Ascension Perk Elimination

[Enska]

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Mastery of Nature: 2
Technological Ascendancy: 23 (+1)
Transcendent Learning: 9 (-2)
Voidborne: 19
Galactic Force Projection: 19
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 11
Defender of the Galaxy: 4
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 12
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 20

Benefits of transcendent learning are too easy to obtain elsewhere.

Technological ascendancy is quite solid pick when other choices seem doubtful.

Note: This is not an intentional reversal of the previous entry, its just how I see things.

 

[Thallori]

New
Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Mastery of Nature: 0 (-2)
Technological Ascendancy: 24 (+1)
Transcendent Learning: 9
Voidborne: 19
Galactic Force Projection: 19
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 11
Defender of the Galaxy: 4
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 12
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 20

Killing Mastery of Nature because I have a soapbox to stand on. The first iteration of that perk was way overpowered if you treated the game like an RTS, being the equivalent of 8+ free society techs (that you are definitely going to research anyways), thousands of energy in the early game, and lots of freed up build time. If the old perk instead said, "gain 15 years of research points and never be waiting for your planets to be doing something ever again," it would probably have had a lot more good publicity, but these days.. Eh. I went from always taking it first to never taking it. +1-3 random tiles on a planet just isn't good enough for the cost of 100 influence and it adds to the kind of micro I already dislike doing. I'd much rather be building habitats with voidborn, even if it takes so many more minerals.

Blue for tech ascendancy because it's probably nicer on red-green colourblind folk.

 

[Silens]

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 24
Transcendent Learning: 9
Voidborne: 19
Galactic Force Projection: 19
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 12 (+1)
Defender of the Galaxy: 2 (-2)
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 12
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 20

While DotG is mostly a very situational perk for desperate empires, I'm sticking with the Colossus for its usefulness. As soon as I can declare the TW CB, my empire usually makes great progress in terms of active edicts, territory held and fleet power (resulting from the raise in resource income). It takes off a major limiting factor in warfare and allows me to spend my influence on other things than claims.

 

[Maverikfreak]

My 4th vote, this time im going to repeat in one category since many ascensions are already eliminated.

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 24
Transcendent Learning: 9
Voidborne: 19
Galactic Force Projection: 19
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 10 (-2)
Defender of the Galaxy: 3 (+1)
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 12
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 20

I already speak about what I think about Colossus project, Defender of the galaxy maybe its not always a must but usualy the crisis are the final step of your games, the last real challenge, so a buff to defeat them helps in your way to win the game.

 

[Silens]

My 4th vote, this time im going to repeat in one category since many ascensions are already eliminated.
I already speak about what I think about Colossus project, Defender of the galaxy maybe its not always a must but usualy the crisis are the final step of your games, the last real challenge, so a buff to defeat them helps in your way to win the game.

So you think that - in terms of usefulness - DotG (bonus-dmg against a one-time-event), Transcendent Learning, Machine Worlds (very situational) or Master Builders is better than the ability to take over territory free of influence costs? Really? It's hard to believe.

 

[Atreides]

Day 4

Still trying to vote for a different item each time, but they may end soon. Relevant choices are starting to get sparse.

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 24
Transcendent Learning: 7 (-2)
Voidborne: 20 (+1)
Galactic Force Projection: 19
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 10 (-2)
Defender of the Galaxy: 3 (+1)
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 12
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 20

There are a number of different combinations that will achieve the Level 10 cap without even using Transcendent Learning. Ergo, it is a really poorly designed Ascension Perk.

Habitats are great for what they do, so Voidborne is a solid choice and deserves at least a modicum of support.

 

[bunkerman]

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 24
Transcendent Learning: 7
Voidborne: 21 (+1)
Galactic Force Projection: 19
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 10
Defender of the Galaxy: 1 (-2)
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 12
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 20

mastery of nature died before defender of the galaxy too what a sad day please someone finish off defender before it somehow sneaks even higher despite how useless it is

 

[Maverikfreak]

So you think that - in terms of usefulness - DotG (bonus-dmg against a one-time-event), Transcendent Learning, Machine Worlds (very situational) or Master Builders is better than the ability to take over territory free of influence costs? Really? It's hard to believe.

I do not think it's the best perk of all those, but I do not think it deserves to be eliminated right now, that's why I'm supporting it.

But yes, I think it's very useful, that event you're talking about is the barrier between winning and losing the game, it's going to happen always and once you get over it, you've probably already won. So I consider it determinate.

In my victorious games I never need the colossus project (But admit that they have been few because I find it boring to continue playing when I know I am the #1 power, who usually happen when I defeat the crisis)

 

[Spartakus]

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 24
Transcendent Learning: 5 (-2)
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 19
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 10
Defender of the Galaxy: 2 (+1)
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 12
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 20

Well, then I'll grasp what's propably my last chance to vote for Defenders of the Galaxy. To me it's roleplaying potential alone is worth it.
Leader mechanics never clicked with me, so there's my downvote today.

 

[Zohtun]

3rd post

New
Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 24
Transcendent Learning: 5
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 19
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 11 (+1)
Defender of the Galaxy: 0 (-2) (ELIMINATED)
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 12
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 20

Eliminating DotG before it gets rescued from the scrappy pile. While it's good at what it does, what it does is a bonus against the end-game crisis and a minor bonus to opinion.

Defender of the Galaxy: Eliminated.

Honestly, it'd be a significantly more useful ability if it was fused with its fellow perk to affect ascended, fallen, crisis and small opinion bonus. But as it is I have only used it twice and one of those times was as a joke in a massive roleplay session with a friend of mine.

Propping up my favourite total-war CB perk. Also for bonus points, I love to use things like neutron sweep to clear off the planets of Fallen Empires. Their troops are tough and it can save a lot of army power to not have to manually crush them. Re-colonising them afterward isn't hard, especially since their buildings are RIGHT THERE for you to steal with your newly grown (or migrating) pops.

 

[WhapXI]

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 24
Transcendent Learning: 5
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 17
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 11
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 13
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 20

Of those remaining, I'm kind of torn. I more or less like most of these perks. I actually like Transcendent Learning. It frees me up to use better gene-traits and civics.

And on the subject of gene-traits, I like bio-asc. If you're authoritarian or a slaver or something it really is very good to maintain order. If you're a fan of the "every tile on this planet is now a mine" then the micro is negligible. I tend to make a habitat species of research and energy producers and a terrestrial species of farmers and miners. Good stuff.

GFP is good early on but the bonus really doesn't stay relevant into the mid and late game. I've never found GFP necessary to defeat or defend from an opponent. As I said earlier in the thread, I tend to find that upkeep is more prohibitive to making a large enough navy than naval cap.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 24
Transcendent Learning: 3
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 17
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 18
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 11
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 13
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 21


There are loads of ways to get leader levels, even up to 10, without needing to burn a perk on it.

Psionic ascension is the cheapest to unlock (requires only one tier 3 tech which isn't even rare for spiritualists), the pop bonuses are immediate, and only has one special project which doesn't scale with empire size. It can match Synthetic* for minerals without Instrument of Desire and smoke every other build with it. And you get the best ships and the best admiral trait, it's the best at unity for pumping out ambitions and autogenerates a large happy faction for influence, which you naturally get more of from your ruler as well.


*Synthetic is not as good as you think for overall resources. They destroy everyone for science because of natural synergy with fanatic materialist, but doesn't get the gargantuan slavery bonus to minerals and is only about even for energy. That and it has the most requirements to unlock, needing three techs, a tier 2 and two tier 4s, and two special projects which scale with empire size to become synths at all, then a third to actually put any trait specialisation on them.

 

[sortulv]

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 24
Transcendent Learning: 3
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 17
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 19 (+1)
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 11
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 11 (-2)
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 21

Biological ascension feels like a good way to waste research, modifying species feels too expensive for what you get. Master builder... Well, it is just that good

Synthetic ascension would actually gain by not being merged into a single perk for this list - the flesh is weak is often more useful than going full synth.

 

[Badesumofu]

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 22 (-2)
Transcendent Learning: 3
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 17
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 19
World Shaper: 20
Colossus Project: 12 (+1)
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 11
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 21

Boosting Total War again.

I’ll downvote Tech Ascendancy because it just doesn’t help that much to win the game. Interstellar Dominion has it beaten easily as a first pick. 10% isn’t really that significant - by crisis time it might mean you have one more level of repeatables. It doesn’t help you to become stronger than your neighbors so you can conquer them, or at least it doesn’t help anywhere close to as much as ID. It is probably the most over-valued perk in the game.

 

[Yeekim]

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 23 (+1)
Transcendent Learning: 3
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 17
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 19
World Shaper: 19 (-1)
Colossus Project: 12
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 11
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 21

Tech Ascendancy is a solid first pick.
Terraforming... nah. I'll rather biomod my species.

 

[evilcat]

It is +1/-2 (reminder)

Executive Vigor: 20
Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 23
Transcendent Learning: 3
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 17
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 17
World Shaper: 18
Colossus Project: 13
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 11
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 21

The best war is Total War

Master builder is only that good as Galactic Wonders.

 

[Badesumofu]

You don’t take world shaper for the habitability, it’s for the multiplicative bonus to pop production.

 

[Silens]

Tech Ascendancy is a solid first pick.
Terraforming... nah. I'll rather biomod my species.

We subtract two points, not one. I fixed it for you.

Here is the correct list:

Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 23
Transcendent Learning: 3
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 17
Machine Worlds: 11
Master Builders: 17
World Shaper: 18
Colossus Project: 13
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 11
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 21

 

[Doctor Bones]

Interstellar Dominion: 28
Technological Ascendancy: 23
Transcendent Learning: 3
Voidborne: 21
Galactic Force Projection: 17
Machine Worlds: 9 (-2)
Master Builders: 17
World Shaper: 18
Colossus Project: 14 (+1)
Galactic Wonders: 18
Biological Ascension (Engineered Evolution + Evolutionary Mastery): 11
Synthetic Ascension (The Flesh is Weak + Synthetic Evolution): 23
Psionic Ascension (Mind over Matter + Transcendence): 21

Never really seen why terraforming is that great. It uses too many resources which you can use elsewhere. The fact that it uses energy makes it partly better though I never seem to use this enough for it to be worth it.

 

[Yeekim]

We subtract two points, not one. I fixed it for you.

Sorry, short-circuit in brain.
Thanks!