It is also believed that Mars originally had a thicker atmosphere (from its vulcanism) that it lost due to its insufficient gravity. It is therefore theoretically feasible to terraform the planet for short term (geologically speaking)use. It also is a much more habitable planet for the use of domes than say our moon as its atmosphere provides a layer of protection from cosmic rays.

Didn't you see Total Recall?

Stardock compromised.
They made it a PQ 4 planet that can become a PQ 10 with a lot of TLC...
as opposed to a standard PQ 4 that eventually develops into a 13 or 16, or a PQ 3 that becomes a 15 or 18. (DA values.)

drrider

QUATO was the bomb in Total Recall. Ugly little mutant sticking outta that guy's belly. He had one hell of an "outtie"

How about this?
A new, one-tech branch directly off of Xeno Engineering called Post-Industrial Waste Management. It would be good for a one PQ bump for homeworlds under PQ 11 only.
Cost: about 1/2 to 3/4 of whatever Planetary Improvements costs now.

drrider

Planet Quality upgrade will net you a twelve won't it?

Right now the only value I see in mars is waiting for some dumb Ai to put a colony there and wait for it to revolt (Normal)

I did a LOT of empirical testing which was detailed in another thread.

Bottom line is this:

PQ1 always get 6 new tiles per level of terraforming, finishing as PQ19.
PQ2 don't seem to occur naturally (without +PQ ability), so I didn't test.
PQ3 get 2,4, or 5 new tiles per level of TF, maturing to 9, 15, or 18.
(I forget the exact percentages, but 9 is least common.)
PQ4 gets either 3 or 4 tiles per level of TF, maturing to 13 or 16.
(16 is considerably more common.)
PQ5 gets 1 or 2 tiles per level, maxing at 8 or 11. 11 is more common.
PQ6+ gets 1 new tile per level of TF.

Mars (which seems to be unique among PQ4 planets) gets 2 tiles per level, reaching 10.

PQ 1-4 planets don't seem to ever have bonus tiles, nor do they gain any as they are improved (though it would be an interesting mechanic to eventually FIND a precursor mine or library, buried under the slag.)

Also, planets with PQ less than a base of PQ6 don't seem to ever benefit from the +PQ racial ability, i.e. when they grow to a larger PQ where a 10% benefit might mean a tile increase, they do not get an extra tile.

drrider