Hi,

As custom factions seems to be in ES2, I want to put here some ideas I had about them after first plays.

In ES1 and EL, the system was limited to choose an affinity (which implies what units you'll have and faction quest in EL) plus a box where you put positive and negative traits until you reach a score, or are just satisfied whith them. I think that this system with all new content in ES2 may bee too limited, specially if you link the affinity to population and ideology. As an example, what if I want to create a faction with omniscience as affinity, while I want an industrialist dictatorship as initial gevernment and Vodyani population (is a weird example, think won't be balnced, but anyway I can want this).

Having the example explained before, and all new things about population and senate, I suggest to put a series of slots for different faction characteristics, and after that the traditional box for traits. I'll put my suggestions about what has to be in the slots in two list: what IMO is must have, and other with things I have coubts or don't consider a must-have. Also, to clarify, I think all that slots should be chooseable with only one option, and dubious about point costs when choosing an option. I'll mark whit a "*" the slots IMO may cost you points, that later will be taken from points left to choose traits.

• Must-have slots:
  • Affinity*: faction affinity, like ES1 or EL.
  • Initial ideology: you should be able to choose it regardless your affinity. Even at risk of changing it in your first elections. Also at no cost, as I think that some players with clever combos could exploit it, balnce may be too complex.
  • Empire population: you can choose if you want lumeris or whatever as your pop. IMO makes more interesting disigning a faction, to match your pop bonus and ideologies to previous slots. Two comments:
    • Pop like cravers or Vodyani may be complex here, but it's player's risk. May also be exmploitable, but very complex to say, as each case will differ.
    • Minor faction pop should be elegible as your empire's main pop. Makes more options.
  • Initial goverment: same coments as two previous.
  • The traits box*: that place where you put traits in ES1 and EL2. I've put the pop, ideology, and government separated, as I consider this way you can give more flavor to your faction. If not considered to own a slot, at least consider this 3 to cost 0 points, as all of 'em are a must-have with actual system, and I think linking all them to affinity is very limiting.
• Non-must-have or dubious:
  • Initial tech: Have doubts if putting specific slots, or just you can spent points like previous games. Two considerations:
    • Make mandatory give you a tech that allows to colonize your faction starting planet type. Just for lore reason.
    • Put two techs slots, as in ES2 starting techs don't appear even in faction descriptions. At no points costs, but only two per faction.
  • Starting planet type: not sure, maybe confusing. Also stated in previous slot, can you start in a planet you don't have the tech to colonize?
  • Choose faction quest: Not sure about it. I would like to see, but it may create conflict with faction affinity if you choose a quest from other faction.
  • Choose faction ships: As before, I would like, but it may conflict with traits or affinities. As an example Lumeris had no colony ships, and not sure what happens to Vodyani arks. May be use a placeholder desing as colony ship?
  • Option to upload personalized art for ships, fation portraits, etc... (I'm not good at this, but sure some players are).

Well, that's almost all. To next step:

Another thing I would like to see is something like XCOM2 charater pool, but with custom factions created by players. As I understand that this is a lot of work, at least consider creating an specific section in the forum to allow players share their creations (you can put there what your choices were).

ANd that's all. Thanks for reading!