Radiated Planet High Support Cost - Need tips

[Bellrock]

In my current game, I found an independent colony (population 150M of the same race) located inside a radiated nebula. The quality of the planet is at 50%, and the same planet type as my home planet. Looking closer I am seeing a suitability of +11 for the planet.

More specifically, I’m playing Humans with ideal planets colonies being continental planets, and this independent colony is humans on a continental planet. The colony appears to have accepted my colonist with open arms.

I assumed these factors would make this an ideal planet to expand too, given the same race is already on the planet. However, when I colonized the planet the support cost of the planet exceeded $5k. The population on the planet has since grown to 800M, however the net tax revenue is barely under $5k. This planet does not look like it will be profitable even with max population.

Needless to say this is a bit of financial strain on my empire as is. I have colonized a couple of suitability +20 planets, and these planets become profitable when population approach 1,000M. I’m at a loss why this planet’s support cost are so high, as the tool tip is not giving me additional info. Furthermore, I assumed as the population grew the planet would be cash positive at some point.

My question is there anything I can do to fix the financial situation of this colony? I am currently researching Continental Colonization and hope that would improve the situation, but I’m thinking I will need a bigger boost then this. Are there any other tips that I might try? Is there say a tech for radiated worlds that should have gotten (I’m in early game tech tree, and this is my first play thru)?

Thanks for the tips.

[WiZz]

Did you build that terraform building for 100k?

[MichaelJ007]

The +11 suitability is whats killing you.

Gaining a tech in Continental colonisation will give you a +5 bonus to suitability, pushing it to +16, and this will ease the situation a lot.

The terraforming building will also help (over time), by giving you another +5 over five years.

The next tier tech (Improved Contininental Coolonisation) will help even more, but likely that will be a long way away.

Then there are high tier upgrades to the terraforming building, but that is super far away in your current game.

[Omena]

It's the low suitability. Colonisation and terraforming techs make a big difference and you should get them as soon as you are able (no imminent military threat). There are also buildings that can boost income, but they don't matter so much for smaller planets (800M is still small).

However, the planet will most likely not provide you with any meaningful income for a very long time. Instead, you should be focusing on maxing out your income from your capital. The colonisation techs have a huge effect there and there are various special buildings that greatly increase your income (traders bazaar, holo center, medicomplex, gov. buildings). Until you reach mid-late-game, you capital can provide pretty much all your income. Colonies are for claiming territory and resources.

It's a bit unintuitive in that a 50% quality continental planet is bad, but 50% quality volcanic or rocky desert would be extremely good if you have the races for them.

I should also say that you should never go for the final terraforming tech. It gives no lasting benefit and makes your terraformers cost a lot lot more.

[Bellrock]

Thank you for the replies,

I initially thought, hence the question, was the high support cost might be due to the radiation. The interface provides no breakdown on how the support cost is determined, it's just a number you pay. The planet suitability number being provided gives no indication of what support cost will be until you colonize the planet in question. Once you colonize well then you find out how high the fee will be (too late), and there is no way to reverse the decision.

I did get the colonization tech, and the support cost dropped by half as suggested in the replies. This did help. Not able to get the terraform building as the support cost for the building is 7.5k which is more then my current economy will support. The tip of "Colonies are for claiming territory and resources" is solid advice, and the approach I'll be taking hence forth.

Thanks

[Omena]

Glad things improved.

One note on the terraformer: it has a high support cost, but you only have to pay it for a few years. Once it has finished terraforming, you can scrap it and keep the quality bonus.

[Scotias]

Glad things improved.

One note on the terraformer: it has a high support cost, but you only have to pay it for a few years. Once it has finished terraforming, you can scrap it and keep the quality bonus.

Yes, it even had a popup for me to say the building could now be scrapped which saved me clock watching lol.