The time it takes to open official communications with other species is too short

[DàbiànLājīdàrén]

Anyone else feel like you discover empire species too fast and can't process it all? I feel like there should be a longer time between discovering an empire for the first time and the point where you enter official relations. Right now you just get a bunch of pop ups telling you some other species on the other side of the galaxy has opened communications with you and you can't care less. Idk, I think there should be a bit more to it.

 

[Drakonn]

Agreed. It's a bit fast. After a while you have contact with the whole galaxy because "species C,D-Z" listened in on your communications. It's a bit arbitrary. Like, why can't we have a special project to listen in for communications and this uncovers another race (or a tech that does this). After all, there are a lot of diplomatic mechanics already based on distance between you and others. Having the beginning game be a little more mysterious isn't too bad I feel.

 

[praftd]

Agreed. It's a bit fast. After a while you have contact with the whole galaxy because "species C,D-Z" listened in on your communications. It's a bit arbitrary. Like, why can't we have a special project to listen in for communications and this uncovers another race (or a tech that does this). After all, there are a lot of diplomatic mechanics already based on distance between you and others. Having the beginning game be a little more mysterious isn't too bad I feel.

Well, I agree for the beginning of the game, not so much mid/late game.

In the beginning, you are a fledgling empire just hitting FTL and discovering the galaxy. So when you encounter your first handful of alien civs, it should be HUGE, especially the first one. There should be event chains, translation requirements, and a variety of other things that need to be done to create formal relations. So much is lacking in this department. For example, first contact protocol. This could be something huge in Stellaris, instead, it is something that is more or less completely ignored. Rarely does it ever come into play.

However, mid and late game, I am perfectly fine with empires establishing connection instantly. At that phase of the game, discover is over. You are advanced enough and deep enough into galactic politics for it not to be a big deal. Think like in Mass Effect. When humans first discovered aliens it was HUGE and led to war. Eventually once connections were established, humans were rapidly introduced to dozens of new species in a chain reaction.

Same deal with Stellaris. After your first encounters and after you dig your heels into galactic politics, meeting new civs shouldn't be some huge ordeal.

 

[Drakonn]

Well, I agree for the beginning of the game, not so much mid/late game.

In the beginning, you are a fledgling empire just hitting FTL and discovering the galaxy. So when you encounter your first handful of alien civs, it should be HUGE, especially the first one. There should be event chains, translation requirements, and a variety of other things that need to be done to create formal relations. So much is lacking in this department. For example, first contact protocol. This could be something huge in Stellaris, instead, it is something that is more or less completely ignored. Rarely does it ever come into play.

However, mid and late game, I am perfectly fine with empires establishing connection instantly. At that phase of the game, discover is over. You are advanced enough and deep enough into galactic politics for it not to be a big deal. Think like in Mass Effect. When humans first discovered aliens it was HUGE and led to war. Eventually once connections were established, humans were rapidly introduced to dozens of new species in a chain reaction.

Same deal with Stellaris. After your first encounters and after you dig your heels into galactic politics, meeting new civs shouldn't be some huge ordeal.

Would definitely love to see those improvements. Begs the question of what determines the mid game though? 100 years in?

 

[DàbiànLājīdàrén]

First contact is really disappointing in this game. Sure you can attack or not attack, but this is a binary decision and boring. When I first read about Stellaris I imagined all sorts of events that could happen before contact. The only one I've had so far in this game was desecrating a body before meeting the empire it belonged to. Maybe empires should have to trade pops or at least send diplomats to each other's planets to "further relations."

 

[praftd]

Would definitely love to see those improvements. Begs the question of what determines the mid game though? 100 years in?

I'd probably go more based on number of civilizations discovered than a set date.

 

[Xoatl]

I agree, I've also thought about this. It terms of balance the amount of society research required to establish communications should be based on empire size. In terms of realism the amount should be based on the target empire's total society tech cards (perhaps in relation to the total society tech cards you have).

 

[Zaltys]

First contact is really disappointing in this game. Sure you can attack or not attack, but this is a binary decision and boring. When I first read about Stellaris I imagined all sorts of events that could happen before contact.

Same here, I expected more from it.
It's not really proper scifi first contact if there's no possibility of accidentally causing a misunderstanding that escalates into a war...

And there should be researchable techs like 'First Contact Protocol', etc. Which would speed up all future contacts.