Stellaris has gone a long way since 2016. Lots of various mechanics have been improved: economy, combat, diplomacy etc. Next highly anticipated step is overhaul of internal politics with improvements of factions, government, civics and so on. A lot of suggestions are concerned with the ideas of state religion/ideology and culture. Those ideas are interesting, but I think there should be a change in focus to unlock full potential of those ideas and the game as a whole.
Bring more attention to species of the Galaxy, make traits important and expand the species mechanics.
While over time Stelalris introduced a lot of changes concerning state, not much was changed in terms of species. In the current version of the game species don't play any major role. Different species have different portraits and are slightly better at different things, but that's it. If your entire species leaves the state and is replaced with entirely new species, not much would change. Just different portraits and bonus modifiers. Even ethics of new incomers are not really playing a role.
As a result aliens don't feel alien. They don't even feel unique. A thrifty molluscoid is easily interchangable with strong humanoid. If one leaves and other comes, the state of Hatyay Commonwealth would not even notice. If a a sedentary charismatic fungoid has to co-exsit with repugnant nomadic avian, there would be no reaction from the game. Species are just a biomass with no identity. The problem is pretty complex and there may be several alternative solutions.
It may be improved further.
Hopefully with those two proposals the process of creating and maintaining a multi-species state would feel harder and more challenging, but also more rewarding. Not only there would be some mechanical benefits of increased planetary stability, but also it would really feel like there are actual aliens within your borders. Events and situations related to multiple co-existing species would go a long way. However, it may be expanded even further.
Bring more attention to species of the Galaxy, make traits important and expand the species mechanics.
While over time Stelalris introduced a lot of changes concerning state, not much was changed in terms of species. In the current version of the game species don't play any major role. Different species have different portraits and are slightly better at different things, but that's it. If your entire species leaves the state and is replaced with entirely new species, not much would change. Just different portraits and bonus modifiers. Even ethics of new incomers are not really playing a role.
As a result aliens don't feel alien. They don't even feel unique. A thrifty molluscoid is easily interchangable with strong humanoid. If one leaves and other comes, the state of Hatyay Commonwealth would not even notice. If a a sedentary charismatic fungoid has to co-exsit with repugnant nomadic avian, there would be no reaction from the game. Species are just a biomass with no identity. The problem is pretty complex and there may be several alternative solutions.
Imagine if you have a charismatic, sedentary fungoid race living on some planet. Through resettlement or immigration the repugnant nomadic avians now live on the same planet. Those two species would probably be shocked by each other and have a difficult time co-existing and adjusting. Of course there are many modifiers at play, like state ethics, individual ethics of aliens, species rights and so on. The main point is that there would be some sort of shock for the planet. There would likely be tensions.
The proposal is to introduce something like "stellar shock". It is an already existing mechanic given to uplifted primitives. For quite some time those uplifted aliens have reduced happiness because of how shocked and unadjusted they are to a new world. In the case of fungoid and avians, both species would also have reduced happiness.
The proposal is to introduce something like "stellar shock". It is an already existing mechanic given to uplifted primitives. For quite some time those uplifted aliens have reduced happiness because of how shocked and unadjusted they are to a new world. In the case of fungoid and avians, both species would also have reduced happiness.
- From the moment the first alien arrives and for the next 10-20 years, the happiness of species (and planetary stability) is reduced.
- After species adjust, stability returns to normal.
- Each planet goes through this process individiually.
It may be improved further.
Same as above, but with more calculations.
- State xenophobia as well as local xenophobia would increase the duration and negative effects of "stellar shock".
- Stellar shock would lead to a slight increase of overall state xenophobia attraction.
- Xenophilia would do the opposite and would even slightly improve happiness and planetary stability from several species living together.
- Then the co-existing aliens would lead to an increased state xenophilia, just as now. Currently it feels unearned without the process of adjustment.
- Special events or situations related to two species adjusting and eventually co-existing with each other.
- If some species has co-existed with other species before elsewhere (most likely nomads), it would have an easier time adjusting to a new species.
- Large multi-species states would also have more experience with co-existing aliens compared to a mono-species state.
- Similar traits between species would make the process of adjusting easier. Opposite traits would make it harder.
- If the planet already has multiple species and a new one is introduced, the stellar shock is calculated based on primary species, but is reduced even more.
- Genetic engineering would have a limited effect. You can't just add some trait and expect stellar shock to be gone.
Hopefully with those two proposals the process of creating and maintaining a multi-species state would feel harder and more challenging, but also more rewarding. Not only there would be some mechanical benefits of increased planetary stability, but also it would really feel like there are actual aliens within your borders. Events and situations related to multiple co-existing species would go a long way. However, it may be expanded even further.
Each species is generated with its own culture. For example, Hatyay fungoids are generated with "Hatyay culture" and every Hatyay would share it. The culture is based on traits, not ethics or civics. It is a way each Hatyay behaves, regardless of the place or state they live in. A communal species would stay communal both in egalitarian spiritualist democracy and autocratic xenophobic dictatorship.
After resettlement or immigration a planet may be inhabited by several different species, meaning several different cultures. This would result in a similar species cohesion mehanic proposed above with Stellaris calculating how compatible two cultures are and then calculating the stellar shock. The main difference here is that there would be consequences for the state as a whole. With Alien cultures mechanic it would be possible to calculate cohesion not just on planetary, but also on the state level.
For example, if avian nomads are settling on several fungoid planets at once and the proportion of avian culture compared to fungoid one is rapidly increasing, it may lead to global events, decisions and situations. For example, the xenophobic faction may demand to make avians undesirables or alternatively the xenophile faction would push hard to keep avians in. In a less conflict-oriented way, multiple co-existing cultures may result in global festivals increasing unity production and improving diplomatic relations with primary avian state.
After resettlement or immigration a planet may be inhabited by several different species, meaning several different cultures. This would result in a similar species cohesion mehanic proposed above with Stellaris calculating how compatible two cultures are and then calculating the stellar shock. The main difference here is that there would be consequences for the state as a whole. With Alien cultures mechanic it would be possible to calculate cohesion not just on planetary, but also on the state level.
For example, if avian nomads are settling on several fungoid planets at once and the proportion of avian culture compared to fungoid one is rapidly increasing, it may lead to global events, decisions and situations. For example, the xenophobic faction may demand to make avians undesirables or alternatively the xenophile faction would push hard to keep avians in. In a less conflict-oriented way, multiple co-existing cultures may result in global festivals increasing unity production and improving diplomatic relations with primary avian state.
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