Comments And Analysis

The benefits from colonizing good worlds (Benign and Harsh) should be obvious. However, the desirability of colonizing other worlds is not so clear.

Colonization Comparison

Colonization Incomes And Returns

Environment	Mineral Content	Repay	Max. Pop.	25 Turns		50 Turns		100 Turns		Colonization Cost
				Per Turn Income	Cum. Return	Per Turn Income	Cum. Return	Per Turn Income	Cum. Return	In- System	1 StMP	2-4 StMP
Harsh	Very Poor	21	124	16.9	69.7	47.3	824.2	300.0	8,473.0	200	300	400
Hostile	Very Rich	11	66	50.8	559.2	142.0	2,822.5	272.3	15,358.2	250	375	500
	Rich	13	66	42.3	4,224.3	118.3	2,310.4	226.9	12,756.8	250	375	500
	Normal	15	66	33.8	289.5	94.7	1,798.3	181.5	10,155.5	250	375	500
	Poor	19	66	25.4	154.6	71.0	1,286.2	136.1	7,554.1	250	375	500
	Very Poor	24	66	16.9	19.7	47.3	774.2	90.8	4,952.7	250	375	500
Desolate Planet or Moon	Very Rich	19	71	22.4	132.6	39.6	896.5	63.5	3,816.6	300	450	600
	Rich	22	71	18.7	60.5	33.0	697.1	52.9	3,130.5	300	450	600
	Normal	26	71	15.0	-11.6	26.4	497.7	42.4	2,444.4	300	450	600
	Poor	32	71	11.2	-83.7	19.8	298.2	31.8	1,758.3	300	450	600
	Very Poor	42	71	7.5	-155.8	13.2	98.8	21.2	1,072.2	300	450	600
Asteroid	Rich	22	21	16.9	55.9	16.9	479.4	16.9	1,326.4	300	450	600
Extreme	Very Rich	25	21	17.4	16.0	17.4	451.6	17.4	1,322.8	350	525	700
	Rich	29	21	14.5	-45.0	14.5	318.0	14.5	1,044.0	350	525	700
	Normal	35	21	11.6	-106.0	11.6	184.4	11.6	765.2	350	525	700
	Poor	45	21	8.7	-167.0	8.7	50.8	8.7	486.4	350	525	700
	Very Poor	65	21	5.8	-228.0	5.8	-82.8	5.8	207.6	350	525	700

Notes:

• The following assumptions were made in producing the data for the above table:
  • The In-System CFN was used to move the population, so the In-System Colonization Cost applies. This is the cheapest possible method for colonizing the world. The costs for colonizing outside of a system are also listed.
  • Ten (10) PTU were emplaced on the target world.
  • Economic Level 1 was used throughout all the turns. While a race will clearly advance significantly in the time covered, this provides a conisistent environment for comparing the investments.
  • The colonized world was in a system with one asteroid belt.
• Repay. The number of turns required to repay the In-System Colonization Cost.
• Max. Pop. The turn on which the population reaches its maximum limit.
• Per Turn Income. The amount of income received on the indicated turn after colonization.
• Cum. Return. The total income received from the world on the indicated turn after colonization.

Colonization Recommendations

Based on the preceding table, the following seem like good ideas for colonization done as an investment. In all of the following comments, it is assumed that the colonization is taking place as an investment. Strategic or industrial production considerations may readily override these recommendations.

1. Benign Worlds. Benign worlds, regardless of Mineral Content, should be colonized as soon as it is safe. A minimum of 150 PTU should be emplaced as quickly as possible.
2. Harsh Worlds. Same as for Benign worlds.
3. Hostile Worlds. Hostile worlds, regardless of Mineral Content, should be colonized as soon as it is safe. The number of PU emplaced depends on what the colonizing race is willing to spend, but should not be less than 10 PTU, nor more than 50 PTU. The poorer the Mineral Content, the fewer initial colonists are needed.
4. Desolate Worlds.
   • Very Rich Mineral Content worlds are good investments, even if colonized from up to 4 StMP from the colonized system.
   • Rich worlds are adequate investments, and are well worth the money when colonized by In-System or 1 StMP movements. Longer movements become questionable.
   • Worlds with Normal Mineral Content are not too bad as an investment if In-System colonization is used to establish the population. Colonization from any farther distance is something only a rich race should do.
   • Poor and Very Poor Mineral Content worlds are not worth colonizing as investments.
5. Asteroids. Asteroid colonies are generally not great investments. Financially, it is better to colonize all Desolate moons and planets in a system, except those with Very Poor Mineral Content, before looking to the asteroid belts. The primary consideration for colonizing asteroids should be as monitoring stations for ship movements in a system, not as financial investments. This said, it must be noted that the table treats asteroids somewhat unfairly compared to other worlds. The assumption of placing 10 PTU is not a good way to colonize asteroids. The return on an asteroid can be increased in the long run by placing an initial population of only 4 or 5 PTU. The colonization cost, pay back time, and returned income is proportional to that on the table, but the time required to maximize the population is notably increased (i.e., two asteroids with 5 PU each emplaced will take longer to reach their maximum populations than one asteroid with 10 PTU emplaced, and will generate proportionally more income during that time period).
6. Extreme Worlds.
   • Extreme worlds with a Mineral Content of Very Rich are adequate investments for In-System colonization.
   • Rich Extreme worlds are poor investments, but are acceptable for a rich race with nothing else to colonize, provided the colonization is performed from in-system.
   • Other Extreme worlds are never good investments, and should not be colonized as investments.

Other Reasons For Colonization:

• General population expansion - bigger is better.
• Creating Medium sized populations on Harsh or Benign worlds to support space and planet based production.
• Increasing the amount of planetary industry available to an empire.
• Connecting the CFN to a system.
• Creating sensor outposts to monitor activity in a system or act as early warning positions (particularly good in asteroid belts).

Colonization Summary Information

Colonization Cost Per PTU

Environment	Distance
	In-System	1 StMP	2-4 StMP	5-8 StMP	9-12 StMP
Benign	15	22.5	30	45	60
Harsh	20	30	40	60	80
Hostile	25	37.5	50	75	100
Desolate	30	45	60	90	120
Extreme	35	52.5	70	105	140

Planet Values (%)

Mineral Content		Compatible	Desolate	Extreme
	%	100	70	60
Very Rich	150	150	105	90
Rich	125	125	87.5	75
Normal	100	100	70	60
Poor	75	75	52.5	45
Very Poor	50	50	35	30

To Play Comments

Updated 13 February 2000.