Additional system limits?

[Toadman]

What is the max limit to systems that you can get above the system size and start parameters. I am assuming from the tech tree, governments, etc. I am just wondering how any more systems I can expect to get without going over the populating base limit. For empire planning and settlement.

I know the map sizes change that number, and I am sure races can vary it a lot.

Does anyone have any basic rules of thumb on what to expect in wide empires?

[Elitewrecker PT]

Infinite, you just have to build the system improvement that increases it after reaching system level 4

[rcuajunco]

Every system gets bonus or penalty too science and food production based on approval
There are buildings that only work when a system is above a certain approval threshold

Every system over limit gives you a 10 penalty too approval too all systems

Going wide gives you more access to luxury and strategic resources but if you go too wide systems start too revolt, you can bribe the system with luxury resources or suppress them for higher approval now at the cost of perlonged negative approval. If a system revolt lasts a certain number of turns ( based on game speed ) it will cause ur current government too collapse, and you have too wait turns before you can install a new goverment.

[Fulano]

My rule of thumb is if systems are over 100% happy, it's time to get more systems.

Usually it's only the happiness penalty when you go over the cap, which can be easily countered with buildings, laws, racial bonuses, etc.

If you go federation government you increase the cap significantly.

Some races get an extra planet from their quest line.

Some races can get basically infinite happiness, like Unfallen and Horatio.

Other races like Vaulters and Hissho don't like to build wide at all... so don't do it. :)