I don’t generally post bigger stuff like this about specific solutions rather than specific problems, but I was struck by inspiration last night and decided I should share my thoughts on the matter, as well as hopefully open up a dialogue about what to do about late game events. This also shows as an idea here.

Spoilers for the bigger twists here

I’ve seen a lot of complaints about the lack of good late-game events to shake up the galactic stage and prevent a foregone conclusion to victory. The Academy questline is generally seen as not that impressive, particularly the early stages where players compete for the Highest Score in certain resources, which tend not to be very interactive or flashy. The last stages may disrupt the diplomatic landscape, but can be safely ignored.

What I would like to propose then is a return to past mechanics, by updating the Winter and Pearl concepts to account for the metaplot around the Lost and Isyander St. Shaiad’s plan to revive them. This feature would be known as the Typhoon, and consist of a recurring galaxy wide storm of errant Dust caused by Isyander’s research and preliminary testing of how to revive the Lost. It could also be tied to the explosion of the Grey Owl.

Typhoon: The Typhoon reduces certain resource incomes, particularly Trade Routes and an Approval malus. Food malus would likely be frustrating due to loss of endangered populations, while a Science malus may slow the game yet would also be strongly thematic in the Scientist/Religious divide over Isyander’s actions. The Typhoon produces Pearls/Motes in limited amounts, which can be used in the same manner as Pearls in the Shifters expansion.

Pearls/Motes: While a new resource may be more appropriate to create distance from the Winter mechanic, Pearls may still be appropriate, as they would strengthen the indication that Auriga is one of the Lost and suggest that Pearls are somehow common to the Lost, creating a thematic and mechanical tie. However, Motes of Dust may be more appropriate to the overall concept of a recurring Dust Typhoon, possibly being the early stages of regenerating Lost bodies.

Academy Mechanics: With Heroes and their bonuses not being afflicted by the Typhoon, there is a slightly stronger connection to the Academy; the Academy also might serve as the only source of Pearls on a passive basis. With Pearls only having a set supply all game, the ability to passively produce them would be a strong incentive to fight over the Academy.

Academy Plot: With the Typhoon being tied to Isyander’s secret efforts to return the Lost, the Scientist ending would have as its reward the elimination of the Typhoon, allowing Science factions to deny further Pearl development to Religious factions; the Religious ending would result in more frequent Typhoons or a permanent low intensity Typhoon, the disastrous result of Isyander’s plan, allowing them to abuse their Religious laws. Academy quests would generally reward Pearls instead of Strategic/Luxury Resources.

Religious Politics: Currently a very strong but thematically disjointed party, the Religious party would now revolve around the Typhoon, as its effects would likely be considered religiously important in most belief systems in the galaxy. Religious laws would provide additional effects during the Typhoon or related to Pearls, as the player manages the faith and fervor of their people in the face of such an epic event.

These are my ideas anyways. I believe though that there is a very strong basis here to tie together the Academy, late game events, Religious politics, and the return of an interesting mechanic from a previous Endless game.

I would like people to otherwise consider possible ways to add the dimension of interesting late game events related to the overall galactic plot.