Religion in stellaris? pls :D

[spendabuck]

While religion would be cool in Stellaris, the problem (which some people have already mentioned) is coming up with religions for aliens. Humans on one hand could simply use real world religions; Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc. However, it would be harder to come up with religions for aliens; you could either come up with set religions for aliens (while not bad, not very diverse either), or have randomly generated religions (which would probably be too time consuming to code and would probably not even play well tbh).

 

[PhoenixDown]

The No-God? Aw dude, I just a great idea on how to fuck with a pre-industrial civilization!
It's Inchoroi time Ewoks!

Imperial Truth must be brought to all worlds of mankind. Peacefully or if necessary by force. Xenos do not apply.

Spoiler

The Emperor Protects!

Spoiler

just don't tell anyone

 

[BrokenSky]

It makes Sense for the most other (historical) Paradox-Games, to have such Issues like "Culture" or "Religion", because We have the (historical) References (to choose) from our Species ...

But, I would be careful for That for a futuristic 4X-Game like Stellaris.

It shouldn't be too difficult to have procedurally generated cultures. The main thing is that it wouldn't add much to gameplay. Religion might, if sufficient abstraction were taken, but the time and focus needed would make it far better as a DLC.

Edit: Abstractions like this:

I think religion should be categorized into types of beliefs such as Polytheism, Monotheism, Dualism, Pantheism, Animism(Naturism), Ancestor Worship, Spiritism, Totemism. Similar to a species outlook on other species weather xeonphobe or xeonphile Religion could range from non-tolerance to tolerance of other beliefs.

with maybe some secular philosophies added in (capitalism, humanism* etc.)

*wait what does humanism mean in space? Xenophobic or Xenophilic ?

 

[Ironking]

I'm not too sure about a religion DLC

Just because practising a form of worship or religion plays such a big part in our society we shouldn't assume that this means anything to other species.
The whole concept of worshipping a deity or even spirituality could be something only humans have or understand.
Aliens could have society traits and knowledge which are completely non-understandable to us on the other hand.

With the vast scope of Stellaris I think its good to not get too specific with certain things.

I think the way its handled now is fine without scratching the surface too much and I bet you can still get your religious war as a fanatical spiritualist if you wish it.

 

[BrokenSky]

I'm not too sure about a religion DLC

Just because practising a form of worship or religion plays such a big part in our society we shouldn't assume that this means anything to other species.
The whole concept of worshipping a deity or even spirituality could be something only humans have or understand.
Aliens could have society traits and knowledge which are completely non-understandable to us on the other hand.

With the vast scope of Stellaris I think its good to not get too specific with certain things.

I think the way its handled now is fine without scratching the surface too much and I bet you can still get your religious war as a fanatical spiritualist if you wish it.

Possibly? Though i think it might be cool if they do a DLC focused on each ethic (or ethic slider?). Religion would be the spiritual main thing. etc.

 

[Baldor Arbanus]

with maybe some secular philosophies added in (capitalism, humanism* etc.)

*wait what does humanism mean in space? Xenophobic or Xenophilic ?

Xenophobic Humanism: Man is superior over the filthy Xenos! Get them!

Xenophillic: Filthy Xenos need to be taught love! Grab 'em!

 

[zukodark]

While religion would be cool in Stellaris, the problem (which some people have already mentioned) is coming up with religions for aliens. Humans on one hand could simply use real world religions; Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc. However, it would be harder to come up with religions for aliens; you could either come up with set religions for aliens (while not bad, not very diverse either), or have randomly generated religions (which would probably be too time consuming to code and would probably not even play well tbh).

Adding to the problem, both of these options would be extremely weird when you have made up religions in your backstory for your species. It would be like, the Fiedelonic Space League has been split between the Faith of the Wheel, the Baranion God Queen and the Jurh Faith for longer than history can remember. But now, they have to worship these religions. Far more immersive for them to be abstract instead.

 

[beckermt]

Spirituality means something different than religious but stellaris has made a design decision to make spiritual synonymous with religious.

No, they specifically did not equate spiritual with religious.

 

[BrokenSky]

Adding to the problem, both of these options would be extremely weird when you have made up religions in your backstory for your species. It would be like, the Fiedelonic Space League has been split between the Faith of the Wheel, the Baranion God Queen and the Jurh Faith for longer than history can remember. But now, they have to worship these religions. Far more immersive for them to be abstract instead.

I'm not sure about OP but I always assumed that if they added religion they would be procedurally generated, with the player being able to customize the religion(s) of their starting planet. Mostly this would be for fluff.

 

[Lecktra]

Religion? What the religion could add to the gameplay? Another reason for war, happines, what else? Nothing! So if it can't really add good things to the game then it's just cause more bugs. In space strategy games the religion is useless IMO. Space strategy games work well without it.

 

[BrokenSky]

Religion? What the religion could add to the gameplay? Another reason for war, happines, what else? Nothing! So if it can't really add good things to the game then it's just cause more bugs. In space strategy games the religion is useless IMO. Space strategy games work well without it.

Why is that true in space strategy when it isn't true of, for example, EUIV or CK2?

 

[Lecktra]

Why is that true in space strategy when it isn't true of, for example, EUIV or CK2?

Because those games based on history and religions are part of our history. For example: The dark middle age screwed up everything but it's also part of our history. We can't skip that when we make a historical game-

 

[dav77-b]

Iam shocked by these heretic thoughts!
Only pastafarism is true!
So why should they be more than one religion?
Spirituality of the pops/nation seems to be enough to represent the faith all living beings have in the FSM.

RAmen

 

[Susarian]

From the Dev's Clarifications:
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/clarifications.876380/

"6. We do not have various different religions and cultures in the game, as you might see in, for example, Europa Universalis. ("Religion" in an abstract sense is often mentioned however.) Population units ("Pops") can each have their own species, ethics and grievances however, which can encourage them to join Factions."

I hope this gets expanded on in DLC.

 

[BrokenSky]

Because those games based on history and religions are part of our history. For example: The dark middle age screwed up everything but it's also part of our history. We can't skip that when we make a historical game-

But there are religions in Sci-fi; surely they should not be skipped out on either, in a game about that setting?

 

[ashbery76]

Because those games based on history and religions are part of our history. For example: The dark middle age screwed up everything but it's also part of our history. We can't skip that when we make a historical game-

The best sci fi has religion included and it adds depth and weight to the setting.And I'm not talking about the fucking force.

 

[brifbates]

The ethos system pretty much covers anything a religion system would add to the game. That said, it could probably stand to add a few more options for diversity since there are currently only around 336 combinations available (assuming I read the pertinent DD section correctly and it hasn't changed).

 

[Jia Xu]

It's kind of weird to have a theocratic government and not acknowledge the specific religion that this government is taking its legitimacy from. With that said, I also believe that it would be very hard to model in the game. In other games, religion serves to push some countries toward alliances and wars. In Stellaris, everyone would start with different religions and everyone would be religiously incompatible. This doesn't seem like it would be a useful set of mechanics.

Maybe if religion is going to happen, it should happen in a DLC after we've all actually played the game and can provide informed opinions on how religion can actual work to make game play better and more fun.

 

[Lecktra]

What the religion can add to Stellaris?
Happiness, reason for war... what else?

 

[BrokenSky]

What the religion can add to Stellaris?
Happiness, reason for war... what else?

Well what can diplomacy add that isn't war or doing well at war?

Religion can add:
* More cool fluff (events, traits, etc)
* Reasons for War and Alliance
* Reasons why Pops of the same Species and subspecies as main might still want to revolt
* Reasons why Pops of different species might be content (Though both this and the one above are also covered by ethics to some extent)
* Potentially bonuses and mechanics, including conversion missions
* Potentially the ability to summon the avatars of your gods power and use them alongside your armies to spread their influence to the far corners of the galaxy and depose that false emperor while you're at it.
* Did I mention Fluff? It's one of the most important parts of the game.