I'd like people to please take a look at this and tell me what you think. What changes need to be made? Underpowered? Overpowered? Too slow to get going? Too powerful when it gets going?
Civilized Colony
It's a rare case when a planet is intentionally developed into a 'Civilized World'. However, some rare Rogue Traders, not intent on forcing a particular type of exploitation on their colonies, opt to try to guide their colonies on a more balanced path, also trading short term gain for extremely long term, extended profit. Of course, this can be helped by the fact that most colonies are technically registered as 'Frontier Worlds' by the Administratum. Civilized Worlds generally must be relatively (GM's definition of how far 'relatively' is, or what can mitigate this) close to human ideal. Human Ideal is defined as Normal Gravity, Moderate Pure Atmosphere, Verdant Ecosystem. The further they are from this ideal, the more exotic Mechanicum terraforming will be required, increasing startup costs. Further, as these colonies have more independence in what they are supposed to be doing, the people start relatively happy, improving Complacency and Order. This colony type is not particularly adept at exploiting any one type of resource, however it is more adept at reducing it's own environmental damage and finding hidden resources. This colony type never develops proper hives. Instead of developing into metropolis, if there is space on elsewhere in the colony world, (low mass or small allows 1, large allows 2, vast allow 4), as one new Settlement is founded at no cost elsewhere in the world. Every time that the city would grow to metropolis, the overflow instead goes to the other settlement(s), increasing their size. Only when the number of settlements are maxxed out on the world, can the cities on the world increase to Metropolis size, but never to Hive. Roll seperately for each settlement for all factors. Only other Civilized Colonies can be placed on this world, never any other type. This colony doesn't produce profit factor from colony size until freehold, and from then until Holding, they are at a -2 profit factor from size. From Holding to Dominion, they are at -1 profit factor from size. Once they hit 'Territory' they hit their stride and these issues are removed.'
Require 1d5+3 profit factor investment, or 1d5+5 if extra terraforming is needed (DM arbitrates this).
Starting stats (note, these are balanced with the errataed starting settlement stats):
Complacency 2
Size 1
Productivity 1
Order 2
Piety 1
As this colony doesn't force certain types of development, it is more resilient to calamity and more likely to have fortuitious events. Further, it seems like this colony type -- or perhaps the long vision of a noble life for his citizens -- may perhaps be blessed by the Emperor. The GM must roll twice for both types of events and allow the players to choose which event happens.