Make portraits more than just cosmetics.
What I mean is - Mammalian species could be more suited to cold planets, Reptilian species could be more suited for dry planets, Anthropoid species could be more suited for wet planets, and so on. Make these choices matter, I think it'd be really cool if they did.
And more on habitable planets, remove the +5% modifier techs. This way you can't live on non-suitable worlds because you figured out how to make the soil in a small region better. And it makes the adaptable traits more strategic. Do you choose higher habitability modifiers so you can expand more? Or do you choose to restrict yourself for a challenge?
While we're still on the topic of habitable planets, there should be lifeless versions that start with a flat 50% habitability depending on your main planet type. Lifeless desert, lifeless terra, etc. These kinds of planets are probably more common in the universe than life filled worlds. So hey, sci-fi points! These planets are colonizable as is, and have districts and everything, but they have higher food upkeep penalties compared to regular planets which have none. Why you'd want to colonize them though, is that they could have higher chances for having resource-rich districts, as there's no biosphere to contend with. Or you could be at the end of your ropes and need the planet, whatever. Plus, you could terraform them later, if you'd rather wait.
As for traits, and (This is what I saw somewhere which made me want to start this thread), I think each species type (Avian, humanoid, etc) should also have a few free traits that gives a bonus and malus (The bonus/malus thing is what I saw, everything else is my idea afaik). Plantoid species could have a fragile modifier, which stacks -10% habitability to all other planets (Say everything but tropical), and +5% happiness on tropical worlds. But disables the adaptable traits.
Other, normal traits should be like this as well. Do you want a science-heavy empire? You'll have to deal with less worker output (There's a pre-sapient trait similar to this). Want a base resource-heavy empire? You'll have to deal with less specialist output. Want a specialist-heavy empire? You'll have to deal with less worker happiness. And I'm sure there's a bunch of other examples you could draw.
What I mean is - Mammalian species could be more suited to cold planets, Reptilian species could be more suited for dry planets, Anthropoid species could be more suited for wet planets, and so on. Make these choices matter, I think it'd be really cool if they did.
And more on habitable planets, remove the +5% modifier techs. This way you can't live on non-suitable worlds because you figured out how to make the soil in a small region better. And it makes the adaptable traits more strategic. Do you choose higher habitability modifiers so you can expand more? Or do you choose to restrict yourself for a challenge?
While we're still on the topic of habitable planets, there should be lifeless versions that start with a flat 50% habitability depending on your main planet type. Lifeless desert, lifeless terra, etc. These kinds of planets are probably more common in the universe than life filled worlds. So hey, sci-fi points! These planets are colonizable as is, and have districts and everything, but they have higher food upkeep penalties compared to regular planets which have none. Why you'd want to colonize them though, is that they could have higher chances for having resource-rich districts, as there's no biosphere to contend with. Or you could be at the end of your ropes and need the planet, whatever. Plus, you could terraform them later, if you'd rather wait.
As for traits, and (This is what I saw somewhere which made me want to start this thread), I think each species type (Avian, humanoid, etc) should also have a few free traits that gives a bonus and malus (The bonus/malus thing is what I saw, everything else is my idea afaik). Plantoid species could have a fragile modifier, which stacks -10% habitability to all other planets (Say everything but tropical), and +5% happiness on tropical worlds. But disables the adaptable traits.
Other, normal traits should be like this as well. Do you want a science-heavy empire? You'll have to deal with less worker output (There's a pre-sapient trait similar to this). Want a base resource-heavy empire? You'll have to deal with less specialist output. Want a specialist-heavy empire? You'll have to deal with less worker happiness. And I'm sure there's a bunch of other examples you could draw.
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