Origin: E.D.E.N. Protocol

[Elimdur]

Alternative take on the G.E.N.E.S.I.S. Protocol origin

E.D.E.N. Protocol stands for E nvironmental D iversity E xpansion N etwork

Premise: Void Dwellers start for machines + Pre-FTL seeding on habitable planets Blocked for: Determined Exterminators, Driven Assimilators, Rogue Servitors

What does it do?

• [x] get the same habitat buffs like standard void dwellers and no access to voidborne ap (this one may need an override in scripted trigger "is_void_dweller_empire")
• [x] start with one pre-ftl civ in system (this one was seeded before ftl was researched)
• [x] two special system initializers (Sol variation of voidborne with mars being habitable and venus shattered, one standard voidborne variation)
• [x] 2 guaranteed habitable planets are instead terraforming candidates
• [x] grants ability to build two new lines of buildings (only buildable on habitat and with this origin)
  • Seeding and Caretaking Buildings
  • [x] prevents pre-ftl civs in system from advancing to space age
  • [x] Tier 1 Seeding and Caretaking Hub
    • requires atleast one of the following in order to be built
    • normal habitable planet ( standard + gaia ) without owner
    • pre-ftl civ in system
    • spawns a pre-ftl civ on one habitable planet in the system (periodic events repeat this process, if there are more applicable planets)
    • offers 1 Caretaker job per pre-ftl civ in the system
    • job ( Caretaker Drone ) produces unity, amenities and reduces empire sprawl
    • offers 2 Seeder jobs
    • job ( Seeder Drone ) produces unity, amenities and society tech
  • [x] Tier 2 Seeding and Caretaking Network
    • offers 2 Caretaker jobs per pre-ftl civ in the system
    • offers 2 Seeder jobs
  • [x] Tier 3 Seeding and Caretaking Nexus
    • offers 3 Caretaker jobs per pre-ftl civ in the system
    • offers 2 Seeder jobs
  • Terraforming Buildings
  • [x] Tier 1 Terraforming Hub
    • requires atleast one of the following in order to be built
    • Pre-FTL seeding present on habitat
    • terraforming candidate / toxic terraforming candidate / tomb world present in system
    • increases Caretaker Drone output
    • periodically transforms terraforming candidate / toxic terraforming candidate / tomb world into normal habitable planet class
  • [x] Tier 2 Gaiaforming Hub
    • increased job output buff
    • additionally to the normal effect: periodically transforms normal planet into gaia world (this is more of a gimmick)
• [x] locked out of hostile pre-ftl interactions (no invasion/bombardment/planetcracking)
• [x] allows special country edict "Protocol Synchronicity"
  • "+ 2% job output per cared for pre-ftl civ" (capped at 50% - 25 primitive civs needed) affects the special void dweller trait as a triggered modifier (if this is too heavy on performance we might have to change it to a country modifier - will have to check later)
  • costs unity to maintain ( this is supposed to be an outlet for the unity you produce by caring for the pre-ftl civs )
• [ ] conquered planets with organics get forcefully sent back into a pre-ftl state (i think early space age and prevented from getting back up but keep all their pops as is
• [ ] story events that unlock stored data deep within the empire's memory banks
  • [ ] way to visualize progress to the player (maybe something like an event chain with counters like we already have for the vazurans and my modjam leader)
  • [ ] unlock screen for the chosen abilities - kind of like a tradition tree but with mutually exclusive choices per tier (if possible)
  • ideas for 5 stages:
    1. early traces of new protocol left behind by creators a) habitat building slots empire wide b) habitat cost reduction empire wide c) unity
    2. hidden bunker with research lab (possible as an arc-site on former homeworld - toxic instead of shattered) a) relic "first plague stems" which unlocks devolve bombardment and/or espionage b) large amount of research
    3. founders opinion split what robots should be allowed to do. a) habitat district slots empire wide b) empire size reduction from caretaker drones c) unity
    4. TODO
    5. heated debate of 3 founder parties (corresponding to machine protocol adjustments and final choice) (long one so new enumerate)
  • [ ] final choice once all is done:
    1. stay caretakers just as original protocol intended (unlock final tier of caretaker building and the ability to gaia-terraform without AP, number of pre-ftls now increases unity production)
    2. founders wanted to join the collective -> become driven assimilators ( building no longer tied to habitats, caretaker drones increase cybernetic pop output, every pre-ftl is getting simultaneously invaded, ease policy, +1 civic slot and DA)
    3. further caretaking -> become rouge servitors ( the caretaker building periodically provides pops from the pre-ftl to pamper, caretaker provide consumer goods, +1 civic slot and RS)

[TreeM4n]

There are some things, that still bother me:

• Even if you get punished for settling natural planets, are the caretaker drones worth it?
• Will you just end up with a bunch of primitives and a job which covers some lost value from the planets? If I played this origin, I would like more uses for primitives. More pre-ftl observation techs, some interactions something along those lines. For players who enjoy mechanics over roleplay/story (no, the edict does not cut it). for DE and RS this is no issue, because they get good benefits (pops).
• The current approach rewards wide playstyle, rather than tall (nothing wrong with that, just wanted to point it out): 1 habitat + 1 pre-ftl per system and you want to get a lot of both, meaning you will need a lot of systems.
• Since this is somewhat void dwellers for machines, the basic void dweller treatment would be appropriate (habitat cost reduction etc.)

Some stupid ideas on my end:

• Maybe give them an option for forceful devolution, like the one colossus beam or bombardment. This way, conquered empires become primitives and can be cared for
• Caretaker drones should have some interesting resource production (empire sprawl reduction or highly specialized research + of course unity)
• Maybe add hatred to empires who enlighten primitives or a similar gimmick

[Elimdur]

• Even if you get punished for settling natural planets, are the caretaker drones worth it?

They should be strong unity producers (in this playstyle they should be your goto unity producer).

• Since this is somewhat void dwellers for machines, the basic void dweller treatment would be appropriate (habitat cost reduction etc.)

I agree, this was implied, but not explicitly stated by me.

• Will you just end up with a bunch of primitives and a job which covers some lost value from the planets?

The reward should be the scaling edict country buff, which may need something more of notsurewhat.

1 habitat + 1 pre-ftl per system and you want to get a lot of both, meaning you will need a lot of systems.

This should be somewhat alleviated by the ability to convert terraforming candidates with the building. Maybe give 2% per pre-ftl civ for the edict as well (so you'd need 25 to get the maximum - still a lot but more managable i guess).

• Will you just end up with a bunch of primitives and a job which covers some lost value from the planets? If I played this origin, I would like more uses for primitives. More pre-ftl observation techs, some interactions something along those lines. For players who enjoy mechanics over roleplay/story (no, the edict does not cut it). for DE and RS this is no issue, because they get good benefits (pops).

We definitely need some more stuff for that. I just can't point out anything obvious right now. Atleast you can say, the buff makes your existing pops more productive while not further increasing your empire size. I know that is not a big thing but should not be forgotten either atleast.

• Maybe give them an option for forceful devolution, like the one colossus beam or bombardment. This way, conquered empires become primitives and can be cared for

Yeah that effect would be useful when conquering a planet already early on, so it should be the standard on owner change when the previous owner was organic.

• Caretaker drones should have some interesting resource production (empire sprawl reduction or highly specialized research + of course unity)

We can add that to their effect.

• Maybe add hatred to empires who enlighten primitives or a similar gimmick

Can these empires be identified by a specific check?

[TreeM4n]

We definitely need some more stuff for that. I just can't point out anything obvious right now. Atleast you can say, the buff makes your existing pops more productive while not further increasing your empire size. I know that is not a big thing but should not be forgotten either atleast.

Ye, didn't expect it a design document most of my comment was thinking further ahead.

That one is a great idea which would make me consider getting the colossus perk for them.

Devolving beam is bad. I would like to push for a better modable solution. Maybe bombardment.

We can add that to their effect.

I agree that pop-less production is strong, but you essentially pay in lost planets, which would have grown pops either way. This is me crunching numbers. But giving the player a reward for pre-ftl seeding, they would also play more in line role-play. Which is more fun for all modder and player. Balance here is hard and not my strength overall :)

Can these empires be identified by a specific check?

on_planet_transfer exist which essentially would check, if a pre-ftl planet was gained. Broadening the hatred to empires who disturb/ vassalize pre-ftls.

Additionally: not sure if a small origin story is fitting, but I could imagine an event-chain where you explore the reason behind your programming and unlock new stuff tied to the number of pre-ftls you care for.

[Elimdur]

on_planet_transfer exist which essentially would check, if a pre-ftl planet was gained. Broadening the hatred to empires who disturb/ vassalize pre-ftls.

The question was whether we can identify the countries that would hate us via a check.

Oo now I realize I read it wrong. It's us who hate others for doing bad stuff.

Additionally: not sure if a small origin story is fitting, but I could imagine an event-chain where you explore the reason behind your programming and unlock new stuff tied to the number of pre-ftls you care for.

That could be interesting, but we would need ideas for what could be unlocked. A story is nice, but the stuff you unlock should be more than some simple resource stashes.

[TreeM4n]

Oo now I realize I read it wrong. It's us who hate others for doing bad stuff.

:)

That could be interesting, but we would need ideas for what could be unlocked. A story is nice, but the stuff you unlock should be more than some simple resource stashes.

Study primitives via espionage, devolving war goal, a relic of your makers .... knights of the toxic god has a fantastic concept via situation which goes faster the more special jobs you have and stages for rewards which enhance the special job.

"Special, weird stuff" are my specialty

[Elimdur]

Study primitives via espionage, devolving war goal, a relic of your makers .... knights of the toxic god has a fantastic concept via situation which goes faster the more special jobs you have and stages for rewards which enhance the special job. "Special, weird stuff" are my specialty

Would you be willing to work out a concept for that unlocking complex? How it should work, what it should unlock and so on. This is basically an additional layer that may very well get as extensive as the origin I already have in my design doc.

I have never touched wargoals - my simple solution would be to make it an innate feature of the origin as you should not settle planets at all so that it would remove them automatically from your list if the planet came from organics. In case of machine empires you would have to vacate the planet manually. Not sure if there is a more elegant solution.

[TreeM4n]

Would you be willing to work out a concept for that unlocking complex?

Sure, should have some free time this weekend. If you have some wacky ideas just send them to me. I'll try to incorporate them.

I have never touched wargoals - my simple solution would be to make it an innate feature of the origin as you should not settle planets at all so that it would remove them automatically from your list if the planet came from organics. In case of machine empires you would have to vacate the planet manually. Not sure if there is a more elegant solution.

I think leaving the player the choice is always best. E.g DE have good reasons to settle planets with assimilated pops and/or keep ones. There are also things like Machine worlds or City worlds, which are needed for viable late-game. I would hate giving up a 18+ sized world to some pre-ftls. I will work out a concept which lets the player have a choice.

[TreeM4n]

Alright here my ideas, this will be along one:

Lore:

The makers of your robotic empire were hit with a plague which rapidly devolved anyone coming into contact with it. To avoid further spreading of the plague, they constructed you: the caretaker of all primitive and underdeveloped individuals. Your tasks were simply to take care of them and collect samples. After centuries of fighting the rapidly adapting plague, all the original founder of the machine succumbed to the plague. The machine continued with their orders and secured themself the first system habitat complex as an observation post.

In game:

(no DE, DA or RS explained later)

• start with a Situation "The Protocol wills it" as a reward/tier system via events
• Start with one habitat and pre-ftl in system
• Custom building with caretaker drones
• (optional) devolve bombardment -> really tiny damage but on 100% turns into pre-ftl civ, maybe add pop flag one by one to avoid switching bombardment abuse

The Protocol wills it:

• meant as a way for the player to uncover all of it's maker history and final demise
• ticks faster for every pre-ftl you have in owned territory ( like the first contact situation)
• boost with unity or slow for extra unity
• stages with reward choices

1. early traces of new protocol left behind by creators a) habitat building slots empire wide b) habitat cost reduction empire wide c) unity
2. hidden bunker with research lab (possible as an arc-site) a) relic "first plague stems" which unlocks devolve bombardment and/or espionage b) large amount of research
3. founders opinion split what robots should be allowed to do. a) habitat district slots empire wide b) empire size reduction from caretaker drones c) unity
4. leave this open because I want 5 choices not 4, but no clue rn :)
5. heated debate of 3 founder parties (corresponding to machine protocol adjustments and final choice) (long one so new enumerate)

• a) stay caretakers just as original protocol intended (unlock final tier of caretaker building and the ability to gaia-terraform without AP, number of pre-ftls now increases unity production)
• b) founders wanted to join the collective -> become driven assimilators ( building no longer tied to habitats, caretaker drones increase cybernetic pop output, every pre-ftl is getting simultaneously invaded, ease policy, +1 civic slot and DA)
• c) further caretaking -> become rouge servitors ( the caretaker building periodically provides pops from the pre-ftl to pamper, caretaker provide consumer goods, +1 civic slot and RS)

This should be all my thoughts regarding that. Shouldn't have written it on paper first.