Stellaris Dev Diary #175 - Space Fauna

[CrazyJ]

Look people, Stellaris isn't a perfect game, that's simply a fact the very nature of way it constantly changes means that bugs are inevitable. I've accepted this, i don't mind if any non game breaking bugs remain unpatched because most can be fixed by reloading a save and the devs efforts are best spent putting down serious problems like the post 2.2 lag and AI shitshow(both of which were fixed by the very devs some are saying don't care enough to fix the game). The game is in the best state it has been in since 2.2 dropped, hell the devs delayed a major dlc so they could spend a few months bug hunting and lag fixing, what more do you guys want?

 

[Spaceception]

These are the first steps we’re taking towards reinvigorating the galaxy a bit. We’ll give you more information in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for future dev diaries!

So last week, in regards to what we'd like in 2.7, I posted this:

Stances are a really cool addition, but there’s not a lot of Diplomatic incentive to them.

Different stances don’t have different preferences on deals. And some of the bonuses only indirectly affect diplomacy by adding diplomatic weight. So I’d like to change this up a bit. Expansionist is the most obvious one here, its only Diplomatic effect is border friction. Since the tooltip describes peaceful expansion, what if they also got cheaper Migration treaties and/or better immigration rates? Another is Mercantile - since they’re obviously all about trade - what if they also got cheaper Commercial pacts, and/or more trade value gained on both sides? All of the stances could get unique bonuses in this regard.

And as I'm playing a Pacifist RPing as a Liberator, it got me thinking about a possible new Diplomatic Stance on top of this. So "Liberator", would be for Pacifists and non-Militarists. As far as bonuses go, I imagine that there could be some military bonuses like faster ship build speed during a Liberation war, cheaper Defensive pacts with Liberated Empires, and Envoys to improve relations with Empires who don't share ethics/maybe authority could cost more influence per month (If these are possible).

 

[sentinalg]

Have you guys considered adding movement to spatial bodies? I think it would be neat to see moons orbiting planets and planets orbiting stars. The sector screen is pretty static, thought I suppose this could make it more difficult to identify sectors.

 

[KingoftheHillZA]

Would be nice to see a few more resolutions in the Galactic Community.

Specifically relating to authoritarianism, spiritualism and maybe some number tweaking for the effects of current resolutions.

The ecologist resolution is for example widely considered to be a huge detriment to every Empire.

 

[Mastah Jedi]

Let me speak on behalf of those, who hate UN. Please don't over do it. Don't make everything UN. As far as I'm concerned, they already have plenty of influence, and now I basically have to conquer most of the galaxy, just to get rid of it.

 

[Pointyearedgit]

Pretty cool, I’ll be excited to see this, especially if the AI stops spamming minor sanctions. Still, I’ve been enjoying the update a lot overall. It’s really helped keep me sane, I don’t think I’ve ever maxed out the achieves this fast lol.

 

[NilsFabian]

Have you guys considered adding movement to spatial bodies? I think it would be neat to see moons orbiting planets and planets orbiting stars. The sector screen is pretty static, thought I suppose this could make it more difficult to identify sectors.

I would love to see that, would make stellar warfare interesting like beating the enemy by 2 days as my fleet had a shorter way to do. But I'd say that this would slow down the game in a way that's not worth it.

What I would love to see is a more balanced approach to ethics.
In my current game I seem to be the only spiritualist empire. So I am never able to repeal the mandatory AI resolution.

And speaking of the Galactic Community.
Please fix the favor system

 

[cfwl]

Look people, Stellaris isn't a perfect game, that's simply a fact the very nature of way it constantly changes means that bugs are inevitable. I've accepted this, i don't mind if any non game breaking bugs remain unpatched because most can be fixed by reloading a save and the devs efforts are best spent putting down serious problems like the post 2.2 lag and AI shitshow(both of which were fixed by the very devs some are saying don't care enough to fix the game). The game is in the best state it has been in since 2.2 dropped, hell the devs delayed a major dlc so they could spend a few months bug hunting and lag fixing, what more do you guys want?

From the perspective of someone who plays MP with friends about 90% of the gametime, the game is not in the best state since whatever. The game mechanics certainly are. But now we have a problem in MP area of the game, which is not fixable with saving/rehosting the game. There is some population related trigger event, which causes the game to desync (desync_pop_modifier, desync_pop_count,...) at some point in midgame. When you rehost the game it desyncs as soon as you start the game (desync_random_count). At that point the save game is doomed, cause you cant start it again.

In all other point i would blindly go with your opinion.

 

[LordNarvi]

Have you guys considered adding movement to spatial bodies? I think it would be neat to see moons orbiting planets and planets orbiting stars. The sector screen is pretty static, thought I suppose this could make it more difficult to identify sectors.

IIRC that used to be in very early versions. Did bad things to pathfinding.

But I think they should reimplement it. It'd feel good.

 

[Negru Voda]

I think the direction is good. My first gut feeling is that ideally, it sounds like it would be kinda neat to have the fauna looking for systems with appropriate conditions and to multiply on their own based on those conditions.

The challenge with this kind of system is to be careful not to have fauna getting out of hand - although that could become a fun mid-game issue to deal with. It is also pretty emergent based on the galaxy conditions - which can make it unpredictable and surprising every time.

 

[b3ryl]

Let me speak on behalf of those, who hate UN. Please don't over do it. Don't make everything UN. As far as I'm concerned, they already have plenty of influence, and now I basically have to conquer most of the galaxy, just to get rid of it.

Maybe don't join then? Sure, you'll miss out on the bonuses, but you won't be hampered by maluses either so it all kind of evens out if you don't participate. And if you really hate it so much that you make it your mission to get rid of it even if you're not part of it, then hey, good roleplaying, my man!
I personally enjoy Federations more than any other update so far. Stellaris was lacking in diplomacy for a long time, and, at least for me, there's only so many times you can dominate the galaxy using bigger fleet diplomacy before it becomes a bit repetitive. For me the more diplomatic options you have the better, so I'm happy Space Fauna will be included. In fact, I'm hoping you'll have the option to create reserves, hunting grounds, resolutions to include or exclude certain leviathans from protection, etc.

 

[b3ryl]

If I were you then I wouldn't follow that path any further since you're basically questioning the competence of the game-/ and content-designers to patch their own game.

Game/content designers do know how stuff works... on paper. That's why they write specifications for coders to translate into code. It's the coders who introduce bugs, not designers. In most companies it's not a hard-core requirement for designers to know how to code and many of them don't. They have an idea of what they want from the game's mechanics and they can eloquently put it into easy to understand specifications, but it's up to the coders to introduce those mechanics as best they can into the game, and that's when most of the bugs get introduced. Not in the design stage, but rather in coding.

 

[Mastah Jedi]

Maybe don't join then? Sure, you'll miss out on the bonuses, but you won't be hampered by maluses either so it all kind of evens out if you don't participate. And if you really hate it so much that you make it your mission to get rid of it even if you're not part of it, then hey, good roleplaying, my man!
I personally enjoy Federations more than any other update so far. Stellaris was lacking in diplomacy for a long time, and, at least for me, there's only so many times you can dominate the galaxy using bigger fleet diplomacy before it becomes a bit repetitive. For me the more diplomatic options you have the better, so I'm happy Space Fauna will be included. In fact, I'm hoping you'll have the option to create reserves, hunting grounds, resolutions to include or exclude certain leviathans from protection, etc.

I'd be less bothered by the whole space UN tyranny if it didn't place me outside of Galactic law, by not joining it. I'd happily ignore it. The fact what eventually it unifies most of the Galaxy be against me, minding my own business, is ticking me off. Otherwise, I have no issues with it.

 

[CrazyJ]

The desyncs seem to be the most common complaint, i can see why since they seem to make multiplayer nearly unplayable, but guys remember that the devs are going on a bug fixing rampage, odds are the desyncs will be fixed soon enough and you can get back to your multiplayer games(or start new ones, not sure if desynced saves are permanently broken).In the mean time try the single player mode, even if you are a die hard multiplayer only person, you should at least try out the new and improved single player since AI is actually able to keep up with you, on higher setting it is a serious threat even to skilled players. it might sound kinda like i am just saying"Multiplayer is broken? try single player", I kind of am, but my point is that this will be fixed soon enough since it is way too big of a bug to ignore, and while you wait for a few weeks maybe a month just try out the single player, who knows you might like it

 

[Methone]

if it didn't place me outside of Galactic law, by not joining it. I'd happily ignore it

... what?

 

[CrazyJ]

... what?

I think he is talking about the opinion malus all gc empires have to non-gc empires and the fact that the gc tends to unite all similar enemies against him while he is minding his own business.

 

[TheBraveGallade]

wasn't the space ameoba supposed to eat tiyanki? that should be a thing onstantly happening.
additionally, you should be able to breed space ameoba for combat or as a pet and UPGRADE them if you have gene modding.
I want a full fleet commanded by bubbles damnit!

also as you hunt them their AI should adapt and evolve on their own over time

speaking of bubbles... he should give bonuses for trade protection and happiness whenever its in a system

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

Isn't bug-fixing such an incredible challenge ? I'm sure that exciting stories and dd(s) would follow.

Bugfixing is DREDGEWORK. It's boring and repetitive and often opaque to explain. It absolutely would NOT make for exciting dev diaries.

 

[Eladrin]

It's the coders who introduce bugs, not designers.

I introduce plenty of bugs myself, thankyouverymuch.

Bugfixing is DREDGEWORK. It's boring and repetitive and often opaque to explain. It absolutely would NOT make for exciting dev diaries.

Sometimes the bugs we work on are entertaining, we occasionally talk about those on streams or places like Twitter. ("Harming relations with Incoming Asteroid", for instance.)

New features do generally tend to be more exciting to talk about. We did the Q&A diaries while we were heading towards Federations release, which some people liked and others were less thrilled with.

 

[Pale Blue]

Can there be more systems that can spawn space fauna than just the home system? Especially in larger galaxies you otherwise don't really encounter them. It would be nice if with increasing galaxy size additional spawn systems where created. Eg instead of just the great wound that spawns clouds there could be two more regular black holes that do.