Forest Biome

The Forest Biome is the default starting biome on many asteroids. It is a temperate, room-like biome that commonly contains Oxygen-producing flora, modest metal deposits, and terrain features that provide early-game water and fertilizer resources. Forest Biomes are the source of Oxylite, Oxyferns, Arbor Trees, and abundant Aluminum Ore in several variants, making them a strong choice for early expansion and base placement on Folia-class asteroids.

Variants of the Forest Biome change temperature, the presence of specific features, and resource distribution. The Start variant includes Oxylite and additional Aluminum Ore and also contains a Phosphorite deposit and an Oxyfern Cave (a sealed oxygen/CO2 room with four Oxyferns). The Start Hot and Mini-* Hot variants are mechanically identical to their base counterparts but have a higher ambient temperature (~30 °C). The Mini Metal variant and its Mini Metal Hot counterpart increase Aluminum Ore abundance. The Mini Oxygen variant contains Oxylite and a Phosphorite deposit. The Mini Water variant guarantees a Small Water Lake at the center of the map. The Hot variant mirrors the base Forest Biome but at about 30 °C and often includes a Small Water Lake. The Frozen variant is colder (around -30 °C), adds Snow as a generated element, and contains a Small Frozen Lake composed of Snow, Ice, and Oxygen surrounded by Ice, Dirt, Igneous Rock, and Aluminum Ore.

Typical generated terrain in the Forest Biome lacks free liquids by default; water is produced only via terrain features such as Small Water Lake, Small Frozen Lake, and vents. Geyser types that can appear in or near Forest Biomes include Volcano, Hot Polluted Oxygen Vent, Carbon Dioxide Geyser, Minor Volcano, Cool Salt Slush Geyser, Cool Slush Geyser, Hydrogen Vent, Cool Steam Vent, and Chlorine Vent. Cool Steam Vents are a reliable infinite water source when present.

Resources and flora: Oxylite and Oxyferns supply early oxygen; Oxyferns produce both Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide when grown wild and become an efficient oxygen source once domesticated. Arbor Trees and Pips appear as wild plants that provide free plant resources such as food or biomass when harvested or domesticated; Arboreal resources are valuable despite wild growth being slower than domestic cultivation. Forest Biomes commonly contain Aluminum Ore and Phosphorite deposits as notable mineral resources.

Practical notes and strategy:

• Rapid exploration of the biome is recommended to locate metal deposits, Oxylite pockets, and any useful vents (Cool Steam Vents for water, Hot Polluted Oxygen Vents for early heat and polluted oxygen).
• An Oxyfern Cave or Oxylite pocket can supply breathable air early, but Oxyferns are inefficient when wild; domesticate them or use electrolyzers later.
• Small Water Lake and Small Frozen Lake features supply localized water and should be harvested or incorporated into plumbing; baseline terrain generation does not include free liquids except where these features appear.
• A single Hatch is guaranteed at a specific location near the Printing Pod on Forest Biomes, providing an early critter resource.
• Pips and Arbor Trees are high-value wild resources: domestic propagation yields steady food or material production, though wild harvesting is slower.
• Use Phosphorite deposits for fertilizer and Aluminium Ore for early metal needs; Mini Metal variants are especially rich in Aluminum Ore.