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Would it be possible to via modding to add in the ability for new empires to form mid-game?

I.e. hypothetical scenario: It's late in the game, I have built a huge empire, but this also means a lot of corruption in the furtherest reaches of the empire, which leads to some colonies breaking off and declaring themselves free?

This is something I missed as an option in most 4X games, and is something that could be an optional gameplay feature that would add extra spice and extra difficulty for the bigger empires.

In most 4X games, when I get big enough, it just becomes a boring matter of bit by bit swallowing the smaller empires, a feature like this that could lead to heavy destabilization of my empire.

Corruption is represented. The bigger your empire gets, the more tax income is lost due to corruption.

Other faction(s) actions [trade/diplomacy/military] are related to form of government (e.g. empire views democracy as weaklings, republics view empires as barbarians). This is one of many factors that influence other empires actions

Unhappy populations are bad because they won't tolerate very high taxes . If unhappy for along period they may rebel and refuse to pay any tax at all.

Also, very unhappy populations may decide to leave your empire, becoming independent or joining a nearby rival

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You don't need to add this via modding, independent planets can already "ascend" to full-fledged empires over time. You can toggle this on or off on the game start dialogue.

SoM

Great!

Huge thanks, and great news! This is something I've been looking for in a 4X game for a long long time!

Now I'm even more psyched!

Thanks again for the very fast and helpful replies!

ORIGINAL: Son_of_Montfort

You don't need to add this via modding, independent planets can already "ascend" to full-fledged empires over time. You can toggle this on or off on the game start dialogue.

SoM

Do have have their own Personality A.I that fits their backstory.

Super!
But how many the new empires can we have?

There can be quite a few - I've seen new empires forming from independent worlds as well as "splinter factions" of existing empires. In my last test game, after I put a lot of military and other kinds pressure on an enemy faction, some of their systems split off into a new empire and quit the conflict (though they still didn't like me much). Destroying an existing economic and trade network combined with espionage and blockades can create a lot of disruption and unhappiness among outlying systems.

Similarly, I had colonized a new world towards the tail end of that conflict, out on the fringes of my empire. They decided that all in all they were tired of the wars I was getting into (testing a lot of combat as a Human Republic) and shortly after colonization, rebelled against me and formed their own independent government. This happened with two other recently colonized systems as the war dragged on and the burden became larger, so I have my own separate "outer rim colonies" to deal with now.

Finally, as you explore the galaxy you'll find independent worlds that are already populated. Some will want to join you, others will not. Some will stay independent and neutral but never rise to the level of their own "faction" while others will decide that it's time to take their place among the big empires and see what they can do.

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

ORIGINAL: Son_of_Montfort

You don't need to add this via modding, independent planets can already "ascend" to full-fledged empires over time. You can toggle this on or off on the game start dialogue.

SoM

Do have have their own Personality A.I that fits their backstory.

Independent worlds are "splinter worlds," as Erik stated, from races within the game. You encounter them, sometimes, when exploring - some of them haven't broken off from an empire, but exist on a planet as part of some colony from your race's ancient past (part of the game's backstory) or perhaps as... hmm... transplants. These planets can, if allowed by your game setup, leave their planets eventually and colonize. I think Erik summarizes this pretty well.

So the answer is yes - they take on the race characteristics (hates, loves, etc.) of whatever race they are.

Here is something I haven't confirmed - If you set up the game with, say 6 races, if you can find independent planets of races you didn't choose to be starting empires. If you CAN (again, I don't know, Elliot will have to confirm this), I would assume you could end up playing against empires you didn't choose to be starting empires in the game.

SoM

ORIGINAL: Son_of_Montfort
Here is something I haven't confirmed - If you set up the game with, say 6 races, if you can find independent planets of races you didn't choose to be starting empires. If you CAN (again, I don't know, Elliot will have to confirm this), I would assume you could end up playing against empires you didn't choose to be starting empires in the game.

That's correct - if you enable allowing new empires to form at game setup (which is the default) then you can end up competing against empires you did not setup at game start - these other empires form out of independent colonies.

Can you make minor race(independent colony race) in the same way as you can make custom major race?

I think this feature of the AI sounds great, can imagine it adding an element of unpredicatability (unless you set up the parameters when creating these minor races/factions). I'm interested in whether there is a specific start location within the galaxy for these factions e.g. a place where there's little room for effective expansion...

ORIGINAL: Sarissofoi
Can you make minor race(independent colony race) in the same way as you can make custom major race?

There aren't really any minor races - all 20 races are playable. And the independent colonies are one of those 20 races. So, yes you can mod/customize them [:)]

ORIGINAL: elliotg

ORIGINAL: Sarissofoi
Can you make minor race(independent colony race) in the same way as you can make custom major race?

There aren't really any minor races - all 20 races are playable. And the independent colonies are one of those 20 races. So, yes you can mod/customize them [:)]

So if you've got 20 races already in game, what happens if an unhappy planet faction decides to splinter off and declare independence?
What is the upper limit of civilizations? Is the 20 race thing going to limit splintering? or are races and civilizations two separate issues? Apples and oranges like sorta kinda???

Looks like Sarus asked a similar question previous to mine.[;)]

+1
How many factions can be in game?

BTW What are these special goverments? Any races have something special?

There's no upper limit to factions that I've seen - if you have 20 races and they all have splinter factions, then you've got 40 factions, etc.