Colony Layout

[W]

How do you layout your colonies? Dome adjacency is very important for colonist. I understand base mechanics, but adding domes adds more complexity. Do you have a central population hub with surrounding specialized domes? Do you mix some industries together?

[Ericus1]

Each dome is a completely specialized, self-contained entity. Zero passages, zero mixing, in the largest dome possible. I usually start off with 2 barrels to get past the early phase, then 1 medium of each type (farming, manufacturing, research, retirement), then just megas. Mining depends on how many deposits it will access, and training/university domes need two spires, so diamond or oval if I have them.

[W]

To be clear, self contained means needed service buildings and food production? What is the layout of the 2 barrel domes?

[Ericus1]

No, self-contained means it contains the applicable production buildings, housing, and services purely for that type of dome. Drones/shuttles handle distribution of products - like food - throughout the colony.

A manufacturing dome would only contain electronics, MP, and polymer factories along with apartments for housing and the grocers/diners/rec buildings that serve engineers + non spec needs. Farms are only in a farming dome with only botanists (and non-specs) and the services tailored to them. Research buildings are only in a research dome with just scientists, and their appropriate services (add casinos, fewer diners), etc. All balanced so housing == jobs and service capacity is sufficient to meet needs based on dome population, with correct filter settings to manage the dome.

As for my starting barrels you can't really afford to be completely specialized yet. I generally try to partially specialize based on most overlapping needs and manpower balancing. Usually one will have a couple of turkey ranches and research, with the other handling mining and initial manufacturing, with the standard grocer/diner/infirmary service slices.

[SkiRich]

I go for pure geometrical aesthetics. I'm kind of OCD that way.
Not as OCD as say this guy though ...
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2435025957

[NotThatHarkness]

Originally posted by Emmanon:

How do you layout your colonies? Dome adjacency is very important for colonist... Do you have a central population hub with surrounding specialized domes? Do you mix some industries together?

I think dome adjacency is only important if you build passages. I tend not to, so I build whatever wherever.

So, no, I don't have a central population hub. I decide what industry the dome will serve and build in housing and services as appropriate. Any leftover room I squeeze in whatever I need (a polymer factory maybe) or l leave it to figure out later.

Mostly I specialized domes for synergy (farming dome to exploit the water reclamation spire) or for purpose (senior and child domes to move non-working population out of other domes). I generally don't segregate housing from services from work.

[Ericus1]

Originally posted by SkiRich:

I go for pure geometrical aesthetics. I'm kind of OCD that way.
Not as OCD as say this guy though ...
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2435025957

Now there's someone who has to turn the light switch on and off 37 times when entering a room. Good god. That makes me want to alter just one tiny thing to be out of place, tell them but not what it is, and then watch them twitch.

[SkiRich]

I didnt have the heart to tell him that one rocket is out of place. Yea he'd twitch.

[W]

Originally posted by SkiRich:

I didnt have the heart to tell him that one rocket is out of place. Yea he'd twitch.

Originally posted by SkiRich:

I didnt have the heart to tell him that one rocket is out of place. Yea he'd twitch.

I think he’d do more than twitch. I can see him going scorched earth and starting over.

[W]

Anyone know what mod that is for the white domes?

[Ericus1]

It's not a mod, it's from one of the DLCs. I believe the Stellaris skins one. Or it might just be one of the dome skins included in the base game.

Try switching skins and see if it shows. If not, you're probably missing the DLC that included it.

[W]

Thanks

[Redlegoguy1]

Originally posted by Ericus1:

It's not a mod, it's from one of the DLCs. I believe the Stellaris skins one. Or it might just be one of the dome skins included in the base game.

Try switching skins and see if it shows. If not, you're probably missing the DLC that included it.

It's not the stellaris skin, but I believe it is one of the DLC ones. It's whichever of the building packs is included in the season pass I believe, as I had it when I first played the game and all I had was the season pass at that time.

[chic.aeon]

It isn't in the dome pack as I have that and don't have what is pictured -- impressive picture :D. Actually you get very little (one wireframe and the "starfish" frame which I wanted) in that pack but I got it on sale so wasn't expensive. Really seems like you should get more than that in a pack though LOL.

MEANWHILE --- I play like NotThatHarkness and scatter domes in an organic way whereever they may fit. Aside from food domes placed where there is a lot of water I don't have any specialized domes and some domes do have food inside or outside. It works. I balance jobs with the amount of living spaces so that there are few unemployed as the population rises.

I suspect most any method would work and that there isn't really a BEST way or a BEST layout. Everyone plays differently so to the OP -- just play and see what works best for you.

[Redlegoguy1]

Originally posted by chic.aeon:

It isn't in the dome pack as I have that and don't have what is pictured -- impressive picture :D. Actually you get very little (one wireframe and the "starfish" frame which I wanted) in that pack but I got it on sale so wasn't expensive. Really seems like you should get more than that in a pack though LOL.

I went and checked, the white dome skin is in the colony design set, which is in the season pass. The in dome buildings pack that you mentioned is one of the DLCs not in the season pass, and I don't think it has any building skins in it at all. Also, the starfish skin you mentioned is probably the stellaris skin, and I believe the wireframe skin is in the base game, as it's also the default dome skin for a few sponsors like Blue Sun.

[W]

Everyone keeps mentioning the season pass. I bought the First Colony edition bundle. I don’t see the season pass in the store. Where do I buy it? (I suspect I’m staring right at it.)