Patch 11.75 distinguishes strategic outposts, asteroid outposts, and rare-metal mining outposts. They use outpost capacity from their founding colony but are offered on different tile types and do not share the complete construction freedom of a full colony. Evidence
Strategic outposts
Strategic outposts are offered on eligible empty-space targets. Their purpose is positional: shorten response routes, create a forward garrison or logistics point, and influence which parts of the wrapped map can be reached in time.
Asteroid outposts
Asteroid outposts are offered on eligible resource-asteroid variants. Their allowed production infrastructure follows the asteroid’s displayed resource role. Evaluate them by usable output, transport exposure, and whether the founding colony can defend the route.
Rare-metal mining outposts
Rare-metal sites use their dedicated outpost type and connect to the SPU system. Current recipes, chances, delivery state, and installed augmentation effects belong to the live site and SPU screens rather than a universal schedule. Evidence
Choosing the type
The target tile constrains what can be founded, so settlement type is not merely a preference. Use the current colonization screen to confirm the offered option, required origin, cost, travel time, and slot before committing the hull.
Loss and replacement
Any of these outposts stops counting for its former owner after ownership is lost. The freed capacity remains attached to the founding colony, not to the tile or the conquering player.
Before committing a colonization hull
Confirm the exact settlement option shown on the target, the selected founding origin, that origin’s available capacity, pending colonization fleets, displayed cost, and travel time. The type is constrained by the tile, while the slot is constrained by the origin.
See Founding a colony or outpost for the full procedure and Rare-metal mining outposts for the SPU-specific workflow.