Diplo Size Research

The subject of this article is from the ExoMech update.
The information from this article is is up-to-date as of 10 June, 2020.

This article was documented by the Galactic Hub.

Diplo Size Research is a research documentation page.

Summary

The terms "mini" and "mega", although not in the game code, are often used in the No Man's Sky community to describe fauna of different sizes. This research project aims to determine how we might apply these terms in a principled and game-based way. Are there some standards we should adopt for what counts as a "mini" and what counts as a "mega"? This project focuses on the Rangifae genus "diplos".

Methodology

Data was compiled for 346 diplos of various (known) sizes. The data includes the creature's name, size(s), rarity (Common, Uncommon, Rare), whether the creature produces "groundshake" (rumbling controller), and the player's riding position (back-riding or head-riding). This data was collected by scouring numerous sources: the No Man's Sky Wiki, various subreddits, discord conversations, and gameplay itself.

Of these 346 diplos, approximately 100 of them were specifically verified by visiting them in-game. The data for a specific diplo was only trusted from a secondary source (wiki, reddit, discord) when it was not a "crucial" size--namely, when numerous examples of that size were already tested directly in-game. For example, since information was found on 20 diplos measuring 8.1m, it was not deemed necessary to visit them all. Any unusual or questionable or key sizes were confirmed directly in-game.

Data

The following is a chart displaying the data compiled (and includes how we might apply the size terms for diplos):

Out of the 346 diplos, the following ranges were noted:

• 118 were from 0.3m to 1.9m tall (the section labelled "MINI")
• 44 were from 2.4m to 4.8m tall (the section labelled "MIDSIZE")
• 184 were from 5.8m to 8.3m tall (the section labelled "MEGA")

While more diplos are included in that third larger class than others, it does not follow that they are more common, as people are generally more likely to report and document the larger finds.

No diplos were found in the grayed areas in the chart, suggesting potential size tiers. Again, however, the specific names "mini", "midsize", and "mega" are not themselves based on in-game data.

Important Note: The specific size ranges above are simply based on the data presently available. As more data is gathered, there may be counterexamples that will allow the results of this study to be updated. For example, it is likely that there are diplos possible at 8.4m as this size is possible for other genera that can currently appear as megas. At this point, no 8.4m diplos have been found. (Some points based on considering other genera are discussed below.) The size gaps pictured may be narrowed with more data--again this is just what is known now based on the data available.

Of the 118 diplos found from 0.3m to 1.9m, none of them were found to be listed as "Rare" on the Discovery Menu, and none were found to produce groundshake. The vast majority of them were listed as "Uncommon", with only six of the smallest examples being "Common". The diplos in the two other groupings were all found, without exception, to be "Rare" and to produce groundshake. Even a 2.4m "Rare" diplo produces some amount of groundshake, and the groundshake intensity then increases with size.

The following charts show the distribution of heights found within each range:

Note that since the focus is on what heights are possible, these charts show the frequency of height measurements rather than the number of unique diplos. For example, if one gender of a diplo is 3.0m and the other is 3.1m, it is counted as one instance of each of those measurements, even though this would be dealing with only one species of diplo. Therefore, the number of instances in the charts above will add up to over 346. If a diplo appeared as a single measurement across both genders, or only one gender height was known for it, it is only counted once.

Missing Instances: As you can see in the charts above, no diplos are yet known in certain specific heights within the size groupings, and for this reason the first chart above including all of the diplos together is admittedly somewhat imprecise. None have been confirmed in the sizes 3.2-3.3m, 4.1-4.2m, 6.5-6.7m, and 7.5-7.7m. It is not known whether these are all possible sizes that might some day be discovered, or whether they are somehow impossible. These ranges are quite small and singular, suggesting the sizes are possible but perhaps less likely to spawn.

Size Tier Conclusions

The mini to midsize distinction is very strong, with the shift to "Rare" and groundshake. It appears fairly straightforward to call the smaller, non-groundshaking, non-Rare diplos "minis". Therefore, mini diplos appear to be those from 0.3-1.9m in size (based on the data we have now).

The distinction between midsize and mega is less strong. Perhaps the strongest evidence for distinguishing the two is the considerably large gap between the 4.8m and 5.8m sizes. This suggests that we reserve the term "mega" for those diplos measuring 5.8m and above.

(GHEC Researcher TPHaze is currently undertaking a research project in which diplos of different sizes are measured against wood walls on flat ground. He has determined that diplos with a taller height do generally measure higher at their backs than diplos with a smaller height measurement, with the exception that the backs of arched-back diplos tend to rise higher than the equivalent flat back. The shortest midsize diplos, at 2.4m, are approximately as tall as one wood wall at the back. The shortest megas, at 5.8m, are approximately as tall as two wood walls at the back. A detailed report on this research will be forthcoming.)

There may also be additional evidence for distinguishing between the midsize and mega tiers based on the player's riding position on the diplos (see below).

Confirmation in the Code

Thanks to SPiper’s datamining and Apex Fatality’s examining and compiling of the data, the ground table information in the game code from Version 2.43 has been made available. The code confirms and explains much of the data found in this research project, while also raising some puzzles.

Here I will just briefly discuss some of the clearest results:

The ground tables list a “Min Group Scale” off of which fauna size appears to be determined from -0.2 to +0.4 from that listed number. The clearest cases are with the largest ground fauna, based off a Min Group Scale of 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0. This establishes that the fauna will be possible from 5.8-6.4, 6.8-7.4, and 7.8-8.4, basically what was found in the diplo research (except that no 8.4m diplo has been found yet). The missing instances of 6.5-6.7m and 7.5-7.7m found in the research are then completely understandable and explained.

NOTE: There is reason to believe that instances 0.1 on both sides of the 0.6 range here may also be possible, although they will be exceptionally rare. For example, the smallest Min Group Scale that a diplo could be based off of is 0.6, but a single 0.3m diplo has been documented (W. Mandrakmimium). The actual range of fauna may be something like 0.26 to +0.46, so instances at the very extremes may be rounded up or down, but these instances will be very rare. If this is correct, then fauna at 8.5m might be possible.

Interestingly, the 6.8-7.4 range will only be found in the one “Dead” ground table that appears in only low fauna level planets. So this range will be more rarely discovered, which can be clearly seen in the chart above in the research.

Also of note is that the 7.8-8.4 range will only be found in the one “Giant” ground table that appears on mid fauna level planets (and so will be easier to find than the 6.8-7.4). What is interesting is that this term “giant” appears in the code itself, “GROUNDTABLEGIANT”, and again this is the only table in which 7.8-8.4m fauna are possible. So it would be reasonable to follow along with the code and call 7.8m+ creatures “giant” fauna. (Still, based on the larger gap preceding 5.8 and the data concerning riding position on diplos, there remains good reason to call 5.8m+ diplos “mega”, and so “giant” would be a subset for the biggest of the big. An 8m diplo is a mega, it just happens to be a "giant" one too.)

For more information on what the game files specifically show about mini and midsize diplos, see Apex Fatality's upcoming research page.

Diplo Riding Peculiarities

All mini diplos visited were back-riding--the player sits on the back of the diplo after feeding it Creature Pellets--except for cases in which they are unrideable, as in the case of their infants. However, there is some pictorial evidence of head-riding minis, for example, here and here. It is not known whether this is still possible or has been patched out of the game as of ExoMech.

All adult mega diplos tested were head-riding. While most adult midsize diplos were also head-riding, some examples of the smaller "Rare" groundshaking adult midsize diplos were back-riding (namely in the 2.6-2.8m range).

More testing is required, but as of yet all infant midsize diplos were back-riding, while the vast majority of infant megas were still head-riding (just as their parents). One 5.8m--the smallest possible mega--hammerhead infant was found to be back-riding (pictured below under "INFANT MEGAS").

MIXED-RIDING DIPLO (Eissentam):

Surprisingly, an unusual midsize diplo was found where the 2.7m (giraffe-based) hammerhead gender was back-riding, but the 2.6m (dragon-based) cobra other gender was head-riding:

Back-riding gender	Back-riding scan
Head-riding gender	Head-riding scan

INFANT MEGAS (Euclid):

One 5.8m mega's infant with (giraffe-based) hammerhead was back-riding, but a different 5.8m mega's infant with (dragon-based) beaked head was head-riding:

Back-riding infant	Back-riding scan
Head-riding infant	Head-riding scan

2.6m DRAGON-BASED BACK-RIDER (Euclid):

The above examples suggest that diplos based on the giraffe head may be more inclined to back-riding than those based on the dragon head. However, a 2.6m "Rare" midsize dragon-based head diplo was found to be back-riding. Here it is in both genders:

Dragon-based gender	Dragon-based scan
Giraffe-based gender	Giraffe-based scan

So, the 2.6m dragon-based cobra head gender of the "mixed-riding diplo" above is head-riding, while the 2.6m dragon-based "Spyro" head gender here is back-riding. Why this occurs is unknown, and additional research is required. The cobra head may incline a diplo toward head-riding, or there may be other factors at play.

Cross-Genera Speculations

If the five other genera that can appear as megas (namely Anastomus, Bos, Lok, Mogara, and Theroma) follow the same sizing possibilities as diplos, it is possible that the mini-to-midsize gap might be only 2.2-2.3m (rather than 2.0-2.3m), with minis being possible up to 2.1m, since an "Uncommon" Mogara has been found at 2.0-2.1m (T. Starengica).

Likewise, the midsize-to-mega gap might be only 5.3-5.7m (rather than 4.9-5.7m), since creatures in those other genera have been found from 4.9-5.2m. For example: L. Homostdium, Sandr-Grof Augavillr, B. Dinoiucia, G. Spelldupica, Giant Furaepli, F. Fregaryiia, O. Cobnikea, Giant Cactaur, and V. Sternmamus. Note that with the exception of one Mogara, all of these other examples are Loks. A look at the ground tables in the Version 2.43 game files explains this completely. There is a special "Blob" ground table for blob planets that have fauna generated off of a Min Group Scale of 4.8, from which we would expect fauna ranging from 4.6-5.2. This provides a perfect explanation of why Loks have been found more commonly in this range than other genera, which are generated off a Min Group Scale in other tables of 4.5. While diplos may be possible at 5.0 in rare instances, like the Mogara O. Cobnikea, they may not be possible at 5.1 and 5.2 like the Loks.

A consideration of other genera may also fill in some of the "Missing Instances" above, as a 3.3m Mogara (C. Wailmuioe) and Strider (H. Winglibigrae) have been found, and an admittedly older 4.1-4.2m Bos (P. Caniscoenosa).

There are no known examples in any of these six mega-possible genera from 2.2-2.3m or from 5.3-5.7m, but they have not been researched as extensively as diplos.

As noted above, an 8.4m diplo is likely possible, since 8.4m creatures have been found in these other genera, for example: D. Elecitrxucesii, Q. Barukgwia, W. Dushkaffii, and M. Trihoffea.

On the other hand, there are reasons for thinking that the sizing might not be parallel across these genera. For example, tiny creatures in the Lok and Mogara genus, that would be expected to be "Uncommon" (or "Common") if they were diplos, are listed as "Rare" in the Discovery Menu. For example: D. Gutorkae, X. Filylefuria, and Snakehead Hopper.

As the research stands, it is proposed that we label diplos as follows:

• Minis - any diplos that are non-Rare, which should align with less than 2.2m
• Megas - any diplos that are 5.8m+ (the gap before 5.8m being the largest one, even if we count the data from the other genera)
• Giants - any diplos that are 7.8m+ (the ones only possible in the "Giant" ground table discussed above)

(Although very unlikely, a diplo might be possible at 5.7m and 7.7m. If this is found to be possible, the numbers for mega and giant could be tweaked.)

These size ranges, at least, could potentially be extended to those six genera that can currently appear as 5.8m+.

Feedback and counterexamples from the community are welcome, and the hope is that we can work together to find additional data and improve our collective understanding.

Additional Information

This research was completed and documented by Galactic Hub Exobiology Corps Researcher Phaedrus29.

Acknowledgements

I could not have completed this research without the help of countless members of the No Man's Sky community throughout discord and reddit, and without consulting the work of numerous diligent editors on the Wiki. I must thank Ddfairchild, without whose patient instruction I would not have been able to compose this research documentation or any of my other work on the Wiki. I would especially like to thank GHEC Researcher TPHaze, who helped me gather data on countless diplos and navigate my way around some of the game's happy little glitches. Additional thanks goes to GHEC Researchers docteurshepherd, BlackCatLair, Apex Fatality, arnaubalo, and ElCapoChino for their invaluable assistance and advice on the project.