Planet Generation modding

Version

Please help with verifying or updating older sections of this article. At least some were last verified for version 2.7.

This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.

This page is about modding Deposits and Planet Modifiers.

Deposits[]

Deposits are objects on Planets that can have its own resource production and upkeep and Modifiers to the planet.

There are two types of Deposits, one being the planetary features for the colonizable planets that can be inspected by the player, and another being the orbital deposits for the uncolonizable planets that usually can't be inspected by the player.

There are two types of planetary features, one being normally pure-beneficial and unremovable and another being normally pure-harmful and can be removed by spending resources, called blockers. Some blockers spawn with an additional planetary feature behind it, but the seemingly "blocked" planetary feature isn't actually added to the planet before the blocker to be cleared. Although vanilla unused, a blocker can also block a blocker behind it.

They are defined at "common/deposits/xxx.txt".

Data Structure[]

Property	Planetary Features	Planetary Blockers	Orbital Deposits
is_for_colonizable = <yes/no>	For habitable planets, `is_for_colonizable = yes`. Default is `= no`.		For mining station or research station collection, `is_for_colonizable = no`.
station			Determines the type of orbital station required to mine this deposit. One of the following is allowed. `shipclass_mining_station` `shipclass_research_station`
icon = <deposit key>	This deposit will use the icon of another deposit instead. The default icon path is `gfx/interface/icons/deposits/<deposit key>.dds`.		Since orbital deposits can't be normally inspected, this property will normally not be useful.
use_for_min_max_adjustments = <yes/no>	If yes, this deposit is used to refresh the maximum districts on planet view. Vanilla have this toggled yes for each deposit that increases maximum number of a certain type of district.
category = <deposit category>	For obvious reason the deposit category must NOT specify `blocker = yes`. Vanilla use one of the following. `deposit_cat_food` `deposit_cat_energy` `deposit_cat_minerals` `deposit_cat_rare`	For obvious reason the deposit category must specify `blocker = yes`. Vanilla use one of the folliwing. `deposit_cat_blockers` `deposit_cat_rare_blocker`
planet_modifier triggered_planet_modifier	Blocks of Modifiers to be applied to the Planet. Modifiers that add maximum number of buildings / disctricts of a certain type go here. If this deposit is blocked behind a blocker, none of these effects apply.		Modifiers that affect Trade Value go here. The Trade Value can be collected without building any stations on the Planet. Other Modifiers don't apply.
country_modifier	A block of Modifiers to be applied to the Empire that owns this Planet.
blocked_modifier	Vanilla unused but mentioned it in the comments. Presumably Modifiers to be applied to the Planet for as long as this deposit remains blocked behind a blocker.
should_swap_deposit_on_terraforming = <yes/no> terraforming_swap_types = { _key_of_deposit_ ...} all_terraforming_swap_types = <yes/no> use_weights_for_terraforming_swap_types = <yes/no>	Some vanilla planetary features will swap into another of exactly same effect after terraforming. This is implemented through these properties. If this deposit should swap on terraforming and it no longer mets its `potential` after a terraforming, it will swap to a random one from the list that meets its `potential`. If "all terraforming swap types" is allowed, then ALL non-blocker deposits that meet their `potential` on this planet can be chosen. If "use weights for terraforming swap types", the swap is furtherly weighted by their `drop_weight`.
blocker_swap_types = { _key_of_deposit_ ... } all_blocker_swap_types = <yes/no> use_weights_for_blocker_swap_types = <yes/no>		When this blocker is placed on a Planet, if it has any blocker swap type, a random deposit that meets its `potential` on this planet is chosen to be visibly "blocked" behind this blocker. Before this blocker to be cleared, the deposit isn't actually added to the planet and none of its effects will apply. if "all blocker swap types" is allowed, then ALL non-blocker deposits that meet their `potential` on this planet can be chosen. If "use weights for blocker swap types", the swap is furtherly weighted by their `drop_weight`.
resources	An Economy Unit of this deposit to determine its resource production, upkeep and blocker removal cost.
resources	Vanilla use `planet_deposits` for the economy category, although it's quite rare for a normal deposit to directly produce resources itself.	Vanilla use `deposit_blockers` for the economy category.	Vanilla use `orbital_mining_deposits` and `orbital_research_deposits` for the economy category.
can_be_cleared		A block of Conditions to check can this blocker be cleared. (Planet scope)
on_cleared		A block of Effects to be executed after this blocker is cleared. (Planet scope)
time = <int>		Days it takes to clear this blocker.
prerequisites = { <tech key> ...}		A list of Technologies to be researched before this blocker can be cleared.
potential	A block of Conditions to check can this deposit be spawned on a Planet. This block is neglected if the deposit is added via script. (Planet scope)
drop_weight	Determines how likely this deposit is spawned on a Planet. If drop weight is multiplied by 0 this deposit can't be spawned on this Planet. (Planet scope)

Deposit Categories[]

Planetary features are grouped by Deposit Categories defined at "common/deposit_categories/xxx.txt". They are so simple that they have only two properties. This is used to diverse planetary features to make the planet have relatively less "extreme" maximum district distribution.0

deposit_cat_food = { }
deposit_cat_energy = {}
deposit_cat_minerals = {}
deposit_cat_blockers = { 
	blocker = yes # Counts as blockers
}
deposit_cat_rare = { 
	important = yes	# Shows up as rare deposits in planetview
}
deposit_cat_rare_blocker = { 
	blocker = yes # Counts as blockers
	important = yes	# Shows up as rare deposits in planetview
}

The Null Orbital Deposit[]

There is a null orbital deposit present. It generates no resources and doesn't support any kind of orbital stations, functioanlly play as a placeholder for the uncolonizable planets devoid of deposits. An uncolonizable planet that doesn't meet the potential of the null deposit will always have an orbital deposit.0

d_null_deposit = {
	is_null = yes
	
	potential = {
		is_primary_star = no
		NOR = {			
			is_planet_class = pc_ringworld_habitable_damaged
			is_planet_class = pc_ringworld_tech_damaged
		}
	}
	
	drop_weight = {
		weight = 100
	}
}

Examples[]

Planetary Feature: Hot Springs (+1 Max Generator Districts)0

d_hot_springs = {
	is_for_colonizeable = yes
	use_for_min_max_adjustments = yes

	category = deposit_cat_energy
	
	use_weights_for_terraforming_swap_types = yes
	should_swap_deposit_on_terraforming = yes
	terraforming_swap_types = {
		d_arid_highlands
		d_buzzing_plains # gaia
	}	
	
	planet_modifier = { 
		district_generator_max = 1
	}
	
	potential = {
		OR = {
			is_cold = yes
			is_wet = yes
			is_planet_class = pc_nuked
		}	
	}
	
	drop_weight = {
		weight = @high	
		modifier = {
			factor = @planet_type_bonus
			is_dry = yes
		}		
	}
}

Blocker: Dangerous Wildlife0

d_dangerous_wildlife_blocker = {
	time = 270

	is_for_colonizeable = yes
	category = deposit_cat_blockers

	resources = {
		category = deposit_blockers
		cost = {
			energy = 500
		}
	}

	potential = {
		planet_size >= 10
	}

	planet_modifier = {
		planet_max_districts_add = -2
	}

	on_cleared = {
		hidden_effect = {
			if = {
				limit = {
					exists = owner
					owner = {
						has_civic = civic_hive_devouring_swarm
					}
				}
				owner = { add_resource = { food = 200 } }
			}
		}
	}

	drop_weight = {
		weight = @blocker_low
		modifier = {
			factor = 0.5
			planet_size < 15
		}
		modifier = {
			factor = 0
			num_free_districts = {
				type = district_city
				value < 2
			}
		}
	}

	prerequisites = { "tech_dangerous_wildlife" }
}

Orbital Deposit: 1 Society Research0

d_society_1 = {
	resources = {
		category = orbital_research_deposits
		produces = {
			society_research = 1
		}
	}
	station = shipclass_research_station 
	is_for_colonizeable = no
	
	potential = {
		is_planet_class = pc_toxic
	}
	
	drop_weight = {
		weight = 0	
	}
}

Planet modifiers[]

Planet modifiers are additional modifiers given to planet objects upon planet generation. They are linked to static modifiers but not equivalent to them. They are defined by files in the Stellaris/common/planet_modifiers/ folder. Static modifiers added directly to a planet by an effect or anomaly don't need to have a planet modifier defined here.

**Planet modifier data structure**
Property	Description
spawn_chance = { base = <int> modifier = { add = <int> <conditions> } modifier = { factor = <float> <conditions> } }	Modifies the weight of this planet modifier to spawn relative to other randomized planet modifiers. All vanilla planet modifiers (except the null modifier, see below) leave the base spawn chance at the default value of 0.
modifier = "<static modifier>"	Key of the static modifier to be added to the planet.

The null planet modifier[]

There is a null planet modifier defined in the Stellaris/common/planet_modifiers/00_planet_modifiers.txt file that has no linked static modifier. It's purpose is to control how common other modifiers are; it has a base weight of 275 (most vanilla planet modifiers have a weight of 10 before spawn chance weight modifiers), which gets multiplied by 3 for each modifier the planet already has in order to make planets with multiple modifiers increasingly rare.

pm_null = {0

is_null = yes

spawn_chance = {

base = 275

modifier = {

factor = 3

num_modifiers > 2

}

modifier = {

factor = 3

num_modifiers > 1

}