Well, if you want it to be random artifacts and and bonuses, its not possible as the random artifact/bonus chance is applied to the whole map. However you can do what you want to do manually, but you will always find the same artifacts/bonuses on the same planets.

A. Set the random artifact/bonus density to 0, so your outer rim worlds will never get any of them.

B. Edit each of the cluster planets and add the bonuses and artifacts you want them to have. Set the owner to no owner.

Now you'll probably notice you don't have many bonuses to choose from, and while it is possible to get them all, you'll need to modify a file known as GalaxySenarioDef in both the galaxy forge and the sins/entrenchment gameinfo folder (which means you'll be making a very small mod). You can just use the default ones without making a mod, but what fun is that.

A. make a copy of the sins/entrenchment gameinfo folder and make a new folder in the sins/entrenchement mods folder with the name of what you want to call your mod. Paste the gameinfo folder in it.

B. Open the GalaxySenarioDef file with notepad or other txt editor.

C. scroll down until you see planetItemType section. Try to find the Bonus:Crystal Miners. Copy this section (from the beginning of PlanetItemType to "PlanetBonusCrystalMiners), as it will be the framework for adding more bonuses.

D. Look at the game info folder until you see section of entity files called PlanetBonusBonusName. These are the files that define the various planet bonuses. You don't have to open them, just copy the name of the one you want and go back to the GalaxySenaripDef file.

E. in your copied crystal miners PlanetItemType section, change entityDefName "PlanetBonusCystalMiners" to entityDefName "File of the bonus you want". Change the Design name to something that will help you remember the name of the bonus in the Galaxy Forge, like Bonus:Metal Miners or whatever.

F. Important: Go to the beginning of the section where everything starts with planetItemType. Their will be a line called PlanetItemType count. Increse the number their by one so the game will read your new bonus.

G. Repeat until you have all the bonuses you want, don't forget the PlanetItemType count!

H. Copy the GalaxySenarioDef file and paste it into the galaxy forge file, overrighting the one that was already their.

You should be able to select your new bonuses in the Galaxy forge. Make your map, enable the mod, and you should have a map with only the bonuses/artifacts you added to it.

Optional: your mod may run better by deleting all the other files besides the GalaxySenarioDef, I just like having them their so I can see all the planet bonus names.

Hope that helps.

I've gotten everything to where I've successfully edited the GalaxyScenarioDef file to include all possible bonuses. I just need some clarifications to see if I did everything right.

I. The GameInfo folder from the main Sins folder is duplicated and the copy is under the folder named "Set Mod" located in C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods-v.1.17

I'm guessing this is where the folder should be since when playing the game, the "Set Mod" mod appears in my enable mod list.

II. I duplicated the entry "PlanetItemType....PlanetBonusCrystalMiners" until accounting for all planet bonuses and setting the PlanetItemType count to the correct number.

III. I renamed the entityDefNames to specific planet bonus file names for each one and renamed the design names to easily identify them in Galaxy Forge. I saved this file here and duplicated it so the copy replaces the GalaxyScenarioDef file in Galaxy Forge of the main Sins folder.

IV. Galaxy Forge now is able to recognize the planet bonuses circled in blue below.

My question now is how should the group editor be set? I double-click on a planet I want to edit and have specific bonuses to bring up this screen. My understanding is that I choose the appropriate "If" trigger circled in red and click on the add button so it shows up in the "Group Manager" box. Then I'll be able to add the desired planet bonuses. I just don't know which "If" trigger I should use (definitely not the "PlanetOwnerIsRace" for uncolonized planets) and which "Spawn this items for" trigger circled in green is chosen. I was just confused as to which one you were referring to when you said 'set the owner to no owner'.

Also do you need to enable the mod for the saved games to make it work or is this just needed for the start?

Thanks in advance. Anyone else who knows what should be done could pitch in to tell.

Thanks. All bonuses seem to be on working order. I still have yet to try whether mod loading is necessary for saved games but I'm quite confident it is as you say. I don't think the created game would change the set parameters.

There's one other thing I might decide to work on. Those resource asteroids present in non-colonizable planets can sometimes be a pain if they decide not to show up. I at least would like to have one resource asteroid per non-colonizable planet or it would be like a waste. Do you know what kind of simple modding is needed? I think it would also have something to do with the GalaxyScenarioDef file but I don't see any leads for edition. It might be a different file like Entity?

well I tried everything... edited the  GalaxySenarioDef GalaxySenarioDef files (both of them), edited the planet properties through Galaxy editor but no matter what I try I cannot increase the number of crystal or metal mines or base planet stats like tactical slots, population etcc.  I can increase or add other structures but not tne mines or planet base stats.