Will NPC Traits be Visible?

[Harle]

I am assuming that all traits of NPC factions will be visible from the moment you encounter them, because that's the most straight-forward and transparent way to allow people to manipulate the game to achieve goals, diplomatic/military/whatever.

But I have to admit, it would be nice/interesting if only certain kinds of traits were immediately apparent (overt physical features, for example), and other traits would have a chance of revealing themselves based on your observations of and interactions with that species (diplomacy and trade). I can't imagine that upon encountering an alien ship, the captain's first thought would be 'let's forward them every actionable piece of information about our species and people.' Some secrecy would be interesting.

Using ships to 'spy' on an alien species, or actual spies, in order to generate detailed information about them, shouldn't be a particularly difficult task, but it would be rewarding. It'd put a different light on that one mysterious alien ship you encountered that appeared in your system that you know virtually nothing about, versus the neighboring empire that you've developed an understanding of through trade and diplomacy.

If you immediately know the faction on the other side is aggressive, warlike, zealous, whatever else that makes them liable to attack you, then you automatically know to play defensively, and if they're pacifists who like trade, you know to set up relations. If you know nothing, then you have to decide between trying to establish relations, assume the worst until you know their motivations, or hunt down their planets and spy on them until you know more, and making the wrong call could have unwanted side-effects. It would really add to the 'uncertainty' of space. Not only do you not know what you will find when you explore, but you can't even be sure what you've found until you spend time studying it. Goes for other sentients as well.

Just a thought!

 

[aitaituo]

A neat extension of this feature would be initially thinking another polity is super hostile and xenophobic, only to later realize they're actual pacifists and it was a big misunderstanding and now they think you're the genocidal xenophobes.

 

[Sinister2202]

In medieval worlds like CK2, there are possibilities where a lord can hear all the stories about some other lord - like the fact that he is possessed or a coward. I don't know, maybe they drink and laugh to themselves of how the neighboring duke is an inbred.

But in this post-modern and science fiction universe, it's impossible to know the traits of an ALIEN who most likely you've JUST ENCOUNTERED, don't even speak your language, and have completely different culture. Like the OP mentioned about the spy, the traits of aliens cannot be discovered without some sort of intel on the profile of the specific alien character - logically speaking. It does make sense though, to be able to see the traits of all your own characters. Realistically, one would check the profile of a certain individual working for you, whether they would be scientists of governors.

There is a high chance and possibility that alien traits won't reveal themselves, because this game has elements of plotting/intrigue to it. It's also possible that, when you encounter an alien scientist for example, and you want him gone, you could "plot" and many options would be open to you - revealing the personalities being one of them.