That and habitats make late game nigh unplayable in big maps. I once made the mistake of going a huge map and picking that trait that allows breeding to create new halfbreed species.
tbh the game is best on small maps. Set enemy empires to 0 if you just want to be an explore turd. I most often find myself playing on small with enemies set to max now a days.
I have fallen empires immediately to my north and south. It's a little scary.
Holy Guardian Spiritualists to my northeast, Robotic Ancient Caretakers to the south.Fallen Empires are (usually) fairly easy to placate, and nice to have as border protection. You can survey the surrounding systems but don't settle them (within 1 jump), until you know what kind of Empire they are.
Quick run down of the 4 types:
- Spiritualists are a holy warrior fallen empire that have sacred planets in border areas. They are notated when you inspect that planet after it is surveyed and will demand the system or attack if you settle.
- Isolationist will attack if you own any bordering systems (these are the worst neighbors).
- Materialists are robots/cyborgs and are easy going; they will usually allow for open borders, close system contact and allow you to buy awesome scientists.
- Xenophiles love you and want to put some of your pop in a zoo, so just comply with their demands...
Holy Guardian Spiritualists to my northeast, Robotic Ancient Caretakers to the south.
50ish years in, going well, what I think is some random minor empire demands tribute, ho ho ho, go fuck yourself twerps. Oh yay it's marauders, and they sending 2 high power massive fleets at me. My tech level is great, but only just started establishing border defenses, and my fleet is underpowered due to lack of alloy, only a couple 1 point deposits in my chunk of galaxy, and haven't built enough foundries yet since my planets develop so slow. They smash my main fleet, and start heading straight to my homeworld. I see how this gonna end, New Game.
So I assume I gotta be their bitch for awhile, feels like Civ barbarians, except the barbarians have nukes at start of game. How does the regular AI factions have such massive empires anyway? I had one right next door to me, and they had 5X the territory, and massive fleets all over within 15 years?
I also pissed off the religious fallen before I read this thread, I settled the gaia world before realizing, just told them to pound sand, they never ended up sending a fleet at me, they just butthurt "Angry" I guess.
They have multiple holy worlds, I think each one increases the chance that they will 'awaken' and push your shit in.I also pissed off the religious fallen before I read this thread, I settled the gaia world before realizing, just told them to pound sand, they never ended up sending a fleet at me, they just butthurt "Angry" I guess.
better fortify the hell out of that wormhole before the great khan comes a knocking.Really love how 2nd game turning out. Went with hivemind/gestalt, love the simplicity of diplomacy now.
Kinda funny how the other empires got laid out, all the regular ones ended up clustered on the other side of the galaxy, I have 3 fallen empires blocking me off completely from normal hyperlane travel. I have a wormhole I can use now, but the other side is clustered with random marauder type hostiles. Theres another wormhole and a handful of blackholes mixed in the area with hostiles, bit north past that is where the other side of the galaxy is and where the buffet...other empires are.
For a random galaxy, it's sure setup as if I'm some ancient threat the fallen empires were guarding against, I even have a relic world, so I have a little more RP immersion I wasn't expecting. I also have a fortress with a skull just ??? for power about 4 jumps from home, it zapped a respectable fleet, so I kinda just stay the hell away.
Really love how 2nd game turning out. Went with hivemind/gestalt, love the simplicity of diplomacy now.
Kinda funny how the other empires got laid out, all the regular ones ended up clustered on the other side of the galaxy, I have 3 fallen empires blocking me off completely from normal hyperlane travel. I have a wormhole I can use now, but the other side is clustered with random marauder type hostiles. Theres another wormhole and a handful of blackholes mixed in the area with hostiles, bit north past that is where the other side of the galaxy is and where the buffet...other empires are.
For a random galaxy, it's sure setup as if I'm some ancient threat the fallen empires were guarding against, I even have a relic world, so I have a little more RP immersion I wasn't expecting. I also have a fortress with a skull just ??? for power about 4 jumps from home, it zapped a respectable fleet, so I kinda just stay the hell away.
Federations adds all the p2w origins.Are any of the DLCs must-haves? I have the base game only but never really played it, but am considering starting.
No, but you will get half way through your first game and realize that you want a few of those expansions for a little added depth. Then you'll buy em anyway and start a new game.Are any of the DLCs must-haves? I have the base game only but never really played it, but am considering starting.