Hi, it’s Alfray once again and I’d like to introduce you to our latest megastructure, the Deep Space Citadel. This three stage mid-game megastructure is a powerful defensive bastion and converts into a starbase upon completion, much like an orbital ring.
The three stages of the Deep Space Citadel
Unlike orbital rings and regular starbases, Deep Space Citadels can be placed far more freely within a system, provided they aren’t too close to a gravity well (or each other).
The Deep Space Citadel technology is a Tier 3 Military Theory technology which unlocks all three stages of the megastructure and an initial limit of one per system.
This system limit can be further increased by the Mega-Engineering, the Starlit Citadel origin and the Eternal Vigilance ascension perks.
Choosing to build a DSC opens another menu allowing you to select the design.
Once a DSC design has been selected, you’ll be able to choose where in the system it can be placed, provided it’s within the system’s main gravity well. This allows you to choose if you want to defend a choke point or a critical planet.
No, build an Arc Furnace on the molten world, not the DSC!
Defending the Sol-Alpha Centauri hyperlane breach point sounds like a good idea.
As the Deep Space Citadel is upgraded from one stage to the next, it gains successively more L-slot turrets, hangar bays and defensive utilities. The final stage of the DSC also gains access to both a single XL-slot turret and an aura slot capable of equipping auras from both titans and juggernauts. Additionally, to compensate for the lack of module slots on the DSC, it has a special module slot in the ship designer capable of equipping most starbase auras and a few unique DSC auras.
Think of it as a giant “SHOOT ME!” sign.
Defensive countermeasures tailored to your enemy
As shown, each stage on the Deep Space Citadel is individually designable and saved as its own ship design. When building, upgrading or downgrading a Deep Space Citadel, you’ll be prompted to select the design the DSC should become.
The Art of the Deep Space Citadel
Hi! I'm Lloyd and I'm a concept artist on Biogenesis. I'm here to give you a look at how I designed the look of the deep space citadel and how the art team brought it to life.
I was very excited to tackle this station. After working on bioships for a while, it was refreshing to have a chance to get back into some hard-surface design. I began by discussing with the team what we wanted the station to feel like, and what it should represent to our players. I came away with a simple mission - make Helm’s Deep in space. Here are my first sketches of the station. You can see I'm focusing a lot on fortress-like structures as well as shield shapes. Both of these are to enforce the idea that this station is a defensive bastion, a place of safety, protection, and strength.
Initial sketches of the deep space citadel. Artist: Lloyd Drake-Brockman
We decided to go with something like option B. This design became more refined as I worked on it, and as it was fleshed out into a three-stage structure. Here you can see an early look at the 3D blockout for the concept art.
Early stages of the 3D concept. Artist: Lloyd Drake-Brockman
Here, I had the idea to bring the shield motif back in the later stages, surrounding the station with shield-like arms that start as round shields in stage 2, but expand to be tower shields in stage 3.
With the design locked in, I polished up the details into the final concept sheets. These sheets inform the rest of the art team how to make the asset. Our philosophy is that a concept should solve as many problems as possible, instead of leaving them for the 3D, texturing, and animation stages.
Stage 1 final concept art. Artist: Lloyd Drake-Brockman
Stage 2 final concept art. Artist: Lloyd Drake-Brockman
Stage 3 final concept art. Artist: Lloyd Drake-Brockman
Turrets final concept art. Artist: Lloyd Drake-Brockman
You can also see the added details of the internal gravity torus, which would allow inhabitants to live comfortably even with a failure of artificial gravity systems, a massive reactor for power, and complex shielding systems. All of this is added to paint the picture of a steadfast, independent station, able to withstand punishing sieges.
With the concepts done, the task moves on to the 3D team who model and texture the station.
Work in progress on the 3D model of the Deep Space Citadel Artist: Emma Quer
The last stage of the DSC is animation. Some of the parts of the station were designed to move, and it's always so exciting for me to see an asset come to life in the game.
Animation of the Deep Space Citadel Artist: Mia Svensson
That's it! That's how we brought the Deep Space Citadel to life for Biogenesis. Personally I thought this was one of the most fun assets to work on, and I hope you enjoy what we’ve made. We really poured our hearts into it!
New Origin: STARLIT CITADEL
Some empires are born into prosperity. Others arise under siege.
CGInglis here, reporting from far beyond the walls to bring you a closer look at the Starlit Citadel Origin, our latest offering for those who prefer their games with a little bit of defiance and a whole lot of fortification!
Nothing says 'welcome to the neighborhood' like a massive orbital fortress.
Long before their species turned its eyes to the stars, a mysterious wormhole lingered on the edge of their home system. From its depths came wave upon wave of aggressors in biological ships. Entire cities were flattened before the invaders were defeated. Then they returned. Again, and again.
Faced with extinction, these beleaguered people placed their hope in the Deep Space Citadel, a towering bulwark bristling with defensive armaments, constructed not at the heart of their system, but precisely where the invaders emerge.
Hi there! I’ll be your turret-encrusted server today. May I recommend the Mass Driver, served with a large side of Point-Defense Flak?
Empires with this Origin begin the game with a fully operational Stage I Deep Space Citadel positioned at the breach. Their homeworld also features a unique building, the Citadel Uplink, which coordinates the empire’s defensive efforts.
This Building supports a rare specialist role, the Skywatchers. Linked to the Citadel through advanced communication arrays and strategic uplinks, the Skywatchers provide a potent array of bonuses: increased planetary stability, bonus naval capacity across the empire, and spawning additional defense armies. Perhaps most significantly, their efforts amplify the effectiveness of all Deep Space Citadels, starbases, and defensive stations within the system.
All-seeing, ever-watchful, mildly overworked.
Your homeworld, though (probably) rich in history, bears the scars of conflict. Marring the surface are the blasted remains of the last wave of invading bioships:
“And I thought they smelled bad on the outside!”
This Origin also introduces a unique dynamic for multiplayer campaigns. If several players choose to be a Starlit Citadel empire, each will begin with their own perilous portal and their own Deep Space Citadel. As the campaign unfolds, these enigmatic wormholes are revealed to be more than isolated anomalies. Like spokes on a terrible wheel, they all lead to a single, central hub:
Who are these guys, and why are they so deeply unchill?
The Starlit Citadel Origin invites players not only to withstand these threats, but also to uncover their source. Whichever empire reaches the hub system first will face the full force of the invaders. If you prevail, you’ll have the chance to fortify this keystone system and reshape the balance of power.
Choose this origin if you enjoy a playstyle centered on defense, a narrative-driven mystery, and just a hint of betrayal among friends!
Next Week
Next week Iggy will be introducing us to the Fallen Hive Mind Empire, the Fallen Hive Mind Empire, the Fallen Hive Mind Empire, and the Wilderness origin.