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Hello everyone and welcome to another Stellaris development diary. Today, we're going to continue talking about the Distant Stars Story Pack that will be accompanying the 2.1 'Niven' update, on the topic of exploration and new things to find in the galaxy. As with the previous dev diary, we're going to be fairly light on the details to avoid spoilering too much of what's out there to explore in Distant Stars.

New Anomalies
Distant Stars adds several dozen new anomalies to the game, with everything from simple discoveries to complex event chains (including the opportunity to make a new and very different kind of friend...) Overall, Distant Stars increase the anomaly count of the game by about 50%. We've also taken the time to go back and improve some old anomalies and fix up others that did not spawn correctly, so that even those without Distant Stars will be able to experience new discoveries in the Niven update.
2018_05_03_2.png

2018_05_03_4.png


New Systems
Distant Stars adds around 20 new, unique systems to the galaxy, similar to Sanctuary or Zanaam in the base game. Most of these systems have unique encounters, event chains or anomalies related to them, and some are actually several systems with a common background or event chain tying them together. Overall, though none of these systems are guaranteed to spawn in any individual game, every randomly generated galaxy in Distant Stars should contain some new and potentially rewarding discoveries for your empire to make.
2018_05_03_3.png


New Leviathans
Distant Stars also adds 3 new Leviathans to the galaxy. Two of these Leviathans work in a similar way to existing ones, while one is altogether different from anything you will have seen before. As with previous Leviathans in the Leviathan Story Pack, these new Leviathans have curator dialogue and interactions related to them, which means that the Curator Enclave will appear in the galaxy if you have Distant Stars but do not own Leviathans (Traders and Artists do not spawn unless you have Leviathans, however).
2018_05_03_1.png


That's all for today! Next week we're going to talk about the Niven update, on the topic of Space Creatures and Strategic Resources.
 

Sorbo

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We've also taken the time to go back and improve some old anomalies and fix up others that did not spawn correctly
I was hoping that some old anomaly stuff would be addressed in this new update. To name a few add special interaction for psionic horses anomaly for psi empires, give to the admiral from warrior from the sand anomaly machine trait and make him immortal, add a little to the ctulhu event chain for psionics and correct inconsistencies (it can give your scientist psi expert trait and claim that he has developed psionic powers so give him an actual psionic trait in addition even if your empire does not follow this path), finally fix rare Rubiconian Shores anomaly - it seems it was forgotten (probably because it doe not have a nick name in the files and can be esily missed), because it uses tech that is no longer in the game and some resolutions of the chain are blank texted.
 

Madain Sari

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So with all this focus on exploration when are you going to give us back the ability to rename our science ship class?
 

Milten

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It they are rare enough it shouldn't be a problem I think. So I hope haven more different systems makes the individual ones rarer.
Can't argue with that, but that's a bit like beating a fire with brushwood. I just wish they were at least semi-random, so I wouldn't know what to expect at first glance.
 

Miesha

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When, if ever, will we get a list of these new anomalies so we can know if/when we've encountered all of them? Or at the very least can we get a number, so we know how many anomalies exist that are possible to discover?

For real, I dont mind that you're trying to keep it light, but at least give us some actual numbers. a 50% increase is well and good, but a 50% increase from how much? We dont even know how many anomalies already exist.
 

LeSingeAffame

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When, if ever, will we get a list of these new anomalies so we can know if/when we've encountered all of them? Or at the very least can we get a number, so we know how many anomalies exist that are possible to discover?

For real, I dont mind that you're trying to keep it light, but at least give us some actual numbers. a 50% increase is well and good, but a 50% increase from how much? We dont even know how many anomalies already exist.
I'm not 100% sure about that, but a quick look in the game files shows that there are 225 anomalies
 

Sorbo

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Never saw this one. Name?
Can't remember though it is nicknamed that way in the files, in the game you only get vague hints at first like that those animals in particular seem to always know when you try to get too close. There is no actual psionic related interaction because it was not in the game back then.

I looked it up 4 you: The Rulers of the Water Plains

This part in particular Wiz, seems to be missed flavor potential:

Our scientist have been able to deduce that the animals have some sort of psionic ability, as changes in their demeanor indicates that they are able to intuitively sense our intentions.

It might be possible to domesticate the beasts and have them assist in potential future colonization of the planet. However, we might however happen across some interesting revelations by studying them first.

Our scientist claims that the indigenous creatures seem to "respond negatively to thoughts that indicate any sort of threat.

Allow psionic empires to either dominate them with mind crushing mind control or give the option to truly have a mental bond with the creatures avatar style. (In game play turms just give 0.5 more powerful rewards/0.5 lesser drawbacks, or maybe something new and unique).
 
Last edited:

Nyrael

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When, if ever, will we get a list of these new anomalies so we can know if/when we've encountered all of them? Or at the very least can we get a number, so we know how many anomalies exist that are possible to discover?

For real, I dont mind that you're trying to keep it light, but at least give us some actual numbers. a 50% increase is well and good, but a 50% increase from how much? We dont even know how many anomalies already exist.

We do.
There's quite a few.
Quite a few indeed
It's maddening!
We can't contain them all!
Wiz should just stop!

Altogether, a lot of them! and if Wiz's math is right, we will be adding around three more pages to this.
 
Last edited:

Darzoni

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The update is called Niven, huh? Does that mean we're getting a new Endgame Crisis involving the galactic core exploding? Or Kepler Rosette megastructures?

I mean, all the other author names have been very meaningful. Capek for a story pack involving the rise of robots (Rossum's Universal Robots) and Cherryh for a gamplay change where you spread your civilization via starbases (Downbelow Station). :D
 

shadow737

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Personally I'm hoping that there's a bit of extra work done to improve Zanaam. Always feels like something else should happen later on with that one. Either with that structure being a beacon that calls the lost race home or finding out their ancient enemy that was the reason they left in the first place was waiting somewhere in the dark for the structure to become active again.

Otherwise love the direction this new DLC is going in.
 

Deggial

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Will the innitial anomaly description be repeated in the "resolving screen"?
If not, maybe you might think about implementing this.

In the current game, I find it difficult to relate the innitial anomaly with an outcome, as ther are usually more than one anomalies open in the game (or even researched at the same time) and the time between research start and outcome can be quite long.
 
Last edited:

Astax

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HYPE!

I guess this diary confirms that the 3rd new Leviathan will be locked in L-Cluster and will be released! No free lunch! You have to defeat the Leviathan in the L-Cluster to control it!
 

Caligula Caesar

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Will the AI also be improved?

(I ask to give you the chance to say "spoilers" and reassure everyone by doinbg so :p )