I always loved making custom factions in Endless Space. I also love doing so in EL.

Endless Legend did some things I felt were a step in the right direction:



*Elimination of a lot of the "freebie" negative traits that ES1 had.

*Negative vs. Positive cost ratio (Example: A trait might cost 10 points, but it's negative equivalent only provides -5)



Endless Legend's traits will probably also resemble that! However, there is one last consideration I'd like ES2 to consider in it's design:



Vanilla Factions should have traits that are over the point allowance allotted to Custom Factions.



This is the biggest problem when pitting vanilla factions against custom ones in Endless Legend, as some factions are beneath the cap allowed to custom ones!



I would like to see all the vanilla factions have traits that are over the point allowance allotted to custom Factions. Custom factions will be more powerful by default--giving the player a toolbox to build their own faction with that is tailored for their playstyle---but this way the default factions would have a leg up on total points implemented into their design and still be able to decently complete while still being lore friendly.

I suppose the developers chose to do that (the fact that broken lords start below 80 by default, High Seat of the Queen is negative etc) in view of these factions´ natural handicaps and maybe even units stat distribution.



I can´t say the end result is balanced though, not nearly enough mp experience. My impression is that it´s not.

Rudest wrote:
I always loved making custom factions in Endless Space. I also love doing so in EL.

Endless Legend did some things I felt were a step in the right direction:



*Elimination of a lot of the "freebie" negative traits that ES1 had.

*Negative vs. Positive cost ratio (Example: A trait might cost 10 points, but it's negative equivalent only provides -5)



Endless Legend's traits will probably also resemble that! However, there is one last consideration I'd like ES2 to consider in it's design:



Vanilla Factions should have traits that are over the point allowance allotted to Custom Factions.



This is the biggest problem when pitting vanilla factions against custom ones in Endless Legend, as some factions are beneath the cap allowed to custom ones!



I would like to see all the vanilla factions have traits that are over the point allowance allotted to custom Factions. Custom factions will be more powerful by default--giving the player a toolbox to build their own faction with that is tailored for their playstyle---but this way the default factions would have a leg up on total points implemented into their design and still be able to decently complete while still being lore friendly.

Being someone who spent tons of hours just on the "modify custom race" screen and doing hundreds of 30 turns challenges to test custom races. I couldnt agree more with that.

Rudest wrote:




Vanilla Factions should have traits that are over the point allowance allotted to Custom Factions.

While you are suggesting this for ES2, didn't ES1 already do that (and thus should translate over to ES2). I don't have the specific numbers, but a vast majority of the vanilla factions in ES went over the 65 point limit. Many averaging around 72-75 and some like the horatio spiking up to a whopping 80 points.

WhiteWeasel wrote:
While you are suggesting this for ES2, didn't ES1 already do that (and thus should translate over to ES2). I don't have the specific numbers, but a vast majority of the vanilla factions in ES went over the 65 point limit. Many averaging around 72-75 and some like the horatio spiking up to a whopping 80 points.

True that except for the Sheredyn(64), the Cravers(64) and (oddly) the Sowers with only 61 points at the very back of the bus (Sheredyn and Cravers i understand for being 2 of the top tier affinities)



Maybe we should think of other ways too to improve the default factions (without pruning the customs) as they would even need more then the 88 points the Vaulters got to stand a chance. I totaly support the higher point caps for them but maybe its just not that easy. Maybe they need something unique.