Age of Wonders: Planetfall - Faction Spotlight: Kir'Ko

[Damkac]

Where are those title screens?

 

[Fenraellis]

I have some of them at the top of the following post:
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...am-random-observations.1118381/#post-24643779

On a side note, it appears that quite a few of the image links broke, which is awkward. Either way, they were just screen captures from the live stream. Game Setup screens were lost, and Vanguard and Kir'Ko faction summaries seem to have gone missing, too. Based on the recent Kir'Ko video, it was out of date by now, though, and would be missing some information.
The missing picture under the Perks section was just the list of Backgrounds, so no real loss, as it had the same list as the Commander Customization Dev Diary.

 

[BloodyBattleBrain]

So much speculation. ☺☺

Triumph must be enjoying this discussion.

 

[Tomipapa]

@Tomipapa , slight correction, the icon you posted was for the Celestian Secret Tech. The named technologies you're referencing are for a Secret Tech with a currently unknown name, ending in "sis".

Personally, if you wanted to link them, I would consider this bracketing of key identifiers: (again, personally)
Promethean: primarily Mechanical(two/three of the three/four units), Thermal, AoE damage, and to a lesser extent, raw defenses(anti-Thermal in particular)
-- Thematic links:
Primary:
- Vanguard: primarily Mechanical, Thermal(Laser Weapon Tech), durability from raw defense stats(health/armor)
- Dvar: primarily Mechanical(implied), AoE damage, durability from raw defense stats(health/armor)
Secondary:
- Assembly: primarily Cyborg(similar to Mechanical), unknown damage application propensity, durability possibly from raw defense stats(armor/shields)
Tertiary:
- the remaining three have poor thematic connection, and possibly poor unit mod synergy, aside from the Purifier, if their non-weapon-tech mods are primarily/exclusively Bio and Bio/Cyborg.

We can't really do an accurate detailed analysis, such that the above even counted as one, of the remaining ones, but:
Xenoplague: Biochemical, Biological
-- Thematic links:
- Kir'Ko: Biochemical, Biological, Evolution(arguably)
- Amazon: Biochemical, Biological, Genetic manipulation(also arguably)
Secondary:
- Syndicate: Biological, and possibly matching some unknown identifier for Xenoplague
- Assembly: Cyborg(it's notable that many Biological unit mods also have the tag for Cyborg, and the reverse might be true as well, or perhaps some Cyborg mods directly from Assembly are Biological, and some are Mechanical in concept), and again possibly matching currently unknown identifiers
Tertiary:
- Vanguard and Dvar have limited thematic synergy, and possibly limited unit mod synergy in some cases, although it didn't seem that Vanguard had a lot of Mech-only mods.

Psynumbra: The only thing we really know is Psionics are extremely likely, giving them a conceptual link with both Kir'Ko and Syndicate. Their units might count as Biological.

VoidTech: We only know of some unit mod names, and a weapon that deals Kinetic damage. Conceptually, I consider both Vanguard and Assembly reasonably evenly for thematic link, but that's just a personal thought on what VoidTech might be, and is entirely unfounded.

Celestian: Entirely unknown aside from the symbol. No real conclusions to be drawn.

Name ending in "sis": Military techs appear to be associated with information regulation, with a modest technological bent. The two closest factions, for different thematic reasons, would appear to be Assembly and Syndicate.

First of all ty for the correction, i mixed those two badly ! This is a nice explanation about the possible combinations, and more of a gameplay wise possibility considering what those races use as primary/secondary weapons, while i talked about aesthetic or lore wise combinations. I don't think the 6 race/6 secret tech is just a coincidence, just as i don't think the way they showed us the vanguards with the promethean tech should be considered one. The Star Union used the Promethean divisions as an elite cleaning brigade, and probably they were part of the military branch just like the Vanguards. So it is very likely that these two fought besides each other in some occasion. The Kir'ko were busy being enslaved that time so probably the only connection they had with the Prometheans was being on the wrong side of the flamethrower. Neither the Dvar nor the Amazon sounds like the planet burning sort, just as the Syndicate would not do such thing as burned planets means no slaves/resources and those bad for bussines. You can make any combination you want, but lore and aesthetic wise the Vanguard has the stronges bond with the Promethean technology. Just as in AoW 3 you could make an elf dreadnought, but lore wise, it was a human thing. And i think the other 5 races also have their connections with one the secret techs. Ther Xenoplague/Kir'ko is quite obvious especially since the Kir'ko themselves should be considered as xenomorphs. The Syndicate with tech ending "sis" as this seems to be the perfect one for a diplomat/trader/slaver race.

 

[Tomipapa]

So much speculation. ☺☺

Triumph must be enjoying this discussion.

Yes, just like in the AoW 3 days when we speculated about how the draconians will look or do the goblins really have their exalteds with angelic wings. There were some heated debates(hello elven dreadnought ) but overally it was much fun

 

[Tombles]

Just as in AoW 3 you could make an elf dreadnought, but lore wise, it was a human thing.

It wasn't a human thing, it was a goblin thing. All of them were originally invented by goblins, in fact. The other races just stole it all then acted like the Goblins were the bad guys to hide the fact.

Merlin was actually a goblin who wore stilts and put on a false beard because it was the only way the other, bigoted races would take him seriously.

 

[BloodyBattleBrain]

It wasn't a human thing, it was a goblin thing. All of them were originally invented by goblins, in fact. The other races just stole it all then acted like the Goblins were the bad guys to hide the fact.

Merlin was actually a goblin who wore stilts and put on a false beard because it was the only way the other, bigoted races would take him seriously.

Sounds like the Tri-umph propaganda after they beat the Bi-Thuds...

 

[Dr_K]

Merlin was actually a goblin who wore stilts and put on a false beard because it was the only way the other, bigoted races would take him seriously.

I always thought he was one of those very short, hyper-intelligent kharagh in human garb

 

[mr_stibbons]

So, on the topic of the thread, how many Kir'ko units are, in lore, sentient and sapient? All the techs are named as "X caste", implying that all the unit types are genetically Kir'ko, but normal kir'ko, like frenzied and hidden, are sentient individuals. They get to be heroes, after all. But what about the other, more monstrous units? Are Tormented capable of holding a conversation? Are ravenous?

 

[The Masked Man]

So, on the topic of the thread, how many Kir'ko units are, in lore, sentient and sapient? All the techs are named as "X caste", implying that all the unit types are genetically Kir'ko, but normal kir'ko, like frenzied and hidden, are sentient individuals. They get to be heroes, after all. But what about the other, more monstrous units? Are Tormented capable of holding a conversation? Are ravenous?

That’s a really good question and I second your interest, how intelligent are the individual Kir’ko Castes? We can presume all of them come from larva, but say, is it a tree? Like, Larva->Warrior->Ravenous->Etc

Or is it a choice, and different larva evolve into completely seperate kinds depending on hives needs? How sapient are they, can a frenzied hold a conversation with a ravenous? So on and so forth. How is that life cycle?

 

[Tomipapa]

Merlin was actually a goblin who wore stilts and put on a false beard because it was the only way the other, bigoted races would take him seriously.

So Julia fall in love with a goblin. Yeah, that is sound as just what an elf would do

 

[Tomipapa]

That’s a really good question and I second your interest, how intelligent are the individual Kir’ko Castes? We can presume all of them come from larva, but say, is it a tree? Like, Larva->Warrior->Ravenous->Etc

Or is it a choice, and different larva evolve into completely seperate kinds depending on hives needs? How sapient are they, can a frenzied hold a conversation with a ravenous? So on and so forth. How is that life cycle?

Since the Hive mind has been "gone", they probably more sentinent than before, but not sure if most of them could hold a decent conversation at a tea party. Since larvas should be considrered the lowest in the caste i'm sure they have zero influence about their own evolution. Pretty much what the hive needs.

 

[Tombles]

So, on the topic of the thread, how many Kir'ko units are, in lore, sentient and sapient? All the techs are named as "X caste", implying that all the unit types are genetically Kir'ko, but normal kir'ko, like frenzied and hidden, are sentient individuals. They get to be heroes, after all. But what about the other, more monstrous units? Are Tormented capable of holding a conversation? Are ravenous?

I've passed this question on! Hopefully this will get answered in the Kir'ko dev journal

 

[Liberty_Valance]

Tech Choices! Could we get the option to bring back the Hive Queen??? Like a moving, fighting city! or just an impressive T5!

We could then see epic boss fights!

 

[The Masked Man]

I feel like Queens will be the Kir’ko T4. Make armies on the fly for that swarm mechanic and maybe some monstrous psychic powers?

 

[HousePet]

The intelligence level of the individual Kir'ko would depend on their history since the hive mind was destroyed. There are two possible routes for the Star Union to utilise them in a post hive mind state which would change how things are now.

First option: Treat them as really dumb slaves.
This one would take a while and be relatively cheap compared to the other option (but why am I even considering costs here?). Training and selective breeding will eventually increase the individual intelligence of each Kir'ko as being smarter is more useful. After the collapse of the Star Union, they are better prepared to fend for themselves.

Second option: Use some sort of device to produce a hive mind like guidance to nearby Kir'ko.
Quicker if you have studied them enough and more costly, but you can then keep them under control pretty easily. With something else supplying the intelligence for them, they wouldn't evolve increased individual intelligence. However after the collapse of the Star Union, they will be left in a worse state than the other option. But it appears that they have evolved a caste which can replace the Star Union controllers.

 

[BBShockwave]

So, one thing I was wondering about, are these special techs free to choose for any faction?
Because I think the Kir'ko would look weird using Promethean tech... which includes human flamethrowers, and mechanical tanks and mechs, when all their units are biological.
Or similar to Age of Wonders 3, will these special units change per faction?

That’s a really good question and I second your interest, how intelligent are the individual Kir’ko Castes? We can presume all of them come from larva, but say, is it a tree? Like, Larva->Warrior->Ravenous->Etc

Or is it a choice, and different larva evolve into completely seperate kinds depending on hives needs? How sapient are they, can a frenzied hold a conversation with a ravenous? So on and so forth. How is that life cycle?

From the info I got from unit description, to me it seems only the higher forms are intelligent, like the sniper-like units (who are basically immature queens) and the psychic floater. I think the frenzied, ravenous and tormented are just drones that do as they are told - since they became apathetic and let humans control them after the federation lobotomized the old queens.

 

[HousePet]

Any tech is supposed to be allowed for any faction.
We seem to be assuming that the Promethean units we have seen are the only possible appearance of them, which given that AoW3 changed the class units based on race, this seems unfounded.

 

[mr_stibbons]

From the info I got from unit description, to me it seems only the higher forms are intelligent, like the sniper-like units (who are basically immature queens) and the psychic floater. I think the frenzied, ravenous and tormented are just drones that do as they are told - since they became apathetic and let humans control them after the federation lobotomized the old queens.

The frenzied unit description has a random captured frenzied give a somewhat coherent summary of Kir'ko history, why he wants to fight, and how it fights. They defiantly aren't mindless drones, though they may not be well educated.

 

[BloodyBattleBrain]

I feel like Queens will be the Kir’ko T4. Make armies on the fly for that swarm mechanic and maybe some monstrous psychic powers?

Would be very fitting.

are these special techs free to choose for any faction?
Because I think the Kir'ko would look weird using Promethean tech.

What HousePet said is correct.

However tech is less prominent than class was in aow3, so in theory visual etc compatibility is less of an issue.


I'm also looking forward to seeing how the more diverse factions interact with the techs.

I mean I can see how xenoplague and Vanguard fit (iirc we've seen at least one unit from this combo, using the symbiotic parasite mod) so maybe Promethean tech simply gives Kir'ko ravagers flamethrowing abilities?