Earth itself has some very exotic places. I hope that Stellar Forge makes realistic ELWs when the day comes. Warmer ELWs would be more jungle like, whereas colder ones might look more like Alaska. Of course multiple biomes on a single planet would be nice. I can even see different color vegetation based on star color and intensity. Higher gravity worlds would have trees with thicker stalks and branches, and low gravity worlds with be thinner and vine-like, etc.
What I don't want is just RNG whatever like NMS has. On the other hand, NMS does a decent job at giving us some variety (even if it is Mr. Potato Head), which I'd much prefer over ED's copy-n-paste of brain trees of different colors.
Aye indeed, I’ve been very fortunate in visiting some amazing and diverse places over the past few decades.
Given the Stellar Forge proc-gen involved in the current planets, with simulated tectonic plates to establish mountain ranges, chemical composition to give the colours etc. I truly hope that atmospherics will get the same level of thought put into their creation, as well as any life forms, as per your ideas above.
NMS was created from the outset to look like classic sci-fi book covers, which is one of the reasons why it has static planets close together. It can have some truly awesome vistas (as well as RNG
you what?’s). Elite however has always gone for Galaxy-sim, so I’m hoping for stuff that’s a bit more Earthy on our Earth-likes.