determined exterminators Build post 3.3 (Empire Size) patch?

[DaniTheHero]

What would be the traits and civics to take as Determined Exterminator past 3.3/3.4?

Judging by the fact robots work, it seems that they are quite weaker now (while hive minds are stronger), no?

[Stromko]

I haven't tried determined exterminators in a long while, but I have played some machine empires in general.

I've found machine empires can be quite effective because they can develop a lot of planets early. Obviously this can be a strong strategy for any empire, but machines don't have to worry about habitability or producing food or consumer goods. Overall they just have a much easier time managing a large amount of pops than a regular empire, no worries about factions, happiness either.

I tend to go for traits and civics that either increase population assembly speed, reduce the cost of such, or reduce the upkeep (either to empire size or resources) of population, in order to get and capitalize on an effective population advantage. Later on when I get a 3rd civic pick I always get the one that causes maintenance drones to produce unity (if I didn't start with it), as I'll have lots of those and therefore lots of bonus unity production to make up for a highly populous and/or expansive empire.

Individually it's true that machines aren't as powerful as biological species in terms of the traits they can get, which is even more dire when they finish the machine ascension track and there's no new traits unlocked unlike the awesome ones that bio ascenders get. To compete you really have to take advantage of every advantage you do get and make up for your drone's weak traits with sheer numbers and efficiency.

[justme]

That's an intersting question, I wanted to get back in with Overlord playing a machine empire. Unfortunately I cannot provide any answers but I am curious what the Stellaris experts will say.
Is the Determined Exterminator one of the stronger machine empires now with Overlord or do you just pick it because you like it?

Not being an expert with all Stellaris mechanics, could you add why hive minds are stronger now?

@ Stromko, which machine empire do you consider to be the best/easiest?

Sorry that I cannot add anything useful, hope you'll get more posts from the other folks around here.

[DaniTheHero]

Originally posted by KillerKetchup:

That's an intersting question, I wanted to get back in with Overlord playing a machine empire. Unfortunately I cannot provide any answers but I am curious what the Stellaris experts will say.
Is the Determined Exterminator one of the stronger machine empires now with Overlord or do you just pick it because you like it?

Not being an expert with all Stellaris mechanics, could you add why hive minds are stronger now?

@ Stromko, which machine empire do you consider to be the best/easiest?

Sorry that I cannot add anything useful, hope you'll get more posts from the other folks around here.

Well i'm no expert myself, but Hive Minds in general are the most efficient when it comes to the new Empire Limit mechanic. Allowing tech progression at a mostly usual pace while growing wide, while other empires are quite "punished" for the same approach is quite telling.