Ruler customization is really disappointing

[Incompetent]

Ah, after reading the new DD I've got it. Fully operational ruler customization is kinda locked for only one origin.

A bit weird decision, isn't it?
Imagine if the starting species trait limit is set to 1 point and can be expanded only by Overtuned origin. The ability to pick negative traits is also exclusive Overtuned feature. That is exactly how the ruler customization feels now.

I think the focus is supposed to be on training up your initially inexperienced leaders during the game (including whoever serves as ruler), more than picking one who already has the right skills. If you want your ruler to be the Main Character from day one, you pick the origin.

Where I would hope for more customization though is with Gestalt "rulers" (who obviously can't take the Under One Rule origin). The "ruler" in that case isn't a leader in the normal sense, they're supposed to represent the aggregate "personality" of your entire empire, and given that Gestalts generally have fewer characteristics on empire creation (no ethics, fewer civic options), it would be a good place to give them more character.

 

[Tannhäuser Cake]

Do any current civics add starting traits to any particular class, and can the ruler benefit from this if assigned to that class?
(for instance, Distinguished Admiralty with a ruler from the admiral class)

Does any species trait now add starting trait points?
(such as Talented?)

If the answer to both questions is 'yes', starting rulers could potentially get at least 3 trait points to distribute, depending on species and empire design.

 

[st360]

I mean, that would be the case if it wasn't because the whole planet is unified before the invention of the hyperdrive. I think the only way to not be unified at the start is to play fear of the dark.

The Japanese islands are unified. How far down on the list of Japans priorities is their space agency? The Holy Roman Empire is unified as modern Germany. How many Germans support investing over 1% of their GDP into space construction?

 

[Edorath]

man really expected to be able to pick the best traits at year 0

 

[Nerisande]

I guess we have different opinions in case of the most valuable traits.

For me the trait becomes valuable when you can see the difference between playing with this trait and without this trait.
Expansionist, Space Miner or Architectural Sense are such traits.
When you get one of these traits - you feel it.
But the difference between 70% and 72% stability can be barely seen only when you have something like 50 planets.
When you get, for example, the Space Miner instead of something like +5% happiness, you will see the difference. You will feel "wow, nice, I'm glad that I've got this trait".
And 3.8 starting traits can't give you the same emotions, if I accidentally click on random trait instead of trait I want - I probably won't even realize it until I check the traits. The only exception is Charismatic, it is literally the only trait, which can affect your gameplay.

When I saw the ability to customize your ruler - the first impression was "oh, cool, the good starting traits are now not depend on ruthless RNG, what I should try first: an Expansionist Fanatic Xenophobe, peacefully claiming the trird of the galaxy or stack building cost reduction as trade/research build?". But the expectation was crushed when I've found how this mechanic will actually work. If the ruler trait selection will be completely closed for anyone without this origin, you probably won't even notice it.

and especially charismatic is an auto pick for me.

It is one of the main reasons for me to complain about the ruler customization. It gives no space for making different builds and trying some combos, the value of choice you've made is extremely low, there is no hard choices like "A is great, but B is too, what I should take: A or B?". You will go your boring edict fund in 99% of games, you don't need to think about traits, there is 1 auto-choice, 2 non-so-bad choices and 1 specific choice for corvette rushing.

 

[hart30]

Arent veteran traits dlc exclusive? Doesnt that mean, that free ruler traits like expansionist have been moved to paid content? Would be a first.

 

[Nevars]

Arent veteran traits dlc exclusive? Doesnt that mean, that free ruler traits like expansionist have been moved to paid content? Would be a first.

iirc dev said that without dlc those common trait that were convert to veteran are going back to be common trait.

 

[A2ch0n]

you don't need to think about traits

unsure with this. The first major difference will be the sort of ruler you take. As far i can say from the stream, each leader type has it's own set of traits and only one of them can be seen at the creation. In addition there is a set of shared traits for all 4 types. But that doesn't mean that those starting traits like charismatik don't show up later on. You can have a charismatic scientist or a charismatic Goveneur and it can be selected at the start or at level up. But you can't get those special traits for another class. I'm not sure where expansionist is but it could be an admiral. Deep Connection on the other hand seems to be a Governeur trait.

But take this with a grain of salt! It can be possible that some of those traits always show up for the actual ruler and are not dependent on the ruler class. But if those traits are locked with the ruler type it would be really cool because you have to choose what you want. And in addition of course increase the odds for those traits bound to certain ruler types.

 

[Tilarium]

It's not weird to me. Imagine being any modern world leader, worried about your national economy, your local enemies, and all the things the dominate headlines today. Meanwhile, 300 physicists and 20 engineers work out how to put a ship to the edge of the solar system in under a day. Then in a year, they've got a solar station, the capacity for mining stations, and these guys are champing at the bit to do the same thing in Sirius. But you're still Joe Biden. You're still worried about Russia and China. You're still worried about unemployment in Appalachia. None of this expansive possibility is baked into your platform, or into your understanding of the realpolitik. Sure, you'll exploit it - but you won't do so with any sort of intuitive understanding, or with a particularly savvy edge.

The person after you, however, will have the advantage of watching all of your mistakes.

Ok, but that isn't going to be the situation for every single empire in the game. For some, sure, but not everyone. I have a huge file of custom made Empires for the game to pull from, as well as for me to pull from based on what I want to play. One of them, the Holy Terran Empire, is a unified Human Empire based on what if the Roman Empire didn't fall. In their situation, by the time the game starts, they are ruled by the Supreme Pontif and the current Pontif has set the goal for seeing the Empire, and the Faith, reach into the Heavens themselves. So, he's eager to get out there and explore, to expand the Empire, and colonize new systems and worlds. Explorer and Expansionist would make since for him to have from the start.

 

[The5lacker]

I think the focus is supposed to be on training up your initially inexperienced leaders during the game (including whoever serves as ruler), more than picking one who already has the right skills. If you want your ruler to be the Main Character from day one, you pick the origin.

Where I would hope for more customization though is with Gestalt "rulers" (who obviously can't take the Under One Rule origin). The "ruler" in that case isn't a leader in the normal sense, they're supposed to represent the aggregate "personality" of your entire empire, and given that Gestalts generally have fewer characteristics on empire creation (no ethics, fewer civic options), it would be a good place to give them more character.

Good news: They literally already did that. The Gestalt Ruler is *Five times as complex* as other Rulers, as instead of a Council they have a series of Nodes that represents different focuses of the eternal mind, which they start the game with instead of having to unlock any like with the Civic Council positions. And, as they showed off in the Stream the other day, each Gestalt Civic comes with a +25% Experience Gain to one of those four extra Nodes.

 

[FleetingRain]

And, as they showed off in the Stream the other day, each Gestalt Civic comes with a +25% Experience Gain to one of those four extra Nodes.

Oh hey, that's a very nice touch

 

[Incompetent]

Good news: They literally already did that. The Gestalt Ruler is *Five times as complex* as other Rulers, as instead of a Council they have a series of Nodes that represents different focuses of the eternal mind, which they start the game with instead of having to unlock any like with the Civic Council positions. And, as they showed off in the Stream the other day, each Gestalt Civic comes with a +25% Experience Gain to one of those four extra Nodes.

Yes, I know about the secondary nodes, but it's not clear how much pre-game customization that gives you and which perks will be the domain of the primary "ruler" slot. I suppose we'll have to wait and see how it works out.

 

[The5lacker]

Yes, I know about the secondary nodes, but it's not clear how much pre-game customization that gives you and which perks will be the domain of the primary "ruler" slot. I suppose we'll have to wait and see how it works out.

You shouldn't get infinite pre-game customization of every aspect of your empire forever. That's what the rest of the game is for.

 

[Echo Candor One]

I mean, that would be the case if it wasn't because the whole planet is unified before the invention of the hyperdrive. I think the only way to not be unified at the start is to play fear of the dark.

Planetary Unification is a tech for literally everyone to research at the start of the game.

 

[Zetesofos]

I mean, that would be the case if it wasn't because the whole planet is unified before the invention of the hyperdrive. I think the only way to not be unified at the start is to play fear of the dark.

I mean, Unified doesn't mean utopian. It just means there is a single world government - but a leader would still have tons of local issues.

That said - I wanted a divided civilization origin: You start but your planet is NOT unified - maybe its low stability, starts in planetary revolt, or it has 'blockers' that represent other countries you have to trade or defeat before you can unify the planet.

 

[Zetesofos]

Arent veteran traits dlc exclusive? Doesnt that mean, that free ruler traits like expansionist have been moved to paid content? Would be a first.

No, if you don't have the dlc, then veteran and common are rolled into one random pool that leaders get automatically every 2 levels, rather than 1 (they don't get to pick).