Stellaris

Stellaris

Expanse Portraits and Flags
 This topic has been pinned, so it's probably important
BaconShelf  [developer] Mar 27, 2021 @ 4:26pm
Featurelist and future plans
This thread is a full in-depth explanation of what's included in this mod and my future plans, going forward.

Portrait stuff
Why are the MCRN portraits only a colour swap?
Both of these variants are seen in the show aboard the Donnager. The white one of course doesn't represent general/Marines in-universe, but right now that one is essentially placeholder anyway. I plan to replace it with the jumpsuit worn by Bobbie's squad aboard the Xuesen in Season 3.

Laconia uniform
The Laconia uniform is a fan design based off the description given in book 7; a Martian design with blue and grey colouration. The yellow trim was added based off a fan flag I like, to help differentiate it from the UN. I probably won't be doing much more with this set, as they mainly got added due to being quick and easy to do.

How were the portraits done?
Some (MCRN, UNN, UNMC, Laconia) are painted and some are screenshots from the show, heavily altered in photoshop. I comission the custom paint ones from my friend, so how many get done in a given time is limited. I can't paint but I can alter in photoshop, so that's why there's that seeming inconsistency. Eventually I plan to have all assets custom-made, but that takes a while and I'd rather have decent placeholders to get the mod out quicker.

Feel free to make suggestions for uniforms and stuff. I'd love to get more variety. If you can provide a pic of the character in good lighting and angle etc even better.

More backgrounds?
For my own reasons, I generally try to mainly use concept art or RPG illustration images as backgrounds, but feel free to send suggestions over.

More flags?
I think I have all the major flags and emblems covered, but feel free to send over suggestions for ones I've missed.

Spaceships
Ok let's get this one out of the way. Yes; this mod's end goal is to incorporate a full shipset for the UNN and MCRN at minimum. I have a number of the models in various stages of completion, though I'm aiming to get the MCRN military ships out first, with the UNN after. Civilian ships (IE science ship, constructor etc) will come following those. See below for a full list of what will be what;

UNN
The list of what is what for the UNN isn't solid yet. I'd like to remove the Amun-Ra and instead move all ships "down" a notch, with the Xerxes-class taking the Titan role. This is dependant on whether the Ships of the Expanse RPG book has any good designs in it when it releases.
  • Corvette = Amun-Ra-class stealth frigate
  • Destroyer = UNN Zhang Fei from the Expanse: Origins comic series
  • Cruiser = Unused escort ship design concepted out for Season 3
  • Battleship = Leonidas-class battleship
  • Titan = Truman-class dreadnaught
  • Army transport = The unnamed ships seen fighting around Ganymede

MCRN
The MCRN is a more solid list, and further along in modelling and texturing. The destroyers in particular are subject to some change, as I'd like to incorporate the heavy frigate and its concept variants as upgrade models.
  • Corvette = Morrigan-class destroyer; Shandian stealth refit as a possible alternate hull
  • Destroyer = Corvette-class light frigate, aka the Rocinante.
  • Cruiser = Season 5 light cruiser (AKA the Pella)
  • Battleship = Scirocco-class assault cruiser
  • Titan = Donnager-class battleship
  • Army transport = D-class supply ship (AKA the Barkeith)

Civilian and generic ships
These ships will be shared models for both UN and MCRN shipsets.
  • Science ship = RCE Edward Israel
  • Constructor ship = Barbapiccola or another similar Belter ship
  • Colony ship = Canterbury
  • Starbase = Tycho station, constructing the Nauvoo. As the starbase upgrades, the Nauvoo is progressively completed and eventually comes online as a Citadel.
  • Defense platform = Martian Stealth-C ballistic missile platform
  • Ion cannon = UNN orbital railgun

Belt/OPA/Free Navy ships
I'd love to incorporate ships like the Tynan or Dewalt eventually, though I don't really know how that'd work, as these small gunships don't work well for battleships much. Either way it won't be happening for a long time anyway.

Laconia ships
No spoilers for show-only people here, but those who've read the books know what I'm referring to here. I don't even want to think about these.

Does this mod intend to include gameplay alterations?
For the most part, no. I'd like to keep things as vanilla and compatible as possible. For example, the way I've set up my portraits, if any mods alter the vanilla human hair/skin selections, they will automatically work with this mod's UN/Martian/Laconia stuff. Similarly, when I eventually do ships they'll be cosmetic-only.

I am, however, wanting to look into custom event chains and stuff. Those could be fun.
Last edited by BaconShelf; Mar 27, 2021 @ 5:04pm
< 1 2 >
Showing 1-15 of 17 comments
The Manekdalorian Mar 29, 2021 @ 8:51pm 
Will you add the expanse solar system as a origin ?
with belter habitats and settled moons as well as mars as an arid world (with modifiers) and a few traits more ?
BaconShelf  [developer] Mar 29, 2021 @ 9:33pm 
Originally posted by manek.rudolph:
Will you add the expanse solar system as a origin ?
with belter habitats and settled moons as well as mars as an arid world (with modifiers) and a few traits more ?
It's definitely something I'm wanting to do, yeah. I do have a starting solar system in right now that's essentially a "Martian Victory" scenario, but I definitely wanna explore more preset options; the only limiting factor right now is my relative inexperience with the system.

If only the pre-2.0 system of solar system ownership were in, I'd totally have the UN and MCR spawn in the same system.
louis.ellis1q Mar 31, 2021 @ 12:33pm 
Just wanted to say thanks cos i'm not sure there's anyone else working on an expanse mod and it all looks great mate so can't wait for more updates
BaconShelf  [developer] Apr 1, 2021 @ 9:59pm 
Originally posted by louis.ellis1q:
Just wanted to say thanks cos i'm not sure there's anyone else working on an expanse mod and it all looks great mate so can't wait for more updates
Much appreciated! But yeah, it's been disappointing me for a while no one has made any serious attempts at such a thing. Eventually I just thought to myself "well I have the skillset, why not do it myself?"

and here we are lol
MisfitFiend17 Apr 6, 2021 @ 3:43pm 
Do you plan to make the shipsets compatible with NSC2?
BaconShelf  [developer] Apr 6, 2021 @ 8:26pm 
Originally posted by geoffreysherman991:
Do you plan to make the shipsets compatible with NSC2?
Probably not; NSC isn't really a mod I play with too much, and I feel like I'm stretching logic as-is to try and fill out the existing ship roster in the vanilla game. To fill out an NSC list I'd have to venture into fan-design territory (something I'm not big on) or combine the UN and MCR fleets.

Mainly though, it's just not a mod I've ever really enjoyed playing with so idk how much time I'd put into compatibility. If someone did want to do a patch I'd be more than happy to assist where I can, though.
MisfitFiend17 Apr 8, 2021 @ 4:50pm 
either way super excited ill for sure keep an eye on further progress. Great job so far, the uniforms look very impressive.
BaconShelf  [developer] Jul 11, 2021 @ 12:22pm 
So it's been a while due to some IRL bits and the release of the Mass Effect Legendary trilogy. However, here's the near-finished[cdn.discordapp.com] Donnager model!
MiG41_Flatpack_N7 Aug 27, 2021 @ 1:09am 
Great stuff man, however is it possible for the Martian Victory starting system to have the Humans in the tomb world Earth to be the Expanse humans, not the vanilla humans? As soon as I can terraform planets I always invade earth only to find that there are now 2 separate human species one expanse and one vanilla, and it is extremely bothering playing as a xenophobic MCR.
BaconShelf  [developer] Aug 27, 2021 @ 5:11pm 
Originally posted by MiG41_Flatpack_N7:
Great stuff man, however is it possible for the Martian Victory starting system to have the Humans in the tomb world Earth to be the Expanse humans, not the vanilla humans? As soon as I can terraform planets I always invade earth only to find that there are now 2 separate human species one expanse and one vanilla, and it is extremely bothering playing as a xenophobic MCR.
Not a bad shout. I'll see what I can do.
insty03 Nov 21, 2021 @ 11:13pm 
@BaconShelf I've started working on a complete overhaul for The Expanse. Would you like to work together or would I be able to incorporate your mod? Contact me at insty03#5165 if you'd like to chat
GrandAdmiralM Feb 21, 2023 @ 9:37pm 
I suppose the only weird part of this future plan is featuring the Donnager as a titan, unless you can mod it to use a weapon other than a perdition beam.
BaconShelf  [developer] Feb 21, 2023 @ 9:43pm 
The thinking there was in no small part due to there not being a particular power level above the Donnager/Xerxes for either respective navy, and the lore for the ships building them up to be sufficiently powerful. Of course, weapons and loadout won't map 1:1 but that's more a Stellaris gameplay issue - the main goal here is just to be a reskin. The list will also need a little bit of reworking too to account for Frigates and Stealth stuff too, but that's a task for later.

Currently, I got hijacked modelling ships for[www.artstation.com] Sins of the Prophets and we're nearing the 2.0 release on that, but once that's done I'll be back on this full-time!
Vuse Mar 27, 2023 @ 1:44am 
Hello. Any eta to when you will be able to release the MCRN shipset? Love the mod!
BaconShelf  [developer] Mar 27, 2023 @ 7:55pm 
No ETA as of now. Sins of the Prophets is currently my main priority, and we're targeting a release of that for this year. Once that's out, I fully intend to switch course back to this mod.
< 1 2 >
Showing 1-15 of 17 comments
Per page: 1530 50