What starting locations can we choose?

[Reno Lam]

From multiple sources, we know that we would be able to choose in what kind of starting planetary system our civilisation will start. From what I can find, the only known option is our very own Sol system, with Earth as the home planet, as well as perhaps several nearby systems like Alpha Centauri. Apart from that, though, had Paradox reveal what other options will we have?

Although I think many probably will opt for planetary systems that we now know have potentially habitable planets orbiting their star, I am more curious if we are able to set a more general option, such as the home planet always being a moon of a gas giant, or perhaps the planets orbiting a certain kind of star (with the related anomalies and worlds around, presumably). If it would not be too major a strain on balancing, perhaps something like sharing the system with a non-spacefaring species on another world would be quite interesting as well.

Admittedly, it might not be a huge issue even if such options are not available - at worst, we can start again and again until we end up on the one we want, but having such options would save us a lot of time, not to mention potentially inspiring people with creative options presented.

I have done a brief search on the forum and it does not seem to be an answered question. Apology in advance if I end up missing something.

Edit: Dev confirmed it can be modded in.

 

[Veracin]

From multiple sources, we know that we would be able to choose in what kind of starting planetary system our civilisation will start. From what I can find, the only known option is our very own Sol system, with Earth as the home planet, as well as perhaps several nearby systems like Alpha Centauri. Apart from that, though, had Paradox reveal what other options will we have?

Although I think many probably will opt for planetary systems that we now know have potentially habitable planets orbiting their star, I am more curious if we are able to set a more general option, such as the home planet always being a moon of a gas giant, or perhaps the planets orbiting a certain kind of star (with the related anomalies and worlds around, presumably).

Admittedly, it might not be a huge issue even if such options are not available - at worst, we can start again and again until we end up on the one we want, but having such options would save us a lot of time, not to mention potentially inspiring people with creative options presented.

I have done a brief search on the forum and it does not seem to be an answered question. Apology in advance if I end up missing something.

What sources say this? The only thing I've heard is that we are able to choose our home planet's type and name, nothing else.

 

[TomosCaerllion]

I remember hearing it fairly early on too. It was confirmed that you can choose to start in Sol or in a random system when playing as humans. I think the United Nations of Earth prefab race is meant to start in Sol.

Other than that Sol will just randomly appear in some games, sometimes with humans on earth, and sometimes with other setups, such as an earth annihilated by nuclear war, turned into a tomb world.

 

[HoogerTarp]

What sources say this? The only thing I've heard is that we are able to choose our home planet's type and name, nothing else.

In the first Blorg livestream, for the 'Solar System Initializer', Wiz stated that it was an option to allow players to choose whether they want to start on Earth or not. In response to @TomosCaerllion, you can also choose to play as an alien and start on Earth, as long as in the 'Solar System Initializer' you choose Sol System.

 

[Veracin]

In the first Blorg livestream, for the 'Solar System Initializer', Wiz stated that it was an option to allow players to choose whether they want to start on Earth or not. In response to @TomosCaerllion, you can also choose to play as an alien and start on Earth, as long as in the 'Solar System Initializer' you choose Sol System.

But that's only the Sol System, we don't have any other systems but random ones to choose from. I guess that's the question this thread is asking though, didn't the devs say that you could start on a moon of a planet/gas giant? I wonder if that's a choice you can make or if that's also random.

 

[KonradKurze202]

But that's only the Sol System, we don't have any other systems but random ones to choose from.

Actually if you watch the first Blorg stream it isn't a checkbox, it is a selector. Why would they build a selector if there were not but a single option? We only know of one starting system, but it is very likely there are more.

 

[HoogerTarp]

Actually if you watch the first Blorg stream it isn't a checkbox, it is a selector. Why would they build a selector if there were not but a single option? We only know of one starting system, but it is very likely there are more.

Exactly. The selector allowed Wiz to keep clicking though he didn't, showing that he may not have wanted to reveal the others, for whatever reason.

 

[Lysenko]

The ability to scroll through more than random and Sol could just be future proofing or a feature for mods. Maybe the other human preset has a unique world set up?

 

[Admiral Howe]

The system selector - the one allowing Sol - is open to player crafting/modding. If you want to create a defined system with the players starting on a moon, go for it.

 

[Brian Bóroimhe]

The ability to scroll through more than random and Sol could just be future proofing or a feature for mods. Maybe the other human preset has a unique world set up?

This. I'd be willing to wager my first spored Blorg that it's just for the convenience of mods.

 

[mrinku]

Well, there is the little problem of not actually having enough detail about other solar systems to provide any equivalent to Sol. They're ALL going to be effectively randomly generated, or saved from a design tool.

You do get to pick your homeworld type. As far as I can see that's the extent of choice if you're not choosing Sol.

(However, you need to be a little careful of basing things on the build Wiz was using back in the first Blorg stream. He admitted it was a bit rough.)

 

[Yenzen]

I think the Commonwealth of Man starts with Unity in Deneb?

 

[Atridij]

Can I start on one district of a ring world?

 

[SWVRoma]

What Venzen said. There are at least two prepared starts for Humans: Earth and Unity.

 

[grandad1982]

Well, there is the little problem of not actually having enough detail about other solar systems to provide any equivalent to Sol. They're ALL going to be effectively randomly generated, or saved from a design tool.

You do get to pick your homeworld type. As far as I can see that's the extent of choice if you're not choosing Sol.

(However, you need to be a little careful of basing things on the build Wiz was using back in the first Blorg stream. He admitted it was a bit rough.)

We don't know that much about real systems but we do for sci-fi ones so I'm looking forward to some mods on the subject!

 

[Thure]

Actually if you watch the first Blorg stream it isn't a checkbox, it is a selector. Why would they build a selector if there were not but a single option? We only know of one starting system, but it is very likely there are more.

Modablity. This allows modders to add new planets to the list.

 

[Beric]

I'm wondering if you can select roughly where in the galaxy you'll start. Games such as Distant Worlds have this.

 

[Veracin]

Can I start on one district of a ring world?

As far as we know ring worlds are fallen empire only. Whether they're a research able technology or not is up for debate. But starting with one seems OP.

 

[kgaa]

I don't think we'll be able to choose our starting system very carefully. It seems to be characteristic for space 4x games that your start is random. More interesting that way too. Otherwise people would just end up always choosing similar starts.

 

[Kliwarrior]

The first blorg stream is now quote old, things could be changed. Anyway I think that with Stellaris 1.0 we will have just the Solar System as "special startup" optional.