Stellaris 4.3: Cetus

[Crolis]

I think this is part of the adjustment from the typical 4X symmetric start to the Crusader King's approach of having very unbalanced starts between rulers.

Yep, this is what seems to me coming from some of the negative comments I've seen. Yes, it feels like a 4X game at the start through mid game but once the star nations are established it is more like EU4 where it isn't "fair and equal" and some nations (France) are big and badass and not to be trifled with. This if anything is a positive progression of the semi-genre where in most 4X games there is more of a focus on expansion and once you do that you pick off people one by one gaining steam. In this you have to actually do diplomacy and shit and like EU4, you can find your self fucked if the wrong nation takes an interest in you.

I think the mods are going to be awesome after seeing what paradox themselves put in. Just having a mod that adds a ton of NPC "monster" races would be great.

 

[Crolis]

Mortus[/url]":ykz27suh]Is the barrier to entry on this one as high as it is in say CK2? I tried to figure that one out and the tutorial kicked my ass.

If you approach it as a 4x game you will instantly feel at home I think, just know it has a different feel in the mid/late game than most 4x games.

 

[Crolis]

Mordgier[/url]":3pg6npms]

Robotank[/url]":3pg6npms]I wish I had more bargaining chips to coerce him into it.

Those are called missile batteries. :devious:

Pretty much - there isn't really a friendly way to force an ally to become a vassal as far as I am aware. I am not sure what it takes for an AI to accept the offer peacefully - I've never had the AI ever appear receptive to it.

I hope diplomacy becomes more transparent in the future similar to EU4 where it is obvious what everything takes and why they feel a certain way. Its pretty far along that path now but needs a little more.

 

[Crolis]

Every game I've played has been hyperlane only so that part of it doesn't annoy me in the slightest.

 

[Crolis]

Every game I've played has been hyperlane only so that part of it doesn't annoy me in the slightest.

I have yet to do anything other than warp, but, eh, the coming change doesn't bother me overly much and I'm sure modders will figure out how to restore it if it is terrible

I always did hyperlane because I wanted to foster the environment they are apparently trying to foster (chokepoints and making infrastructure useful).

 

[Crolis]

I have no impulse control for gaming so I will probably get this soon.

 

[Crolis]

Apparently there are a number of bugs including marauders wrecking your shit on the way to the target you paid for. I think I'm going to wait until after the first patch.

 

[Crolis]

That whole you can build defense platforms relatively cheap around a starbase is pretty awesome for those annoying pirate raids. Is there a way to have those DPs automatically upgrade as you upgrade the blueprint? Without having to go around and find all of them that have any and upgrade those?

No but the outliner does have a little up arrow next to the starbase if the DPs need to be upgraded.

 

[Crolis]

Oh I see, honestly I didn’t even realize you could put DPs on those. Thanks!

I could really spend infinite time on this game. Something about it scratches that itch. I just wish I could finish a game without wanting to restart. The early game is the best.

 

[Crolis]

I've read some critiques of the new system such that the end game can basically come down to just running the game waiting on influence to claim systems. Haven't gotten to that point and in my latest game I'm lucky to have some purifiers nearby I can rival but i could see how it could happen.

 

[Crolis]

So looking at the 2.0.2 beta patch and they added an energy cost to outposts.

This seems like a good change as it makes tall empires more valuable and probably helps a few playstyles. Also will indirectly help the influence problem as you can't really spend it as fast anyways.

 

[Crolis]

The one negative of that change is that I liked the borders with the new system. To borrow a phrase from EU/CK2, this new cost to claiming a system is going to lead to border gore. Why would I claim the near useless system in the middle of my empire instead of strategically snake around getting the best systems?

 

[Crolis]

The one negative of that change is that I liked the borders with the new system. To borrow a phrase from EU/CK2, this new cost to claiming a system is going to lead to border gore. Why would I claim the near useless system in the middle of my empire instead of strategically snake around getting the best systems?

Because unclaimed systems near borders spawn pirates.

Fair point. Not sure it overrides the 1 energy cost given that pirates are going to spawn anyways though, just further out.

 

[Crolis]

I like the time it takes fleets to move around. Sure that makes some gamey things the most efficient way to do things but for Stellaris I have no problem keeping myself from doing super gamey things.

 

[Crolis]

I actually got my ass beat in a game the other day on Admiral/aggressive. Those early game wars sandwiched between two enemies. They declared on me and attacked with a 4K fleet and I could only get to about 2k while maxing everything out. Was refreshing to actually lose a game.

 

[Crolis]

I usually skip playing after 1 DLC and then do another game after 2 DLC plus patches. So in around 6 months I’d guess.

 

[Crolis]

I play every other release so I’m due. This looks pretty good and ok quarantined so I’m in.