Would you want an Ichthyoid Phenotype DLC ?

[BlackUmbrellas]

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.

A portrait pack of fish-themed aliens does not require mechanics for fully-aquatic aliens- those already exist through the Habitability mechanic. Again: most of the Molluscoids are clearly modelled after aquatic lifeforms, but they can be native to any type of planet.

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.

I'd be pretty happy to get new ships along with them- I just hope eventually the AI randomizes what ships and city-scapes are assigned to what species.

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

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.

I wouldn't mind one or two portraits where they had some sort of water-filled scuba gear- a bit like the Avian portrait with the bubble-helmet.

 

[Primarch Victus]

Could just say that they're remnants of some species uplifted by the precursors, or something like that.

Dolphins are the most commonly uplifted species in science fiction. Most writers have solved the no hands problem by giving them mechanical suits or cybernetics.

In a sci-fi story I am (trying) to write, there is a people -- the Tu'Vorg -- descendant of alien dolphin analogues that were uplifted by a mysterious benefactor civilization/entity and I like to imagine them as being similar to this: http://thylacinee.deviantart.com/art/Dolphinians-508255256

Ok, this beings are not truly Ichthyoid, but they could easily pass as one.

 

[Primarch Victus]

A friend for the blorg?

YIKES!!! please, someone get rid of this creature -- or I will spill my lunch all over the forums.

 

[Primarch Victus]

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.

Are you sure that you're vermiphobe?!

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

WHAT?! this thing is your uncle???

 

[Primarch Victus]

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 ...

Did you know a mod called "Alien Suns"? it's a mod with several interesting alien designs.

 

[Hype Train]

I dont mind fish aliens. Just as long as they arent so earth animal like to the point where i am just meeting furries in space. Like this.

 

[moglus]

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.

Doing that would probably cause a lot of people to not buy the dlc, saying that the phenotype would be "incomplete" compared to the others. The truth is that the plantoids was overpriced, $8 is a pretty high price for 1 phenotype. And i say that as someone who has bought all the dlc for CK2 and EU4. $10 for 2 phenotypes seems more reasonable, still a lot of money for cosmetics, but one i wouldn't feel to bad about paying in terms of price vs content.

And i find it unlikely to happen considering all the megastructures in Utopia supposedly have textures for each phenotype ship set.

 

[Xoatl]

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.

I hope future overhaul mods can address this and lock certain phenotypes to certain planets. It always surprised me how the reptilians i'm purging even evolved on an arctic planet.

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

I hope future overhaul mods can address this and lock certain phenotypes to certain planets. It always surprised me how the reptilians i'm purging even evolved on an arctic planet.

Because every species that happens to evolve to resemble something from Earth must be identical in all other ways, right?

 

[Xoatl]

Because every species that happens to evolve to resemble something from Earth must be identical in all other ways, right?

The phenotypes are analogues for a reason, instead of some made up or randomized categories. Molluscoid conjures up certain elements, same with mammalian, humanoid, avian etc.

These words have characteristics attached to them..

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

The phenotypes are analogues for a reason, instead of some made up or randomized categories. Molluscoid conjures up certain elements, same with mammalian, humanoid, avian etc.

These words have characteristics attached to them..

The phenotype categories don't have an in-game effect besides changing forms of address and insults, though- they're purely cosmetic (i.e. they are grouped the way they are because of visual similarities, not any statement on how that species is by necessity similar to any Earth life in non-visual ways), as they should be to maximize player freedom.

 

[SuperGeek89]

WHAT?! this thing is your uncle???

Yeah we don't talk about Uncle Sal much........

 

[Theophotos]

As much as I would love to have an Ichthyoid Phenontype, I would want to see further variation between existing phenotypes. Some only are different in terms of color, if that. It would be nice to see different types of ornamentation, rank/roll dress, and maybe even appearances based upon traits...as difficult as that may be.

But Paradox is up to the challenge.

 

[AuraBoyX]

I want an oceanic species pack! To play as a telekinetic dolphin or a super intelligent octopus or whales or even classic sci fi fish people. I would love it.

Star Control 2 had a great fish alien. The orz I believe.

 

[Emraldis]

My only issue with an oceanic species pack, is that they are harder to logically represent on all planet types, unlike all the other current phenotypes.

 

[Sonmi]

Sup, my space-faring lads?

 

[Mauer]

I wouldn't count on it.
Even though mechanical ascension is part of the perks, they always dodged the question if that would actually be shown in the phenotype.

They could just give the portraits glowing eyes.

 

[Emraldis]

They could just give the portraits glowing eyes.

That, and add a few extra layers of tech-y looking things, It honestly shouldn't be a huge deal I don't think...

 

[Mauer]

That, and add a few extra layers of tech-y looking things, It honestly shouldn't be a huge deal I don't think...

But they would have to make techy things for each portrait as each is very different morphologically, while every one has eyes of very similar size, so just define 2, 4, or more points as eyes on each portrait and put a flare on them.