Minor factions DLC question

[Sasha Mason]

So what exactly is the difference between the Minor factions and the AI milita already in the game? In particular with the other DLC's since the AI milita can be allied with you as well.

[Overread]

Originally posted by Mason™ of Germany:

So what exactly is the difference between the Minor factions and the AI milita already in the game? In particular with the other DLC's since the AI milita can be allied with you as well.

The DLC factions appear on worlds like a regular faction would, they also build up some infrastructure within that world. They then have 3 abilities which vary from faction to faction, which you gain by clicking on the faction planet once you have them as your allies. These can vary from scouting distant worlds, providing buffs to your unit stats( eg shields) to sending waves of attackers at the enemy.

[Sasha Mason]

Thx

[Menace]

Does conquering or allying with one of those minors make a big difference with how the game plays?

[Fyst]

There is a fairly in-depth description of how minor factions work here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/204880/discussions/0/3216031607493141737/

[Jokery]

some have 4 abilities. still i see theres a bug with their cap ships after lvling up doesnt apply new abilities

[GoaFan77]

Originally posted by Menace:

Does conquering or allying with one of those minors make a big difference with how the game plays?

It can. If you rush envoys you can get some key infrustructure rather quickly, and the minor faction abilities you can purchase can be rather interesting sometimes. Some give you some rather unique capacities, like being able to buy a Vasari capitalship as any faction.

[Timmah!]

Can we haz the full list of the minor factions with their respective abilities? I know its perhaps for the best to play the game and let yourself be surprised, but since i guess the factions are spawned randomly in each game, you may technically not see some of them in a long time - if not lucky. Not to mention i am curious :-P
So far i tried only a single game and had Vasari War Profiteers in it... tbh none of its 3 abilities was overly exciting. That Transport Cabal sounded more interesting.

[Sablestar]

I have it and still don't see how it works-- I sent a diplomatic ship into a system with a minor civ and they just killed it-- do I need to eliminate ships from the system before negotiating or is there another way to negotiate with them?

[Overread]

Originally posted by Sablestar:

I have it and still don't see how it works-- I sent a diplomatic ship into a system with a minor civ and they just killed it-- do I need to eliminate ships from the system before negotiating or is there another way to negotiate with them?

Diplomatic ships have an aura that stops the enemy killing them for a short time, so you might need to clear out local defences for a bit. Also if one of your opponents has their own diplomatic ship there already then the minor race might already be aligned to another faction. So you'd have to take warships there to destroy that ship before your own diplomatic ships can secure the minor races fickle loyalty.

IT's also a good reason to keep an eye on them as the enemy can destroy your diplomatic ship too - since as soon as its gone it stops casting its diplomatic ability and the minor race becomes free to be picked up by another force.

[GoaFan77]

Originally posted by Sablestar:

I have it and still don't see how it works-- I sent a diplomatic ship into a system with a minor civ and they just killed it-- do I need to eliminate ships from the system before negotiating or is there another way to negotiate with them?

You need your envoy to cast the goodwill ability on the minor faction. If another player already has an envoy their you need to kill it first. Generally the 30 second invulnerability on the envoy is enough to bring the minor faction to your side.

[Fyst]

Originally posted by Timmah!:

Can we haz the full list of the minor factions with their respective abilities?

Someone will likely post all the abilities but remember, its not just about abilities - they can offer other benefits such as access to phase stabilizers, research labs, trade ports, repair bays, etc. They also help defend the area and reconstruct their units and structures at no cost to you. I'd check out the pinned full change log for a better description of how they work.

[Brave Sir Robin]

What does the research that 'upgrades minor factions' do?

[Fyst]

makes all their abilities more powerful

[Luzilyo]

is there a way to tell minor factions and neutral milita apart? i already have spotted two neutrals that occupied planets (i've also seen quite a few neutrals with their own planets before the update). now i neither want to accidentally destroy a minor faction that i could have allied with nor waste a ton of envoys on random neutrals whom i'd rather just take by force.

[Ostoia]

If I understand this right, allied minor faction labs count towards my own lab count?