Bodysnatcher Civic revealed on stream

[Falrinn]

Surprisingly, we got our first preview of the Bodysnatcher Civic on today's Dev stream.

It's basically what I think most people would expect: A Hive Mind Driven Assimilator equivalent with an Espionage spin. It wasn't made completely clear how the Prepare Invasion works mechanically, but I suspect we'll find out next week with the main civic preview.

Also they clarified that the Smuggle Population espionage mission is NOT specific to Bodysnatchers, and there's even an achievement for smuggling out pops that are enslaved or in the process of being purged.

It is also compatible with the Wilderness Origin, though any assimilated pops are immediately converted into biomass so it's probably not a particularly powerful combo.

 

[Helicopter200]

Damn this reminds me of the invasion of bodysnatchers and assimilate movies

 

[zombiezome1444]

Damn this reminds me of the invasion of bodysnatchers and assimilate movies

The devs made some references to the bodysnatchers movie

 

[Lazy Name]

I only skimmed the stream, so does anyone know if it excludes all Devouring Swarm variants or only Devouring Wilderness?

Also, it makes sense mechanically that it excludes Necrophage, but it still feels a bit thematically weird. Parasites that at first puppet the host before eventually bursting out feels like a decently popular trope.

 

[Falrinn]

I can't recall if the was mentioned off the top of my head, but I'd be very surprised if you could have both Bodysnatchers AND Devouring Swarm given that the central mechanics are in direct conflict with each other.

I think the only real difference between Devouring Swarm and Devouring Wilderness is that Devouring Wilderness is compatible with a Lithoid primary species, which itself is only a thing because Wilderness origins can't be terravores.

 

[zombiezome1444]

It is also compatible with the Wilderness Origin, though any assimilated pops are immediately converted into biomass so it's probably not a particularly powerful combo.

Since Biomass is necessary for expansion, being able to get extra biomass more easily might still be very strong. Biomass is effectively pops and districts and planets in Wilderness.

I only skimmed the stream, so does anyone know if it excludes all Devouring Swarm variants or only Devouring Wilderness?

They seemed to imply that it was Devouring Wilderness specifically, but I'm pretty sure for prior discussed game balance reasons Devouring Swarm won't get access to it as the above said.

Also, it makes sense mechanically that it excludes Necrophage, but it still feels a bit thematically weird. Parasites that at first puppet the host before eventually bursting out feels like a decently popular trope.

Yeah, it would be cool since by combining them it would work more like an individualist Necrophage where they can work normal jobs. Actually can Necrophages do that? I will check.

 

[Kataclyszm]

Huh, this is a pretty interesting take on what a bodysnatcher civic would look like, if they ever make one ;-)

 

[zombiezome1444]

Also, it makes sense mechanically that it excludes Necrophage, but it still feels a bit thematically weird. Parasites that at first puppet the host before eventually bursting out feels like a decently popular trope.

So I went and checked and currently hive minded pops just can't work necrophage jobs, even though they can be necrophage purged. Maybe they'll change it in the future. Or someone will mod it. Necrophaging does have a surprising amount of modding groundwork that modders have done.

 

[indalecio248]

I think something like this could even be used for non-Hive empires. Think less Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and more Invader Zim, where one empire tries to take over another's empire by inserting subversive agents disguised as normal citizens.

For those not in the know.

 

[great lakes]

crap. now I don't know weather the X parasites should be evolutionary predators or bodysnachers.

 

[Lazy Name]

I can't recall if the was mentioned off the top of my head, but I'd be very surprised if you could have both Bodysnatchers AND Devouring Swarm given that the central mechanics are in direct conflict with each other.

It would make sense for the wh40k Genestealer style of Devouring Swarm using the espionage mission, and the Wilderness Origin also directly conflicts with the assimilation mechanic (since they don't need pops, though it's still useful by creating biomass) but that combination is still allowed. But yeah, I would get it if the combination was banned.

 

[jaketoms16]

Steal population through espionage? Rogue Servitor/Spyware Directive; poaching for my zoo?

 

[cryptkeeper]

Steal population through espionage? Rogue Servitor/Spyware Directive; poaching for my zoo?

yes the smuggle population operation seems to be available for all, regardless of civics. There is cool buff for beacon liberty, that makes me want to make a underground railroad pacifist civilization.

 

[Eladrin]

yes the smuggle population operation seems to be available for all, regardless of civics. There is cool buff for beacon liberty, that makes me want to make a underground railroad pacifist civilization.

In case we haven't explicitly shown it, this is one of the explicitly intended uses for that Operation.

 

[Red Death]

Doesn't this step on the toes of Necrophage Hive Minds quite a bit?

You get the benefits of being able to assimilate pops right away (which is the main advantage for Hive Minds get from Necrophage), without the significant downsides that Necrophage comes with. It's even just a Civic instead of taking up the Origin slot!

That does not seem balanced in comparison.

 

[Cleaving3]

In case we haven't explicitly shown it, this is one of the explicitly intended uses for that Operation.
View attachment 1285548

I BEG OF YOU, PLEASE add this or something similar to slaver guilds. It needs a buff so badly and this would work perfectly.
O great game director, hear my cry!

 

[TranscendentalDragon]

I BEG OF YOU, PLEASE add this or something similar to slaver guilds. It needs a buff so badly and this would work perfectly.
O great game director, hear my cry!

I mean, nothing's stopping you from smuggling slaves, you just have to invest in Codebreaking more...

 

[Falrinn]

In case we haven't explicitly shown it, this is one of the explicitly intended uses for that Operation.
View attachment 1285548

Looks good.

I'm guessing you are prompted to choose what sort of pops you want to smuggle out during the operation? It would be very awkward if your underground railroad operation accidentally kidnapped millions of angry slave owners.

 

[great lakes]

Looks good.

I'm guessing you are prompted to choose what sort of pops you want to smuggle out during the operation? It would be very awkward if your underground railroad operation accidentally kidnapped millions of angry slave owners.

I mean, it's not like they deserve it...

 

[FleetingRain]

Now we only need Fanatical Befrienders to be converted into a Rogue Servitor-like civic for Hives.

Also they clarified that the Smuggle Population espionage mission is NOT specific to Bodysnatchers, and there's even an achievement for smuggling out pops that are enslaved or in the process of being purged.

Underground Hyperlane gameplay lfg