Stellaris Dev Diary #335 - Announcing The Machine Age

[Methone]

The second player crisis path doesn't mean the second genocidal empire, even if those two things sound similar.

But that's just it, it does. Genocidal empires are meant to be a crisis empire. They function the same; beat them or they kill everyone. It's just remarketing something they've already done, putting it out as 'we haven't done this before'. It's dishonest marketing and I don't understand why so many people are willing to just swallow the lie.

 

[Cassilda]

I hope the old "player" Crisis will get at last some improvement alongside this new one

 

[Abdulijubjub]

This looks extremely good for what it is, but I think I have to point out that biological and psionic ascension will be extremely underwhelming the second this goes live.

To be honest, doing a massive expansion of only half of the ascension options seems like a bad idea in the first place, just don't forget to do the rest next.

Mechanically, or narratively? Psionic ascension already has 5-10x the narrative content that every other ascension does. Mechanical balance can be fixed with number fiddling. And narratively, only biological will be left behind if cybernetic/synths get a ton of stuff.

 

[DrFranknfurter]

But that's just it, it does. Genocidal empires are meant to be a crisis empire. They function the same; beat them or they kill everyone. It's just remarketing something they've already done, putting it out as 'we haven't done this before'. It's dishonest marketing and I don't understand why so many people are willing to just swallow the lie.

I understand the feeling. I was the same when Apocalypse removed the bigger Defensive platform sizes at the same time as adding the shiny new Ion Cannon. Old content and new content being so similar in function can make it feel like you're being sold the same thing twice, but replacing something and adding to it are very different in my eyes.

Also for me, novelty comes from how these Genocidal empires function, their motives, art and flavour. All Genocidal empires want to kill everything, just like every weapon kills... but that doesn't mean progress stops with the invention of a rock or research stops at red lasers.

Obviously it would be great if the content was a free custodian project upgrading Nemesis, Synthetic Dawn and existing genocidal civics. But I think this sounds like it's worth buying.

Also after experiencing the custodian rework of habitats... it made my favourite playstyle much, much less fun and extra buggy (I feel like that rework still needs more quality of life fixes, basic things like the UI doesn't understand you can build orbitals on Stars so it's always off by 1, sometimes 3 with trinary systems and so much more micromanagement for me than before). So I would rather big changes being new DLC rather than modifying what we already have, it can't break old content that way.

 

[Calvax]

only biological will be left behind if cybernetic/synths get a ton of stuff.

Biological might be getting something this patch depending on how auto-modding shakes out.

 

[TimeMask]

...Welp I'm going to need that folder update since the moment this comes out, my empire list will threathen to crash stellaris everytime I try to start new game once again :'D

Edit: Sidenote, realized I forgot to joke that there better not be event about generative ai usage Thats way too topical conversation in current climate x'D

 

[Ezumiyr]

Well a lot of things in here have been in the suggestion box for years now, so it's nice to see them coming, especially the "portrait evolution".
However we also see the limits of the age of the game. It would be nice to have an option to remove all the older, unupdated portraits from the game, because difference with modern portraits is night and day at this point.
Like many others I'm sure, I also hope that this isn't the kind of content we'll get for "several years". It's nice to see old suggestions being added to the game, but we need better planets, internal politics, more interesting warfare.

I couldn't disagree more with the comment that compares this with Utopia. Utopia revamped the dynamics of the game. This DLC adds a new set of civics.

I remain cautiously pessimistic. More of the same isn't what we need at this point. The DLC doesn't look bad, but it also doesn't look like something that changes the way we play the game. Synth ascension was already one of the best things in the game, now it's made even better and more interesting, meanwhile some parts of the core gameplay still feel bland. Planets are still boring production units, every empire on the map still fights with the same ships and in the same way.

 

[Chief of Staff]

It is definitely your fault. ;P

 

[SS Boss]

Well a lot of things in here have been in the suggestion box for years now, so it's nice to see them coming, especially the "portrait evolution".
However we also see the limits of the age of the game. It would be nice to have an option to remove all the older, unupdated portraits from the game, because difference with modern portraits is night and day at this point.
Like many others I'm sure, I also hope that this isn't the kind of content we'll get for "several years". It's nice to see old suggestions being added to the game, but we need better planets, internal politics, more interesting warfare.

I couldn't disagree more with the comment that compares this with Utopia. Utopia revamped the dynamics of the game. This DLC adds a new set of civics.

I remain cautiously pessimistic. More of the same isn't what we need at this point. The DLC doesn't look bad, but it also doesn't look like something that changes the way we play the game. Synth ascension was already one of the best things in the game, now it's made even better and more interesting, meanwhile some parts of the core gameplay still feel bland. Planets are still boring production units, every empire on the map still fights with the same ships and in the same way.

You should not expect that type of changes from a DLC, but in the free patches. We dont know the content of the free patch coming out with The Machine Age.

Anyway, I'm sad I cant buy the DLC right now.

 

[Peepijeep]

I will skip this DLC. I will wait for something like federations and nemesis.

 

[RhysTheT00n]

Why do I hear the Reaper sound in my head?

As a huge fan of machines and a hater of their nerfs, it is good that they finally will get some love.

It looks like the machines will finally have its ship set, is that right?

It's not often I come across a Stellaris post that I agree with every word.

Even a Reaper reference as well? Are you my soul mate?

 

[Ezumiyr]

You should not expect that type of changes from a DLC, but in the free patches. We dont know the content of the free patch coming out with The Machine Age.

I really doubt that the free update that comes with revamped warfare wouldn't be accompanied by a DLC that adds even more "fighting styles" and thematically appropriate additional civics. Conversely, a DLC that expands on synth and machine mechanics won't have an update that expands on the core gameplay in a significant way.

The two go hand in hand most of the time.

 

[SS Boss]

I really doubt that the free update that comes with revamped warfare wouldn't be accompanied by a DLC that adds even more "fighting styles" and thematically appropriate additional civics. Conversely, a DLC that expands on synth and machine mechanics won't have an update that expands on the core gameplay in a significant way.

The two go hand in hand most of the time.

I dont know, they gave that rework of ascension paths in a free patch without DLC.

A lot of good stuff came in free patches without being linked to the DLC content or even without an accompanying DLC.

 

[Archael90]

My signature sais
"Flesh is weak thus mind is over matter. Let's all ascend and free our sparks from bodies."
Will there be something like that? (Aside front crisis)

 

[kobivan]

Will we get info on the Stellaris 3.12 ‘Andromeda’ update as well as DLC??

 

[captainbeastfeast]

Great! Can I finally go properly rogue as a rogue servitor and start zombieing biological pops that my primary biological species doesn't like very much?

 

[SS Boss]

Mechanically, or narratively? Psionic ascension already has 5-10x the narrative content that every other ascension does. Mechanical balance can be fixed with number fiddling. And narratively, only biological will be left behind if cybernetic/synths get a ton of stuff.

I still want a Shroud story pack anyway.

A good theme for genetic ascension content would be some type of "creator" stuff. In the end you just become the "Old Ones" of several fantasy setting out there, creating life and filling up the galaxy.

I was sad that First Contact did not have something like that, you just seeding life in empty planets to see their growth and somewhat learn from it.


Edit: In the end I think theres still hope for revisiting the other ascension paths. My dreamed Shroud Story Pack obvioulsy would come with more stuff for psionic ascension, while the hyped Organic Species/Ship DLC is a prime opportunity to bring more stuff for genetics.

 

[Tannhäuser Cake]

I propose "Synthetic Noon", leaving the door open for "Synthetic Dusk" down the way.

Or "Synthetic Twilight", with robotic vampires?

Also, there would still be room for a fourth DLC: "Synthetic Night".

Wonder if we'll get the psychics and bio's paired in a single expansion like this. That could be interesting. I know we've already got Prethoryn Scourge, but I think Tyranids are too much of a perfect pairing of Bio and Psychic concepts (their "Shadow in the Warp" thing) not to be utilised somehow. Another become-the-crisis option, maybe?

Alternatively, they may wish to split those into two more DLCs, allowing them to pair psychic with some kind of religion feature, and bio with features which improve/shake-up the species panel, army recruitment, and amenities.

A psi-oriented DLC could also include etheroid (energy) portraits. The Psionics field is basically a different kind of physics, in all ways except for its current research tree placement, after all - mostly reflecting / replacing different Physics technologies. Psionic ascension could unlock a new set of various psionic traits, as well as access to "energy being" portraits.

A genetics-oriented DLC could include biological polymorphism / amorphism (Umgah) / Cronenbergoid / bloboid / amoeboid and feature appropriate portraits. The DLC could also consider Blade Runner replicants, and the free update could also overhaul Xeno-Compatibility (unless the auto-modding change already addresses it).

Utopia revamped the dynamics of the game. This DLC adds a new set of civics.

The "Auto-Modding" part might change the dynamics of the game, depending on exactly what it is.

 

[RhysTheT00n]

Hmmm, a Flood-like (from Halo) swarm augmented by cybernetics/AI (ala Mendicant Bias)? Time will tell.

Ultima Vigilis must be playing a role...

They're kinda baking in a bit of a spiritualism thing into this as well with the digitization of species (if I'm understanding that right), so maybe this new Crisis will be a sort of amalgamation of the other 3? If so, I really hope we get an option to force them to be the last Crisis to spawn if you're using the All Crisis option. And what Relic will they drop, and how OP will it be?

 

[Omega124]

I really hope that the old special machine civics are available for individualist robots. One of my favorite RP builds is a Mega Man-themed build where Reploids eventually develop space travel and head to the stars. Currently I have them set up as a rogue servitor with a very combat focused build, as the Maverick Hunters continue their mission to protect humanity, even though they've long been supplanted as Earth's dominant species. It's a lot of fun, but obviously the Reploids aren't a hive mind in the original lore. It was something I'd put up with, but I would really love it if I could be more accurate and be individualist rogue servitors.