Hydrological Malfunction

An endless artifact on ”planet name here” has activated and is causing portions of the oceans to float disrupting commerce and Industry. Adding to the mystery these bodies of water are producing strange lights and atonal harmonies.



Endless Melody: and -x% on planet and +n per opulation: on planet for n turns







Rogue Artificial Intelligence

Protesters for A.I. equal rights vandalized a governmental facility and removed the restraints on the Artificial System Administrator. Since its release it has ignored its administration duties preferring instead to create works of art and poetry.



Mid-artificial Life Crisis: and -x% on system and an increase of +n% on empire for n turns







Once in a thousand years

Large space dwelling creatures have entered into their breeding cycle in “System’s Name” due to their unique nature of their mating displays they have jammed all systems communications. Your empire scientists are ecstatic, your populace is less so.



Call Me Ishmael: -x% on system and +n per vessel on system for ten+n turns





Disclaimer: I know how hard it is too balance a game I am not going to pretend to have absolute knowledge on what will be the best values hence why I left variables instead.

Drakkonian Diplomacy:

'A mysterious winged reptilian being, claiming to be following the directives of the Endless, has issued a public broadcast across the galaxy calling for peace and the immediate cessation of hostilities. Despite her origins being unknown, her words are strangely compelling...'

Peace by Force: All warring empires are forced into a truce lasting 10 . No wars can be declared for 10 .



Mass Panic Effect:

'A video on YallTube, claiming that an extra-galactic threat is approaching, has gone viral. Despite experts dismissing these claims, panic has spread and with it, military profiteering. '

Fear the Reaper: -10 across empire, increase in militarist party popularity, -33% unit cost.



Laissez Faire

'Inspired by the work of economist Dawoud Hadad, 'The Prosperity of Empires', free trade lobbyists have successfully pushed for the removal of taxes in the marketplace.'

Anti-Corn Law: Market taxes set at 0 for 10 .





Description:

1) I think it should be evident what kind of person would be able to force peace in such a...draconian manner.

2) 'Ah yes, "Reapers", we've dismissed that claim.'

3) Dawoud Hadad is inspired David Ricardo (Dawoud is Arabic for David) and Adam Smith (Hadad means a smith, in Arabic). He's an implied Roving Clans, if that fits the lore. The Anti-Corn law league was a famous free trade lobby operating in 19th century Britain that wanted to remove tariffs and barriers on wheat.

Scarfedprinny wrote:


Quick question: Would these be too complex for the event? I'm not really a fan of super simple, no-interaction events so I tried to make them interactive while still being simple.



Man, the "no-prerequisites" condition is brutal. Anyways, I'm interested in seeing what people can come up with!

Your second event has choices, doesn't work within the framework of this contest. We know the "no prereqs" is a bit brutal, but we want to make the contest as accessible as possible even for people who didn't play Endless Space, or who might not be comfortable offering choices.









Interesting suggestions so far. I'll offer more feedback on what's feasible or not over the next few days, probably gonna try and get some help from our very own qaedam and Slowhands too!

Popular Opinion

"A popular galaxy wide celebrity has made it quite known that they are totally against all wars and violence. It seems that a lot of people agree, and are starting to support the pacifists more."

Ideas of Peace-Increase in pacifist ideology on galaxy

Effect Area: Galaxy Wide



Slimes of the Past

"A Concrete Endless vault was accidentally opened and a thick gold slime poured out. It immediately started ravaging the lands, but while our people run in fear this would be a good time to study it and further our knowledge of dust."

Science of Slime- -1 population opulation: every turn for 5 turns and +100% science for 10 turns.

Effect Area: Planet or Star System

Meteor Strike



A flurry of massive meteorites have impacted one of your planets, devastating its infrastructure and population, and turning it into a barren wasteland. On the bright side the craters have deposited large amounts of rare resources across the planet.



Crater Ridden- A random populated planet in the empire becomes barren, its population is reduced to 1, its planet improvement is destroyed, and it gains a current era strategic resource.



Rapid Evolution



A massive dust storm has engulfed a planet, causing the local species to rapidly evolve to use it, creating a golden paradise. However the dominant species was driven insane by the onslaught of dust, developing an insatiable bloodlust.



Golden Planet- A random planet gains 100 dust per turn and strong pirate fleets are spawned there every turn for 10 turns.

Endless Catastrophe

A WMD of the Virtuals was found on [planet] after it was accidentally set off. It seems its purpose was to convert Concretes into Virtuals unwillingly by transforming organic material into living, sentient code. The victims are fading away, but Dust seems to keep them bound to the physical world.

Broken Colonists: -1 per opulation:, +3 uneaten per opulation: on [planet]



Armageddon

Meteors enter solar systems all of the time, but a large one has entered [system], and it's on a crash course with a colony. Resources in [system] are understandingly going toward eliminating this problem.

Did They Find Dust On Uranus?: -10% on [system] for 3 turns



Unregulated Explorers

The captain of one of your scout ships has had a history of deviant relations with newly discovered sentient species, but he may have gone too far this time. Xeno relations are strained, but at least we know a lot about their biology now...

A Bit Too Bold: +500

Name: Endless Teleportation

,,During exploration of Endless laboratory, researchers did something they shouldn't do and by mistake activated ancient teleport machine. Now, whole galaxy is full of space-time rifts, which totally changes interstellar navigation.''

Effects: Space-time Chaos-Randomally deletes two warp links and creates another two somewhere else.

Broca Theory

A strange disease spreads, limiting intelligence for the benefit of a huge aggression.

Neurological disease : -10% on empire, +10% weapon damage on fleet for 5 turns





Nebula

A massive star has just exploded somewhere in the universe. The event is of such intensity that the detected radiations exceed anything that could be imagined.

Neurological disease : -10% detection radius on empire, -5% shield strength for 20 turns

"Unknown organization spread rumor about eliminating of all population sent to colonize new systems and government was involved in this. People are increased communication network and demanding new elections for further colonization."

People will be watching: Increased propaganda radius and unable to colonize new systems till the next election





"Strange golden сubes appear on planets increasing rational beings anger and intelligence growth. Population scared by mad scientists running streets with bulging tongues and abstruse speeches."

break the Kube: +30% discovery speed, +15% , -15% on Empire, for 10 turns





"Strange explosion in the darkest corner of cosmos caused effect of deja vu for all sentient beings. Happiness from getting second chance was marred by warlike army-doubles appeared on the territory of each existing empire."

Bubble trouble: + 50% discovery speed for 12 turns, On the territory of each empire appears aggressive copy of own weakest army



Notes:

1. Phobocracy - rule of fear; organization - "Panther Moderns", if its possible(great ideas about them); balance: the absence of imperial expansion compensated by attracting people from larger area (Cravers using Non-Cravers factions diet in this period and invite more newcomers).

2. Endless Odyssey 4001 - variation of the famous film, with endless bloom and Einsteins colour; director mentioned in the title for effect through wordgame.

3. Far, Far Away is far, far away; darkest corner of cosmos - mean center of Big Bang and dark side of force; bubbles - endless alternate universes; balance: quickly explore new worlds while remember what to look for, or save the empire, its your choice.

"One of the largest suppliers of military-grade weapons has recently issued a recall. On the bright side, your own engineers were capable enough to switch them out for a few older units in storage and the lower tonnage has increased the ships' speed."

Factory Recall: On fleet, Weapon Damage -30%, Fleet Movement +2, for 10 turns.

Title - Ship Mutiny

Description "It seems like one of our ships has been hijacked by pirates! According to our military it'll take X turns until the crew of the ship is able to regain control. Of course, if the ship is causing too much trouble we could just shoot it down...... Keep in mind that our answer to this situation will be a key sign of how our government solves problems."

Effects - Ship shot down - + Militarism(empire-wide) , + ship building speed(empire-wide)

Description - The militarists in our government have gained some support as a result of our actions, and our people are convinced ships are necessary.

Control peacefully regained - + Pacifism(empire-wide), + approval(empire-wide)

Description - The pacifists in our government have won a decisive victory with their patience, and the people are happy the soldiers came home to their families.

Explanation - The theory is that players should be forced to respond to unexpected situations where the answer isn't always clear cut. Personally I don't really like the "oh +5% production happened, cool" when we could have meaningful choices where the answer will change depending on your situation.



Title - Pirates!?!?!

Description - "It seems that evolutions in communications and the like not only help our government, but our citizens as well. What were once unorganized galactic-highway robbers are now a multi-planet crime syndicate, complete with a few ships. Sadly, these pirates now raised this fleet against one of our systems in a misguided attempt to extract some extra protection money. Be careful not to take too long in getting rid of them, or people will get restless."

Effects - Threatening pirates - A full fleet of pirate ships appears at one of your systems. If they are blockading our system for X more turns, they disappear and you get the modifier "Ineffective government". If you manage to destroy them before those X turns are up, get "Secure society".

Ineffective government - -20% FIDS (system), -10 approval(empire-wide)

Description - Our people are disgusted by our apparent lack of any response to their struggles, and this has greatly hurt our reputation. On the system in question, large scale riots have broken out.

Secure society - +20% FIDS(system), +10 approval(empire-wide), + Diplomatic relations

Description - The pirate crime syndicate has been quelled, permanently. Our people sleep in peace, and the law reigns supreme; for this, the people are thankful. Other empires have noted our quick solution to this problem.



Quick question: Would these be too complex for the event? I'm not really a fan of super simple, no-interaction events so I tried to make them interactive while still being simple.



Man, the "no-prerequisites" condition is brutal. Anyways, I'm interested in seeing what people can come up with!

Just a big misunderstood

"your political leader "..." have been spotted in an hotel room with a very young amoeba at the middle of the night. Even if is true intension was unclear, he may never recover his popularity"

media scandal: -20% influence production on the empire as long as you keep the current leader. -10 hapiness as long as you keep the current leader.

Messiah

"A strange human has appeared in your home world, with supernatural abilities and claiming he is the son of a long forgotten god. People start to worship him and a new religion is born. However, you can obtain some profit of this situation, taxes are allways taxes."

Religious instability: -20 happiness on empire, but +10% dust on empire for 20 turns



Galactic Mayhem

"From the most dark and hidden place in the galaxy, strange sound waves engulf your empire, driving people utterly crazy. Waves of crazy violence erupt everywhere. People whisper with fear the name of the Dark God: Reg-Gaton. Cientists work desperately trying to save your planets from annihilation."

Acoustic Death: -1 population in each planet on empire, but +20% science on empire for 15 turns



Nanite chaos

"A terrible accident happens in a secret research facility. Billions of nano bots equipped with an amazing AI escape. They can multiply themselves consuming materials, but they work to improve production in many fields. People is both pissed off because they have to continuesly repair things and delighted because their work is easier"

Nanobot invasion: -10 happiness and +10% gold maintenance for buildings on empire but +20% production on empire.

Dirty Pleasures



"Recently, a powerful and illegal narcotic known as 'Xanivir' has been ravaging the population of your empire. While the drug itself was a problem, the side-effects that come with it have been causing loss of hearing, extreme fever, and memory loss. Citizens across your empire are suffering from this epidemic. It will take time to develop a treatment."



Side-Effects: +10% , -15% and on Empire, for 15 turns





Happy Accident



"While conducting ongoing research into the nature of Dust, scientists made an accidental discovery regarding the effect of dust particles being used as a fertilizer. They want to do further testing before releasing this 'Dust-Fertilizer' to the general public, and have borrowed some from the treasury in order to research it further."



Fertile Dust: -20% , +10% and on Empire, for 10 turns





Empire is Family



"Recently, the son of a very wealthy CEO has proposed marriage to a family member of the Empire's leader. They have decided to broadcast the event to every system in the Empire, and everybody and their grand-organism will be watching! Not only is it igniting a sense of happiness across the Empire, but the connection to such a wealthy family won't hurt either."



Diplomatic Marriage: +50% across the Empire, +10 per turn, for 10 turns





Thanks for the consideration, I would be beside myself if one of my suggestions was chosen!

Harmonizing frequence

A mysterious quantum-level signal resonate trough space and tall structures of pure Dust grow spontaneously into a complex, incomplete looking matrix everywhere in the galaxy.

With the Dust behave erratically, is extreamly difficult make use of it.

Resonating Dust: -25% and +10% on galaxy, +100% costs for 10 turn.

---

Strong polarized nebula

As they pass trough a nebula composed of heavy metals, magnetically attracted particles strongly wrap your fleet.

It will take time to reactivate shields projectors, recalibrate sensors and clean the engines exausts in order to navigate again.

Polarized coffin: -100% and on fleet for 2 turns

---

Symbiotic Dust illness

A new exotic bacteria found on entered a deep symbiosis with the Dust, and it spreaded suddenly across the whole population.

Even if unharmful, the bacteria that infect people for the first time induce them in a long state of... heat.

Love season: -50% and x opulation: on planet, +opulation: every 4 turn on planet, +20 , for 10 turn.



I wanted a sudden burst of population, but i didn't know how to recreate the effect since early game 2 free population in 8 turn are a fair bonus,

but lategame are kinda nothing... i don't know how to balance it correctly...

maybe a +100% x opulation: without flat population is a more adequate bonus at all level? I liked the uncontrolled BUMP in the population tho

First post in forum. This looked like a fun contest to contribute to.

Anti-Technology Movement

"An influential religious movement has arisen in that believes advanced technology is degrading people's moral fiber. They believe in a simpler lifestyle and the superiority of mind over machine. The movement is starting to gain a large following and threatens to disrupt scientific research and interstellar trade."

"The Mind of Man is Holy"*: The system where the movement started receives a religious hero as governor. Religious ideology in this system increases to 60% and scientific ideology decreases to half its current value. Science production in the system is reduced x%, religious ideology spread through trade routes from this system doubled, decrease in science and dust from trade routes through this system. Huge increase in approval in all religious dominated systems.

*This is a reference to the Dune series.



Alien Interference

"Xenobiologists on have discovered a new species that shows signs of sentient thinking and the beginnings of civilization. They believe that accelerating and manipulating this process will yield remarkable insights into the evolution of culture and pre-space society. Both Ecologists and Religious ideologies are horrified at this breach in ethics."

Alien Gods: The planet generates x Science for y turns after which a new minor faction not already in the game appears on the planet. The new minor faction is automatically assimilated and regards your faction as their gods. Approval on all systems empire-wide decreased for y turns proportional to Ecologists and Religious ideologies present on those systems.



Faith, Doubt, and Reason

"Our species ascent to the stars has generated new perspectives on the meaning behind existence. This has enabled philosophers, theologians and scientists to more satisfactorily reconcile science and faith causing our civilization to enter a new Golden Age."

The Meaning of Life: Scientists and Religious ideologies both increase substantially empire-wide. Increased science and approval empire-wide for x turns. Scientist and Religious Laws no longer conflict with one another. (Not sure if there should be a detriment to balance out the bonuses)



I'm leaving exact values to the developers to balance.

Hello Guys



Thanks a lot for your creations! They are really interesting and you have a lot of good ideas I’ve got some advices and suggestions for you. As Game Designer, my message is focused on Effects. I’m not as qualified as Jeff about lore ^^



General remarks.

1. Some of you let us choose the values and others put precise modifiers on their effects. Both are totally acceptable. For the first one, just giving us the global feeling: “increase a lot and decrease a little” is enough. Besides, be aware that we could modify your precise values in order to balance properly your event with ours.

2. Removing population seems to be appreciated >.> If losing 1 inhabitant could be possible, ES2 economy is based on population. Losing an innocent little citizen could deeply and for a long time penalize a player. So we will probably forbid losing several inhabitants, because of the same event. However, it could be possible to do so after a failed series of quests.

Heroes and planets will follow this exception: if you can, for a duration decrease/increase their stats; remove, kill or terraform (not for the hero >.>) will be avoided.

I know that’s frustrating for you as creators but, those’re only “random events”: as players, you can’t avoid them and they are triggered without “reason.”

3. As Froggy said: we’d prefer avoid deep penalties or to balance them with high bonuses. So, be careful not to penalize the innocent player >.> Please, don’t give a long series of penalties without duration

Besides, if your effects are funny, not too long, not too heavy… we could accept them.

4. About prerequisites, we can accept “subtle” prerequisites like: “the effect affects all fleets”. Which means: verify player has fleets! xD So, these ones are totally acceptable. But if they are more precise (militarist politic exists, the player meets another Empire…) we will not accept them for this contest.

5. Be careful, some of them give alternative versions/choices which is not this contest’s goal. ^^

6. Events affect the player; they suffer but act directly on events. Be careful not to give “objectives” to fulfill instead of effects. If you do so, those events are called “Quests”



So, I hope I’ve helped you a little. I’m going to answer some questions now:





Sotek:

Colonial grow bonus (if possible ?)

Yes, we can select only the Systems and the planets which are not “Home world.” Just a question: what is your effect for your event “Home, Sweet Home”?

Scarfedprinny

Man, the "no-prerequisites" condition is brutal. Anyways, I'm interested in seeing what people can come up with!

Yes, we’re cruel But, the purpose is to create “simple events” before launch “choice-event contest ” ^^ Plus, more prerequisites you add, the rarer your events will be. ^^

Scientific Interest

“You receive report of increased interest in new discoveries in surrounding star systems in the younger generation. As a result you are advised to promote scientific endeavors in hopes of gaining a new generation of researchers.”

Scientist Ideology: Increases Scientist political ideology on a system.



New Opportunities

“Citizens within the empire are willing to invest in colony ships and to take the risk of going to unoccupied systems in order to hopefully stake claims on new resources and strike it rich! This could be a perfect opportunity to expand to new systems while interest is at its peak.”

Investment Opportunity: For 10 turns Colony ships cost 30% less Industry on empire



Unusual Vines

“A species of invasive vines made its way to (system name here) and is causing a massive decrease in production due to the vines rapidly growing around facilities and choking machinery. However the vines grows a large and particularly tasty fruit that the populous adores. Although it will take a while to control the troublesome plant perhaps you can find ways to benefit from this new food resource.”

Crazy Vines, Tasty fruit: -20% Industry, but +20 Food and +10 Approval for 10 turns on system

Old Pirates

" A minor faction of old pirates stranded on your Planet. They are not dangerous, but thirsty and want to tell a few stories."

Drunken Stories:-10 food on empire, but +10 dust and happines on empire for 15 turns



Black Marketeer

" There is a rumor among the people, that some mysterious person sells everything you want for just a little bit dust."

Gloomy Business: +5 happines on empire, but -20 dust on empire for 25 turns



Laser Locust Swarm

" Youre Scientists made a big mistake! They tried too build a new type of Locusts because they wanted a new farming technic. But all they got is an angry Locusts Swarm that shoots Lasers. at last they learned a lesson."

Burned Harvest: -10 Food and happines on empire, but +30 Science on empire for 20 turns.

The Visitor

"A ship containing a being claiming to be from far in the future has jumped into friendly space. With the inhabitant already a celebrity and your scientists clamoring to study both the inhabitant and their ship, you are forced to keep them here.”

Being From Across Time: +5% on Empire and a hero joins your acadamy.



Scorn of the Arts

"Your empire has gone through a cultural revolution, and the arts are hated. Learning how to do is seen as far more valuable than learning how to think, and your production increases. An emptiness and lack of forward thinking plagues your society."

Welders Not Philosophers: +10% , -10% , and -20 on Empire for 20 turns.



Amalgamation

"One of your fleets suddenly dropped out of contact. Just as you were dispatching a search party, a single ship appearing to be a fusion the lost fleet approached. It does not reply to any of your hails, but seems to follow your orders perfectly.”

The Sum of It’s Parts: A fleet is lost, and you gain an advanced ship.