Octopus Overlords

I have 67 hours played in this game and still can't get into it. Maybe one day it'll click for me.

Sepiche wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2019 1:31 am Pro tip: If you find a habitable world wrapped in a shield with an advanced race on it. Think really carefully before you open it.

Hold my beer while I open up this here shield...

Had a great moment during a coop game with a couple of friends of mine...

I had a scientist working on a dig site, and it seemed to be taking forever with the end not being until chapter 6, well after the original scientist working on it had died and a new one taken his place. I finally completed it though and found... We've gone on an expansion spree since finding it, but we just ran into a fanatical purifier than shows as equivalent to me in strength that we'll probably have to have a proper war with soon.

I just stated a new game and there are so many changes from the last time I played. I have no idea what I am doing now. Frustrating. And hell, it's 3500 to build a starbase now? So I am stuck in the beginning game unable to do anything but survey. It'll take years to get enough alloys to build a starbase when I am earning 15 per month.

Lassr wrote: ↑Sun Jun 16, 2019 12:17 pm And hell, it's 3500 to build a starbase now?

Where are you seeing that starbases cost 3500? Building one to claim a system adjacent to one of yours should cost ~100 alloys and somewhere around 50 - 100 influence.

Sepiche wrote: ↑Sun Jun 16, 2019 1:54 pm

Lassr wrote: ↑Sun Jun 16, 2019 12:17 pm And hell, it's 3500 to build a starbase now?

Where are you seeing that starbases cost 3500? Building one to claim a system adjacent to one of yours should cost ~100 alloys and somewhere around 50 - 100 influence.

Click picture. Notice lack of resources to build outpost.

I loaded a game I had started several weeks back and I had built several outposts, now if I continue the game each outpost is 3500 alloys.

It appears one of my MODS no longer was working correctly. If I load no MODS then it was 100 alloys to build an outpost. I think it was the mod reducing station maintenance. I'll test that theory shortly.

All right fellas, honest question time. Paradox is having a sale. Considering buying Utopia, Apocalypse, Distant Stars, Synthetic Dawn since they're half price. Total $30.

Any especially negative thoughts about any of those DLCs?

NickAragua wrote: ↑Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:12 pm All right fellas, honest question time. Paradox is having a sale. Considering buying Utopia, Apocalypse, Distant Stars, Synthetic Dawn since they're half price. Total $30.

Any especially negative thoughts about any of those DLCs?

I'm not sure I've gotten my money's worth in content from the DLC. OtOH, they kinda make up for it in that they keep revamping the game. Of all of the Parardox DLC money printing games I've played, I'd say my money has felt least wasted on Stellaris.

... I'm trying to figure out if I pay for the season pass thingie for BattleTech, which is cheaper than buying the DLC.

NickAragua wrote: ↑Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:12 pm All right fellas, honest question time. Paradox is having a sale. Considering buying Utopia, Apocalypse, Distant Stars, Synthetic Dawn since they're half price. Total $30.

Any especially negative thoughts about any of those DLCs?

I think they all add a lot of fun elements to the game and are all worth it if you like the game and can afford it.

In order of importance though (IMHO):
- Utopia: Adds ascension perks to the game, as well as habitats, megastructures, and hive minds making it one of the denser expansions
- Distant worlds: Fleshes out the early expansion events quite a bit, and adds leviathans, but nothing too major
- Synthetic Dawn: Adds machine races. I like playing as one so this rates higher for me, but probably not important for a new player or someone uninterested playing machines
- Apocalypse: Adds titans and planet destroying weapons. A lot of fun, but not vital for playing the game

Went ahead and picked it all up, fired up a game, with my usual "science lizard" species. Surrounded by hostile jerks, but I've already vassalized one (after three wars), working on the other. There sure are a lot of new mechanics in this game since I last played, it's pretty crazy. But my favorite element, exploring the galaxy and researching ancient mysteries, is still there.

New DLC came out yesterday along with some recent announcements.

New DLC is lithovore (mineral eating) races. Nothing massively game changing, but support for new empires that eat rocks and have a variety of new abilities based around that. I'm currently playing a devouring hive lithovore race known in the game as a terravore... they get the usual hive bonuses as well as the ability to damage planets with new blockers in exchange for getting big influxes of resources.

They also announced the next major expansion: Federations. It will be a large revamp of the entire diplomatic system focusing on fleshing out the mechanic for federations, and introducing some galactic council mechanics later in the game.

Really looking forward to that as, next to a covert operations system, a revamp of diplomacy was something I've been really hoping for.

Sepiche wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:42 am They also announced the next major expansion: Federations. It will be a large revamp of the entire diplomatic system focusing on fleshing out the mechanic for federations, and introducing some galactic council mechanics later in the game.

Really looking forward to that as, next to a covert operations system, a revamp of diplomacy was something I've been really hoping for.

Agree. This will likely get me back into the game, as I find the IMO missing diplomatic system in Stellaris its biggest issue

New Dev diary is out today with details of the new origin mechanics and some of them sound like a blast.

Among other things you can start as the vassal of a fallen empire, on a shattered ringworld, or on a habitat orbiting the ruins of your homeworld. Sounds like some will definitely be more challenging than others which is a cool way to customize the difficulty a bit more.

I suspect the expansion will be out before the holidays, but no official announcement yet.

Anyone have any good suggestions for a Stellaris guide for the latest version of the console edition? I've been playing this on XBOX lately, and I'm really enjoying it. Closest thing to the old Civilization - one more turn - feeling I used to get on some of the first Civ games. But, wow, this game is hard. I could use some tips/guidance.

Kurth wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 1:37 pm Anyone have any good suggestions for a Stellaris guide for the latest version of the console edition? I've been playing this on XBOX lately, and I'm really enjoying it. Closest thing to the old Civilization - one more turn - feeling I used to get on some of the first Civ games. But, wow, this game is hard. I could use some tips/guidance.

Start with the Stellaris Console Wiki. If you're after something more in-depth, check out The Complete Collection of r/StellarisOnConsole OC Guides.

Anonymous Bosch wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 5:24 pm

Kurth wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 1:37 pm Anyone have any good suggestions for a Stellaris guide for the latest version of the console edition? I've been playing this on XBOX lately, and I'm really enjoying it. Closest thing to the old Civilization - one more turn - feeling I used to get on some of the first Civ games. But, wow, this game is hard. I could use some tips/guidance.

Start with the Stellaris Console Wiki. If you're after something more in-depth, check out The Complete Collection of r/StellarisOnConsole OC Guides.

Thanks! Checked out both of those. Great resources. I’m about a hundred years into my first extended game, but I just discovered that my neglect for my navy is a problem. I haven’t really done anything with my starting corvette fleet, and now I’m being chased all over the galaxy by pirates who are exponentially stronger than me.

Back to the drawing board.

Started a new game having watched the video tutorials and done some other reading. Key things I now understand: sector management and ship design. This game is sucking up my time like nothing I've played in a while! Good timing given everything going on in the world today . . .

Anonymous Bosch wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 5:24 pm

Kurth wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 1:37 pm Anyone have any good suggestions for a Stellaris guide for the latest version of the console edition? I've been playing this on XBOX lately, and I'm really enjoying it. Closest thing to the old Civilization - one more turn - feeling I used to get on some of the first Civ games. But, wow, this game is hard. I could use some tips/guidance.

Start with the Stellaris Console Wiki. If you're after something more in-depth, check out The Complete Collection of r/StellarisOnConsole OC Guides.

I’m starting a new game on a fairly easy setting but I haven’t played in a long time so thanks for posting this! What DLC do people like playing with these days? I know I have one of the early expansions but I know there’s a lot of content out there. And the federations (not to be confused with Star Trek) expansion is due for release soon.

(Oops the links are for consoles. Oh well, easy enough to search for PC guides and hopefully this thread picks up a little)

My second extended game is going much better than the first. Finally have a handle on ship design and combat, and I’ve focused on research that gives me extra core systems. I now have 7 and a pretty decent empire. That said, 2 questions:

1) I’m starting to run into a real Influence crunch. I went from always pushing up against the 1K cap to running a deficit. Suggestions for increasing influence?

2) Also running up against the leader cap. I’ve got two extra for a total of 12, but I am over the max between governors for 7 planets, 5 scientists (3 researching and 2 on science ships) and a President. Suggestions?

I bought Stellaris back when it was released but it didn't click with me and I haven't touched it since then. I see that all but the latest DLC are on sale. What would folks consider the "must have" DLCs that add something to the game that would make it more appealing to what is essentially a first time player? I'm looking to get back into it but I'm not interested in playing a full campaign several times before adding in DLCs.

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:50 pm I bought Stellaris back when it was released but it didn't click with me and I haven't touched it since then. I see that all but the latest DLC are on sale. What would folks consider the "must have" DLCs that add something to the game that would make it more appealing to what is essentially a first time player? I'm looking to get back into it but I'm not interested in playing a full campaign several times before adding in DLCs.

Long version:
The main expansions that add significant content are: Utopia, Apocalypse, MegaCorp, and Federations. The rest are "story packs" that add some specific content, but aren't strictly needed. Best bang for your buck is probably to catch those on sale if you get into the game.

Of the main expansions, Apocalypse mainly changes late game stuff you probably won't see for a while and MegaCorp is mainly if you want to play a corporation. Utopia and Federations both add considerable content to the early game, but if you're not worried about the latest stuff really only Utopia adds a lot of content a new player would see. Among other things it adds unity and traditions to the game which are pretty major in their effect at all stages of the game.

TL;DR:
Utopia is probably all you need initially, and you can add the rest if you get into it.

Sepiche wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:36 pm TL;DR:
Utopia is probably all you need initially, and you can add the rest if you get into it.

Awesome! Thanks for the suggestions

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 6:10 pm

Sepiche wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:36 pm TL;DR:
Utopia is probably all you need initially, and you can add the rest if you get into it.

Awesome! Thanks for the suggestions

So far, Federations seems pretty fun too. I would say get this second.

If you played Crusader Kings, Megacorps is basically the Merchant Republics addition to CKII. It allows you to play in a much different way by installing trade post colonies into the colonies of other races. It is very weird to get into and, IMHO, changes the dynamic. So if you haven't played any Stellaris, this is a pretty big deviation.

baelthazar wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2020 9:53 am

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 6:10 pm

Sepiche wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:36 pm TL;DR:
Utopia is probably all you need initially, and you can add the rest if you get into it.

Awesome! Thanks for the suggestions

So far, Federations seems pretty fun too. I would say get this second.

If you played Crusader Kings, Megacorps is basically the Merchant Republics addition to CKII. It allows you to play in a much different way by installing trade post colonies into the colonies of other races. It is very weird to get into and, IMHO, changes the dynamic. So if you haven't played any Stellaris, this is a pretty big deviation.

Yeah, agreed. After spending more time with it since release, Federations really changes the diplomatic game a lot, for the better. I played a pacifistic, diplomatic race well into the end game, and they were much more viable than they used to be because federations and the diplomatic community give them some teeth.

Humble Bundle gets you Stellaris for $1, and some nice DLC if you go up to the $15 tier

Steam keys.

Most likely in preparation for the Stellaris board game launching tomorrow on Kickstarter. Link incase anyone is interested.

It'd be crazy to drop $170 plus shipping on this game especially when I won't see it for over a year, and yet I really want to.

Yeah, I hear ya. I don't even know what the gameplay mechanics are really like, but the thematics already got me.

Now, if they'd completely re-jigger the gameplay mechanics via updates every year for greater fidelity to the source material...

On an unrelated note, "early bird special". lol.

So the only thing that happens as of tomorrow is that we can't get the "devourer" figure or the Stellaris steam access code, right?

That's what it looks like, yeah.

So I've only recently gotten into this game because of Humble Bundle. This reference made me chuckle a bit. I think I need to rush researching a Gellar Field soon...

Lordnine wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:06 pm So I've only recently gotten into this game because of Humble Bundle. This reference made me chuckle a bit. I think I need to rush researching a Gellar Field soon...

" Liberate tu ta me ex inferis."

3.3 Libra update is FREE

El Guapo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 1:35 pm It'd be crazy to drop $170 plus shipping on this game especially when I won't see it for over a year, and yet I really want to.

And now I really really want to and it's only two months out but my budget does not include spontaneous nearly $200 or more board game purchases that I've never played before.

So I haven't played Stellaris in four years and never got any of the DLC, but I'm looking to dive into something relatively new and this I think would qualify. Are there any DLC I should grab to enhance my initial playthrough?

UPDATE: I'm just looking at a basic sandbox playthrough, not a story campaign or whatever they would called them in Stellaris.

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 3:40 pm So I haven't played Stellaris in four years and never got any of the DLC, but I'm looking to dive into something relatively new and this I think would qualify. Are there any DLC I should grab to enhance my initial playthrough?

The big ones up through Federations are all good but all too expensive. I'd wait for a sale. Then I think about:

Leviathans
Utopia
Synthetic Dawn
Apocalypse
Distant Stars
Mega Corp
Ancient Relics
Federations

All add some worthwhile content to the game but not at Paradox Retail prices

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellaris_(video_game)

If you wait for one of the Steam seasonal sales (or the equivalent on other storefronts), typically all of the DLC except the most recent will be marked down. If you want to go all in, there is a Steam bundle that let's you complete the collection with an additional 10% discount, which should stack on top of any sale discounts.