In this update4
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Full Beyond Astra update
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Repeated intro
Greetings, Astra Odysseans!
What changed
- Balance
- Gameplay
- Events
- Maps
Beyond Astra changes
- Ancientmap
In our previous updates, we explored the six grand strategic pillars of Beyond Astra (Science, Religion, Culture, Economy, Diplomacy, and Military), as well as the diversity of the planets that make up our galaxy. Today, we are zooming in to focus on the beating heart of your civilization, the place where everything begins and converges: your Cities.
The Visual Identity of Your Empire
Last year, we began the production of our 3D models. Visual identity is crucial: it is what truly anchors the immersion in a Space Opera. Your cities needed to be majestic and alive.
Rather than arbitrarily tying an architectural style to a species, we took a different path. Architecture reflects the philosophy and values of your civilization. At the start of each game, you will choose the style that will define the appearance of your cities and units:
Utility: A functional style defined by industrial concrete and metal. It is the architecture of a civilization driven by Ambition, prioritizing raw efficiency to maximize output.
Bio-Shape: A style with soft tones, characterized by flowing and airy structures made of organic compounds. It embodies a society of Balance that chooses to live in symbiosis with nature.
Pure: A sleek and minimalist futuristic style, with smooth, white surfaces. It is the society of Reason, where high technology fades into everyday life, leaving room only for clarity and the essential.
Neo-Ancient: A revisited classicism blending warm stones, arches, and colonnades. It represents the society of Continuity, an empire proud of its heritage that builds for eternity by combining tradition and modernity.
On a planetary scale, they look massive because they are; the unit next to them is already several hundred meters long. These cities are designed to house millions of people, and their density will only increase as your technology advances.
The DNA of a City-Builder on a Galactic Scale
The integration of spherical physical planets and our seamless zoom offered us an incredible opportunity to go beyond the management via menus, slots, and lists found in the sci-fi 4X genre. Unifying City-Building and Grand Strategy on a galactic scale is a rare, if not unprecedented, proposition. It took countless tests and iterations to find the right balance between depth, fluidity, and fun, and we can't wait for you to experience our vision!
A Living Population
Even though individual citizens are too small to be seen at this massive scale, they are far from just numbers. They are complex entities with political views, religious beliefs, vital needs, and citizenship status. They can migrate between empires, visit rival worlds as tourists, climb the social ladder, or, if neglected, incite revolution. Your goal is to satisfy their needs; in return, they provide the workforce, Culture, Influence, and Faith you need to expand.
On the management side, your population is divided into Workers, Technicians, and Engineers. Thanks to a global priority system you define, the game automatically distributes the workforce. However, you guide this dynamic through the construction of their housing and the fulfillment of their needs. Since each building (laboratory, industry, biodome...) requires different proportions of these three social strata, the strategic challenge will be to globally adapt your empire's infrastructure to support your economic ambitions.
Interconnected and Evolving Systems
Planetary biomes dictate base habitability, while the number of cities and the pollution they generate directly impact the planet's health and its population. As your civilization progresses, your buildings will become more efficient. In return, your population will climb the social ladder and become more demanding,
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