User Guide

PLANET
CHAPTER 3
41
TERRAIN
The fantastic vistas of Planet offer more than alien beauty. Planet provides an
endless variety of both gifts and pitfalls for the human settlers.
RIVERS
Since the dawn of human history, rivers have been the arteries of civilization.
This remains true on Planet. If a river runs through a square, it delivers a +1
bonus to energy production. Rivers also tend to increase the moisture of the
squares they run through or by. Rivers start from an underground source and
follow the contours of the land down to the sea. With the proper technology
you can tap into underground aquifers and create new rivers.
Rivers can also be used as natural roads. A unit can float up or down three
river squares for every one square of normal movement it possesses.
OCEANS
There are three types of ocean terrain (corresponding to the three elevations
of land terrain): ocean shelf, ocean, and ocean trench. With the proper tech-
nologies and equipment, ocean shelf squares can be improved, and aquatic
bases can be established there. Ocean and ocean trench squares can not sup-
port bases or be enhanced.
RESOURCE SPECIALS
The ecology of Planet is complex, and a few regions produce significant-
ly more nutrients, energy or minerals than would be expected from their
moisture, elevation or rockiness. These special squares are indicated by
icons, indicating the type of resource that is increased in that square.