Stellaris: New Paradox Sci Fi Grand Strategy

Sepiche · Post by **Sepiche** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:28 pm

Apparently this has been under wraps for a while and was due to be announced tomorrow, but Paradox accidentally made it visible on Steam temporarily:

Word on the street is it's Crusader Kings 2 in space, but hopefully we'll know more tomorrow.

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:48 pm

Sepiche wrote:Word on the street is it's Crusader Kings 2 in space, but hopefully we'll know more tomorrow.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing or ?

Sepiche · Post by **Sepiche** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:56 pm

GreenGoo wrote:
Sepiche wrote:Word on the street is it's Crusader Kings 2 in space, but hopefully we'll know more tomorrow.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing or ?

In my book a good thing. The character/RPG aspects of CK2 is what makes it shine, and if they can successfully incorporate that into a sci fi setting it could be pretty amazing. I'm really hoping the sci fi setting might let Paradox be a little more focused on good game play instead of always trying to shoehorn their games into a historical setting.

Supposedly Paradox licensed a sci fi RPG a bit back called Coriolis which might be the setting for this, but no confirmation of that for now.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 3:38 pm

Yes, please. Interstallar dynasties with political turmoil a la Dune sounds fantastic.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:14 pm

Crusader Kings was so much about the people that warfare, economics, and moving units on the map were really tertiary to traits and relationships. I would love to see that model played out in an SF setting.

It will probably be a straightforward feudal space-opera strategy game, but I hope there might be more of an adventure component as well, with individual choices taking center stage. Who's allied with the rebels? Who's a replicant? Who's secretly an alien? Who got impregnated by a xenomorph when they responded to a distress beacon?

Mr. Fed · Post by **Mr. Fed** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:36 pm

It'll be all "Darth Vader married Leia but got stabbed as a result of a conspiracy by JarJar."

Sepiche · Post by **Sepiche** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:47 pm

Little better view of some of those images:
https://imgur.com/a/wAJgu#uOWK0iI

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:52 pm

The Interstellar map looks succession wars-ish <3

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:55 pm

LordMortis wrote:The Interstellar map looks succession wars-ish <3

Succession Wars! I always wonder who else out in the world played that game.

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:33 pm

I'm getting a warm fuzzy vibe from those detailed screenies.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 6:48 pm

I'm getting a Distant Worlds vibe from the little screenies.

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 7:35 pm

I don't find politics inherently interesting from a gameplay point of view, but I'm certainly open to good new games, whatever the genre.

Looking forward to impressions.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:41 pm

LordMortis wrote:Yes, please. Interstallar dynasties with political turmoil a la Dune sounds fantastic.

Emperor of the Fading Suns - even better!

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 10:06 pm

This looks like a game that will make me wish that I had the spare time that I had back in high school.

JonathanStrange · Post by **JonathanStrange** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 10:50 pm

I like the idea of this game. I especially like it's being untethered from history. It's about time for another space strategy game or is it? I have doubts, esp about getting another lethargic AI. I'm not saying I won't buy anyway, I usually do.

Zurai · Post by **Zurai** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 12:45 am

I've always wanted a Battletech CK2 mod. It'd be perfect -- Battletech is already Feudalism In Space anyway. This won't be Battletech of course, but Feudalism In Space is a concept with some room to run and both CK2 and EU4 have been incredibly fun games I've spent hundreds of hours in (each!) so Paradox has some currency with me.

Lagom Lite · Post by **Lagom Lite** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 4:15 am

Nice, I'll be watching this. Let's hope Paradox can design a better UI this time though...

Lots of space games recently!

RMC · Post by **RMC** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:21 am

Mr. Fed wrote:It'll be all "Darth Vader married Leia but got stabbed as a result of a conspiracy by JarJar."

Love it!

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:23 am

El Guapo wrote:This looks like a game that will make me wish that I had the spare time that I had back in high school.

YOu can tell this from half a dozen screenshots and nothing else?

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:24 am

Grifman wrote:
El Guapo wrote:This looks like a game that will make me wish that I had the spare time that I had back in high school.
YOu can tell this from half a dozen screenshots and nothing else?

I can tell this from Paradox and from "Crusader Kings 2 in space"

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:44 am

El Guapo wrote:
Grifman wrote:
El Guapo wrote:This looks like a game that will make me wish that I had the spare time that I had back in high school.
YOu can tell this from half a dozen screenshots and nothing else?
I can tell this from Paradox and from "Crusader Kings 2 in space"

Well, we don't know that it's CK2 in space, everyone is just guessing at this point

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:34 am

I really hope it *is* CK2 in space and not just another 4X clone. I wonder if it might play out on a scale where individual starships fill the roles that individual family members and advisers played in CK.

The Paradox fanboys at the forum (where discussion has raged around cryptic hints and teasers this month) seem generally underwhelmed. Many of them were apparently hoping for something set in the ancient world.

For me the problem with an SF setting is that it doesn't play to Paradox's great strength, which is its modding community. The CK and EU series have inspired massive modding projects designed to get 10x more history into the games. With SF, there's no basis for that.

Anyway, I guess we'll get the scoop today, since the announcement is expected this afternoon (US).

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:51 am

Holman wrote:I really hope it *is* CK2 in space and not just another 4X clone. I wonder if it might play out on a scale where individual starships fill the roles that individual family members and advisers played in CK.

The Paradox fanboys at the forum (where discussion has raged around cryptic hints and teasers this month) seem generally underwhelmed. Many of them were apparently hoping for something set in the ancient world.

For me the problem with an SF setting is that it doesn't play to Paradox's great strength, which is its modding community. The CK and EU series have inspired massive modding projects designed to get 10x more history into the games. With SF, there's no basis for that.

Anyway, I guess we'll get the scoop today, since the announcement is expected this afternoon (US).

I never really played with Mods. Do history adding mods enhance the game that much?

If I were modder (and I wish I was. Maybe I'll retire one day and learn...) then CK2 in space would give me the freedom to create my RPG, wouldn't it? I could actually have Succession Wars

I could create Star Wars or a Star Trek border skirmish game or make up my own universe. That sounds awesome.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 10:19 am

LordMortis wrote: I never really played with Mods. Do history adding mods enhance the game that much?

IMHO, oh yes. The mod "MEIOU and Taxes" (which is an awful name) for EUIV reworks and rebalances almost all of the systems in the game, usually in the service of making the sandbox feel more historic and less gamey and often in ways that fix flaws Paradox has ignored. Some changes are purely aesthetic (new maps, new music, flavor text and etc) but some really help to deepen the course of events, so that e.g. the whole course of the Reformation involves more choices and more effects than in the vanilla game. For CK2, the "Historical Immersion Project" does something similar.

If I were modder (and I wish I was. Maybe I'll retire one day and learn...) then CK2 in space would give me the freedom to create my RPG, wouldn't it? I could actually have Succession Wars I could create Star Wars or a Star Trek border skirmish game or make up my own universe. That sounds awesome.

If it's event, trait, and choice-driven like CK2, perhaps this would be possible. If it's more plain-4X, probably not.

ChuckB · Post by **ChuckB** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 11:47 am

Well, as someone who has come back to CK2 lately (and immensely enjoying it), this looks very interesting.

I'm just not so sure about some of the screenshots; I guess Paradox is in a difficult position: quite frankly, screenshots of all of their games look extremely boring to the uninitiated (and are even not that exiting for the initiated) - they show a map and some UI (and, sometimes, faces). That's what they are showing because - that's what you're seeing when you play these games. I'm a big fan of maps generally and for me, these games on a large high-res screen look great.

What they are showing in some of these screenshots looks like a RTS or 4x game and I think they are showing some more flashy screens to capture the attention of a wider audience.
If it were CK2 in space, a lot of what we are seeing would probably be eye-candy without much actual use - I mean seeing ships in detail and zooming in would have no use within a CK2-like (and not even EU IV-like) game.

I really hope they create something new that is more than just CK2/EUIV in space but --as others said before-- is not simply their take on space 4x or RTS

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 11:50 am

Grifman wrote:
El Guapo wrote:
Grifman wrote:
El Guapo wrote:This looks like a game that will make me wish that I had the spare time that I had back in high school.
YOu can tell this from half a dozen screenshots and nothing else?
I can tell this from Paradox and from "Crusader Kings 2 in space"
Well, we don't know that it's CK2 in space, everyone is just guessing at this point

We know that it's a Paradox strategy game, which is usually good, and always long. I like that it's sci-fi themed, and if it winds up being CK2 that will be gravy.

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 4:38 pm

RPS preview

Mainly hype, but some information in there. (No tactical combat for those who care.)

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 4:56 pm

After reading the RPS preview, I'm now interested. The way they want to handle research and tie that into possible late-game events sounds fantastic if they can pull it off.

Sepiche · Post by **Sepiche** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 5:05 pm

Yeah, lots of cool new ideas in there. My only worry now is that sounds really, really ambitious with a lot of moving parts and with procedurally generated aliens, planets, etc. to boot, but it's definitely a game I'll keep my eye on.

Stuie · Post by **Stuie** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 5:06 pm

Chaz wrote:After reading the RPS preview, I'm now interested. The way they want to handle research and tie that into possible late-game events sounds fantastic if they can pull it off.

Me too. If the emergent story telling works half as well as they portray, then the hype will be twice as much as the game.

err.... yeah. But I'm not interested.

Edit: I meant I'm NOW interested.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 5:24 pm

It's on Steam right now as "Coming Soon", so I added it to my Wishlist and am Following. Interestingly two people are already playing it. Lucky bastards...

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:01 pm

jztemple2 wrote:It's on Steam right now as "Coming Soon", so I added it to my Wishlist and am Following. Interestingly two people are already playing it. Lucky bastards...

The original leaked screenshot from yesterday that Sepiche posted has a February 16, 2016 release date on it. But maybe they are planning for EA before that? Hopefully. Looks like a dream come true if they pull it off. Ambitious is an understatement. Also, I note that combat will be completely hands off like Dominions 4. I'm fine with that as long as they allow you to give your ships orders before combat begins.

Sepiche wrote:

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:13 pm

Grifman wrote:
El Guapo wrote:
Grifman wrote:
El Guapo wrote:This looks like a game that will make me wish that I had the spare time that I had back in high school.
YOu can tell this from half a dozen screenshots and nothing else?
I can tell this from Paradox and from "Crusader Kings 2 in space"
Well, we don't know that it's CK2 in space, everyone is just guessing at this point

Have a little faith.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:23 pm

Attack of the Pussy People!

Spoiler:

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:31 pm

That looks nothing like a cat.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:31 pm

I'm happy with the preview, and it gives me hope that they're trying to get beyond some 4X conventions.

If they can deliver a solid and polished release, we'll be good.

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 7:28 pm

The RPS preview makes it sound neat, but I read it as as this all sounds well and great, but we need more info/to see it in action. I don't know why I am even looking at it, I keep giving up on Paradox games as being much too complicated for me.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 7:31 pm

Very interesting, I'll be interested to see if they can pull this off.

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 1:15 pm

Here's a huge chunk of new info on the game that I found over at RPG Codex:

General
Built in the Clausewitz engine, the engine that powers EU4 and CKII
Pausable real-time with speed control, like other Clausewitz games
Will be released simultaneously for Windows, Mac, and Linux
Supposed to be a marriage between GSG and 4x games
In the early stages you will concentrate on exploration and colonization
Mid-game is concerned with imperial governance and diplomacy
There are two known victory conditions (conquest and technology) but there is no end date
Seamless zooming from viewing individual planetary bodies up to viewing the entire galaxy
Influenced by a huge number of different sci-fi franchises and stories
Influenced by a variety of games: other Paradox games, Distant Worlds, Sword of the Stars, Civilization, etc.
Little to no automation of features; they don't want to create systems the player doesn't actually interact with
Variation is key; they want to avoid the game being predictable and devolving into an optimization problem

Map
Each Map will be randomly created and covers a galaxy. Maps can vary in size
Starts are largely symmetrical unlike previous PDS games
Currently 1000 star systems is the cap. Each star system also has its own amount of planets.
The map is generated with both a number of single-system empires capable of FTL (starting with a science ship, construction ship, and a military fleet), and other species in various earlier stages of development
Pre-defined maps can be modded in
The map includes nebulas, voids, and other features that get in the way of FTL travel
Details of other empires are unknown at game start

Technology and construction
Technology functions more like a deck of cards than a traditional tech tree, making it more varied from campaign to campaign
Each faction chooses 1 of 3 faster than light technologies near the beginning of the game:
Hyperlane travel is fast, but is limited to an existing layout of connections between star systems
Warp travel is slower but provides freedom of movement
Wormhole travel requires stations to be constructed at the edge of star systems, but allow for longer jumps
Technology divided into three categories: Physics, Social and Engineering
Science ships behave similarly to hero units
These scientists can gain traits that may hinder or help future experiments
Science ships can scan and analyze debris left behind by battles
Science ships will attempt to conduct missions (Fail a mission and the technology will be lost forever)
Some traits may seem terrible but will be the key to unlocking some of the more dangerous and esoteric technologies in the game
Technology is gained semi-randomly and is influenced by the ethics of your empire as well as the traits and demographics of the scientists in charge of each department.
Space bases and minefields can be built outside systems to protect common travel paths
Exploring the local star systems with a scientist leading the team
Option to scan planets for resources
Early discoveries leading to different ends depending on choices made
Option to influence the development of planetbound races by either watching from afar or getting involved
Fallen empires which are technologically advanced but unable/unwilling to rebuild or repair are a high risk/ high reward target for technologies
Technology unlocks can include both improvements to existing capabilities, and things like political edicts

Events
Events differ in range from a single planet to your entire empire
There are very few hardcoded events
Late-Game catastrophes are possible (Examples are AI revolts or Warp Tears)
Possible for more than one catastrophe to occur in a single campaign, but each subsequent catastrophe is less likely
Some events include branching storylines
Events recorded in Quest log
No comet sighted event yet

Diplomacy and Warfare
Galactic federations can be formed or joined
Start out as simple alliances that are upgraded to a federation
Led by president elected at regular intervals
President controls foreign policy of entire federation
President can also build ships using modules of all races in federation (Leading to combinations found no where else)
Federation has a shared fleet, but members do keep their own fleets as well
Similar to in Europa Universalis 4. Has things like alliances, non-aggression pacts, civilian access, military access, etc.
Peace agreement system similar to Europa Universalis 4 and Victoria II
Need claims in order to conquer planets

Military
Ships are customizable; they can be equipped with weapons, reactors, engines, etc.
Obsolete ships can be updated at the cost of time and money
Each unit will be able to be seen in combat
No direct control of tactical situation
Like in other Paradox games, combat cannot be controlled directly and there are no separate maps for the combat itself
Fleets can be commanded by admirals who can have a variety of traits
Ground forces can be led by generals who can have a variety of traits

Planets
Each planet consists of a number of tiles
These tiles can be individually developed by workers or robots. The numbers of workers available is based on population
Manage the building location and resource extraction on planets
Certain parts of a planet may be blocked by dangerous wildlife or sinkholes that have to be dealt with if one wishes to build upon them
Adjacent similar buildings will provide bonuses to each other
Different tiles have different bonuses and penalties
You can appoint a governor for each planet
Affect what goes on on the planet, sometimes autotonomously
Specialization of planets is necessary to do well
For some planets it may make more sense to mine them from orbit rather than colonize them

Species
The player can choose from 7 pre-made species, or design their own within 6 species groups
Created from 6 species types for a race to be grouped into: molluscoid, mammalian (which includes humans), fungoid, avian, insectoid, and reptilian
Every alien species that you encounter will be unique to your game, concocted from a long list of physical traits and social behaviors. The AI will never use the pre-made species
Species traits include bonuses to various aspects (E.G., production or research), and more specific traits such as "xenophobic", "religious", "isolationist", or "pacifist"
During creation, species' technology and ethics are defined
Governing ethics are chosen from one of eight. Currently known are "individualist", "xenophile", "xenophobic", and "spiritualist"
These choices affect what actions are available. A xenophilic empire for example don't get the option to capture and enslave aliens
At least thousands of possible combinations
There are around a hundred animated portraits to represent each race in game
Every species has a backstory
There will be planet bound species to monitor as well. You can passively watch or add in abductions and surgeries
These planet bound species can be genetically modified and controlled or you can commit genocide against them

Population
Uses a POP system similar to Victoria II
Population units (POPs) can have their own species, ethics, and grievances
Population units each have an ethos or ideology
Unhappy populations will attempt to change government or splinter into factions
Factions can be negotiated with, treated harshly, or destroyed when they rebel
Factions can take actions short of outright rebellion, such as sabotaging the nation's religion
There are no religions in the game, but ethics and traits that reflect a catch-all set of religious values
There's no culture in the game
Demographics has effects on other areas of the game such as scientific discoveries

Multiplayer
The game will have multiplayer
The game will have hotjoin (joining in-progress multiplayer games)
Probably no player limit

Characters
Named characters play a big part in the game
A middle ground between Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis 4 characters
No dynasties or marriage
Each character has traits, as well as other advantages and disadvantages, similar to Crusader Kings II
Types of characters includes colony leaders, admirals, generals, and scientists
Characters don't interact with one another in any significant way
Characters can lead factions

JonathanStrange · Post by **JonathanStrange** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:06 pm

Damn! Now I want to fastforward to the release date.