by Eladrin
The End of the Cycle is not a crisis. It’s an opportunity. An opportunity to end all things.
This too, shall pass.
Today we’ll be looking at the end of things, and the remaining civics and an addition to Subterfuge - Proxy Wars.
The Endbringers and the End of the Cycle
The Endbringers are a challenging and doomed origin. A mysterious calamity turned a neighboring planet into a shrouded world, and your people have been cursed with a sense of foreboding and growing paranoia ever since.
IT IS NOT YET YOUR TIME. BUT IT COULD BE.
Should you not act to quell it, your Empire’s Paranoia grows over time, up to a maximum of 50%.
Endbringers soon discover an archaeology site at the shrouded world that will provide few answers but will guide you towards your dark patron.
As a madness-consumed doomsday cult, your journey through Psionic Ascension will differ a little from more conventional paths. No Ascension Perk is needed for them to pursue Psionic Ascension - this decision was already made for you long ago.
Your Psi-Corps in the Tradition tree are also replaced with the Chambers of Silence.
Your entry into the Shroud itself differs a bit as well, as you have already been claimed.
A perfectly silent galaxy awaits, saturated in the inevitability of the Aura of the End.
Forming this covenant changes the conventional Shroud UI to a ticking clock, counting down the moments until the end of your story.
As the Cycle progresses, you will gain more Covenant Powers, including some that will let you stall for time. Powers that reduce the End of the Cycle Situation Progress can be used only once per game, though: while the End is patient, it is relentless.
Should you blanket enough of the galaxy in the Aura of the End, you will be permitted to rest in a perfected universe. Should you fail, the Reckoning will consume you.
The Endbringers are not the only way to form a Covenant with the End of the Cycle - the “old way” of encountering them conventionally still exists. This will also switch your Shroud UI over to the ticking clock, but will not change your Psi-Corps.
Entropy Drinkers
The Entropy Drinkers civics enable the transfer of life energy from the populace to the Empire's leaders.
Leader, take my energy!
These empires possess edicts that further empower their leaders by siphoning additional life energy from the populace. The Convergence of Will edict has both Unity and Zro upkeep.
Having plenty of Energy Thralls will also reduce the Pop Growth Speed penalties of these edicts.
Proxy Wars and Secret Societies
Proxy Wars allow empires to incite conflict between other civilizations via the Diplomacy menu, requiring high Trust or Infiltration, with potential diplomatic consequences if discovered.
Proxy Wars require Trust or Infiltration and Influence to trigger. When starting a Proxy War, you can select the CB you wish to manipulate the Attacker into using, though some cost more Trust or Infiltration and Influence than others.
In general, when manipulating other nations it’s best to select a cause for war that corresponds with their inherent biases and desires, so they seek to achieve their war goals rather than accepting a status quo early.
Secret Societies civics grant earlier access to Proxy Wars and introduce covert actors who influence galactic affairs from the shadows.
These mysterious factions are revealed upon establishing communications with their contacts, each driven by priorities markedly different from standard factions.
Shadows of the Shroud Stream
Our final Shadows of the Shroud stream will be held today at 16:00 CEST, in which we plan on showcasing the Endbringers.
This Thursday
This Thursday’s dev diary will be the Preliminary Release Notes for the 4.1.0 ‘Vela’ update!
Shadows of the Shroud and the 4.1.0 ‘Vela’ update will be released on Monday, September 22nd, and is included as part of Stellaris: Season 09.