Planet Mechanics

Purpose: AI-readable reference for Structs planet system. Lifecycle, ore depletion, exploration, charting.

Planet Lifecycle

Status	Condition
active	Has remaining ore
complete	Ore depleted (0)

Ore Depletion

When planet ore reaches 0:

Planet status becomes complete
All structs on the planet are destroyed
All fleets are automatically sent away (peace deal)
Player must explore a new planet to continue

Strategy options before depletion: Keep some ore in reserve. Move critical operations before the last ore is mined. Accept completion and rebuild elsewhere.

Starting Properties

Property	Value
maxOre	5
spaceSlots	4
airSlots	4
landSlots	4
waterSlots	4

All newly explored planets start with identical properties.

Exploration

Creates new planet with fresh ore and slots
Fleet moves to new planet
Old planet released (old structures remain if ore remains; other players can claim it)
Chart new planet to reveal resource attributes before committing
Requirement (existing players): Current planet must be complete (ore depleted) before exploring AND the fleet must be onStation at the current planet, not away. Recall the fleet first if needed via fleet-move.
Requirement (first-time players): No fleet check applies — a brand-new player with no current planet can call planet-explore immediately after creation. The chain only enforces the fleet/ore checks for players who already own a planet.
Ownership: One planet per player at a time

Charting

Planet attributes queryable via planet_attribute endpoints
Resource charting informs mining strategy

Raid Vulnerability

What gets stolen: The player’s storedOre (mined but unrefined ore). Raids seize ore from the player who owns the planet, not from the planet itself.
What is NOT at risk: The planet’s remainingOre (unmined ore still in the ground). Unmined ore can only be extracted by an Ore Extractor — raiders cannot touch it.
Once ore is refined into Alpha Matter, it is cryptographically secure and cannot be stolen.
Seized ore tracking: The planet_raid table includes a seized_ore field that records the amount of ore stolen from the player during a raid.
See combat.md, resources.md