In Master of Orion there are six types of stars which each have a chance to contain different types of planets. A star can have up to five orbiting planets, including gas giants and asteroid belts. With "Balanced Start" active, a major civilization's starting system will always contain exactly two planets, regardless of star type: the homeworld (arid, desert, ocean, swamp, or volcanic depending on racial traits, or terran by default), and while the other will be either a gas giant or an asteroid field. Independent civilizations on the other hand always have starting systems with colonizable planets, allowing major races to settle there and incorporate them as a protectorate of their empire.
Interstellar travel is possible in three ways:
- Blue warp lanes: connecting two stable warp points, they are accessible since the start of the game (unless a "pre-warp" start was selected).
- Red warp lanes: connecting to unstable warp points, they are accessible only after researching electromagnetic refraction to obtain the multistate insulator.
- Jump gates: accessible after researching gravitic fields and building them in a colonized system with a space factory. Your ships can travel freely between any two jump gates under your control.
Star types[ | ]
Star | Image | Description |
---|---|---|
Blue-White Star | These are the hottest stars, making it extremely difficult to find habitable planets around them. Their planets are mineral rich though. | |
White Star | Young stars that have mineral rich planets but are barely able to support life. | |
Yellow Star | Average stars that often have moderate mineral resources and tolerance to life. | |
Orange Star | These stars are always orbited by planets that can support life but are poor in minerals. | |
Red Star | Few planets form around these stars, and those that do rarely have mineral resources or habitable environments. | |
Brown Star | These extremely rare stars usually host no planets at all, and those that do rarely have habitable environments. | |
Antaran Portal | A portal to the Antaran Dimension | |
Wormhole | A wormhole bends time and space, allowing ships to travel instantaneously between its two ends. |
Star systems[ | ]
The type of star determines both how many planets it can have and how mineral rich they are. The planet biomes, however, depend on star type and galaxy age.
Planet Richness Chance | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Star Class | Ultra-Poor | Poor | Abundant | Rich | Ultra-Rich |
Blue-White | 0% | 0% | 30% | 40% | 30% |
White | 0% | 9% | 34% | 36% | 21% |
Yellow | 10% | 29% | 39% | 14% | 8% |
Orange | 16% | 39% | 36% | 8% | 1% |
Red | 20% | 33% | 46% | 1% | 0% |
Brown | 10% | 34% | 35% | 16% | 5% |
Although technically each star type has its own statistics for number of planets and chances of them appearing in any orbit; in practice all types except brown stars use the same statistics.
Planet Amount Chance | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Star Class | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Non-Brown | 4% | 18% | 28% | 29% | 15% | 6% |
Brown | 35% | 50% | 10% | 4% | 1% | 0% |
Orbit 1 | Orbit 2 | Orbit 3 | Orbit 4 | Orbit 5 | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Star Class | Plnt | Astr | Gnt | Plnt | Astr | Gnt | Plnt | Astr | Gnt | Plnt | Astr | Gnt | Plnt | Astr | Gnt |
Non-Brown | 20% | 0% | 0% | 35% | 0% | 0% | 45% | 0% | 0% | 65% | 20% | 15% | 65% | 15% | 20% |
Brown | 20% | 0% | 0% | 20% | 0% | 0% | 20% | 10% | 0% | 65% | 20% | 15% | 65% | 15% | 20% |
Names[ | ]
Star systems serving as the starting homeworld of a civilization always have a specific name. Other star systems are named from lists of star names for each star type. This means that, for example, Sol will always be the homeworld of the Human Republic, but it will not always be a yellow star. Inversely, Aldebaran will always be a yellow star, but it will only shelter a civilization if it has been colonized during the game. Uninhabited systems may be generated with a space monster, or serve as a base for space pirates.
Civilized systems[ | ]
Star Name | Civilization | Civilization Type |
---|---|---|
Alpha Ceti | Terran Khanate | Major |
Altair | Alkari Flock | Major |
Ban-el-Akir | Akirian Diarchy | Independent |
Cryslon | Silicoids Crag | Major |
Degon | Degonite Kritarchy | Independent |
Draconis | Elerian Fiefdoms | Major |
Fieras | Mrrshan Pride | Major |
Gly | Glis Nomocracy | Independent |
Gnol | Gnolam League | Major |
Kholdan | Klackon Hive | Major |
Meklon | Meklar Combine | Major |
Mentar | Psilon Quanta | Major |
Nazin | Darlok Cabal | Major |
Nyemor | Nyemorian Magocracy | Independent |
Nyu | Nyunyu Sortition | Independent |
Orion | Orion | Elder |
Sol | Human Republic | Major |
Sssla | Sakkra Brood | Major |
Tetchys | Eldritch Anocracy | Independent |
Thersonia | Thersonian Timocracy | Independent |
Trilar | Trilarian Shoal | Major |
Ursa | Bulrathi Empire | Major |
Yar-ssan | Yar-ssian Autocracy | Independent |
Zarkonia | Zarkonian Chiefdom | Independent |
Uninhabited systems[ | ]
Blue-White | White | Yellow | Orange | Red | Brown |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbith | Abeen | Acamar | Achir | Actaeus | Adenin |
Adib | Ajax | Ajieh | Akrab | Alacast | Alaozar |
Alar | Alcor | Aldebaran | Alepha | Algeiba | Algol |
Alpha | Alphar | Anchat | Andromeda | Anraq | Anraqo |
Antarktos | Aquilae | Aran | Arcturus | Argus | Argusmi |
Arietis | Arkab | Arkham | Arlyehm | Aroch | Artemis |
Ascellus | Asterion | Atari | Atsui | Audax | Aurora |
Avellar | Axion | Ayil | Azimon | Baalbo | Baaltis |
Babylon | Bagdei | Baham | Balik | Barcada | Barvra |
Benat | Berel | Bestia | Beta | Beta Ceti | Bethmoora |
Bieron | Biots | Birdon | Blucher | Bogina | Boloe |
Bootes | Bootis | Borea | Boshi | Brachium | Browntes |
Brutum | Bubulus | Buemis | Bulanen | Bunda | Bungula |
Burin | Bussola | Butain | Cabrilla | Cadmus | Caeleb |
Callisto | Camelus | Canis | Canopus | Capella | Caphria |
Carcosa | Carinax | Castor | Cathuria | Ceginus | Celaeno |
Celephais | Celox | Celtsi | Celtsig | Centauri | Cephee |
Cerva | Ceti | Cetuse | Charon | Chay | Chelae |
Chiba | Ching | Choom | Chorazin | Chort | Cimmeria |
Collassa | Collassam | Commoriom | Concordia | Corbeau | Corolla |
Corona | Corvus | Cressas | Crius | Croix | Croth |
Crux | Crypto | Cryptos | Cursa | Cygni | Dabanel |
Dagon | Damea | Dannu | Dante | Darrian | Dauphin |
Degiri | Deli | Delta | Demhe | Dendo | Denebk |
Denubius | Derke | Desmos | Dhira | Diab | Dilfim |
Dilgan | Distaff | Dolz | Dolza | Dorado | Draco |
Drakka | Dramasa | Dromos | Drossel | Dumke | Dunatis |
Dunwich | Ecber | Echidna | Ecuar | Einhorn | Elcorno |
Electra | Elkisus | Ellq | Elvarad | Elysia | Endoria |
Enoch | Ensis | Enzu | Epsilon | Ercole | Eridanus |
Erigone | Erosria | Erulus | Escalon | Esper | Etana |
Exisko | Exisuri | Ezore | Ezra | Faelis | Fafnir |
Fahde | Fakar | Fascia | Felis | Ferassa | Fides |
Finnau | Firma | Fische | Fixas | Fluvius | Fomalhaut |
Foo | Fortuna | Fovea | Frere | Fullen | Fundusm |
Fuseki | Gabbar | Gadjoa | Galapago | Galileo | Galos |
Gamma | Gammaon | Gatto | Gazelle | Gehenna | Gemat |
Genam | Geodesy | Geph | Getaa | Ghamus | Gharne |
Ghavs | Gibber | Gienaho | Gigas | Gion | Girtab |
Gladius | Go | Goi | Gontzol | Gorgonis | Gorra |
Gote | Grumium | Grusna | Gryphon | Guad | Gularn |
Guradas | Guradask | Gurion | Habor | Hadar | Hadramaut |
Hague | Haliia | Hally | Hamete | Hammis | Hanekomi |
Hapbo | Hapion | Harag | Hasami | Hasenus | Hastur |
Hawking | Hayk | Helios | Helos | Hera | Heracles |
Herculis | Hermidon | Herschel | Hewel | Hindea | Hiraki |
Hircus | Hontes | Horne | Horus | Hoshi | Huttis |
Hyades | Hyboria | Hydrae | Hyperborea | Ibis | Icarus |
Ilya | Immaus | Imra | Inakda | Inari | Incedius |
Indus | Inganok | Invaka | Iranhai | Iras | Iremoora |
Irra | Ishi | Ishtar | Ivielda | Ixion | Izara |
Jabbar | Jabos | Jacob | Jaculum | Janib | Jataka |
Jinga | Jobetes | Jordanus | Joseki | Joshua | Juga |
Jugum | Juka | Justaa | Juzala | Kadath | Kaes |
Kaff | Kahtn | Kailis | Kakari | Kakata | Kakes |
Kalbla | Kalib | Katab | Keats | Keeta | Kelev |
Khrissa | Khumba | Kif | Kit | Kled | Kluhn |
Klystron | Knaaa | Knyan | Kochba | Kolath | Komius |
Komokun | Kosumi | Kothhais | Krakena | Krebs | Kronos |
Ktyngae | Kulthos | Kyusho | Laan | Laann | Lacerta |
Ladon | Laius | Lamash | Laniger | Larx | Lawdon |
Lemuria | Lengzin | Leonids | Lepus | Lerion | Lesath |
Leviathan | Lince | Linxrdia | Lirr | Lomar | Lonela |
Loraa | Lupus | Luraa | Lurnis | Lyae | Lycaon |
Lyra | Maalor | Maazo | Madira | Madorla | Magaria |
Magdalen | Magi | Magnus | Mahu | Malecaut | Malusa |
Mane | Manica | Manzil | Maretta | Marindi | Mariner |
Markab | Matar | Media | Menalo | Menita | Mensa |
Merope | Mihr | Milaff | Minerva | Minra | Miract |
Mirak | Miranda | Mirror | Mirza | Misha | Mishay |
Mithras | Mizar | Mobas | Mochos | Monius | Monkar |
Monstrum | Montone | Moro | Moroch | Morrig | Moyosto |
Mu Delphi | Mulano | Mulban | Mulubat | Munic | Muru |
Musator | Muscida | Mutatrix | Mutlat | Naam | Nagar |
Naosus | Narnla | Nasak | Nathsa | Necht | Nekkar |
Nephthys | Neptunus | Nessusm | Niallar | Nilusis | Nimbus |
Ninsar | Niphla | Nirb | Niru | Nisusm | Nitzer |
Nobi | Noctuan | Nordia | Nordiaj | Nortes | Notonn |
Nubilium | Numinos | Nyarlg | Obaca | Obacas | Obarion |
Obelus | Oberona | Octipes | Oculus | Ogeima | Ogka |
Okabi | Okda | Okitis | Olathoe | Olor | Olorunnis |
Omega | Omicron | Oomaius | Opuss | Orbis | Orflar |
Oriab | Origen | Orloge | Osae | Oshiad | Osiris |
Otawa | Ovillus | Padus | Paladia | Paladiaus | Palaemon |
Pandora | Panthera | Paradise | Paranar | Parmag | Passer |
Patera | Pavo | Pavoner | Paxn | Pegasus | Pelenor |
Perenis | Perizoma | Pernus | Perseas | Perseo | Pesci |
Phakt | Phantos | Pharmaz | Phecca | Pherd | Phobeus |
Phoenix | Phyco | Piatuos | Pictor | Pindarma | Pipiri |
Pistrix | Plastrum | Pleides | Plinyorea | Poculum | Polarion |
Polaris | Pollus | Pollux | Pomptina | Ponnuki | Porrima |
Poseidonis | Praxis | Priapus | Primodius | Proclus | Proctor |
Procyon | Proditor | Profugus | Propus | Proteus | Proxima |
Psi | Ptolemy | Pund | Pythones | Qablu | Qatar |
Quadrupes | Quandra | Quayal | Quek | Quercia | Quiurus |
Rabe | Radiff | Rahab | Ramad | Ramono | Rana |
Ras | Ravm | Rayden | Rebarus | Regulus | Remus |
Reticuli | Revati | Rex | Rha | Rhai | Rheael |
Rhilus | Rhombus | Rialsa | Ribat | Rigel | Risabam |
Rishka | Riwand | Rlyeh | Rochi | Romulas | Rosaan |
Rosemund | Rotan | Rubariom | Rukubi | Rutilicus | Ruzam |
Ryoun | Saak | Sabaki | Sabazius | Sabik | Sadakon |
Sadr | Saganes | Sagitta | Sahil | Sahu | Saiph |
Saliba | Saltator | Samson | San | Sanomeda | Sarfah |
Sargon | Sarkomand | Sarnathi | Sarti | Sarwa | Satyraut |
Saxon | Scaliger | Scera | Scheader | Scheat | Schiff |
Schwan | Scorpio | Scutulums | Segel | Seginus | Seidon |
Seki | Selia | Selial | Sella | Semeai | Sentes |
Septumi | Serapis | Serpens | Shaghar | Shalako | Sharru |
Shatr | Shen | Shicho | Shihm | Shimari | Shinogi |
Shira | Shwing | Siktut | Simak | Simius | Sirus |
Situla | Skaio | Slkima | Smon | Sonans | Souchis |
Spica | Stalaz | Statius | Steinbok | Stellio | Suji |
Sukra | Sulcus | Sung | Sutuls | Suud | Syntaxis |
Syrius | Tabena | Tahon | Tain | Tais | Takamoku |
Talas | Tali | Tambiru | Tammech | Tantalus | Tao |
Taoast | Tarandus | Tarazad | Tarcuta | Tatiana | Tau |
Tau Cygni | Tauri | Taurio | Taurus | Tejat | Telum |
Templum | Tenuki | Tericas | Testa | Tesuji | Tewari |
Thales | Thaur | Thesbia | Thiba | Thog | Thok |
Thoth | Thraa | Thrax | Thraxr | Thuban | Thuggon |
Tiam | Tigrisd | Tindalos | Tinnan | Tirstar | Tome |
Tonds | Toranor | Tormantius | Trax | Trethon | Trifid |
Trigon | Torino | Tripton | Tristan | Tsangs | Tsath |
Tsugi | Triones | Tucana | Tukan | Turrktos | Tycho |
Tyr | Tsuke | Tyrei | Tyriusus | Ubarn | Ubboth |
Udarapha | Tyrannus | Ukko | Ulgher | Ulthar | Ummllus |
Ungal | Udha | Urania | Urflae | Urkab | Urnar |
Ursulas | Unuklla | Ussika | Uxmai | Uzith | Vagnium |
Vane | Ursus | Valusia | Varak | Vardi | Varinia |
Vector | Valkyr | Vegaer | Velan | Veneris | Vespam |
Vhoorl | Vega | Virgil | Virgoa | Vitruvious | Volans |
Volantis | Vijzar | Vox | Voxh | Vulcan | Vuples |
Waage | Voore | Waghi | Wagi | Wain | Warikomi |
Wasat | Wabir | Wegat | Weilon | Wesatgo | Wesen |
Whynil | Wazna | Willow | Wirius | Wolf | Wool |
Woza | Wilderr | Xeen | Xendalla | Xengara | Xenona |
Xiclotl | Xanthus | Xolas | Xoth | Xudax | Yadb |
Yaddith | Xiphias | Yarrow | Yedeus | Yekubi | Yenbaran |
Yher | Yarak | Yifnehan | Yildum | Ymarne | Ynarl |
Yothis | Yian | Yuzh | Zaban | Zak | Zaman |
Zaniah | Yueh | Zarijan | Zaurak | Zenithnd | Zeraha |
Zhadoom | Zaoth | Zibam | Zibbat | Zichos | Zin |
Zinge | Zhardan | Zirrff | Zobna | Zoctan | Zonaus |
Zosma | Zirkel | Zubana | Zubrahr | Zweig | Zota |
Zothique |