Stellaris: New Paradox Sci Fi Grand Strategy

baelthazar · Post by **baelthazar** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:55 pm

JonathanStrange wrote:Damn! Now I want to fastforward to the release date.

I would accept fast-forwarding to when they ANNOUNCE the release date!

Zurai · Post by **Zurai** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:56 pm

That all sounds amazing if it works as advertised. This is a game I will almost certainly buy sight unseen; I expect it'll have problems out of the gate, but Paradox as a primary development studio is very good about fixing what's broken and providing long-term updates to their games.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:50 pm

JonathanStrange wrote:Damn! Now I want to fastforward to the release date.

This is my second most anticipated game of 2016.

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:44 pm

tgb wrote:
JonathanStrange wrote:Damn! Now I want to fastforward to the release date.
This is my second most anticipated game of 2016.

Really, you are going to leave us hanging?

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:56 pm

ColdSteel wrote: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

Out of all the new information in that info dump, that made me smile the most. In this game WE get to commit the alien abductions and cattle mutilations.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 10:23 pm

Lee wrote:
tgb wrote:
JonathanStrange wrote:Damn! Now I want to fastforward to the release date.
This is my second most anticipated game of 2016.
Really, you are going to leave us hanging?

That Which Sleeps holds the number one position.

JonathanStrange · Post by **JonathanStrange** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 1:34 am

tgb wrote:
Lee wrote:
tgb wrote:
JonathanStrange wrote:Damn! Now I want to fastforward to the release date.
This is my second most anticipated game of 2016.
Really, you are going to leave us hanging?
That Which Sleeps holds the number one position.

Hats off for an excellent choice!

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 10:39 am

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

Supposed to be a marriage between GSG and 4x games

What is GSG? Grand Strategy Game?

tgb wrote:This is my second most anticipated game of 2016.

Optimist...

baelthazar · Post by **baelthazar** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 11:13 am

^ Heh, yeah. Given the development cycle of HoI 4, then 2017 may be ambitious.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 12:19 pm

baelthazar wrote:^ Heh, yeah. Given the development cycle of HoI 4, then 2017 may be ambitious.

Perhaps. But I would think making a grand strategy game with a commitment to historical fealty is a lot tougher than making one that is pure fantasy. Explaining why a pikeman can defeat a tank is a lot tougher than explaining why a single survey ship can defeat a space squid, where the answer is just "because we said so".

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 3:28 pm

tgb wrote:Explaining why a pikeman can defeat a tank is a lot tougher than explaining why a single survey ship can defeat a space squid, where the answer is just "because we said so".

True, but that example is more of an issue for Firaxis than it is for Paradox.

Nonetheless, I still don't expect to see Stellaris released until at least a year after HoI4 is out (although I'd love to see Paradox prove me wrong).

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 4:47 pm

Max Peck wrote:
tgb wrote:Explaining why a pikeman can defeat a tank is a lot tougher than explaining why a single survey ship can defeat a space squid, where the answer is just "because we said so".
True, but that example is more of an issue for Firaxis than it is for Paradox.

I know. I was just looking for the most familiar example.

baelthazar · Post by **baelthazar** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 5:34 pm

tgb wrote:
baelthazar wrote:^ Heh, yeah. Given the development cycle of HoI 4, then 2017 may be ambitious.
Perhaps. But I would think making a grand strategy game with a commitment to historical fealty is a lot tougher than making one that is pure fantasy. Explaining why a pikeman can defeat a tank is a lot tougher than explaining why a single survey ship can defeat a space squid, where the answer is just "because we said so".

A decent point, but I ran across something that gave me pause - HoI 4 was announced in January, 2014. It probably will not release until at least January, 2016. I think they had been internally working on it and testing it earlier than the announcement date. Also, Stellaris has a VERY ambitious set of features, some of which will require lots of testing, balancing, and bug squashing. I would not be surprised with a late 2017 or early 2018 release. Sucks... because I want it NOW!

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 9:13 pm

baelthazar wrote:
tgb wrote:
baelthazar wrote:^ Heh, yeah. Given the development cycle of HoI 4, then 2017 may be ambitious.
Perhaps. But I would think making a grand strategy game with a commitment to historical fealty is a lot tougher than making one that is pure fantasy. Explaining why a pikeman can defeat a tank is a lot tougher than explaining why a single survey ship can defeat a space squid, where the answer is just "because we said so".
A decent point, but I ran across something that gave me pause - HoI 4 was announced in January, 2014. It probably will not release until at least January, 2016. I think they had been internally working on it and testing it earlier than the announcement date. Also, Stellaris has a VERY ambitious set of features, some of which will require lots of testing, balancing, and bug squashing. I would not be surprised with a late 2017 or early 2018 release. Sucks... because I want it NOW!

The OP has the leaked Steam screenshot showing the release date as February 16, 2016. Now granted, they may not make that date but it probably shows when they think it will be done. They've been working on the game for years and apparently it's pretty far along. Actually, I think a really complex game like this would be perfect for Steam EA so they can polish it and get the glitches out before launch so I hope it's available in EA even before February.

baelthazar · Post by **baelthazar** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 9:30 pm

I can't see Paradox doing EA. Also, those Steam dates can be arbitrary (and that leaked Steam page was promptly taken down). If they intended to make Q1 2016, I would suspect they might have said something. Still, I hope you are right.

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 10:14 pm

May 9th is the release date. Not long to wait at all.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 7:30 am

ColdSteel wrote:May 9th is the release date. Not long to wait at all.

I haven't kept up with the forums over there. Does it look solid? Are the previews reassuring?

I love Paradox's ambition, but I'm still made wary by their track record.

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 7:57 am

Holman wrote:Does it look solid? Are the previews reassuring?

Yes, they've been doing a weekly developer diary on the Paradox site here.
The information revealed looks fantastic and there's a lot of genuine excitement about the game out there.

They had a news conference at GDC last night to reveal the release date. There will be new videos and other material floating about in the next week. Here's the new GDC in-game trailer from last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJYRLFvJVFg

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 1:23 pm

I watched the 40-minute developer talk about it. I'm 100% in on release day. The bits that stuck out to me:

- "If my scientist had the "mad scientist" trait, I might get some really out there technology options, like orbital mind control lasers."
- You can uplift other life forms. You'll want to do this or use robots and such because terraforming isn't really a thing, and you'll want to have more options of planets to inhabit than the biome your species is cool with.
- However, robot uprisings are a thing that can happen.
- Critical failures in research missions may result in small stuff like the ship being destroyed, or bigger consequences, like knocking an asteroid into a collision path with a planet.
- Archaeological victory conditions are a thing that exist.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 1:42 pm

I will almost certainly buy this immediately and then reflect wistfully about how I no longer have enough time to play games like this. Money well spent.

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 2:14 pm

El Guapo wrote:I will almost certainly buy this immediately and then reflect wistfully about how I no longer have enough time to play games like this. Money well spent.

Don't you spend a few hours on a plane every week? That seems like plenty of time to play this.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 2:35 pm

Chaz wrote:
El Guapo wrote:I will almost certainly buy this immediately and then reflect wistfully about how I no longer have enough time to play games like this. Money well spent.
Don't you spend a few hours on a plane every week? That seems like plenty of time to play this.

Playing it cramped between two fat guys having a farting contest and surrounded by screaming infants just isn't the same.

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 2:41 pm

NickAragua wrote:
Chaz wrote:
El Guapo wrote:I will almost certainly buy this immediately and then reflect wistfully about how I no longer have enough time to play games like this. Money well spent.
Don't you spend a few hours on a plane every week? That seems like plenty of time to play this.
Playing it cramped between two fat guys having a farting contest and surrounded by screaming infants just isn't the same.

In that case, I question the commitment to the cause of galactic domination. Mad Scientist is a trait! It affects available research! Come on!

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 2:45 pm

Chaz wrote:
El Guapo wrote:I will almost certainly buy this immediately and then reflect wistfully about how I no longer have enough time to play games like this. Money well spent.
Don't you spend a few hours on a plane every week? That seems like plenty of time to play this.

It's an hour each way, and I sleep on the way down. Is there a way to plug it directly into my brain so that I can play it while sleeping? That would open up a lot of new playtime.

Sepiche · Post by **Sepiche** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 2:47 pm

Man, I should not have watched that Quill18 preview... I'm not sure I can wait a month and a half for this now.

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 2:53 pm

I never preorder anything. But I was sad when I saw Steam isn't taking preorders yet. Take my money!

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 3:00 pm

Chaz wrote:
NickAragua wrote:
Chaz wrote:
El Guapo wrote:I will almost certainly buy this immediately and then reflect wistfully about how I no longer have enough time to play games like this. Money well spent.
Don't you spend a few hours on a plane every week? That seems like plenty of time to play this.
Playing it cramped between two fat guys having a farting contest and surrounded by screaming infants just isn't the same.
In that case, I question the commitment to the cause of galactic domination. Mad Scientist is a trait! It affects available research! Come on!

Now that I think about it, that's really just a way of increasing the game's difficulty.

Zenn7 · Post by **Zenn7** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 7:47 pm

El Guapo wrote:
Chaz wrote:
El Guapo wrote:I will almost certainly buy this immediately and then reflect wistfully about how I no longer have enough time to play games like this. Money well spent.
Don't you spend a few hours on a plane every week? That seems like plenty of time to play this.
It's an hour each way, and I sleep on the way down. Is there a way to plug it directly into my brain so that I can play it while sleeping? That would open up a lot of new playtime.

Just watched the episode of Dr Who last night from this season where they dealt with something like this.

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Fri Mar 18, 2016 7:58 am

The first stream of the game was done yesterday. Here it is now on YouTube for your viewing pleasure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shoiYDp7EEA

baelthazar · Post by **baelthazar** » Fri Mar 18, 2016 5:51 pm

Dang it... watching these videos is like torture! This looks like the successor to Distant Worlds for my 4X empire building!

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Fri Mar 18, 2016 8:40 pm

Yes, it sure is. This one really has my attention. I don't think I'm going to be able to avoid a rare (for me) day one purchase. Can't wait to try this.

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Fri Mar 18, 2016 10:14 pm

baelthazar wrote:Dang it... watching these videos is like torture! This looks like the successor to Distant Worlds for my 4X empire building!

That's why I'm refusing to watch more gameplay videos until release. No torture for me!

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 8:51 am

Aside from the obvious graphical differences, how does Stellaris compare to Distant Worlds in depth and detail?

baelthazar · Post by **baelthazar** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 8:57 am

Stellaris looks like it has fewer resources and no giant civilian ship economy. However, it does have planetary buildings and political edicts (sort of like EU4's decisions). I would say a more abstracted economy but a stronger political game. The ship design looks comparable to stuff like MOO, but no game has quite the ship design complexity of Distant Worlds.

RMC · Post by **RMC** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 9:29 am

baelthazar wrote:Stellaris looks like it has fewer resources and no giant civilian ship economy. However, it does have planetary buildings and political edicts (sort of like EU4's decisions). I would say a more abstracted economy but a stronger political game. The ship design looks comparable to stuff like MOO, but no game has quite the ship design complexity of Distant Worlds.

It it real time like distant worlds or more turn based like gc3?

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 9:45 am

Pausable real time with an adjustable game speed, and you can give orders while paused. I'm allergic to real time strategy, but the way Paradox does it is just fine with me.

RMC · Post by **RMC** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 9:50 am

Chaz wrote:Pausable real time with an adjustable game speed, and you can give orders while paused. I'm allergic to real time strategy, but the way Paradox does it is just fine with me.

That makes it easier for me, as I hate that about paradox games. I loved the games, but could never quite get over the real time aspect. Call me old.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:43 am

NickAragua wrote:
Chaz wrote:
El Guapo wrote:I will almost certainly buy this immediately and then reflect wistfully about how I no longer have enough time to play games like this. Money well spent.
Don't you spend a few hours on a plane every week? That seems like plenty of time to play this.
Playing it cramped between two fat guys having a farting contest and surrounded by screaming infants just isn't the same.

But you have to admit, I clearly won.

ColdSteel · Post by **ColdSteel** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 11:57 am

baelthazar wrote:Stellaris looks like it has fewer resources and no giant civilian ship economy. However, it does have planetary buildings and political edicts (sort of like EU4's decisions). I would say a more abstracted economy but a stronger political game. The ship design looks comparable to stuff like MOO, but no game has quite the ship design complexity of Distant Worlds.

I think one other big difference is that they have heavily emphasized exploration in Stellaris. They want you to run into ancient mysteries of the universe on forgotten planets and research those mysteries. These are sort of like quests and can be chained. The results can be almost anything. From awakening an ancient system devouring horror to finding new technologies or races. It's the part of the game I'm most hyped about, actually.

Also, Paradox published the 'Sword of the Stars' games from Kerberos and it's clear that they've taken some things from those games. SOTS1 in particular. A good example being the different FTL technologies for races that are identical to what's in SOTS. They seem to have borrowed pieces and pieces from the best 4x space games out there.

My biggest concern is the combat. I hope it has enough to be satisfying. I can live without direct control of my ships as long as I can provide some kind of orders or scripting in advance of the battle. I can live with a system similar to Dominions 4 for example. I think maybe you can do that with combat computers.

The combat might be off-hand, but you can still indirectly affect how each individual ship will behave. When you design your ship you may specify what combat computer to use on the ship. These computers range from making your ship super aggressive, and basically charge the enemy, or be really defensive and keep formation. At the start of the game only the default combat computer is available, but more are unlocked through normal research or reverse engineering.

So, we'll see, I guess.

Sepiche · Post by **Sepiche** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 10:46 am

Great gameplay video with the lead developer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shoiYDp7EEA

Shows off a lot of the new game stuff, and almost an hour of early gameplay.

And a new episode is steaming live right now:
https://www.twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive