The balance of power in the universe is now up for grabs
New Enemy Faction
The Apocalyptic Archive are an insect-like race, out to colonize new sectors in response to devastating overpopulation on their homeworld. Any sympathy towards them could be dangerous though - they aren’t openly aggressive, but they will defend their territory if pushed, and may seek to claim your sectors for their own. Diplomatic relations with their imperial leader should be handled delicately.
Treat the Empress with respect, lest she declare war on you
Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate - Exogate!
You’ll now need to think about what the enemy faction is doing as you move across the star map, since both you and the Apocalyptic Archive will earn a score, based on claimed territory, gathered resources, and influence generated. The faction with the highest score when the game time is up defeats the other and wins the game! (You can continue the game beyond this point though.) Either side can also be defeated if the other blockades their homeworld (claims 3 or more surrounding sectors), which erodes unity, leaving a faction open to receiving the final blow. Relations with another faction are also fluid - the more aggressive your activities, the more likely it is they will declare war on you. Missions become more limited during wartime, which only ends when one faction defeats the other, or when both sides agree to make peace. These are the new mission types that support this contested sector gameplay (the other faction can also send teams on all of these missions):- Invasion: Send a team with at least 1 soldier to invade and claim an enemy sector
- Defense: Send a team with at least 1 soldier to repel a sector invasion by the enemy
- Liberation: Send a team with at least 1 diplomat to reduce an enemy sector’s influence, eventually releasing their hold so it can be claimed
- Consolidation: Send a team with at least 1 diplomat to boost the influence of a sector in your territory, helping prevent its release by the enemy
- Diplomatic: Send a team with at least 1 diplomat to improve relations with the enemy, and reduce the chance of war breaking out
- Final blow: Send a team with at least 1 soldier and diplomat to the enemy’s blockaded homeworld, after their unity has eroded, to defeat them once and for all
Team Exogate Initiative vs Team Apocalyptic Archive. FIGHT!
Diplomats & Alien Affairs
As mentioned above, the new Diplomat gater class has a key role to play in the new strategic gameplay. They also unlock with a new room, Alien Affairs, whose Intel Console allows diplomats to spy on the activities of another faction, learning their likelihoods to both declare war and make peace, along with other information like their current score. Diplomats are also important during faction events, where they can affect relations and outcomes.
The truth is out there - and a diplomat is going to find it
More New Features
Also new in this patch:- Gater Memorial: Records the name and likeness of a gater that died in the course of their duties (can be built in the Library)
- Invasion Waves Rebalancing: A smoother experience from one wave to the next
- Game Speed Controls: Addressing one of the most requested community features, you can now speed up the game time until your heart’s content!
