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Stellaris Dev Diary #296 - Announcing Galactic Paragons

Over the past year we’ve been working on several things in parallel. While PDS Green in Stockholm was building the First Contact Story Pack, our colleagues at PDS Arctic in Umeå were working on a major project as well.


I’m extremely pleased to announce that Galactic Paragons, an expansion focusing on leaders and their impact on your empire, will be released alongside Stellaris’ seventh anniversary on May 9th.

Galactic Paragons Logo

Galactic Paragons is now available to wishlist.

I’m turning the diary over to Petter Nallo, who directed the development of Galactic Paragons, to explain their vision and provide a list of features.

The Vision of Galactic Paragons​

Amidst the great empires of the galaxy, there are luminaries who rise above the masses. They take on many forms: cunning rulers, ruthless warlords, devout prophets, bold explorers, and visionary scientists. These leaders leave indelible imprints on their empires, etching their names into the annals of history and the collective consciousness of the people they ruled.

The Galactic Paragons expansion focuses on these extraordinary individuals, seeking to capture the essence of their epochal reigns.

Event Image from Galactic Paragons

Tell us their stories​

The new level up system will allow you to shape your leaders in a whole new way. Pick traits, select between Veteran Classes and find them positions where they may excel. They are also tied to the galaxy in a new way with a home planet, a previous profession and their own ethics. Follow their journeys and witness their unique destinies unfold.

Leveling up Dolores Muwanga

The Council​

A new ruling council is introduced, where characters in the highest positions of your empire may take their place. Powerful traits have immense influence over all that lies within your empire's borders. And from here, you can unleash political agendas.

The UNE Council

Legendary leaders​

Out there in the void you may discover powerful paragons. These may seek to join your empire depending on your ethics. Here, may be approached by greedy governors who grovel in the dust, cunning spymasters, prophets who disseminate knowledge of the Shroud and so on. But as you explore the galaxy you may also encounter truly legendary beings that may change the core of your empire.


And then the rest…​

There will be a new origin, several new civics, tradition trees, agendas, council positions and much more.

More will be revealed in the near future.

Galactic Paragons

What’s Next​

You may notice that May 9th isn’t very far away, so we’ll be continuing a twice-a-week dev diary schedule until the anniversary and Galactic Paragon’s release. There are a lot of features to get through, so be prepared for some longer than usual diaries.

This Thursday we’ll explore the Council, Leaders, and Agendas.

See you then!

Wishlist now!
 

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Not surprised that a Tuesday Dev Diary meant a DLC announcement.

But a DLC announcement that Paradox didn't leak on Steam or the Wiki a few days early? Color me surprised (or screaming placeholder pink).
 
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Lets hope that the council mechanic will be expanded to the Federations and the galactic empire.
Imagine being a member of the galactic council AND as such getting the responisbility fpr the imperial economy.
This could be the first step turning the Federations into actual nations
 
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Will the new bonuses come with drawbacks, or be balanced in another fashion, to avoid power creep?

Will empire customization also allow us to design the starting ruler more thoroughly (traits, ethics, profession, et cetera)?
(the randomness of starting ruler characteristics is sometimes a source of restart-scumming)

Will species traits of leaders be made more visible?
(Talented, lifespan, learning speed...)

Any chance that the low value of leader level cap bonuses being addressed?
(there are far too many, and they soon become pointless for organics without significant life extensions)

Will colonies and ships sometimes get names relating to (previous) leaders?
(Bob's World, and such.)

What happens if a leader's homeworld is destroyed?
What does that mean for the Doomsday origin?
I loved how waaaay back in the day monarchs/dictators from various government types would get special buildings/structures/ships named after them with special stats and such.
 
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Ngl I pleasantly surprised by this dlc.
Good focus for a new expansion, leaders did have a dire need in a rework.

I do hope this will lead to a trend for internal politics rework in the future as well.
 
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What exactly does Hoi4 have to even offer Stellaris? We're never going to get that scale for land battles in Stellaris, I like WH40k as much as the next guy, but wanting Space Marines landing on a planet that you can then direct is kinda fruitless for this game.
I made a lengthy suggestion post about how i think a more expansive System based on gamedesigns used in HoI could benefit Stellaris when it comes to the really rudimentary system of space combat and warfare. Beginning from terrain modifier to supply to speed of combat and the duration of wars.
The Warfare/Combat system we have in Stellaris is the most basic one we ever had in a PDX GRTS game.
 
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A ruling council? That sounds like even more roleplay possibilities in the 4 person coop I tried last week.
Would be cool if we have a tie in with Co-Op here but i doubt it.
It would be one of the first RTS that tie in Co-Op directly into gameplay.
 
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Stellaris got a Conclave DLC before CK3 lmaoooo

I wonder what a council will look like for a gestalt consciousness...

"I think we should focus on our fleet."
"Why yes I do agree."
"An excellent suggestion, me."
"Am all of me in favor?"
"Aye!"

I mean, sometimes I can't choose what to have for dinner and I'm a full gestalt of myself so
 
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Obviously you're just announcing this so we shouldn't expect specifics, but with the ruling council system can we expect different versions for different types of government? For instance will this effect megacorps, who might get some sort of cooperate structure? Can we rename positions? It would be cool if we had a Criminal Syndacite council and could rename all the positions to godfather positions (capo, consigliere, etc). And then will Gestalts also be impacted by the changes since by their nature they don't really have leadership positions. It would be cool if as a Rogue Servitor we had some sort of puppet organic leader in the system who we pretend is in charge by giving meaningless tasks which make them feel valuable (like all the Captains in Wall-E). Maybe this could even lead to some nice flavor for these empires, where these appendage leaders express small degrees of independence (in the aforementioned example for instance the organic leader could realize their position is a sham and try to regain manual control (just like in Wall-E), before being neutralized and replaced by the computer). Admittedly this second path is probably too much to hope for, but it is possible.
 
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A few weeks ago in your survey, you asked me what makes me stop playing stellaris and how long it takes for me to come back. I answered that I skip a dlc occasionally and usually come back to Stellaris, when the next one drops.

Paradox:
2023-03: First Contact DLC
2023-05: Galactic Paragons DLC

Well played, Paradox ...
 
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Spicy!
After scanning the steam pictures, looks like envoys wont be turned in to a leader, this time round? judging by this ui.
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But more interesting - to me anyway - is what looks like there are subclasses for leaders? And ranked traits - which hopefully rank up via us using/deploying leaders in distinct ways. Or at least in a less RNG way than traits currently work...
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And leader biographies! Been hoping for this for a long time... A long long time lol.
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