brain slugs [Distant Stars SPOILER]

[atnexus]

So I had a really interesting event happen where my survey ships found brain slugs that can form symbiotic relationships with sentient organisms and enhance their host's mental abilities. I allowed my scientist to research them and now some of my leaders appear with a "Brain Slug Host" trait. And it is AMAZING. See for yourself:

https://i.imgur.com/dDxzOSw.jpg

The traits shown are for Ruler, Governor, Scientist, Admiral and General in that order. The only thing I couldn't do was to allow the slugs to bond with my population at large, because my species are xenophobic, so I don't know what effect it could've had on the pops. I am curious what terrible fate I avoided or that may still await me in the future, because these traits are just too good to not have a downside.

 

[ranma100]

Sounds like you are letting the Gould from Stargate take over.

 

[Miesha]

I tried to give my entire species that brain slug and it just vanished completely. I still have scientists with the slugs in them, but I dunno how long that'll stick around for.

 

[Dan_Daniel2000]

In my case, I got 3 Pops with the brain slug trait. Slows Pop growth, but increases science and unity yields.

 

[Ezumiyr]

I got slugs on about 20-25 pops of the different species within my empire. Since they insisted to only be "given" to willing pops I accepted that.
It's probably worth mentionning that not all leaders get the trait.

No downside yet. Not sure exactly how much time passed, but I had the event while I was exploring the other side of the galaxy and now I explored everything, starting to explore the L Cluster, so probably something like 40 years.

 

[Ex Mudder]

Sounds like you are letting the Gould from Stargate take over.

I thought they were Star Trek's Trill...

Anyone tried this as a Xenophobe? The slug hosts are a subspecies of your race, and both grow at different rates. +10% Unity, Yum

I wonder if there is a Goa'uld style outcome of this event.

 

[atnexus]

I thought they were Star Trek's Trill...

Anyone tried this as a Xenophobe? The slug hosts are a subspecies of your race, and both grow at different rates. +10% Unity, Yum

I wonder if there is a Goa'uld style outcome of this event.

I did it as a xenophobe, the only difference from what I can tell is that when you get to the choice of whether to make the slugs available to your population you only have the option of keeping them secret, so none of your pops ever get it. But your leaders can and do get the slugs.

 

[misiceman]

I thought they were Star Trek's Trill...

Anyone tried this as a Xenophobe? The slug hosts are a subspecies of your race, and both grow at different rates. +10% Unity, Yum

I wonder if there is a Goa'uld style outcome of this event.

To be fair a bunch of different Sci-fi shows did it from Star trek (Trill and the damn insect things from season 1 of TNG), to B5 (season 3 i think and very close to this with the whole only those who are willing) , Stargate (also close with the Tok'ra), and even others.

 

[Keioel]

Even as a Xeno though despite hiding this from the population you can recruit slugged leaders.

 

[atnexus]

Update to the Brain Slug saga. Apparently the traits are actually non-functional. As in, none of them (with one small exception) actually provide the bonuses they claim to offer. See the link below for the bug report and also go in and bump that thread. We want our Brain Slugs without bugs!

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...doesnt-give-research-bonus-v2-1-01a9.1099978/

 

[WotanAnubis]

Update to the Brain Slug saga. Apparently the traits are actually non-functional. As in, none of them (with one small exception) actually provide the bonuses they claim to offer. See the link below for the bug report and also go in and bump that thread. We want our Brain Slugs without bugs!

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...doesnt-give-research-bonus-v2-1-01a9.1099978/

Aww, boo. I loved turning my species into the Trill (I'm an optimist, I only considered they might be Goa'uld after the whole event was over).

Hope they get it fixed soon, or else I'll just have to keep doing it solely for roleplaying reasons.

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

What's worse- Goa'uld brainslugs, or Yeerk brainslugs?

 

[zombiak]

Apparently the traits are actually non-functional. As in, none of them (with one small exception) actually provide the bonuses they claim to offer.

Actually, it would be cool if this was by design .. Since the slugs make you THINK that you're smarter, more productive etc. while all they do is hamper your development slightly. A bit convoluted and meta-gamey and almost 100% not the case but sounds cool to me the game screwing with the players a bit (where it actually makes sense)

 

[atnexus]

Actually, it would be cool if this was by design .. Since the slugs make you THINK that you're smarter, more productive etc. while all they do is hamper your development slightly. A bit convoluted and meta-gamey and almost 100% not the case but sounds cool to me the game screwing with the players a bit (where it actually makes sense)

I would almost believe tbat was true, except that the governors with this trait actually do boost tile research output, so one out of all the bonuses works as described. Of course the fact that it works could be a bug...

 

[zombiak]

The event should be renamed 'brainbugs' and left as-is to keep us guessing what the hell is actually happening.

(nah, it's bugged)

 

[Lasagna Star Empire]

the downside is that the Trait does not work properly:
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/brain-slug-bug.1100084/

 

[semaphore]

Update to the Brain Slug saga. Apparently the traits are actually non-functional. As in, none of them (with one small exception) actually provide the bonuses they claim to offer. See the link below for the bug report and also go in and bump that thread. We want our Brain Slugs without bugs!

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...doesnt-give-research-bonus-v2-1-01a9.1099978/

Brain parasites tricking you into becoming their slaves with false promises of performance boosts?

Seems working as intended to me!

 

[vnosikov]

The only downside that I have noticed by letting them use my species as hosts is a temporary unrest boost (fear of slugs). I was not xenophobic.
Sad that it doesn't work. Anyway accept their offer was a bad idea from my RP perspective, I just couldn't help myself and see what will happen

 

[Jean-Luc]

Actually, it would be cool if this was by design .. Since the slugs make you THINK that you're smarter, more productive etc. while all they do is hamper your development slightly.

Looks worse than -15% exp gain to be honest.

 

[Vladisi]

The slugs also dissappear from POPs if you go cyborg, but the leaders keep theirs. Kinda feel bad about apparently wiping out an entire species with cybernetics.