On Geology and Starbound

Would the game benefit from realistic (or believable) geologic models for its planets?
(Specifically: the implementation rock types, erosion models, and appropriate ore deposits for each rock type.)

I would think that introducing rock types (Igneous Extrusive/Intrusive, Metamorphic and Sedimantary) in intelligently placed layers would introduce a pleasant variety to Starbound. That is to say, instead of just 'stone', there would be generic label for each stone type, such as 'Igneous Extrusive' (to keep the game from getting too convoluted with sub-types like 'Granite', 'Obsidian', etc.), and each would have different characteristics that caused it to, say, erode at a different pace, or affect ore distribution and availability.

Do any of you think that this would make the game more varied, immersive, and enjoyable?
Or perhaps some of you have opinions to the contrary?

 

I think that this would be rather refreshing. It is for this very reason that I prefer Total Miner Forge to Minecraft. This would make the game last much longer too. Since stone gets harder and harder as you get closer to a planets core, perhaps you will need a much stronger pickaxe/drill to get further down. This would also add more value to pickaxes/drills since they would be used for more than just getting that next, much denser ore. Overall, I think that this is a wonderful idea. I just hope that everyone else on the forums thinks likewise. The Sorcerer approves

 

I like the density mechanic and the way different rock and biome types would affect ore diversity. However, I'm not a fan of an erosion mechanic, simply because noticeable changes would take forever to do and the server would have to keep track of every tile in the game simultaneously and, well, that's never good.

 

I'm not a fan on my house slowly eroding away.

 

I believe that rock formations should start out on a basic level
And once you have discovered/manufactured an item (say, a type of portable scanning unit)
or possibly discovered the Geologist profession, then a whole new perspective would be brought up to turn everything you had experienced thus far into a more in-depth experience when building/creating.

Basically, I don't think new players should be overwhelmed by that much information right away.

 

I really don't want this from the game, there is already a lot of things in the game and I want it done sooner...

In other words you want a little bit of dwarf fortress in Starbound?
Since you can keep exploring new planets and there are different types it makes sense to just find a new less dense planet.
I would like some planets to get harder to mine as you go deeper though, only some, but that would be cool.
Good idea though, it's nice when someone thinks of a great new idea!

 

You would probably be in trouble if you had a marble house, and your world liked to acid-rain! Otherwise, erosion is a slow process that takes years and years to cause any substantial difference, if it were implemented as an active process that worked as you lived and explored your world.

I was actually thinking more along the lines of making erosion passes over the world during planet generation. It is much less resource-intensive this way, and avoids the problem of houses that take damage over time. It also makes for nice rocky outcroppings that may be subject to rockfalls or landslides should they be implemented. (Think off-screen meteor events in Terraria, only with ordinary geologic catastrophes.)

I had Dwarf Fortress in mind, yes. I think it is entirely possible to make an intelligent, immersive geologic model that doesn't require you to break out a geology textbook, though. In essence, we have only five rocks that make up our worlds, give or take:

'Ext. Igneous', 'Int. Igneous', 'Metamorphic', 'Sedimentary', and maybe some variation of exotic hellstone.

It is sufficient to know that iron occurs only sedimentary and metamorphic rock.
Also, igneous rock indicates possible lava pockets or vents that breach the surface.
Wouldn't it be so cool if we had volcanic worlds that actually (quite realistically) had mostly igneous rock, and therefore very little in the way of iron deposits?

I think it would probably be best if the game was released and bug-fixed before something large like this was suggested. As the idea stands right now, it is just a discussion point rather than a suggestion. Hence this topic not being in 'Suggestions'.

 

It's an interesting idea, though the whole system with erosion may take a while to pull off.

Other than that, I love the idea of different categories of rocks, which would make you think a little more without forcing you to pull out the textbook. While it might frustrate people from time to time, I believe it may add a nice challenge to the game.