I usually build 2 to 4 factories depending on tiles. Usually only build 1 or 2 at first, 1 entertainment, 1 farm and usually 4 or more sometimes , market centers and concentrate on economic research upgrades. I do this on at least 3 planets some have had as much as seven stock markets. A lot depends on the size of the map and how much threat you are facing.I also research government upgrades these really boost your income also enabling you to lower your taxes to keep the people happy.If your also worried about ship production I usually have dedicated shipyards/manufsacturing capital that can turn out large and huge ships in 6 turns or less. With a strong economy production and military power fall right into place. by the way those markets generate good cash even if your population is low on the planet. Hope this helps somewhat,Good luck!

I have two layouts depending on galaxy size, because I only build transports for big maps (for small ones I buy or I forego it altogether).
- for the colony rush I need four factories: While building #1 I buy 2,3, and 4 (That's one speedy colonizer every other turn). After colonization I use my production capacity to build early key wonders: economic capital (lots of early population s on the homeworld), dipl. translator, restaurant, X.-hulls, Cristals, TirQuan and evil buildings (for evil games). I use all kinds of production tiles, but only to reduce the number of factories I build (too expensive otherwise)
I then build a seperate research planets.

- if there is no colony rush (small map) - I buy a science building (ideally on a +100/+300) and go 100% research while I buy my colony ships. I later build the homeworld into a science planet or a wonderland (after a few factories) depending on tiles (but usually with two to three factories - I find it very difficult to build using science buildings with focus exclusively).

I never use farming or culture tiles on my homeworld.

Why do people use farms on their home planet? My home is always the lowest morale, primarily due to population alone.

my home planet always depends on what precursor artifact are there, but if none no farms or embassies. usually 3 to 4 factories and 1 power plant, 1 planetary defense the rest economic structures.

I never put a farm on my home planet as it kills the morale there even if you put 3-4 morale buildings as well! For me its factories and manu capital all the way

Homeworlds start with a 12.00 population cap rather than the usual 6 from colonised worlds (Unless this changed in DA)

Higher populations also bring a drain on morale due to overcrowding and (in DL 1.4) it really begins to take effect when the population hits 18.00. I personally find one farm on a larger map (Large to Gigantic) rather useful, as more population = more income and more people to colonise with. On smaller maps, where the colony rush is much shorter, I'll leave farms off my homeworld as the population increase isn't needed and the extra income becomes barely noticable.

I personally like a balanced approach on my homeworlds, or at least to begin with. Usually it consists of 2 factories, the starport, 1 farm, 1 market (2 if I can't be bothered with the embassy), 1 embassy, 1 lab and 2 morale buildings.

One addition to farm-building. Near the end of a game I will make sure each world has enough farms to make it to around 20B, in order to pump up the score a bit with higher pop. If score isn't a consideration for you then it's just a detriment, due to the drop in morale.

Sentient species taste better...

Something like this usually suits me well...

Ummm thats helpful if you are you and know what each of the icons you have built represent. Please indicate what the icons are for those that do not appear on the list!

Thanks

More people equals more taxes and once you have the 3rd farming tech researched it also mentions a happiness increases though im not quite sure for what?

  Awesome! Thanks for all the feedback guys

It appears the general consensus is, no matter what your tastes are, a balanced home world is ideal. No major stacking of 1 type or another seems very popular.

Several factory type buildings, then a variety of economy/research/misc buildings is the pattern.

And to answer MrVegetable's unsure statement of the pop cap: even in DA, the homeworld's default pop cap is still 12.

What I think is great about this game is the vast differences in play styles, that are obvious even in how your home planet is built. You can identify who prefers to go gung ho for the 'ships in your ass early' style, or the 'money makes the world go round' approach just by the differences in preferred homeworld set ups.

And just to chime in, My general lay out is 4 or 5 factories then equal research/economic buildings, varies by 1-2 depending on bonus tiles. From then all <10 quality planets become balanced, hybrid planets (and where I choose to put my influence buildings), all of my 10-12 quality planets become manufactories with a starport to crank out ships, and all of my >12 quality planets become research or economy hives. Save for 1 16+ quality planet which i make my production capital, as it's usually on the outskirts of my territory, so i can pound out ships deep into the map quickly.

Non-informative side story: I once stumbled upon a 26 quality planet within 10 turns of a start and let giddiness overtake logic. I planned on it being my production capital so researched directly for manufacturing centers, then quickly learned that pounding out 20+ manufacturing centers and a production capital does not bode well AT ALL when you were still in the negative earning each week when you started that project.

The Rediculoids begrudgingly lived up to their name that day.

--End Transmission From:
Obnoticus: Lord of the Rediculoids
of planet Home Depot II.--

Before 1st Colony Rush: all factories and Manufactory Capital
After 1st Colony Rush: build econs, 1 morale, and wonders over some factories. Keep around 4-5 factories, less if have bonus tiles