Fallen Empires: Make them "look" unique!

[xsubtownerx]

First off, I really like the concept of the fallen empires in Stellaris. I think it's a clever way to keep the game balanced and challenging throughout your playthrough. Knowing that there's something "there" to keep you on your toes when you think you've become too powerful is wonderful.

With that being said, I really think that fallen empires should have their own pool of unique portraits to give them a little bit more flare. It seems odd that they would randomly generate from the "standard" portraits seeing as how they are suppose to be powerful and unique right from the start, and unlike any other AI empire you come across. It would also make the first contact with them a little less confusing (reference from the last Blorg Stream).

Anyways, just an idea.

 

[ahhheygao]

They already have unique ship models and the unique "Stagnant Ascendancy" government form. That Overhwelming relative power stands out, too.

Your suggestion of giving them "unique" species portrait doesn't make things any less obvious unless the player memorized all of the "generic" species portraits by heart. If PDS actually wants to add more species portraits, then I'd much rather they be available to everyone.

Now, if you really want them to stand out right away, then just give them some glowing aura--that'd be obvious enough to anyone.

 

[sethfc]

I do agree, afew unique portraits would be nice flavour.

 

[Robhol]

If you give them unique portraits people will just complain that they can't use them themselves. Maybe more unique clothing or backgrounds could be nice though.

 

[Abayonett]

I do agree, afew unique portraits would be nice flavour.

It would kill variety, the great thing about stellaris are all the randomly generated species with different looks and combinations of traits and ethos.

 

[_Sky_]

Well,,I see possible problems in giving them special species portrait, but ,,,I do agree that they should look somehow special,,,,,maybe at least that window of theirs and room where they present themselves. Yeah that would do!!!! If they would have some special surrounding to their portrait player should immediately recognize that something is VERY different..

 

[xsubtownerx]

If you give them unique portraits people will just complain that they can't use them themselves. Maybe more unique clothing or backgrounds could be nice though.

Yeah people complain for the sake of complaining that is true. I could live with unique clothing and/or backgrounds. But then again, people might complain about that too...

It would kill variety, the great thing about stellaris are all the randomly generated species with different looks and combinations of traits and ethos.

No, it wouldn't "kill" variety if Fallen Empires had a pool of say, 8-10 unique portraits. If anything it would add variety. Also, how stupid would it be if the Fallen Empire generates the human portrait? Unless they programmed it not to.

 

[_Sky_]

Yeah people complain for the sake of complaining that is true. I could live with unique clothing and/or backgrounds. But then again, people might complain about that too...

Unless they programmed it not to.

unique clothing and/or backgrounds <----------------THIS could work,,,very well.

 

[Smiles_]

They functionally just need cooler backgrounds, to make them look more advanced and overwhelming. Or maybe a gold trimmed window and some sunglasses meme. Or maybe just a gold trimmed window.


Smiles

 

[CocoCincinnati]

There was a good discussion about this a week back and the consensus was to have a unique city background for each FE ethos. It shouldn't be too far down but I don't have time to search for it right now.

 

[SgtSmuckers]

So can Hoomans be a Fallen Empire if the Species portraits aren't locked on a selected number of portraits?

 

[Nyrael]

I highly dislike the idea of giving them unique portraits.
Instead, I prefer an older suggestion: the window background showing their cities should be something extremely futuristic and epic.

 

[nitroholic]

Having a small set of epic/mythic looking Fallen Empire portraits sounds good in theory, but it would definitely kill the variety. Like others have mentioned, I'd rather unique portrait elements - dependent on government type - that enhance the existing portraits. Some examples:

• City backgrounds
• Clothes/armor/headgear
• Psychic glow around body, eyes, or hands
• Transhuman/cybernetic upgrades
• Unique power armor/weapons
• Accessories (floating datapads, pets)

 

[Alexander Seil]

I would say a custom city background would be nice, especially something really dark, foreboding and space-based for the ring-world dwellers.

 

[Beric]

I would say a custom city background would be nice, especially something really dark, foreboding and space-based for the ring-world dwellers.

Agreed. Just some visual way to indicate that their power and technology has developed far beyond our understanding.

 

[schultz]

I would say a custom city background would be nice, especially something really dark, foreboding and space-based for the ring-world dwellers.

Los Angeles from Blade Runner immediately comes to mind. Dark all the time because of the cloud cover. Very depressing.

 

[KonradKurze202]

Also, how stupid would it be if the Fallen Empire generates the human portrait? Unless they programmed it not to.

It wouldn't be stupid, it would be awesome. If there is some chance that one of the Fallen Empires in your galaxy is the remnants of a Human Empire that would be incredible.

 

[Brian Bóroimhe]

It wouldn't be stupid, it would be awesome. If there is some chance that one of the Fallen Empires in your galaxy is the remnants of a Human Empire that would be incredible.

Yeah. that would be brilliant actually. With the capital at Sol
So long as they were blocked from spawning if you were playing as humans yourself
Actually, I was thinking that, but fuck it, even if you're playing as humans, if you find a human fallen empire I guess you just have to RP it that they were the progenitors who seeded earth with the building blocks of life, made they seeded a bunch of places and we were the only ones who evolved on the same path as them? Or maybe they see us as an abomination and wipe us out when we come to close to eclipsing them.

 

[corny.1234]

I do agree, afew unique portraits would be nice flavour.

One of the main concepte of the game is to have a random galaxy. Having unique portraits for fallen empires would go against it. The next step would be to give every portrait an unique personality and we're back to the standard 4x games...