In case you missed it on Amplitude's twitter feed, there was a new preview based off of what was seen at this year's Gamescon: http://wccftech.com/endless-space-2-legends-blast-off/

One part in particular caught my eye as being new info:

Also borrowed from Endless Legend is the inclusion of an overarching separate narrative, though on a larger scope. More than simply focusing on the death of one planet (Auriga in Endless Legend) there is something here that is on a universal scope. The developer from Amplitude wasn’t able to go into further than that, but it’s still intriguing.

Read more: http://wccftech.com/endless-space-2-legends-blast-off/#ixzz4J13XBkw6

On this I have a theory, one that I've had since I heard the narrator in the very first reveal trailer: What if the Harmony are returning to Endless Space 2, not as a major faction, but as a major external threat to all players, much like the end game crisis of Stellaris with the Unbidden and Prethoryn Swarm. I think it would be investesting for them to come into the galaxy and start wiping systems clean of dust (not to mention the population and infrastructure), changing the galaxy forever and forcing the players to either work together or fall separately  

This is going to be a good thread.

Allow me to subscribe and bring the pop corn. 

Well, this was exactly the lore of ES1 and its Disharmony expansion so it would not be weird to see it happen in ES2 in more detail.

At this rate Frogsquadron, I fear your popcorn may grow stale before this thread gains traction

Ridiculi wrote:

...

On this I have a theory, one that I've had since I heard the narrator in the very first reveal trailer: What if the Harmony are returning to Endless Space 2, not as a major faction, but as a major external threat to all players, much like the end game crisis of Stellaris with the Unbidden and Prethoryn Swarm. I think it would be investesting for them to come into the galaxy and start wiping systems clean of dust (not to mention the population and infrastructure), changing the galaxy forever and forcing the players to either work together or fall separately  

I think you are onto something. The narrator in the reveal trailer mentioned that he reached perfect harmony. An overall crisis would be fitting since they did it with EL winter mechanics and it was a good addition to the 4X formula. I get more of a MOO2 vibe similar to the Antaran Invasions. I don't think the Harmony in this scenario would be an end game crisis but an external threat for the whole game which scales witht the game progression, similiar to the winter mechanic, which was there from the beginning. Since ES2 will have Eras for the tech it could be tied to that, the Harmony could grow stronger with each era.

What struck me with the Harmony in ES1 was that they were very special with their powers and didn't use many of the core mechanics (heroes, DUST, upgrading fleets, buyout). So I guess it is more interesting to use factions which all use the same mechanics but with some own special mechanics on top (planetary buyot, slavery...). Since ES2 adds more mechanics (trade companies, the Academy, real internal politics), the Harmony would be a very dull faction in comparison to the rest. BUT as an external threat they would be really fitting. Since the Harmony do not upgrade their ships, it would be fitting if they invade with more and more advanced ships, just like the MOO2 Antarans.

MezzoMax wrote:

I don't think the Harmony in this scenario would be an end game crisis but an external threat for the whole game which scales witht the game progression, similiar to the winter mechanic, which was there from the beginning. Since ES2 will have Eras for the tech it could be tied to that, the Harmony could grow stronger with each era.

I guess "end game crisis" might have been the wrong choice of words, but that's Paradox was calling them in Stellaris, and that's the last game I played that had a similar mechanic  

However, I think your comparison to the winter mechanics from EL is spot on. I wouldn't be surprised that instead of winter being triggered after a certain number of turns (because that would make absolutely no sense on a galactic scale ) a Harmony fleet (or several fleets) would appear in systems on the outer-rim of the galaxy, with each arrival bringing more powerful and numerous ships.  That being said, I doubt such a mechanic would be kicked off early in the game like winter was in EL, it wouldn't make sense thematically and would screw with the pacing of the game overall. It would work better if you started seeing them in the mid game and have them be a thorn in the players' side until they're nearly an insurmountably threat to the galaxy at the end of the game... plus the players need time in the beginning of the game to meet and greet (or eat ) their neighbors and get an overall sense of the galaxy around them.

While reading this thread I was thinking of what other crises could pop up, and for some reason the first image to pop up in my head was the Horatio. Quite frankly such an event as a massive Horatio clone war would be both terrifying and hilarious to me.

BlackBird1696 wrote:

While reading this thread I was thinking of what other crises could pop up, and for some reason the first image to pop up in my head was the Horatio. Quite frankly such an event as a massive Horatio clone war would be both terrifying and hilarious to me.

While I think they're will only be one "BIG BAD CRISIS" game mechanic, I would love to see mini-crisis as well! I could easily see them working like the global cooperative/competitive events from EL, and those were great, but could be expanded on to make them even more incredible!

If they do one with a Horatio clone war, I hope they include a Fallout 3 easter-egg! Have it be a clash between the noble Horatio, and the unspeakable abomination that is "Gary"

Frogsquadron wrote:

This is going to be a good thread.

Give this guy an answer, please

https://www.games2gether.com/endless-space-2/forum/65-general/thread/20168-multi-byte-character-support

@ Ridiculi: I think you are right, this kind of external threat would not be fitting for the early game. Mid to late game would be about right. That's what I meant by binding them to the eras.

Let's speculate further: In EL winter got a whole new mechanic with the pearls of Auriga. Something I found really interesting because these damn Shifters allways voted for the worst possible outcome. It was interesting and you could affect each other on a global scale but without direct intervention. So IF the Harmony would be some kind of invading force, well is that all that is to that? That seems a little bit underwhelming. OK they could cleanse planets from Dust which could result in devastating effects. I didn't exspect any kind of global threat or something like that until that article. So perhaps I am exspecting a little bit to much out of it if I compare it to the winter mechanic.

That said it was stated that the minor factions will function as the pirates of ES2. So what would be the difference between the early pirates and an invading Harmony fleet? I mean gameplay wise. There should be more to it, otherwise these are both attacking fleets, one of which spawns outside the galaxy map.

BlackBird1696 wrote:

While reading this thread I was thinking of what other crises could pop up, and for some reason the first image to pop up in my head was the Horatio. Quite frankly such an event as a massive Horatio clone war would be both terrifying and hilarious to me.

Haha true. Attack of the good looking clones. Perhaps this could be some event. I hope the Horratio will return as a minor faction. They would make a delicate snack for the Cravers.

That said it was stated that the minor factions will function as the pirates of ES2. So what would be the difference between the early pirates and an invading Harmony fleet? I mean gameplay wise. There should be more to it, otherwise these are both attacking fleets, one of which spawns outside the galaxy map.

My guess is that the Minor Factions would/will be politically dynamic, since players could negotiate and annex them. Whereas the Harmony would be a silent force marauding through the galaxy. The harmony could also perhaps convert worlds into a new world type which would either be uninhabitable or just plain stupid to colonize. Such a situation reducing habitable worlds would make stopping them a massive priority.

MezzoMax wrote:

That said it was stated that the minor factions will function as the pirates of ES2. So what would be the difference between the early pirates and an invading Harmony fleet? I mean gameplay wise. There should be more to it, otherwise these are both attacking fleets, one of which spawns outside the galaxy m

BlackBird1696 wrote:

That said it was stated that the minor factions will function as the pirates of ES2. So what would be the difference between the early pirates and an invading Harmony fleet? I mean gameplay wise. There should be more to it, otherwise these are both attacking fleets, one of which spawns outside the galaxy map.

My guess is that the Minor Factions would/will be politically dynamic, since players could negotiate and annex them. Whereas the Harmony would be a silent force marauding through the galaxy. The harmony could also perhaps convert worlds into a new world type which would either be uninhabitable or just plain stupid to colonize. Such a situation reducing habitable worlds would make stopping them a massive priority.

^This

Minor factions as pirates are an early game threat that will quickly go away once they start being annexed by the major factions