ECO Ecological Balance Guide 2025
The ECO ecosystem simulation is the game's defining feature. Managing pollution, species health, and meteor threat determines server success or failure.
🌍 Ecology Overview
- Real Simulation: Actions have lasting environmental impact
- Meteor Threat: Time-limited civilization challenge
- Species Tracking: Animals can go extinct
- Pollution System: Air, ground, and water contamination
Meteor System
Understanding the Threat
A massive meteor will destroy your world in limited time. Players must develop technology to deflect it.
- Countdown: Usually 30-60 real days
- Progression Requirement: Space-age technology needed
- Community Goal: Requires coordinated server-wide effort
- Failure Consequence: Total world destruction
Meteor Configuration
{
"MeteorEnabled": true,
"MeteorDays": 30,
"MeteorDifficulty": "normal",
"WarningPeriod": 7,
"DeflectionTech": "AdvancedRocket"
}Meteor Difficulty
| Difficulty | Time Limit | Tech Required | Players Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 60 days | Basic rocketry | 1-10 |
| Normal | 45 days | Advanced rockets | 10-30 |
| Hard | 30 days | Space-age tech | 30-50 |
| Extinction | 15 days | Max tech tree | 50+ |
Pollution Management
Pollution Sources
🏭 Industrial
- Smelters and refineries
- Manufacturing facilities
- Power plants
- Vehicle engines
👥 Consumption
- Waste generation
- Trash disposal
- Food production waste
- Packaging materials
⛽️ Energy Production
- Coal power plants
- Burning fuels
- Inefficient machines
- Lack of scrubbers
🌊 Water Pollution
- Fertilizer runoff
- Industrial discharge
- Oil spills
- Sewage treatment
Pollution Effects
- Species Health: Animals die off or decline
- Plant Growth: Reduced crop yields
- Global Temperature: Climate change impacts gameplay
- Player Health: Sick players work slower
- Visibility: Smog obscures vision
Cleaning Pollution
| Mechanic | Effectiveness | Technology Required |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Dissipation | Very Slow | None |
| Trees | Low | Basic |
| Water Treatment | Medium | Intermediate |
| Air Scrubbers | High | Advanced |
| Carbon Capture | Very High | Space-age |
Species Management
Animal Species
Real-time tracking of animal populations with extinction mechanics:
- Population Tracking: Live counts for each species
- Extinction Threat: Species can disappear permanently
- Ecosystem Impact: Predators/prey relationships matter
- Migration: Animals move based on habitat quality
Species Protection
{
"SpeciesProtection": {
"EndangeredSpecies": {
"HuntingBan": true,
"HabitatPreservation": true,
"BreedingProgram": true
},
"CriticalHabitats": {
"LoggingRestrictions": "minimal",
"PollutionTolerance": 25,
"ProtectionPriority": "high"
}
}
}Hunting Regulations
| Regulation Type | Severity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Total Ban | High | No hunting allowed |
| Limited Permits | Medium | X kills per month per player |
| Season Restrictions | Low | No hunting during breeding season |
| Size Limits | Low | Minimum size for harvest |
| No Regulations | None | Free hunting |
Resource Management
Renewable vs. Non-Renewable
🌱 Renewable
- Trees and crops
- Solar and wind power
- Fish populations
- Animal breeding
⛏️ Non-Renewable
- Oil and coal deposits
- Rare earth elements
- Meteorite resources
- Limited minerals
Sustainable Practices
- Replanting: Always replant harvested trees
- Circular Economy: Recycle materials when possible
- Efficient Production: Use least-polluting methods
- Habitat Preservation: Protect breeding areas
- Water Conservation: Treat and recycle water
Server Configuration
Ecology Settings
{
"EcologySettings": {
"PollutionEnabled": true,
"SpeciesExtinctionEnabled": true,
"ClimateChangeEnabled": true,
"PollutionDecayRate": 0.5,
"SpeciesRecoveryRate": 0.1
}
}Balanced Settings
Recommended for educational and balanced gameplay:
{
"MeteorDays": 45,
"PollutionTolerance": "medium",
"SpeciesProtection": "moderate",
"ResourceRegenRate": 1.0,
"TechRequirement": "normal"
}Challenging Settings
For experienced players or competitive servers:
{
"MeteorDays": 30,
"PollutionTolerance": "low",
"SpeciesProtection": "minimal",
"ResourceRegenRate": 0.8,
"TechRequirement": "high"
}Environmental Events
Random Events
- Wildfires: Spread pollution, destroy habitats
- Droughts: Reduce water availability
- Animal Migrations: Species move, changing ecosystem balance
- Toxic Spills: Localized pollution events
- Invasive Species: New animals disrupt ecosystems
Server-Wide Challenges
Configure periodic community challenges:
- Clean-Up Days: Community pollution reduction events
- Replanting Events: Coordinated tree planting
- Species Conservation: Breeding programs for endangered animals
- Technology Goals: Reach pollution reduction targets
Success vs. Failure
Winning Conditions
🌟 Success: Deflect Meteor
- Develop space-age technology
- Build and launch meteor deflection system
- Collaborate across entire server
- Maintain healthy ecosystem
Losing Conditions
💀 Failure: Meteor Impact
- Fail to develop deflection technology
- Ecosystem collapses (pollution kills everyone)
- Time runs out before tech ready
- Players abandon server
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pollution be disabled?
Yes, but it removes the game's core mechanic. Consider increasing pollution tolerance instead for less challenge.
How do I check pollution levels?
p>Use the pollution overlay in-game or check web interface for real-time pollution maps.What if a species goes extinct?
It's gone permanently for that world. Protect endangered species through laws and habitat preservation.
Can I extend the meteor deadline?
Yes, adjust MeteorDays in server config. Give players more time for educational servers.
Does pollution affect the meteor?
No directly. However, pollution weakens players and limits their ability to develop deflection technology.
Next Steps
- Set up economic systems
- Create environmental laws
- Configure meteor and ecology settings
- Adapt ecology for educational use
Eco System Expert: Supercraft provides optimized ECO servers with custom ecology settings and reliable performance for your community.