Planetary Environments: There are 14 identified planetary environment types listed by the Nerimian Confederation. The type of environment dictates the size of the planet, which in turn determines to some extent how many colonists the planet can support.

• Terran planets are earth-like and can support the largest umber of colonists.
• Jungle planets are young, underdeveloped worlds reminiscent of the Dinosaur Age on Earth.
• Ocean planets have very few land masses and are almost completely covered by water.
• Arid planets have only about one quarter of their surface covered by water.
• Steppe planets have rugged terrains that are difficult to clear for a colony.
• Desert planets have very scarce water supplies and are plauged by violent dust stoms.
• Minimal planets can barely support life with an oxygen poor atmosphere and little water.
• Barren planets have no surface water supplies and little to no atmosphere.
• Tundra planets are basically huge balls of ice with sub-zero temperatures year round.
• Dead planets have no water supplies or atmospheres whatsoever.
• Inferno planets are similar to Venus with excruciatingly hot environments.
• Toxic planets have corrosive atmospheres which destroy most types of equipment.
• Radiated planets are constantly bombarded by solar radiation.

Planetary Specials: Not all planets have the same industrial potentials. Some have special environments that modify population growth while others may have abundances of important metals for construction.

• Mineral Poor planets lack sufficient amounts of the heavy metals necessary for construction.
• Artifact planets have relics and devices left by ancient races.
• Mineral Rich planets have abundant supplies of heavy metals.
• Fertile planets are easier to colonize than normal.
• Gaia planets are ecological paradises.