Mechanist Origin Alternative Suggestions?

[jerrypocalypse]

I'm starting a new run with the new patch (my prior game was going good and I learned a lot with it, but I don't like to risk continuing save-games with Paradox titles), and I need some suggestions on the Origin.

I have pretty much everything set (much of it is thematic, and may not be "optimal" but that's okay with me.

Traits: Aquatic, Thrifty, Quick Learners, Solitary, and Wasteful
Government: MegaCorp - Fanatic Xenophile, Materialist
Starting Civics: Anglers, Brand Loyalty

For this playthrough I really want to develop robot production, eventually making them a full new species cohabiting with my organic one. So my initial idea was to do Mechanist to get a headstart on it. But other than thematics, it seems mostly I'd just be getting 2 fairly early techs and 5% reduction on robot upkeep, so I was curious what other options might be interesting. Ocean Paradise seems a little too hardcore for me at the moment, as I'm worried about not having the 2 guaranteed Ocean planets.

I'm still okay running Mechanist because it fits what I want to do, I'm mostly looking for some personal takes on the Origins in context of the rest of my setup and goals incase there's an angle or something I missed with them.

Edit: I don't have Overlord, so I don't have access to those Origins.

[Tiasmoon]

The 2 early techs make a lot of difference. Its 2 free techs and not only that, also removes the RNG in getting them. Plus they are 2 techs you really need with the path you are taking.
They are early techs, but that early point is also where you need tech the most.

As does starting with robot production capabilities and some robots. Keep in mind this allows you to use workers even on tomb worlds, and as soon as you get droids (which wont be too long) you can even colonize with them. And you start with higher pop growth since you are also producing bots.

This used to be worse back when you needed synthetics to have robots work specialist jobs or colonize.

There's downsides too like having to spend a pop, building slot, energy upkeep, alloy upkeep on producing more. But I'd say its a pretty interesting origin as is, with strong benefits.

Its been a while since I played a full game with it myself tho. Unsure how exactly it balances in 3.4

~

Ocean Paradise is only really something to pick for the size 30 planet with its extra bonus. It would make a great core world later on when you can turn it into an ecumenopolis. However it comes at the cost of not having those 2 guaranteed planets, so its more of a challenge run origin in practice. Its basically a better Life-Seeded.

Aside from the obvious, you also start in a Nebula meaning potential extra minerals (altho its a choice between minerals and food) but that also means you dont get the extra sensor range advantage from your starbase at the start. You wont get vision over any neighbouring system. That will make the very starting exploration a little slower.

~

Other origin choices hmm. I dont really do robots (unless Machine Empire) so not much experience with has good synergy. Overall its considered the best ascension path so theres not really downsides to origins when going for it.

Shattered Ring and Void Dweller get trade districts, so they might be an idea since your planning on going with a MegaCorp. However you wouldnt be able to pick Angler with those.

[jerrypocalypse]

Originally posted by Tiasmoon:

The 2 early techs make a lot of difference. Its 2 free techs and not only that, also removes the RNG in getting them. Plus they are 2 techs you really need with the path you are taking.
They are early techs, but that early point is also where you need tech the most.

As does starting with robot production capabilities and some robots. Keep in mind this allows you to use workers even on tomb worlds, and as soon as you get droids (which wont be too long) you can even colonize with them. And you start with higher pop growth since you are also producing bots.

This used to be worse back when you needed synthetics to have robots work specialist jobs or colonize.

There's downsides too like having to spend a pop, building slot, energy upkeep, alloy upkeep on producing more. But I'd say its a pretty interesting origin as is, with strong benefits.

Its been a while since I played a full game with it myself tho. Unsure how exactly it balances in 3.4

~

Ocean Paradise is only really something to pick for the size 30 planet with its extra bonus. It would make a great core world later on when you can turn it into an ecumenopolis. However it comes at the cost of not having those 2 guaranteed planets, so its more of a challenge run origin in practice. Its basically a better Life-Seeded.

Aside from the obvious, you also start in a Nebula meaning potential extra minerals (altho its a choice between minerals and food) but that also means you dont get the extra sensor range advantage from your starbase at the start. You wont get vision over any neighbouring system. That will make the very starting exploration a little slower.

~

Other origin choices hmm. I dont really do robots (unless Machine Empire) so not much experience with has good synergy. Overall its considered the best ascension path so theres not really downsides to origins when going for it.

Shattered Ring and Void Dweller get trade districts, so they might be an idea since your planning on going with a MegaCorp. However you wouldnt be able to pick Angler with those.

Thanks for the input! Your points about Machinist made me want to end up sticking with that, so that's what I'll start running tonight. And good point with Ocean Paradise being a challenge start, I may give it a go in a future playthrough once I know the game a bit better, I keep learning things with each empire.

Shattered Ring seems like a fun and different start, so I may end up trying that next after this one!

[VoiD]

I have played a spiritualist feudal empire rather recently, and I couldn't get the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ tech to build the very first robots for something like 70 years, I didn't even know such bad luck was possible, I was rocking battleships, and still had no robots.

Not being spiritualist should make it much easier to get, overal, but keep in mind RNG exists and there really is some value with already starting with these techs so something like this doesn't happen to you too, if you want to play in a very specific way, taking the guaranteed techs/paths isn't a bad idea.

Same goes for psi ascension and the new origin that already starts your species as latent psionics.

[Tiasmoon]

Yeah the rng on techs can be really something sometimes.
In my case its usually the bio-ascension or psionic techs that can end up taking way longer then it should.

This is one reason why I consider +1 research alternative options to be very good.

Originally posted by VoiD:

Same goes for psi ascension and the new origin that already starts your species as latent psionics.

It even adds the tech as guaranteed research option. I found that it took much longer to get the third ascension slot (even with a high unity income) then it would to rush the tech.
Its very good for the psi path, altho tbh its great period.

Having a possibility to roll the Psionic leader trait from the start is just too good.

[Tiasmoon]

Originally posted by jerrypocalypse:

Thanks for the input! Your points about Machinist made me want to end up sticking with that, so that's what I'll start running tonight. And good point with Ocean Paradise being a challenge start, I may give it a go in a future playthrough once I know the game a bit better, I keep learning things with each empire.

Shattered Ring seems like a fun and different start, so I may end up trying that next after this one!

At this point im kind of burned out on the game (too many hours) but I can recommend trying different stuff each time around. It keeps the game feeling fresh for much longer.

[jerrypocalypse]

Originally posted by Tiasmoon:

Originally posted by jerrypocalypse:

Thanks for the input! Your points about Machinist made me want to end up sticking with that, so that's what I'll start running tonight. And good point with Ocean Paradise being a challenge start, I may give it a go in a future playthrough once I know the game a bit better, I keep learning things with each empire.

Shattered Ring seems like a fun and different start, so I may end up trying that next after this one!

At this point im kind of burned out on the game (too many hours) but I can recommend trying different stuff each time around. It keeps the game feeling fresh for much longer.

Yeah, I'm kinda taking the approach I did/do with CK3 and just coming up with themed ideas or goals for each run. That keeps CK3 pretty fresh for me, and seems to be working so far with this. None of my games have felt remotely the same yet, even the 2 I did with Lithoids.