The obvious thread about Aquatic Empire Build Idea

[Ch4rybde]

Since most of the Aquatic DLC's content have been revealed I suppose we can start thinking and talking about wich kind of aquatic empire we would like to play.
By "Aquatic Empire" I mean all empire using at least one of the new DLC's mechanics.

So for me I think it will be :

Species :
Dolphinoid - with : Aquatic, Intelligent, Natural Sociologists, Conservationist, Nonadaptive
Empire :
Origin : Ocean Paradise
Ethic : Fanatic Materialist + Pacifist
Government : Oligarchic
Civic : Technocracy + Angler + Meritocracy (later)

The idea behind this RP build is a nature/ocean lover technocracy. They search perfect harmony with their environment and rely on tech to achieve it.
I just hope they will allow aquatic species to settle on habitat without penalty, because I would like to use trade value to sustain a whole part of my economy in mid-game.



I am very curious about the empires all of you have imagined, so do not hesitate to share it !

 

[Neocv]

I'm not quite sure yet. I still need a few more details about the portraits, but until now I like the octopus like one or the cute one that has big ears.

Traits: Aquatic, Conservationist, Natural Sociologist,Rapid Breeder, Nonadaptative

Origin: Ocean Paradise
Ethic: I'm not quite sure yet, but very likely some kind of xenophile pacifist
Government: not sure, but likely oligarchic
Civic: Anglers + Merchant Guilds + Catalytic Processing(Or Environmentalist)

I also had an idea about a plantoid/aquatic hive mind, but I didn't had much thought about yet.

 

[hart30]

Aquatic, intelligent, ingenious with meritocracy civic, materialist ethic. Combined with either necrophage or clone army.
+30% energy, +15% food and minerals, +30% research (10% from living standard), +10% alloys/consumer goods and the origin benefits arent even counted in.
economy goes brrrrrr

 

[Empire of Terra Nova]

species: humans - thrifty, natural engineers, communal, sedentary, deviants

ethics: fanatic egalitarian, xenophile

civics: shared burdens, masterful crafters

origin: here be dragons, because: DRAGONS!!!1!1!1!1!

 

[Surimi]

I don't know if this will be the first empire I play, but I will definitely be making them to play at some point.

Traits: Agrarian, Thrifty, Nonadaptive
Origin: Ocean Paradise
Ethics: Fanatic Militarist, Egalitarian
Government: Megacorp
Civics: Catalytic Processing, Anglers (Megacorp)

Claim every system with ice and then liquidate everyone's assets! The ice must flow!

Realistically, I'm all about hive minds right now so I'll probably play an aquatic hivemind. I think empathetic octopi or fish with an oceanic tree of life (I'm thinking of the cove tree from subnautica for some reason). Obviously, they get the hydrocentric ascension perk and skip hive worlds, so it'll be interesting to see how that turns out.

 

[Incompetent]

Aquatic Necrophages, assuming that combo is allowed: Deep Ones living in the lightless oceanic depths while their kidnapped/conquered slaves toil nearer the surface. Will probably use the Angler/Catalytic combo as well, as it sounds like a fun alternative to the usual mineral-based production cycle.

 

[Dragatus]

Let's be honest. Most of us will cram all the new features we can into one empire. So Ocean Paradise origin, Aquatic trait, one of the new portraits, Aquatic cities and shipset, and the Anglers civic. And then we'll all take the Hydrocentric ascension perk at the first opportunity.

The only variable things are ethics, government, the second civic, and other species traits.

Seeing how Anglers is a source of additional CG I might just go for a Technocracy run.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Reckon I'll switch up my currently less interesting megacorp empire to one that uses Ocean Paradise, Anglers, & Mastercraft Inc since it's available to corporate authorities. Selling the wonders of the ocean to the landfolk.

Might also do a syncretic evolution one with land based serviles. The deep ones make the surface dwellers do all the menial jobs whilst they plot their ascension to the greater ocean above.

 

[Archael90]

Aquatic Necrophages, assuming that combo is allowed: Deep Ones living in the lightless oceanic depths

The godlike race that live in sea still require our offerings, but in exchange they once in a while allow one of us, to transcend, and become one of them - ocean god that lives underwater.

 

[Arithmetician]

The Anglers + Mastercraft Inc. combination also occurred to me... if you think about it, it effectively lets you play as a jewelry megacorp (specifically, pearl jewelry), which is an odd concept for a spacefaring power, but one that can be made to work. And as also noted, Catalytic Processing combos nicely with the extra focus on Agriculture districts if you choose Ocean Paradise (though there is also a bit of anti-synergy too, in that you trade some food production for the consumer goods if you have Anglers).

Another build, is to go Clone Pirates.... that is Aquatic w/ Clone Army Origin, and either Barbaric Despoilers or Nihilistic Acquisition. Authoritarian, Fanatic Militarist, acquire Distinguished Admiralty when possible. +10% Hull Points, +58% fire rate with an Admiral (factoring in the inherent +3% bonus from the admiral’s first level), +68% fire rate if Ascended Clone Army. Have a massively superior navy and abduct pops en masse when your growth from Clone Vats stops. For extra cheese, be Lithoid Aquatic Clones for superior troops as well and extra habitability.

 

[GloatingSwine]

The Anglers + Mastercraft Inc. combination also occurred to me... if you think about it, it effectively lets you play as a jewelry megacorp (specifically, pearl jewelry), which is an odd concept for a spacefaring power, but one that can be made to work.

Well my other corporate empire is a televangelist megachurch so.....

 

[Arithmetician]

Well my other corporate empire is a televangelist megachurch so.....

Very true! But that’s part of the fun of Stellaris, and what makes it so repayable!

 

[Skyfus]

I am very curious about the empires all of you have imagined, so do not hesitate to share it !

Personally, I'm hyped to try a Megacorp with Anglers + Mastercraft (+ Free Traders when I get a 3rd civic slot through tech), ocean paradise origin, xenophile + egalitarian + pacifist or fanatic xenophile + egalitarian, thrifty species trait.
It should be an absolutely stupid amount of trade

 

[Arithmetician]

The Here Be Dragons Origin also has considerable roleplaying potential. I’d think that one could have some variation of Spiritualist, and perhaps one could use the Dragon Portrait (giving them the Aquatic Trait). Or you could take things in completely the other direction, and have them be Materialist, taking a cue from the Izzet from Ravnica in Magic the Gathering. But I’m overall more leaning in the spiritualist direction on that one, since it reminds me of Ancient China, and their worship of Dragons as divine beings. Still don’t have a more specific build on that one though.

 

[aprogressivist]

I don't get the Anglers + Masterful Crafters combo. Would Masterful Crafters apply to Pearl Divers?

 

[Arithmetician]

I don't get the Anglers + Masterful Crafters combo. Would Masterful Crafters apply to Pearl Divers?

It’s not so much one Civic buffing the other directly. It’s more that both are ways to get extra trade value and consumer goods from jobs. So it’s just doubling down on that theme.

 

[Surimi]

I don't get the Anglers + Masterful Crafters combo.

It's not a synergy so much as a thematic specialization. Both provide jobs that produce trade value and consumer goods. A neat roleplaying option for a megacorp, but there is also some potential synergy if you can get relevant bonuses.

 

[dogguy218]

I like to do roleplay where I am fanatic xenophile militarist and my empire believes that it is their job to prevent extinction and preserve all races. It is quite fun

 

[GloatingSwine]

I ended up with three:


Mastercraft Inc + Anglers + Thrifty - You end up with so much energy from the start of the game that you can buy your way out of any other obstacles. I didn't like them on the ocean paradise start, so they're just a galactic doorstep start now.

An Extremely Adaptable master species with Aquatic + Industrious serviles to have water worlds as primary resource worlds to keep the serviles on and use the masters to colonise everything else.

Aquatic + Agrarian with Agrarian Idyll and Catalytic Processing (and a dragon to keep them safe).

 

[Skyfus]

Mastercraft Inc + Anglers + Thrifty - You end up with so much energy from the start of the game that you can buy your way out of any other obstacles. I didn't like them on the ocean paradise start, so they're just a galactic doorstep start now.

I did this pre-Aquatic but without Anglers, it was so fun that I'm trying it a second time with ocean Gaia and Anglers. Really hoping this update brings more players onto the side of trade meta