Currently, worlds are, simply put, horribly boring. Especially the underground. So, I propose that the world is instead generated based on multiple factors. To start off with, the world should be split into 3 distinct layers: Surface, Underground and Core. The world is also split into 2 - 4 (based on size) different vertical "regions" which determine what kind of biomes can spawn and affect surface worldgen (does not affect the core). This means that a planet can be composed of 3 - 9 different biomes (2 * number of regions and the core is all one biome). Regions include: Plains - mostly flat, a few small hills. Hills - a bit hilly, but also some flat areas. Plateau - a bit like hills with near-vertical sides and large, flat tops. Mountains - very high, and pointy. Can contain volcanoes, which hold magma. Tier 3+ Wetlands - contains a lot of water pools and many trees, some of which are partially underwater. More common in Ocean worlds. Wastelands - rough terrain, with rocky spikes and a few dead trees. Contains significantly more caves than other biomes. Ocean - deep oceans. Certain to occur in at least one biome in "Ocean" worlds. Rare in Tier 1. In Tier 3, the top 3-6 layers are ice. Biomes are now tied in with regions, so certain regions are more likely to spawn certain biomes. Surface biomes don't affect worldgen, although underground biomes do. Surface biomes include things like: Grassy - grassy landscape, a few trees. Rare on mountains, impossible on wastelands. Forest - many trees. Common on Wetlands. Impossible on wastelands. Arid - dry dirt, sand and a few bushes. Impossible on Wetlands. Eyelands - eye trees, patches of eyes, eye melons. Slightly more common in wastelands. Certain when you feel like you are being watched. Underground biomes include things like: Different levels of cavegen (higher cavegen is rarer in oceans and more common in wastelands) Fire Caves - wide, open caves filled with stalagmites and stalactites, and contains pools of magma. More common under mountains. Wet Caves - wide, open caves, many of which are flooded. Contains glowing plant life and aquatic animals. More common under oceans. Living Caves - wide, open caves containing glowing plant life, and monsters here regenerate life. Chasm - a massive, open chasm. Less background tiles. Impossible in Mountains region. Can contain a dungeon or city on the ground. Very rare. Core biomes include things like: Different levels of cavegen (less cavegen than underground) Molten Expanse: Superheated rock which requires the heat shield tech to survive in. Lots of lava and magmarock. Tier 2+ Obsidian Spires: A large, open chasm with obsidian spikes going from the magma all the way to the top. Living: The core is a monster! A bit like Obsidian Spikes, but instead there is a solid core surface and the spikes are of living flesh or plant blocks. Many more monsters here. Can also have glowing blocks. Ancient City: The planets core is an ancient run-down city, with great sky scrapers and huge pillars supporting the rocks above. And although the city may look deserted, you get the feeling you are not alone. No ores here, instead you gain access to immensely valuable materials and artifacts of an ancient race, some of which may still be working (and trying to kill you) In order to mine blocks and access certain floors you will need to disable all of the shield generators found in some of the more secure buildings. Very rare. Very dangerous. Very rewarding. Tier 4+ Also, planets should be about twice as wide as they are currently.
I like this. The current planet gen is sometimes not only boring, but kind of weird and ugly too...? By this I mean you have a planet that is registered as a desert planet, but walking to the left once you beam down you find out that there is also a snow biome. Like what?? That's not how planets work usually. I would be OK with this if the transaction would be a lot more fluent and subtle. Also, depending on the biome you are in right now, the background should change too. Again, nobody get's the right atmosphere of a snow biome if there are desert dunes in the background.
