While those are certainly untapped niches, I think you folks are being a bit too conservative, there are many other ways a new faction could be added, including twists on old ones:



- A faction that does not use dust, like the harmony in endless space. The Broken lords and roving clans are completely focused on it, with the others also using it, but not a single faction does NOT use it. Perhaps an example could be the aforementioned lizardmen, and their culture could be wholly independent of it. Or maybe you could literally add the harmony, as that would be possible within the lore, and lead to some interesting concepts.



- A faction which is focused on manipulation, with the ability to fake contracts and peace agreements, disguise units as those of others, and generally just mess with the other factions. A shape shifting faction would be ideal for this.



- A flying faction, which exclusively has winged units. It would prefer open areas, and its cities would have advantages when built next to cliffs. A bird faction, like the Hissho, would be ideal for this purpose.

Larcent wrote:
I was actually fully expecting a faction that bucks the seasonal concept and was stronger during the winter than during the summer. I thought that would be the case with the Drakkens.



Given that didn't happen, there's definitely a gap. I had an idea of a faction that believes winter is the "true" natural state of Auriga and can summon a powerful military unit that only lasts during the winter and then dies, even if it isn't killed.

That could be interesting. They have to survive the early game, and by late game, they are the force that needs to be reckoned with.

I was actually fully expecting a faction that bucks the seasonal concept and was stronger during the winter than during the summer. I thought that would be the case with the Drakkens.



Given that didn't happen, there's definitely a gap. I had an idea of a faction that believes winter is the "true" natural state of Auriga and can summon a powerful military unit that only lasts during the winter and then dies, even if it isn't killed.

Besides the aquatic-based faction, which is a great idea, here's what I think is one theme that remains untouched in EL:



A Mechanical/Mineral-based faction much like say, the Sowers from Endless Space. They were left behind on Auriga by the Endless as prototype caretakers of the planet in their absence. Their struggle involves understanding their origins and their PURPOSE, and working out the bugs in their programming.



Their citizens feed on industry instead of food. They convert a small percentage of food into industry, and gain no other benefit from food... etc..

Mechanically, there is room for:

-A faction that cares about water beyond trade routes and dust yield. And yeah, you could fold espionage into this.

-A faction of alchemists/brewers. Vaulters designate one holy resource, these guys could combine resources to form mega boosters. If you want to go dark with this one, their product can be addictive and have various side effects.

-A faction that specializes in stealing/siphoning FIDSI, sabotage, bribery, etc. I'd throw espionage in here.

-A faction that rewards linking cities across territory lines. Build your own arcology!



Maybe more after coffee.

Trisdino wrote:
The Cultists are still quite mysterious, as we have not seen much of them, but they are most certainly also a twist on humans.

Humanoid? Maybe. Just look at Telum's art concepts. Human? Not really. Mysterious? For now, certainly. I'm curious to see how Amplitude introduces them, myself.

If we get an aquatic espionage faction, can I vote for a creeping, long-term genetic infitration? The Endless still lie dreaming, and it's beginning to look a lot like fishmen in here.



Sorry, couldn't help myself there. I do hope espionage will be a feature of the first expansion, though.

First expansion will be a espionage-centric faction.... which could/might be a naval faction too... perhaps an aquatic one with shape shifters and the like... ooooh, I like it.