be cancelled for a full resource refund. Already-completed buildings cannot be cancelled, only demolished (no refund).

Metal Mine

Extracts raw metal ore from the planet's crust.

Output: Metal

Crystal Extractor

Mines crystalline formations for electronic components.

Output: Crystal

Gas Siphon

Harvests atmospheric gases for fuel and industry.

Output: Gas

Rare Refinery

Processes exotic minerals required for advanced modules and high-tier buildings.

Output: Rare

Hydroponic Farm

Grows food in controlled environments to feed the population.

Output: Food

Solar Array

Captures stellar radiation and converts it to usable energy.

Output: Energy only (no resource production)

Nuclear Reactor

High-output fission plant. Powers a large industrial base.

Output: Energy only (no resource production)

Housing Block

Residential quarters that increase a planet's population capacity.

Output: Housing capacity (does not produce resources or consume energy)

Total housing = base housing from planet size + sum of all Housing Block levels.

Energy Planning Guide

Balancing supply and demand

The energy ratio affects every extraction building on the planet simultaneously. Underpowering a planet is always a net loss — the cost of adding a Solar Array is quickly recovered through the production boost.

Recommended starting layout (Medium planet, 5 slots)

A balanced starting build:

With 20 energy produced and 15 demanded (farm 4 + mine 5 + extractor 6), energy_ratio = 1.0. All buildings at full efficiency.