Cloud Cover

[uss1701jb]

Asking a newb question here... what does cloud cover do? Does it physically change the map like erosive forces, or does it add nutrients?

[ete]

Makes squares more likely to be Rainy, less likely to be Arid, so produce more nutrients. I'm not sure of exactly how it does this or how much of an effect it has.

[Buster's Uncle]

What he said - and I always assumed it reduced energy levels, but I cannot say that I've observed a difference.  I always use Cloudy setting, as a more fertile map is the least frustrating for early game, and growing bases are more than adequate compensation for any reduction of terrain energy that might or might not happen.

[Geo]

Easiest maps should be dense cloud cover combined with strong erosive forces. The latter makes more peaks, thus more terrain with a higher potential energy output.

[uss1701jb]

I'm asking because I like to play as  and was hoping for more sea early on.
Thanks guys!

[JarlWolf]

Easiest maps should be dense cloud cover combined with strong erosive forces. The latter makes more peaks, thus more terrain with a higher potential energy output.

Don't you mean Weak erosive forces? Strong erosive usually ends up more flat.

[Buster's Uncle]

Agreed.  Strong Erosive is what Ship Registry Guy wants, for max sea.

[Green1]

High cloud cover is when you want land squares that have more nutrients. Low cloud cover is when you want a fairly barren Mars-like world that is barren and dry.

Of course, this only affects land, not sea tiles.

[Geo]

Easiest maps should be dense cloud cover combined with strong erosive forces. The latter makes more peaks, thus more terrain with a higher potential energy output.

Don't you mean Weak erosive forces? Strong erosive usually ends up more flat.

Oh, did I mix things up again? 

Agreed.  Strong Erosive is what Ship Registry Guy wants, for max sea.

AFAIK, that's covered with the percentage sea vs land option (30-50% - 50-70% - and so on).

[Buster's Uncle]

Well, I'm given to understand that you want weak erosive for maximum land, in addition the sea% settings, so I assume the obverse is true.  I set for maximum land by habit, so I may not know what I'm talking about.

[Kirov]

It may be worth noting that dense cover (rainy tiles) and weak erosion forces (rocky tiles) help AI to some extent, as it usually relies on farms/collectors/mines and is too stupid to forest. So it's a very easy way to slightly increase the challenge and make AI look less like a dork it really is. I saw it farming arid terrain and it makes me want to punch the screen.

I hope the kyrub patch has improved AI terraforming behaviours, I need to give it a try a bit more.

[Geo]

I saw it farming arid terrain and it makes me want to punch the screen.

I hope you didn't forget to mention that fat nutrient resource on the tile? 
(nah, I know, just pulling your leg)