Hi and welcome to another Stellaris dev diary. Today we’re going to talk about some of the things we’re adding in the upcoming Kennedy update.

The Extradimensionals didn't work quite as we had imagined them. Players were more or less forced to throw everything they had at their dimensional portal, but there was no way to slowly push them back. The mechanics through which they received reinforcements also felt a bit too arbitrary, so we decided to shake things up a bit.

As before, the Unbidden care little for planets (aside from harvesting their populations). They are an entirely space-based civilization, but now they will also build a new class of station: Dimensional Anchors. These Anchors increase the ability of the Unbidden to bring in reinforcements from their portal. The more Anchors they have constructed, the shorter the time between their reinforcement waves. In addition to that, they will also bring in a new fleet from their portal every time an Anchor finishes construction.

As long as an Anchor is active, the Dimensional Portal will be indestructible.

Anchors are very large stations, and they take a long time for the Unbidden to build. They also function as Frontier Outposts, in that they generate borders. If you see one under construction, you may want to consider a preemptive strike before it comes online…

Overall these changes mean that the Extradimensionals can no longer simply be defeated with a single surgical strike once they have had time to establish themselves in the galaxy, but also that they don’t get unlimited and instant reinforcements, so you can wear them down in a war of attrition.

Our illustrious Art Department has not been idle while we worked on these changes. They have added new death animations for all Extradimensional ships and stations:

Extradimensional Constructors have also been given a new effect when they are building stations:

We have also revisited the Precursor anomalies. It was much too difficult (sometimes impossible) to collect all six artifacts needed to finish their chains. As you approach the mid-game now, there is a chance that you will get a new event that spawns an additional anomaly somewhere inside your space.

That’s all for today! Next week we’ll be talking about new Achievements coming in the Kennedy update.

 

[Jean-Luc]

I've never been able to finish a precursor quest line, they're sooo frustrating. In the latest medium galaxy game I surveyed something like 70% of the systems and only found a single (one) precursor artifact. The one that actually begins the chain of course and nothing after that.

 

[Lordban]

But how does this change the "if they arrive, throw everything at the portal" only-possible-strategy? Or does it automatically spawn some Anchors around the area along with the portal, so you can't rush to that portal immediately?

It apparently doesn't: "Overall these changes mean that the Extradimensionals can no longer simply be defeated with a single surgical strike once they have had time to establish themselves in the galaxy" seems to mean you can still strike hard and fast before they've had time to establish an anchor. Meaning a quick window of opportunity, and after that you have to start by taking down the anchors.

 

[NHunter_rus]

I was able to complete the First League once. Not worth it.

As for the Unbidden changes: I will join the question about whether an anchor will auto-spawn when the portal opens. Because if it doesn't, it might be possible to snipe the portal before the first anchor is constructed.

And nice death and build effects for the Unbidden

 

[Grimtalos]

Good changes. While you probably can't comment on it, I certainly hope you'll improve the precursor questlines a little bit, too. To be blunt, they kind of suck.

First and foremost, the rewards for most of them are really really bad. Cybrex is great: an abandoned ringworld, giving you access to Living Metal. It's a unique reward that, for a first-time player feels exciting, and for more experienced players has obvious benefits that they want. But the rest? You get a pittance of minerals, energy, and/or research point. They're a huge let-down. The quest line has such a big build-up, it's a shame to see the reward be so lame. Preferably, I'd like to see some unique tech, or something (something useful, better than mining lasers, please). Maybe throw me a nice gaia world. Something I can use. Something I can't generate on my own in a few months.

I find this the problem with all the quests and anomalies. I love exploring the galaxy but the rewards are just laughable. You get all this cool text then you read it gives you +3 minerals or something lame.

 

[Mummolus]

Will the AI empires actually fight the Unbidden with this patch? As it is they tend to just sit there and get eaten.

 

[Netist]

I find this the problem with all the quests and anomalies. I love exploring the galaxy but the rewards are just laughable. You get all this cool text then you read it gives you +3 minerals or something lame.

Agreed. I can let it slide with a lot of anomalies, though. Investigate some building, get some minerals. sure, whatever. But the precursor quest lines are just inexcusable imo.

 

[loup99]

Both sound like minor but positive changes to the game. Looking forward to hear more about Kennedy next week!

 

[shiro the bushi]

No Kennedy will not be paired with DLC. It will be a minor free update. The next (Banks) will be paired with a DLC. Of course, in case of no change in planning.
(source: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...llaris-dev-diary-50-the-journey-ahead.978042/ )

thank god..poor thing cant take anymore abuse

 

[Jamey]

We have also revisited the Precursor anomalies. It was much too difficult (sometimes impossible) to collect all six artifacts needed to finish their chains. As you approach the mid-game now, there is a chance that you will get a new event that spawns an additional anomaly somewhere inside your space.

I'll finally be able to finish a precursor quest!

 

[Ezumiyr]

The only dev posts mentioning "free" "paid" or "DLC" in that thread are in reference to the free 1.3 patch with a paid DLC called Leviathans.

Banks will include an *expansion*, which is larger than a DLC. No where does it say Kennedy will not be paired with a DLC or "story pack".

All you have to do is wait, and then pay for a Christmas self-gift.

Just my speculation, of course.

DLC means "DownLoadable Content". An expansion is a DLC.

Also, I really doubt that Banks will be out for Christmas...

And it's a sure thing that there won't be a DLC coming with Kennedy. They never mentionned it, and they said in the previous diary what was Kennedy for.

 

[Space Wizards]

Sorry for the confusion.

I edited the original post. As long as there are any active Anchors, the Dimensional Portal cannot be destroyed.

Regarding the Unbidden, will there be any changes to what happens after they are defeated? I can't speak at all about the other two crises because the Unbidden are the only end game crises I've ever gotten, but I was all geared up and excited to begin colonizing the space that was going to be vacated by the Unbidden after destroying their portal back in my first game, only to see that the systems they had taken from neighboring empires were simply reverting to the control of the empires that initially had it.

Beyond that, on the matter of your actual "reward" for beating the Unbidden... Is there a possibility we could get something more tangible/interesting than a decaying bonus to other empires' opinions of you? A new and unique tech would be good.

Good changes. While you probably can't comment on it, I certainly hope you'll improve the precursor questlines a little bit, too. To be blunt, they kind of suck.

First and foremost, the rewards for most of them are really really bad. Cybrex is great: an abandoned ringworld, giving you access to Living Metal. It's a unique reward that, for a first-time player feels exciting, and for more experienced players has obvious benefits that they want. But the rest? You get a pittance of minerals, energy, and/or research point. They're a huge let-down. The quest line has such a big build-up, it's a shame to see the reward be so lame. Preferably, I'd like to see some unique tech, or something (something useful, better than mining lasers, please). Maybe throw me a nice gaia world. Something I can use. Something I can't generate on my own in a few months.

Secondly, the spawning mechanic is kind of annoying in practice. I appreciate the idea: a mad race for the reward. However, if I've just spent a couple hours of my game looking for anomalies, only for the special system to spawn on the other side of the galaxy, possibly where I can't even get to it because I'm blocked by other empires, or even to have another empire snipe all that work away from me just feels immensely terrible for the player, especially considering it's something that's largely out of their control.

On a related note, is it just me or do the precursor events seem more common in 1.3? Admittedly, I'm using a mod that doubles the rate of anomalies, but even still in the first 1.3 game I played I found seven (seven, not six!) precursor events within the first two decades or so of play. Even with a mod making events more common, it seemed crazy to me compared to my previous experiences.

 

[Guilliman88]

While you folks are looking at crisis events. Could I humbly request you find a way to scale them up/down?

Ideally, a crisis event should have their fleet numbers and/or spawn frequency scaled up or down on:
Galaxy size
Total galaxy population
Total galaxy fleet strength

To avoid one empire being entirely obliterated in a large galaxy, the spawn frequency could just be increased non-linearly.
Alternatively, in larger galaxies and galaxies with super powerful space empires, crisis events could have multiple portals or staging points.

I find crisis events are either really hard and fun unless you are unlucky and they spawn in your space. Or you and the rest of the galaxy far outmatch the crisis event fleets.

 

[smjjames]

Being able to actually complete the precursor chains is nice, but the rewards need to actually FEEL like rewards. Right now, the only one that is remotely rewarding is the Cybrex one, and even that one is rendered mostly moot if you have the Leviathans DLC because there's a chance at least one enclave system will be home to a destroyed ringworld which gives the exact same stuff.

 

[Netist]

Being able to actually complete the precursor chains is nice, but the rewards need to actually FEEL like rewards. Right now, the only one that is remotely rewarding is the Cybrex one, and even that one is rendered mostly moot if you have the Leviathans DLC because there's a chance at least one enclave system will be home to a destroyed ringworld which gives the exact same stuff.

I agree, but I don't think Leviathans discounts the utility of the Cybrex chain. They're both rare occurrences.

 

[Numar]

How about giving the Unbidden a malus when not in their own territory? That would make the timing and scouting for new anchors even more important while giving the player a better chance.

 

[WarGuy17]

Late game is still lagging here and there. Late game also is very boring for the most part unless wars and leviathons. Not a lot events happening like random occurrences and stuff

 

[Birdy123]

Do those Unbidden anchors also summon sector AI bugfixes?

 

[DesperGG]

Do those Unbidden anchors also summon sector AI bugfixes?

There will be a new toggle to activate sector AI bugfixes. Much like the current toggles however it's gonna be bugged and won't do anything. This feature will go live in February, stay tuned and be patient.

 

[si1foo]

precursor quest line is still impossible in my opinion it makes no sense that other empires can take those events from you and not be able to share or sell the information to you if you want to base this even of something then here go watch stare trek TNG season 6 episode 20 titled "The Chase" it is all about the tng game hunting down for a message from there creators basically and

i have yet to get more then 4 precursor artifacts

 

[DCyDe]

Fix MP maybe first?