How tf do you even play this game?

[SimplyFinn]

Can anybody help me understand this mess? Im familiar with this genre of game, yet watching tutorials about this game feel like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking debating with a Toddler about Quantum Physics, only that I am the toddler.

[Geoff]

They've done pretty extensive overhauls of how the game works, so check the timestamps on those tutorial videos. If they're more than a couple months old, they're not likely to be very helpful.

[noctilucus]

I found this series of tutorials to be a very solid start:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBiiV-ktVZk&list=PL0PMmsIgDTo6ikOHFv7RfqFbRmP8wUlA3

Some mechanics may have changed but the tutorials are from 2023 so most of it will still be accurate :)

[SimplyFinn]

Originally posted by Geoff:

They've done pretty extensive overhauls of how the game works, so check the timestamps on those tutorial videos. If they're more than a couple months old, they're not likely to be very helpful.

Oh great that makes things worse

[SimplyFinn]

Originally posted by noctilucus:

I found this series of tutorials to be a very solid start:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBiiV-ktVZk&list=PL0PMmsIgDTo6ikOHFv7RfqFbRmP8wUlA3

Some mechanics may have changed but the tutorials are from 2023 so most of it will still be accurate :)

thanks. how did you people get the hang of the game?

[Punished]

It's one of those games where from the outside it looks ultra complicated but once you play it yourself and have the basics down the rest 'clicks' pretty soon after. Theres a tutorial in game that should teach you these basics. I can't really tell you more because tbh I have no idea what I'm doing either

[Cerodil]

Originally posted by SimplyFinn:

thanks. how did you people get the hang of the game?

Trial and lots and lots of error. Once you know everything that doesn't work all you have to do is not that and you win, easy.

[corisai]

Originally posted by SimplyFinn:

Im familiar with this genre of game

You don't as Stellaris one of most casual 4X games (and probably less complex of all Paradox grand strategy games).

Either watch YouTube tutorials (Montu doing them good) or just play & read tooltips all around.

[Ogami]

This game is a complete paper tiger concerning "complexity".
It looks totally overwhelming on a first glance but is really very easy to play and its a lot more accessible then many other games in the genre.
I would watch maybe a very basic short beginner tutorial on YT and then just play a few matches.
Its much easier learned by just playing then learning from others in my opinion.

[DYNIA]

Originally posted by SimplyFinn:

Can anybody help me understand this mess? Im familiar with this genre of game, yet watching tutorials about this game feel like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking debating with a Toddler about Quantum Physics, only that I am the toddler.

idk what you talking about, game is easy, best is start as hive mind

[SimplyFinn]

Originally posted by DYNIA:

Originally posted by SimplyFinn:

Can anybody help me understand this mess? Im familiar with this genre of game, yet watching tutorials about this game feel like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking debating with a Toddler about Quantum Physics, only that I am the toddler.

idk what you talking about, game is easy, best is start as hive mind

My brother in christ you have 2000 hours, of course you are going to find the game easy smh

[DYNIA]

Originally posted by SimplyFinn:

Originally posted by DYNIA:

idk what you talking about, game is easy, best is start as hive mind

My brother in christ you have 2000 hours, of course you are going to find the game easy smh

you don't need 2000 to know game, start as hive mind is more easy to start
also I play since 1.0 where the game was changing all the time

[HappySack]

The skill floor is higher than the average game because this game is a shell of it's former self compared to older versions or before it's first major rework (when it used to use tiles instead of pops) as they've crammed so many mechanics into it that will confuse newer players.

Oh and if you can play a full game without it crashing then props to you because this game is going downhill.

[corisai]

Originally posted by HappySack:

The skill floor is higher than the average game because this game is a shell of it's former self compared to older versions or before it's first major rework

Oh, c'mon... 2 stages of processing (minerals & energy & food -> alloys & CG -> ships & science & unity) is a trivial level for resource management game.

[Whispdragoon62]

POPS are the main resource and have upkeep in consumer goods.

Low habitability increases upkeep so keep those planets at low population until you get higher tech or a better adapted species through a migration treaty.

Keep planets around 2-4 open jobs. Don't over build. Try to keep all resources in surplus.

I set my game to auto-pause on tech research so I can check whats going on.

In terms of managing the map/systems basically just survey with a science ship then build an outpost with a construction ship. Influence controls how fast you can expand and is consumed by things like science, economic, and migration treaties so again, don't go too crazy with them. When you can't build an outpost it is usually because you lack sufficient influence. It will zoom into the system instead and try to build the outpost on the central star or black hole and it will show you "not enough influence need 15 more influence" or whatever.

First contact requires you to assign an "Envoy" which is something they don't explain very well.

Once you get the hang of POPS and upkeep then you can expand into the more complicated stuff like robot pops, hivemind pops, etc. etc.

I personally specialize in biological pops and never bother with robots. Just really don't like robots.

I make my own goals like make as many of my founder pops as possible for funsies.

You can queue ship commands by holding shift, that is a big one.

[Whispdragoon62]

I've started next to aggressive AI factions that just declare a humiliation war if you try to take certain systems. Your only choice is really to leave those systems alone and concede an instant victory in the early game to them.

Since their only war goal is humiliation you have to eat the debuff. Don't try to fight their 300k power fleet with your starter fleet.

In that regard you will get the hang of the basics of diplomacy over time like that. Diplomacy really does enhance the game. Don't ignore it and just accept whatever the AI offers you. Actually check out who is doing what, get info on who is strong. Pick a species to migrate that compliments your own empire. Stuff like that. (For example if you are a continental species try to migrate in an Arid species) and be somewhat intentional in your diplomacy.

In terms of "fully conquering" a system will require you to usually have an Invasion army to overpower their defending army on any populated planets. Its just a who has the bigger number kind of thing. Like you need a 1k strength army to conquer a 300 strength army. Those are pretty typical mid-game numbers.

It took me forever to get good at/figure out how to follow my fleet with a transport army, moving them to populated planets and invading so that you can actually keep the systems in a status quo victory.

I have actually vassalized myself as a noob just accepting whatever the AI offered. Hilarious right?