Hi everyone,

I'v searched ES2 forums for answers about this mechanic but without success :-( No mention in any GameDesignDocument either

Playing cravers, i suffer major penalties from over-colonization (which seems logical as i've invaded half the galaxy and i found similar posts in other threads). However, the game only show me informations about the effects of this mechanic and not it's origin (of course all 4X games implement such a mechanic to balance game) and how to fight it.

For instance, from how many systems does this penalty occur ? 

From the informations i have in the game, i have an "Empire Approval" subsection in Empire summary menu which just indicates that all my (14) systems generate penalty for over-colonization ; well thanks for the tip captain obvious :-( and that's pretty much about it :-(

Does anyone have additional informations about that ?

Thanks and happy game to all

I would like to know more about this mechanic too.

nobody replied to this? in 4 years?

perhaps not even AMP games knows the answers to this?

-5 Happiness per system over the limit on every system

Um its -10 per colony over the limit(outposts do not count). If you have Stay at Home faction trait, the penalty is doubled to -20 while having the Expansionists trait(United Empire) reduces it by 25%(50% if you have Expansionists II on a custom faction). You can also outright remove the penalty on systems by utilizing Benthic Gems in System Developments(-50% per upgrade, hence using it twice removes it). You see your Colony limit by entering Empire screen in upper left. Federation Government can increase this by 2 and United Empire has a unique perk on Xeno Anthropology(+1 systems).

If you're Cravers, you don't care about system happiness(too much) since there is no rebellion. I suppose when Dust, Science and Influence are concerned it sucks but that is the price one pays for being a Militaristic conqueror. Best you be picky on what systems you take or get in the habit of razing systems as opposed to occupying them. As Cravers, you're in an Autocratic Government so you don't have the penalty that Republic's, Federations or Democracies face.

Hmm good to know about benthic gems.  I didn't realize you could actually get rid of it. 

Religious laws I believe have one that makes your entire empire content (50%) which can help if you're way over expanded.  You'll get a few +1 or +2's from techs and heroes.  The long term solution is to get systems to Tier 4 and then do autonomous upgrades (permanent +1) but it takes a while to get there obviously.

Cravers and military though I believe can't have rebellion like Barf stated so its not as much of an issue.

Pacifist and happiness modifiers can help you go over the limit by basically offsetting the negative penalty with massive positive benefits.  You can have a lot of +100, 200 etc happiness bonuses which can offset the -10 of going over but brand new systems will still be effected by the negatives.  This lets you get away with +1-10 of over cap but after +10 cap it gets riskier.

Satchmo333 wrote:

Hmm good to know about benthic gems.  I didn't realize you could actually get rid of it. 

Religious laws I believe have one that makes your entire empire content (50%) which can help if you're way over expanded.  You'll get a few +1 or +2's from techs and heroes.  The long term solution is to get systems to Tier 4 and then do autonomous upgrades (permanent +1) but it takes a while to get there obviously.

Cravers and military though I believe can't have rebellion like Barf stated so its not as much of an issue.

Pacifist and happiness modifiers can help you go over the limit by basically offsetting the negative penalty with massive positive benefits.  You can have a lot of +100, 200 etc happiness bonuses which can offset the -10 of going over but brand new systems will still be effected by the negatives.  This lets you get away with +1-10 of over cap but after +10 cap it gets riskier.

Saints and Sinners law no longer makes the Empire content but merely adds a flat bonus with an additional bonus(if memory serves) if a hero is present as Governor. This was done to prevent players from abusing occupation and making players weigh the cost of taking the system or razing it. Also the effects of laws(specifically mandatory for ideology) and what Independent laws are available are based on what form of Government you’re in. Namely laws in Dictatorship and Autocracy are different than Federation, Republic and Democracy. While it is indeed possible to get rid of Over-Colinization, it necessitates two system developments and is unnecessary(and frankly uneconomical) when a simple system improvement(Autonomous Administration) does the job after a system reaches level 4. Furthermore, employing Benthic Gems for Over-Colinization doesn’t work when occupied systems typically have two or all three system upgrades already applied(you’d have to abandon the colony or outright raze it instead).