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 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 [Perfect Planet] 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 [Dyson Sphere].)*

Yellow anomalies neither help or hinder humanity.

Red anomalies only hinder humanity. Unless noted, it will cause over 100 colonist casualties.

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.*

## List of anomalies

### 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.” This anomaly will cause a dramatic drop in the final Technology level, and if any red-level conditions are present will kill all colonists if dropped below Atomic Age level.
* 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.” This anomaly will minimize the scientific database drop from having poor or no resources, 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.” This anomaly causes hundreds in casualties.
* Edible plants - “The probe finds alien plants. It tests a sample, and finds that some of them would be edible for humans.” This anomaly raises the planet water condition one level.

### 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.” This anomaly causes hundreds in casualties.
* 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.” This anomaly raises the planet gravity condition one level.

### Possible structures

* 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.” This anomaly causes hundreds in casualties. Notably not mutually exclusive with the positive structural anomalies, unlike others.
* 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.” This anomaly boosts the cultural database.
* 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.” This anomaly boosts the scientific database.
* 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.”

*Note that possible structures, in particular when animals and Plants are also present, can also indicate the presence of a native civilization.*

### Geological anomalies

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

### 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.” This anomaly brings the culture level up one level, but without a numerical gain in the cultural database.
* 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, but without a numerical loss in the cultural database.

### 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."

* 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.”

These are listed from the least technologically advanced to the most technologically advanced.

The civilization may also be planet-spanning. This means the colonists will be subsumed into the local culture and technology level, but a stronger scientific database may improve the weaker local technological level. The cultural level will be set at founding. Additionally, at a high enough local technology, the locals may offset any potential damage caused by a weakened landing system and may save some casualties from red or yellow anomalies and planet conditions. The cultural database will then determine how well remembered Earth is in the immigrant culture.

### 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." This anomaly is found in the Perfect Planet event. This anomaly might affect the cultural and the scientific level of the colonists post-colonization:
	+ "Enigmatic objects appear during times near scientists near making a breakthrough, and they suddenly fall ill", dropping the technology level.
	+ "Enigmatic objects appear near scientists and seem to attain flashes of inspiration", boosting the technology level.
	+ "Enigmatic objects appear and leaders seem more hostile than normal", dropping the cultural level.
	+ ""Enigmatic objects appear and leaders seem to be capable of greater empathy and compassion", boosting the cultural level.
	+ "Alien objects appear in the night sky, making no effort to affect the scientific/cultural development", causing no change.

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

* 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." This anomaly is found after transmitting helpful scientific information in the Planetary Communications event. This anomaly improves the intercultural relations for offset technological levels.

* 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." Even at a local culture level of Post-Scarcity Utopia, the natives will eradicate all refugees.

## 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. A poor cultural system on either side can also result in this.
	+ 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.**