Alien Species (WIP)
WIP game document for a hive-based, antagonistic species in the galaxy. These would start getting into play later down the wipe, rather than from day 1.
Design
The Alien Species adds a bit of unpredictability for explorers and a (communal) goal for PvE players
The Alien Species spawn in the core regions of the galaxy. Instead of building cities, they will infect planets and sectors over time by building special towers on them. The longer these towers are present, the more the infected planets upgrade, the stronger the enemies, defenses and ships that come from here. Eventually they will occupy the next sector over, and repeat, until they reach the middle of the galaxy.
Using a special sensor, these Alien Species can be tracked, as well as track how infected a sector is through an effect similar to warp signatures. These Alien Species Signatures come in 5 levels.
| Level | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | None |
| 2 | 10% Sensor Block |
| 3 | 50% Sensor Block, Air-traffic control is blocked, hails and other empire/player messages stop working properly |
| 4 | 70% Sensor Block |
| 5 | Sensors can't pass here |
In person, this Signature can be preceived as an infected fog. Inside these sectors, your ship will be penalized in regards to sensors, warnings and fire control. A special sensor can offset the penalty.
Space
Trying to warp through an infected sector will have you be intercepted out of warp, into the infected sector, with enemy ships approaching you. Unlike pirates, they never retreat or listen to your hails and messages. Depending on the attacking ship's goal, they may either destroy the ship to consume it, or disable the ship, board your ship and try to take the crew/passengers/cryoberths.
Ground
Each planet has a single tower, defended by the Alien Species. Destroying the tower will clear the infection from the planet. Over time the planets will get restored if all towers in the sector have been removed. The Alien Species will first attempt to destroy all cities before infecting a planet. Depending on how much it has grown, the tower will have more fierce resistance.
Rewards
Rewards for destroying spire will mainly come in the form of various samples. These samples can be researched to unlock special projects, which will require these samples to build.