Rykad Decision Spoiler

[eves_faith]

So, by now there should be enough ppl that have finished the game.

What are the consequences of blowing Rykad up or rather save people and/or reactor?
I know about the debuff, but I rather mean storywise. Will one or the other decision bite me in the ass in the long run? I read a lot of people going dogmatic here and blow it all up, but the little nasty ♥♥♥♥ in my Lord's mind doesn't like the idea of saving anyone - so I feel tempted to do just that. My captain is pragmatic good, so she'd surely try to save as many as possible but of course, that could also mean blow them up.

[Hidetsugu]

I have finished only a "fully iconoclast" run. I saved as much as possible... Without spoilers probably exterminatus-ing that planet would be way better.
I have heard saving the reactor = + profit factor
If you want full spoilers about what happens in the ending slides when you save all the people, I do not mind sharing, but let's say it's bad all way through.

[eves_faith]

Originally posted by Hidetsugu:

I have finished only a "fully iconoclast" run. I saved as much as possible... Without spoilers probably exterminatus-ing that planet would be way better.
I have heard saving the reactor = + profit factor
If you want full spoilers about what happens in the ending slides when you save all the people, I do not mind sharing, but let's say it's bad all way through.

yes please share!
Also someone hinted that if you don't save the reactor, Pascal will become the mind hive as this Abel guy would have died with the reactor?

[Hidetsugu]

Originally posted by eves_faith:

yes please share!
Also someone hinted that if you don't save the reactor, Pascal will become the mind hive as this Abel guy would have died with the reactor?

No such thing about Pasqal, that reactor does not affect anything about him.

Ok, what happens when you do the decision to save the people - the planet turns into a daemon world.
Early in chapter 2, you get a report that people on the ship have started poking their eyes out - not only the refugees, but from the crew too (and you get a -5 willpower debuff).
You have some more conversations with Heinrix and he can get less callous straight up.
In the ending slides - from memory a lot of people die because of the daemon world planet. The refugees you saved create their own settlement. Since they are so traumatized by the events on Rykad, they are super zealous and start killing anyone nearby, that isn't as zealous.

[Balekai]

Just to clarify the epilogues around this decision at the end of the game, and what leads to what exactly with certain combos leading to different things (check spoiler tags):

Originally posted by Balekai:

It's very dangerous and is another (very large) conduit/portal for chaos to to enter the Koronus Expanse (like Warp Storms). Although the result could have been possibly worse in-game from Rykad Iconoclast or Heretical decisions.

In-game the epilogue result is *spoilers on epilogue for Rykad* The Rykad system is held together by the power of the warp without the star, which is a good thing because we don't need a Rogue Planet Daemon World moving through the Expanse that you can't find. The Daemon and Chaos corrupted denizens raid neighbouring systems causing a lot havoc. Even though the RT or the Imperial Fleet could try to invade the system it is VERY hard to purge/cleanse/exterminatus a Daemon World/System after the fact.

If you saved various groups on the planet, the result depends on the combos for the shuttle rescues *more Rykad epilogue spoilers for every Iconoclast outcome and dogmatic blow up the reactor*

- Nobles without People/Military = Without the main populace and not wanting to work themselves, they hire mercs and pirates to do the work for them turning the new Rykad colony/world into a pirate den.

- People/Military without Nobles = For a time there's equity and equality for all, but as time goes on new aspirational families arise to create a new Noble Class and the old power dynamics basically return. Arguably the best ending for an iconoclast character.

- Tech-Priests/Reactor and there doesn't seem to be a combo (I could be wrong and missing 1-2 endings) = They build a super Cathedral Ship that protects/leads Pilgrim (colonization) Fleets. It's engines and weapons are powered by the Rykad Reactor. Basically creating very secure Pilgrim Fleet(s) to continue colonizing the Expanse in more safety. Another good outcome for an Iconoclast character.

- Save both Nobles and People/Military = The new Rykad Colony becomes so dogmatic it builds up enough might and conviction that they begin dogmatic purges of nearby worlds that resemble full invasion forces. Interestingly similar to the end result of the Rykad Daemon system they left behind but the other side of the coin: Both old and new Rykad raid/invade and cause havoc for their nearby systems lol.

- Blow up the creator causing Eterminatus of Rykad Minoris = The Rogue Planet drifts through the void starless and lifeless. At some point is breaks up and eventually, a small sliver of the planet is identified as such near Footfall and is incorporated into a statue of the Emperor to honour the fallen.

Best combo imo for Iconoclast = Save People and Reactor. Don't worry about Daemon Rykad system too much because it could have been worse. :D

It's still a major problem, but getting a Rykad 2.0 and other things out of it can be seen as a net positive. Not to mention messing up the full sacrifice of Rykad to the Ruinous Powers. You get to steal some of their dinner making them sad goddies... :p