Anomalies

Anomalies
Anomalies are random aspects of a planet that the scanners cannot examine thoroughly - they can only determine whether or not those anomalies exist. Anomalies can be good, bad or neutral, just like core aspects of a planet, but the only way to tell how they will affect humanity (other than settling on that planet) is to send a surface probe to investigate.

8 types of Anomalies can be detected by scanners:
 * Moon
 * Plant life
 * Animal life
 * Possible structures
 * Geological
 * Electromagnetic activity*
 * Alien Observers**
 * Simulation***

(*This anomaly is extremely rare, and indicates the presence of a civilization of Atomic Age technology level or higher. The technology level of these civilizations are chosen from [Post-Singularity, Information Age, or Atomic Age] randomly if this anomaly is present.)

(**This anomaly is extremely rare, and indicates there's presence of alien observers on the planet which come from an event that the seedship encounters. Might help or hamper scientific or cultural level of the colonists post-colonization.)

(***This anomaly is extremely rare, and indicates that the planet is a simulation created by highly advanced aliens. It can only be found through an event.)

Yellow anomalies neither help or hinder humanity.

Red anomalies only hinder humanity.

Green anomalies only help humanity.

''Civilizations are always neutral (yellow). This is because differing relations with natives are determined by the similarity in scientific level and culture of the aliens. Therefore, each civilization may get along better with different seedships, and thus aren't necessarily beneficial nor harmful across all playthroughs.''

Moon anomalies

 * Barren moon - "As the surface probe approaches the planet it scans the planet's moon, but finds that it is devoid of useful minerals.”


 * Unstable moon - "As the surface probe approaches the planet it scans the planet's moon, and finds that it is a recently-captured asteroid in an unstable orbit. In a few decades the moon will come close enough to the planet to break up, and the surface will be bombarded with fragments.”*
 * Metal-rich moon - “As the surface probe approaches the planet it scans the planet's moon, and finds that it is rich in metals and other useful resources.”**

(*An Unstable moon will cause a dramatic drop in the final Technology level, which may lead to the lost of all colonists on uninhabitable worlds if the Construction modules are not sufficiently intact)

(** A metal-rich moon will partially compensate for the lack of resources on a planet, but only if technological knowledge is preserved enough to allow for the construction of spacecrafts.)

Plant life

 * Plant life - “The probe finds alien plants. It tests a sample, and finds that they would be neither edible nor poisonous to humans.”
 * Poisonous plants - “The probe finds alien plants. It tests a sample, and finds that they would all be highly poisonous to humans.”*
 * Edible plants - “The probe finds alien plants. It tests a sample, and finds that some of them would be edible for humans.”**

(**This anomaly partially negates the water penalty from less than ideal water conditions)

Animal life

 * Animal life - “The probe encounters numerous animals. After analysing their behaviour, it concludes that they would be neither useful nor harmful to humans.”
 * Dangerous animals - “The probe encounters numerous animals. After analysing their behaviour, it concludes that they pose a significant threat to human colonists.”
 * Useful animals - “The probe encounters numerous animals. After analysing their behaviour, it concludes that some species have the potential to be useful to humans as meat sources or beasts of burden.”*

(*Settling on a "Useful Animals" world will partially negate the gravity penalty from damaged construction equipment)

Possible structures
Note that possible structures, in particular when animals and Plants are also present, can also indicate the presence of a native civilization.
 * Dangerous ruins - “The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are ruins left by a vanished intelligent species. The ruins contain functioning defense systems, and the probe barely escapes.”
 * Monumental ruins - “The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are ruins left by a vanished intelligent species. The ruins include great monuments and writings that could reveal much about the vanished civilisation.”*
 * High-tech ruins - “The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are ruins left by a vanished intelligent species. The ruins contain advanced technological artifacts, some of which are still functioning, and scientific databases that could be decoded.”**
 * Regular geological formations - “The probe investigates the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, but finds that they are regular natural formations, not the product of intelligence.”

(*This anomaly boosts the Cultural database)

(*This anomaly will provide a boost to the scientific database)

Geological anomalies

 * Airtight caves - “The planet's crust is riddled with extensive cave systems which could easily be sealed to provide airtight shelters.”*
 * Insulated caves – “The planet's crust is riddled with extensive cave systems that are insulated from the temperature on the surface.”**
 * Unstable geology - “The planet is geologically unstable, and dangerous earthquakes are common everywhere on the surface.”

(*This anomaly partially negates the penalty for a toxic, non-breathable or corrosive atmosphere)

(**This anomaly partially negates inhospitable temperatures (Very hot/cold or hot/cold)

Aesthetics

 * Outstanding beauty - “The AI runs the probe's images of the surface through its aesthetic analysis routine, and determines that humans would find the planet outstandingly beautiful.”*
 * Outstanding ugliness - “The AI runs the probe's images of the surface through its aesthetic analysis routine, and determines that humans would find the planet extremely ugly.”**

(*This anomaly brings the culture level down one level.)

(**This anomaly brings the culture level up one level.)

Civilizations

 * Pre-Stone Age civilization - “The probe notices one species that exhibits complex social behaviour and has a rudimentary language.”
 * Paleolithic civilization - “The probe notices one species that exhibits complex social behaviour and uses simple stone tools.”
 * Mesolithic civilization - “The probe notices one species that exhibits complex social behavior, uses sophisticated stone tools, and has begun to domesticate other animal and plant species."
 * Neolithic civilization - “The probe investigates an area of regular plant growth, and finds that it is being deliberately cultivated by one species using sophisticated stone tools.”
 * Bronze Age civilization – “The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are settlements inhabited by an intelligent species that uses stone and bronze tools.”
 * Iron Age civilization - “The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are settlements inhabited by an intelligent species that uses iron tools.”
 * Medieval civilization - “The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are settlements inhabited by an intelligent species with a medieval level of technology.”
 * Industrial civilization - “The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are settlements inhabited by an intelligent species with a Industrial level of technology.”
 * Atomic Age civilization - "The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are cities inhabited by an intelligent species with an Atomic Age level of technology."

These are listed from the least technologically advanced to the most technologically advanced.
 * Information Age civilization - “The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are cities inhabited by an intelligent species with an Information Age level of technology.”
 * Post-singularity civilization - “The probe investigates some of the possible structures that the seedship observed from orbit, and finds that they are high-tech cities inhabited by an intelligent species with a Post-Singularity level of technology.”

Aliens' Intervention

 * Alien Observers - "This planet has recently been terraformed by advanced aliens to be suitable for human life, and many alien structures sit in orbit above the surface."*


 * Simulation - "This planet is a perfect simulation created by fantastically advanced aliens based on data in the seedship's scientific and cultural databases."


 * Welcoming - "The natives of this planet have already extended an offer of asylum to the human refugees, and will be welcoming to them if the seedship lands."


 * Unwelcoming - "The natives of this planet are aware of the seedship's mission, and have made it clear that human refugees would not be welcome on their planet."

(*This anomaly might affect the cultural and the scientific level of the colonists post-colonization.)

Tips & Tricks

 * If your overall technology level is close to the civilization present (or not) on the planet, if your technology level is exactly the same as the civilization on the planet, the relationship between the humans and the civilization is likely to be "Integrated Societies", boosting 2000 points instantly. However, if your tech level is off by a bit, the relationship level will likely be friendly. (Boosting 1000 points) If you were to be off by quite a bit, the relationship between you and the natives will be "Isolationism" and it will boost no points. If your technology level is much higher than the natives (e.g. Post-singularity & Neolithic) you will likely enslave the natives. If the opposite happens (e.g. Neolithic & Post-singularity), humans will likely be enslaved. They both deduct 1000 points.
 * If a planet has no resources, harsh temperatures, atmosphere and/or has extreme gravity, plus an unstable moon, never settle on that planet. After the moon brings your technology down, you will not have any technology and if your construction robots are not sufficient, humans will die.