Would you want an Ichthyoid Phenotype DLC ?

[BlackUmbrellas]

But why would they prefer such a world to an ocean planet? If WWIII happened and Earth became a Tomb World, humans won't suddenly find irradiated wastelands more habitable than a fresh new Continental planet. Over thousands of years, sure, a fish species could evolve to live on land, but then it wouldn't be a fish anymore.

At least with Molluscoids you can say, "it's an alien mollusc who evolved in a different climate". But an aquatic species is, by definition, aquatic. Putting aside biochemistry and different atmospheres, which are ignored in Stellaris, it makes no sense that they'd turn down an ocean planet in favor of, say, a dry climate.

Mind you, I'm not opposed to aquatic species. I just hope that it's thought out and rationalized in-universe.

Again: you can already play slimy, aquatically-adapted Molluscoids that evolved on a desert planet. How you explain that is up to you- maybe they evolved in lakes, or underground seas, or as parasites inside of massive root networks, and eventually they became sufficiently amphibious (or developed tool-based workarounds) to do stuff in the dry desert environment beyond.

 

[Krajzen]

But why would they prefer such a world to an ocean planet? If WWIII happened and Earth became a Tomb World, humans won't suddenly find irradiated wastelands more habitable than a fresh new Continental planet. Over thousands of years, sure, a fish species could evolve to live on land, but then it wouldn't be a fish anymore.

At least with Molluscoids you can say, "it's an alien mollusc who evolved in a different climate". But an aquatic species is, by definition, aquatic. Putting aside biochemistry and different atmospheres, which are ignored in Stellaris, it makes no sense that they'd turn down an ocean planet in favor of, say, a dry climate.

Mind you, I'm not opposed to aquatic species. I just hope that it's thought out and rationalized in-universe.

You constantly keep using the word "aquatic". What we are talking about is "ichthyoid". That's huge difference. First word describes environment, second one how does the creature look - because thats what phenotypes in Stellaris are, way of categorizing species looks for player's convenience, nothing more. This is just the way of segregating portraits and adding a bit of naming/graphical flavour to randomly generated species, every phenotype goes to every environment.

Earth has aquatic ichtyoids and land humans. Other planet in Stellarverse may have desert ichtyoids and underwater birds. Why? Because phenotypes in STL are looks and flavour, not methods of classifying organisms. Also because it's cool and why the hell not.
Aquatic = water
Ichtyoid =/= water

We already have desert (and arctic) molluscoids, desert and arctic fungoids, arctic reptiles, arctic plantoids - those combinations aren't in any way sillier than desert ichtyoids. Take care of those while you are having problems with desert fish

 

[Meneliki]

I hate to keep invoking MoO3, but I miss the old dynamic of Fish hating Reptiles, Humanoids hating Cyborgs/robots.. etc.

 

[Krajzen]

I hate to keep invoking MoO3, but I miss the old dynamic of Fish hating Reptiles, Humanoids hating Cyborgs/robots.. etc.

Meh. Visual looks shouldn't affect gameplay balance and it doesn't even make sense in Stellarverse where races are randomly generated - why xenophile 'reptile' aliens should hate 'fish' aliens? Because we invoke Earth dichitomy "wet fish vs dry reptiles"? Why technocratic humans should dislike robots more than spiritualist aliens?

Similarly, I always was against assigning phenotypes in any way towards any planet types. Gee how interesting, we'd get cliche "desert bugs, water molluscs" Earth things again. I wanna see desert fish aliens, arctic plant aliens, underwater bird aliens, exotic stuff like that. Oh and by the way make those insectoids fanatic individualist to combat 'hive mind' cliche

 

[garbud]

But why would they prefer such a world to an ocean planet? If WWIII happened and Earth became a Tomb World, humans won't suddenly find irradiated wastelands more habitable than a fresh new Continental planet. Over thousands of years, sure, a fish species could evolve to live on land, but then it wouldn't be a fish anymore.

see that the thing we aren't asking for a fish species we are asking for new portraits like with the plant phenotype pack we just want one thats fishy because who doest want to play a anthropomorphized shark that eats people?

 

[Mitchz95]

see that the thing we aren't asking for a fish species we are asking for new portraits like with the plant phenotype pack we just want one thats fishy because who doest want to play a anthropomorphized shark that eats people?

Ah, okay, I thought you were asking for a fish species.

 

[Wade Smith]

Hmm...good points Krajzen.
After considering those I agree.
I now want Ichthyoid also.

Ichthyoid then Lithoid then Anneloid.

(then a sort of Plasmaoid/Energoid)?...(some sort of plasma or energy species)?

Then we would have, I think, all imagined types covered in a nice dozen.
1. Humanoid
2. Mammalian (and marsupial)
3. Avian (feathered/bird)
4. Reptilian (and amphibian and dinosaur)
5. Molluscoid
6. Arthropoid (insect and crustacean)
7. Fungoid
8. Plantoid
9. Ichthyoid (Earth aquatic-like APPEARANCE)
10. Lithoid (silicon, crystal, mineral)
11. Anneloid (worm-like)
12. Plasmaoid (or Energoid?)

 

[mighij]

A friend for the blorg?

 

[Wyvax]

I would love an icthyoid phenotype pack myself, fishes are extremely diverse in reality so making alien equivalents wouldn't be hard at all. Could get some species references (anglerfish and viperfish pleeeeeezzz Paradox!!!), a few bipedal ones and all the rest can be as weird and wonderful as we want so long as they're... fishy.

Immediately after that I demand an anneloid (worm) pack. There is waaaaaay more variety there then most people realize, from adorable velvet worm s to nightmarish bitey things in our oceans and leaflitter. I don't think I need to point out that weird and/or terrifying worm creatures are pretty common in science fiction. As a vermiphobe I oddy endorse this.

 

[ATKBam]

How would this work on desert/arid/savanna planets? Why would an aquatic species prefer those to, say, an ocean or continental world?

That is when they have to genetically adapt themselves to the habitat to ne more amphibious, or live in colonial aqua-suits that allow them to live a limited and unhappy life...

Frankly, I'm surprised I had 't even thought of Ichthyoids.

 

[Zaltys]

Well, yeah, there's a lot of potential. Fish are weird.

Many species could easily pass off as aliens, without most players even realizing that they're based on actual animals.

 

[SuperGeek89]

A friend for the blorg?

Uncle Sal? What are you doing in a Stellaris Forum?

 

[Mackus]

Fish.

Fish.

 

[gdj]

I think they shoud hold off on these until they do an Aquatic focused DLC. Release like 3 aquatic phenotypes with it and 3 new aquatic planet types (and replace ocean worlds with something).

Absolutely. Considering that life as we know it is dependend on liquid water, it´s surprising that aquatic aliens are fairly rare in sci-fi settings in total, in virtually nonexistent in Stellaris. But with only 1 water world type, it would not be well balanced. So yes, new planet types first, aquatic aliens after that.

 

[princeseth]

i dont understand (and i dont like it) why all aliens in Stellaris must look alike earth animals or plants ... reality or realistic in a space game is kinda absurb i know but i find it better to encounter Zerg or Protoss or Klingons than aliens that look alike foxes , horses , mushrooms etc etc ... thats my humble opinion of course ...

 

[RELee]

Do not listen to the OP.

I can't believe you waited until I came along. It's so obvious.

 

[LizardCommander]

No, I'd rather have a 'scary' set similar to how the cute set was released, I'd rather see something on the level of Xenomorphs, Hydras, just a monster set essentially. A fish set would make little to no sense beyond perhaps merfolk, but that would only take up one slot, and they would be like the guy in Hellboy 2.

 

[Dr. B]

Ok, fish are cool, but I mainly want more hot alien babes. Hot fish-babes are welcome.

 

[Zoinker]

If they do, I hope they don't bother with trying to add a unique ichthyoid ship design. If I recall correctly, the reason the plant pack was so expensive was partly the amount of effort that went into the ship models and I've always disliked associating specific ship designs (and city designs for that matter) with phenotypes.

 

[Hertzila]

An ichthyoid pack would be neat. There's quite a lot of variation and oddities in the waters to be used as inspiration. Though I hope none of them are explicitly aquatic species, rather than just fish-looking people, if only to stop the "why do they prefer the desert" thing (even though we can already create arctic plant folk). Would also help with the current city graphics.

I don't think it should be pushed off until some hypothetical aquatic DLC comes. I kind of doubt it ever will.