[BlackUmbrellas]

Theres not very many though, there's the void dragon (though it came from a long dead universe, not another dimension), the dimensional horror, and the Horizon Signal.

I agree though, the Psionics ascension end with the 'beings on a higher plane of existence' should be separate from the Unbidden.

Don't forget the "science ship gets abducted, comes back, and is shortly after joined by a strange but apparently benign copy of the original" which may or may not be Unbidden-related, AND the "the mountain range on this planet is actually the remains of an extradimensional organism that entered through a portal and died" anomaly result.

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

I still hope that Psionics are connected to the Unbidden since it seems like the Biological might be connected with the Prethoryn Scourge and the Synthetic is very likely to be connected with the AI Rebellion

I'll certainly give you that "turning your entire empire into Synthetics" is relevant to the AI crisis (although presumably doing so through this method would protect you from the possibility of your entire population joining the AI rebellion), but there's basically nothing to suggest a link between the bioengineering Ascendancy chain and the Prethoryn.

 

[smjjames]

Don't forget the "science ship gets abducted, comes back, and is shortly after joined by a strange but apparently benign copy of the original" which may or may not be Unbidden-related, AND the "the mountain range on this planet is actually the remains of an extradimensional organism that entered through a portal and died" anomaly result.

Oh yeah, forgot about those two. Seems like the first one might be related to the Unbidden, and I think I've read around that the second one is actually Moya from Farscape, or at least that's what people interpreted it as.

Plenty of avenues for Paradox to go with the Psionic ascendancy.

 

[Milten]

but there's basically nothing to suggest a link between the bioengineering Ascendancy chain and the Prethoryn.

I beg to differ. Prethoryn might be one of (not so satysfying) answers on creating ultimate lifeform from another galaxy.

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

Oh yeah, forgot about those two. Seems like the first one might be related to the Unbidden, and I think I've read around that the second one is actually Moya from Farscape, or at least that's what people interpreted it as.

Plenty of avenues for Paradox to go with the Psionic ascendancy.

There are multiple possible results for studying the mountain range- one of them is a crashed bioship with the skeletons of its crew inside, which is probably the Farscape reference. Another is that it's just a titanic organism from another dimension that fell through a portal and immediately died in our universe (likely because of different physical constants or such, I'd imagine).

I beg to differ. Prethoryn might be one of (not so satysfying) answers on creating ultimate lifeform from another galaxy.

That's certainly a theory, but its not substantiated by anything in the text we've been shown. There's zero evidence that the genetic engineering perks have any connection to the Prethoryn.

 

[Rip Off Productions]

Ok, now I have only one question: How soon can we expect Banks to arrive?

that pun... It Burns

 

[Milten]

That's certainly a theory, but its not substantiated by anything in the text we've been shown. There's zero evidence that the genetic engineering perks have any connection to the Prethoryn.

What kind of connection do you mean?

 

[aruon]

@Wiz any chance there could be some kind of Crisis or crisis chain to accompany an ongoing ascension progress? unstoppable evolving disease, something analogous to space zombies with evolution gone awry, a new AI vs cyber/organic hybrids vs pure organics... other unspecified sci-fi doomsday tropes

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

What kind of connection do you mean?

As much as I dislike the idea and hope they take it in a different direction, the "voices from beyond" bit of the Psionic perks does, at least, provide a concept that can be extrapolated to be a potential reference to the Unbidden. The Synthetics perks have an immediate link the AI rebellion crisis by virtue of the way that crisis works.

Genetic engineering? Nothing in that text references or implies a link to the Prethoryn.

 

[Roobster88]

• The Synthetic Path focuses on the replacement of biology with machinery. The first level allows you to turn your population partly synthetic through the use of cybernetics, while the second level replaces your biological pops with robots, turning your empire entirely robotic.

Yes! As a singularitarian I've dreamt of being able to do this in Stellaris but had to make do with purging my pops. Now I won't have to massacre my people anymore to go fully synth.

 

[Milten]

As much as I dislike the idea and hope they take it in a different direction, the "voices from beyond" bit of the Psionic perks does, at least, provide a concept that can be extrapolated to be a potential reference to the Unbidden.

Yes, and many other things.

The Synthetics perks have an immediate link the AI rebellion crisis by virtue of the way that crisis works.

And how is that? This crisis comes from malcontent artificial intelligence. When synths have a choice between their organic masters/collegues and AI-created-by-AI overlord. It's completely different case for synthed population, which is served and ruled by homogeneous non-organic population.

 

[Devastat]

Perks and traditions sound nice, but couldn't help noticing the image of +33% damage perk right in the center of your presentation. For me that really breaks it for me, because it reminds me of WoW and those +10% damage bonus or something perks. It's ok for an mmo, but here it looks a bit lazy. Like you couldn't come up with a less direct bonus. And after the fallen empires have been killed of this perk becomes useless. If I'm going to pay for this expansion, could I ask you to go a bit less direct and goal-oriented in perk effects? Like a perk that gives bonus to tracking, countering the high evasion of the fallen empire ships?
P.S. I have enjoyed your games for about a decade now, and don't plan to stop in any foreseeable future. Basically keep it up.)

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

Yes, and many other things.

And how is that? This crisis comes from malcontent artificial intelligence. When synths have a choice between their organic masters/collegues and AI-created-by-AI overlord. It's completely different case for synthed population, which is served and ruled by homogeneous non-organic population.

I'm not sure what exactly your argument or stance is, here...?

The Synthetics perk line has a direct connection to the AI Rebellion crisis because it is focused on replacing your population with synths- production of robots, droids, and synths is closely associated with the AI Rebellion crisis. Whether or not taking the perks makes triggering that more likely or not isn't something we know yet- we don't know how any of the Ascension paths interact with the Crises- but we can quite reasonably speculate that there will be some form of interaction because of how closely related they are.

The Psionics perk line can be interpreted to make reference to the Unbidden- I rather hope it isn't, and that there isn't any sort of direct link between them, but I can see why people would speculate.

The Genetics perk line has no such close association or potential references to the Prethoryn. Nothing in its descriptive text alludes to them, and there's no reason to think that increased genetic engineering of your species would create the Prethoryn- the Prethoryn are a distinct extragalactic group with no prior contact with the Stellaris galaxy that we know of, and as far as I'm aware, no indication that they were created through genetic engineering or are the "inevitable" result of such.

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

Perks and traditions sound nice, but couldn't help noticing the image of +33% damage perk right in the center of your presentation. For me that really breaks it for me, because it reminds me of WoW and those +10% damage bonus or something perks. It's ok for an mmo, but here it looks a bit lazy. Like you couldn't come up with a less direct bonus. And after the fallen empires have been killed of this perk becomes useless. If I'm going to pay for this expansion, could I ask you to go a bit less direct and goal-oriented in perk effects? Like a perk that gives bonus to tracking, countering the high evasion of the fallen empire ships?
P.S. I have enjoyed your games for about a decade now, and don't plan to stop in any foreseeable future. Basically keep it up.)

Methinks you've never talked to the Enclaves much.

 

[Oscot]

Perks and traditions sound nice, but couldn't help noticing the image of +33% damage perk right in the center of your presentation. For me that really breaks it for me, because it reminds me of WoW and those +10% damage bonus or something perks. It's ok for an mmo, but here it looks a bit lazy. Like you couldn't come up with a less direct bonus.

I agree with this. It'd be more in keeping with the sci-fi theme if advancing down these moral-social paths didn't make your weapons do more damage BY FIAT, but rather unlocked for you one (or several) anti-Fallen-Empire technologies.

In fact this whole thing should ideally be a tech tree branch rather than a we just became good at this by spending lots of Unity mana shtick.

 

[tanny]

Hey I have a question. But don't need to spoil
Do you have a plan for "merge federation" button?
I don't care if it's unlocked through harmony tradition or technology but through one of twitter screenshot a domination perk said "can get slave from vassal". This means the tradition might have powerful mechanics. I don't care if it's here or elsewhere. I don't care if you don't show that yet. But please tell me is there? I requested again and again but never forget. Now please do it and then we can unite the whole galaxy into "Federation victory". And pacifists would have their place

 

[Radically Right Wing]

I'm not sure what exactly your argument or stance is, here...?

The Synthetics perk line has a direct connection to the AI Rebellion crisis because it is focused on replacing your population with synths- production of robots, droids, and synths is closely associated with the AI Rebellion crisis. Whether or not taking the perks makes triggering that more likely or not isn't something we know yet- we don't know how any of the Ascension paths interact with the Crises- but we can quite reasonably speculate that there will be some form of interaction because of how closely related they are.

The Psionics perk line can be interpreted to make reference to the Unbidden- I rather hope it isn't, and that there isn't any sort of direct link between them, but I can see why people would speculate.

The Genetics perk line has no such close association or potential references to the Prethoryn. Nothing in its descriptive text alludes to them, and there's no reason to think that increased genetic engineering of your species would create the Prethoryn- the Prethoryn are a distinct extragalactic group with no prior contact with the Stellaris galaxy that we know of, and as far as I'm aware, no indication that they were created through genetic engineering or are the "inevitable" result of such.

Why don't you want the Psionics Ascension to be related to the Unbidden? Don't you think it would make the game more interesting if the End Game Crisis were all really different forms of Ascension?

 

[Mackus]

I agree with this. It'd be more in keeping with the sci-fi theme if advancing down these moral-social paths didn't make your weapons do more damage BY FIAT, but rather unlocked for you one (or several) anti-Fallen-Empire technologies.

In fact this whole thing should ideally be a tech tree branch rather than a we just became good at this by spending lots of Unity mana shtick.

If Other ascensions perks were stated involve event chains and special projects, why wouldn't "Galactic Contender" too?
I mean its not like this Dev Diary spoils EVERYTHING that will be in the Banks.

 

[tanny]

- Will FEs start with Ascension Perks unlocked?

- Will other empires react to your choices of Ascension Perks (e.g. Spiritualists being horrified by synthetic evolution)?

- Will the AI personalities have different "endgames", or will the AI just pick any Ascension Perk that is available when a slot unlocks?

- Can we replace Ascension Perks (e.g. removing the anti-FE perk if they have all been defeated)?

1: not sure but it's and "endgame" and FE might have their own. also interested if FE will advance again after awakening or even stealing "victory"
2: possible or even limited and it is 99% likely that it would require certain tech and spiritualist don't get robot materialist don't get psionic and regular empire usually get these late so it's quite practically limited
3: paradox is detailed devs so it might be true
4: not sure

 

[sithalo]

I been tinkering with the idea of making some sorta special techs that lead you down the path of cybernetic or organic purity (and possibly psionic but was up in the air) and now those are coming into the game anyway.

Just more reminders of why I dont mod lol