The other day I played some ES2 after a long time, endless difficulty. I got mad cause the Vaulter AI next to me started snatching up minor factions at turn 20 already. It took my willingness away to continue the game. Which is sad.

I thought about a solution for a long time and I think if assimilation was tied to a later era tech, many of the current complaints about minor factions not playing a big role later on would be addressed. Also, it'd be great if the ability to assimilate through quest was made to become available when the relationship is maxed out, further pushing the possible assimilation out.

Thoughts?

How about improving the rate at with you gain influence over the minor faction at later stages of the game?

Let's say you only gain 1 point of influence per turn with each minor civilization. Doing so will ensure that, at the very least you have 50 turns before any minor civilization could be assimilated.

This has already been addressed though. I have been able to hold control over several minor factions in my current game. So I don't think it is a problem any longer.

I am sure it is not a problem on normal. However, I'd still prefer if assimilation was regulated in some way so that players at least have the CHANCE to get ahold of minor factions. I'm not saying it makes the game unwinnable but it definitely takes a lot away from the experience.

Turn 20 assimilation? Gimme a break, that's a bit too much, even on endless difficulty.

The problem is the disparity in access to Influence between factions is completely ludicrous. The default is 7 per turn for most factions, but a couple can easily bump that up to 15-20, if not higher, within their first several turns. That's a comical difference in potential between factions. If one faction could generate three times as much Industry or Science as any other in the first ten turns of the game, they'd rightfully be decried as completely unbalanced.

It happened to my current game, I want that system and preferably by peace. But that AI took it from me, so I end up by invade it which is I dont really like to do unless desperate.

I don't care if the AI gets sovereignty over a minor civ, I'd only like to push the (peaceful) assimilation to mid game rather than allowing them to snatch them up at turn 20 as it happened with me.

And the stake is not the system itself usually but the minor faction trait that you can gain. When the AI assimilates a minor I don't even bother getting that system anymore unless it's a really good system or in case I'm Horatio.

It is still the case, and what frustrates me most is that AI doesn't even need to be friendly to assimilate them. So you can't plan shit here.