How to Create a Map with Vast Amount of Planets

Overview

Stardock limited the amount of planets that could spawn on a map to help improve performance on some player computers. This change drasticly effected how much I enjoied the game. I wanted to pass on how I learned to overcome the planet nerf to get back the game play I like on maps.

Introduction

This is for the players like me that like the vastness of space full of planets. I know that is not the case but I like to play like there is a planet or two in every star system. I also do not like small worlds I only end up colonizing them to remove them from the game. With the information found in this guide you can make the galaxy have as little or as much planets as you wish.

Locate your game file:
C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonGalactic Civilizations IIIdataGame

All changes will be made to xml documents found in this folder.

Note all changes that are made are one time and do not get updated to defaults for a patch.

How to Increase the Amount of Planets Found on a Map Size

Edit your MapSizeDefs.xml. Under the map size you play edit the base about of planets and set half to habitable.
<InternalName>Large</InternalName>
<Base>400</Base>
<MaxHabitablePlanets>200</MaxHabitablePlanets>

How to Increase the Amount of Habitable Planets

Edit your MapSetupDef.xml. Under the Abundant map settings section increase the precentage:

Note: .01 = 1% and .1 = 100%

How to Increase the Amount of Planets Found Around a Star Type

Edit your StarSystemDefs.xml. Scroll down past the race star defaults (unless you wish to edit those too) and find the System Group defaults for stars. I found all the yellow and purple stars and edited how many planets are found around the stars.

<StarSystem>
<InternalName>System00</InternalName>
<OrbitLane>
<LaneType>Star</LaneType>
<Body>
<BodyType>UnaryStar</BodyType>
<BodyDef>YellowStar</BodyDef>
</Body>
</OrbitLane>
<OrbitLane>
<LaneType>DeadZone</LaneType>
<MinPlanets>0</MinPlanets>
<MaxPlanets>1</MaxPlanets>
</OrbitLane>
<OrbitLane>
<LaneType>HabitableZone</LaneType>
<MinPlanets>1</MinPlanets>
<MaxPlanets>3</MaxPlanets>
</OrbitLane>
<OrbitLane>
<LaneType>OuterZone</LaneType>
<MinPlanets>0</MinPlanets>
<MaxPlanets>2</MaxPlanets>
<Body>
<BodyType>Asteroid</BodyType>
<BodyDef>NormalAsteroid</BodyDef>
</Body>
</OrbitLane>
</StarSystem>

How to Change the Planet Level on Special Planets

Edit your PlanetTraitDef.xml. Find the trait types and edit them to your tastes.

<PlanetTrait>
<InternalName>SereneWorld</InternalName>
<DisplayName>SereneWorld_Name</DisplayName>
<Description>SereneWorld_Dec</Description>
<RelativeWeight>9</RelativeWeight>
<PlanetClassSelect>
<MinPlanetClass>10</MinPlanetClass>
<MaxPlanetClass>20</MaxPlanetClass>
<Weight>95</Weight>
</PlanetClassSelect>
<PlanetClassSelect>
<MinPlanetClass>25</MinPlanetClass>
<MaxPlanetClass>26</MaxPlanetClass>
<Weight>5</Weight>
</PlanetClassSelect>
<EffectModifier>
<EffectType>InfluencePerTurn</EffectType>
<Target>
<TargetType>Colony</TargetType>
</Target>
<BonusType>Multiplier</BonusType>
<Value>0.25</Value>
</EffectModifier>
<EffectModifier>
<EffectType>GoodsAndServices</EffectType>
<Target>
<TargetType>Colony</TargetType>
</Target>
<BonusType>Multiplier</BonusType>
<Value>0.25</Value>
</EffectModifier>
</PlanetTrait>

You can also edit the chance of the planet trait spawning by changing the RelativeWeight.

How to Change the Amount of Planets that Spawn on a Map

Edit your GalCiv3MapsDefs.xml. Change the percentages a planet level spawn rate. Just make sure the numbers add up to 100. You can also edit the default planet levels if you wish.

Galactic Civilizations III Guide