How about an exiled start? It would be similar to the lost homeworld but instead once you find your home planet you get a quest chain to destroy/take over your home planet

Hi @Legionary, that sounds like a fun idea and I will add it to the list of future ideas above tomorrow. I picture it playing out like the character Khan from Star Trek with a mix of Lost Colony events thrown in as well. Right now I'm working on adding a Hunting the Hyacinth type event for the Lost Colony civic which I think could fit with the Exiles as well.

But, isn't this idea kind of like the Distant Origins civics mod? I think mzilli did a good job of creating an exiled/conqueror dynamic with his in-game dialogue and empire personalities.

I believe he did do something similar now that you mention it, I wouldnt know for sure since I dont use the Distant Origins mod though.

How about a collapsed empire start? This scenario imagines that your species once commanded a vast empire but due to a devastating war or disaster it collapsed causing many planets to descend into chaos and anarchy, setting back the progress of technology. You would have multiple empires all the same species trying to reunite the empire.

How about one where your species recently emerged from a world war? Your species would already be very militarised and there would be constant problems from the losers of the war being dissatisfied with the current rule.

Hi @Legionary, I see. Thanks for trying out this mod then!

Hi @FlashGordon33, I really like the idea of the Collapsed Empire, but right now I think it would be a major challenge to make since I would like the mod to give the galaxy a lot of backstory. That being said, I do plan to take on this idea sometime in the future, but maybe as a stand-alone start separate from this mod.

With regards to recently emerging from a world war, this is an idea I would like to pursue but am unsure how to balance it. Can you suggest what bonuses the civic should give? Or what the mid-game bonus would be? I appreciate your help!

How about an Ongoing War civiv where the species is fighting an ethically opposed extremist faction (through events) at the start of the game? The event chain could determine who wins, it could be big government vs. rebels or something like spiritualists vs. materialists.

Hi @Vhaldez “Punished” Snake , I think both you and FlashGordon33 are on the same track. I have an idea now how to implement this. I could make it seem like you own half the world through adding tile blockers that cannot be removed unless you go through the events. If you successfully unlock your world maybe I can then spawn another empire of your species simulating exiles. Or create another empire earlier in the game to simulate the two super nations competing with each other.

Posted this as a comment before I noticed this thread. Figured I'd post it here just to be safe

How about an "Extragalactic" civic? Like, you'd spawn in a random system and a few advanced techs from your home galaxy, and maybe there'd be other colonies sent out before you. Maybe rebels, or on the flip side, YOU'RE the rebels and you have to avoid notice from a powerful "outpost" empire loyal to the home galaxy send to find you until you're strong enough? I think a custom fallen empire would fit the mold well enough
Maybe they spot you/are certain you're the filthy rebels they're looking for once you research a "signature" technology of their people?

@Tinfoot, I read your civic idea again and I think I will for now try to make an advanced start civic that gives you bonuses as the advanced start empires. Maybe your empire would have pre-ftl colonies that are now more hostile to your rule. And you can choose to side with the colonies or with your home empire.

I definitely would love to explore your mod idea at some point. Right now I am giving it a go with The Preserve Start mod to add backstory to your galaxy. Let me know if you would like to work together to write some events and give backstory. @FlashGordon33, you are also welcome to work together to flesh out the collapsed empire scenario too!

Thanks for the ideas!

@cbshing
I'm not sure I'm really up to working together over a long term, if that's what you're talking about, but I do have some ideas I could toss you now.

One obvious idea is that your home galaxy was united peacefully and your new empire is the result of a state-backed colonisation program uniting the various species on a new frontier. Basically syncretic evolution but with a few more goodies.

Another idea following that vein is that the home galaxy was united... less than peacefully, and sent out a similar program, but more focused on "expanding our glorious empire's reach" or something like that.
With this, you could have other empires from the home galaxy spawn, sent to the new one in an attempt to flee subjugation/extinction at your hands. These could range from normal empires that are fresh off the space-boat, to more advanced ones trying to establish themselves and make a new life, or some of the Old Empire's first enemies that have sworn their very existance to returning and destroying you, and have since risen to and fallen from grace. Despite their diminished capabilities compared to how they were at their height, they are more than okay with snuffing you out as an appetizer before going after the rest in the home galaxy.
Balancing that last one will probably be rather difficult, though I find myself pissing off all the FEs sooner or later, so maybe it won't matter that much.

Another could be that your home galaxy was attacked by the Prethoryn or suffered an AI rebellion, but I'm not really sure what to do with that in the main game short of just making them a definite thing, or happen sooner. Maybe a little debuff toward relations with other empires because they see you as the galaxy's local nutjobs, followed by some massive boost once the old enemy turns up again?

There are literal worlds of possibilities as to what you could do with stuff like this, but this is all I can think of at the moment.
Thanks for taking an interest in my idea, and your's is certianly interesting as well.

@Tinfoot, thanks for the ideas. Normally I struggle with coming up with the actual events & event text since I focus on making the code work. For the first idea, could I use The Preserve Start mod as a base, where you begin on The Preserve? For the second idea & third idea, I like how the concept of empires escaping another galaxy. Kind of like why the nomads exist or who is chasing the Prethoryn. I'll see what I can do, but it won't be for a while. Thanks for the suggestions!

@cbshing
I've never used this Preserve mod, so I've no real preferences as to whether or not you should use it. I'm just plopping out ideas. You're doing the legwork, so this is your mod IMO.
Do as you wish

@Tinfoot, this is The Preserve Start mod where you begin on the Preserve with multiple species on your homeworld. Thanks and I'll see what I can do!

Wow this mod looks extremely interesting. I like where this is going.

@Cohj, I'm excited too where it can go!