Asteroids

Geoscape

Asteroids orbit planets in quite high orbits. Each planet has a different number of asteroids but they will all have a minimum of 2. As time ticks over, players can watch these asteroids orbit the current planet. They are selected by clicking on them with the mouse.

Purpose: Asteroids provide additional resources, and facilities and can be used as weapons. They are also needed to finish the game.

Capturing: Asteroids can have up to 6 missions the player needs to complete before ownership is awarded. Missions depend on the types of locations on the asteroid. Most asteroids have 2-3 strategic points on them. These could be resource veins, abandoned bases or other unidentified positions. The player selects a mission from the list and determines which craft they want to deploy. These are always the 'dropships' which contain tactical troops.

Once all missions for the location are completed, that location belongs to the player. When all locations are secured, the asteroid is theirs. From here the player can build facilities and use the asteroid to help wind the game or 'nudge' the asteroid into the planet.

Why Capture Asteroids at All?: When the player captures 2 or more asteroids, they are awarded additional game bonuses and can unlock further research. Asteroids are also required to finish the game [See Opening the Portal]. There are also monthly production rewards, stacking bonuses for holding multiple asteroids, as well as monthly maintenance costs to consider when going on capturing crusades.

Pay Attention to Mission Requirements

Most missions will be straightforward - kill, decimate, capture - yay fun! But there will be special missions, so keep an eye on the requirements or you might get a nasty surprise.

Building on Asteroid

Once the asteroid is captured, the player can build specific facilities on each of the available locations on the surface of the asteroid. These facilities have zero build times or costs as the player has already paid the price in their time, tactical troops and mission costs.

Resource Locations

• Slot_SolarPower

• Resource Refinery - collects resources on a monthly basis.

• Resources Processor - increases the output of resources gathered per month

• Gravity Shields - Repells enemy attacks

• Listening Posts - Expands the probability of detecting enemy bases.

• Slot_SpireTransmitter

Unidentified Locations

• Missile Defenses - Increases defence strength against enemy breacher missions.

• Listening Posts

• Secondary Laboratory - Reduces the number of support needed for research projects on that planet.

• Resources processor

• Grav Shields

• AutomationAI

• Spire Transmitter

Combat

Asteroids can be attacked by local inhabitants. This usually occurs when sentiment is low or their threat level is very high. When an enemy launches an attack on a player-controlled asteroid, the base defence facilities attempt to repel or destroy the invader - as long as the player has built these facilities. This is an automated set of actions.

If the enemy survives the defences, then the player must deploy a dropship to defend their asteroid. The player MUST complete this mission if they want to keep their asteroid. If they choose to ignore the mission and it expires (in a set number of days) then the asteroid is automatically lost. If the player is unsuccessful in the mission, the asteroid will also be lost to the enemy.

If the player successfully completes the mission, the asteroid remains in the player's ownership.

Raiding Enemy Occupied Asteroids

Players can invade asteroids occupied by the enemy. Attacking an enemy asteroid is as easy as selecting the asteroid, pressing launch attack, select a dropship and then watch the battle between the invading craft and any asteroid defences play out. If the player's craft makes it through to the asteroid, the player is launched into a tactical mission.

On the mission's success, the asteroid is awarded to the player. Unfortunately, all the previously set-up facilities or improvements are destroyed by the enemy before defeat. So protect your asteroids and don't lose them to the enemy!

Civilian-occupied asteroids cannot be raided in the initial release.

World-Ending Weapons, Potentially

Asteroids can be used by players to take out massive areas of the planet below. A player who owns an asteroid can 'nudge' it into a decaying orbit. The asteroid will smash into the planet, destroying everything in the blast radius - including the player's own units and bases!

Selecting Asteroid Trajectories

The player has the ability to select shallow, standard or deep trajectories. Even with this, they can't predict where the asteroid will land and how much damage it will do.

Breaking Up in Atmosphere

There is a chance the asteroid could break up in the atmosphere. This chance increases with planets that have thicker or higher levels of energy in the atmosphere. (not yet implemented)

Planetary Effects

Smashing asteroids into planets can alter the atmosphere, climate, vegetation and inhabitant populations. These factors can affect your craft efficiency, growth rates as well as affecting soldiers on the ground - i.e. moving in toxic environments needs special suits etc. There is also a chance the planet could be destroyed, which could end the game if the player has no other captured planets.

You've Lost A Base!

The player can only nudge asteroids they have ownership of. All that effort, is wasted - or is it? that's strategically up to the player.

Blame

Civilians may blame you if their sentiment levels are low and if the orbital decay was too quick.

If they do blame you, their sentiment levels drop and they demand retaliation, raising the overall threat levels against you.

DLC Plans: Plans to expand the civil unrest component of gameplay.