If I recall correctly the game tries to spawn something like 50% opposed ethics, 25% neutral ethics, and 25% aligned ethics into the galaxy from the player empire. These were numbers I've seen people quote all over the subreddit and forums, so it could be a case of internet myth. The numbers do seem to line up though.
@@slicedham8449 It is a real thing and the devs have acknowledged it. However, the general sentiment is that this is a bad design choice, as it results in every game playing out the same way.
@@LAZERAK47V2 I knew it was a real thing. It's rather the percentages I was unsure about. I do agree it's a bad design choice due to every game being the same
@@LAZERAK47V2 its also a bad design choice because this works out just fine for more aggressive/genocidal empires where other’s ethics don’t matter, but completely ruins the entire playstyle of cooperative empires
"Boy do I feel like playing a Fanatic Xenophile Megacorp today! I'm sure this will be fun!" *5 genocidal empires and 3 Criminal Syndicates later* "Why do I play this game again?"
Time to start playing militarist megacorps my friend. You forcefully disencorporate your rivals and forcefully expand into new markets! Try it sometime! Nothings more fun than screaming "For Profit!" As you barrel headlong into enemy fire!
This is completely normal. I'm a dedicated megacorp player, and this happens A LOT. I think the AI spawns are designed to give you both a challenge and an opportunity. If you play as a normal empire it doesn't really matter to you if your neighbor is a friendly gestalt, a xenophobe isolationist or a megacorp. But for a megacorp it matters greatly, because Megacorps can only make trade pacts with normal, friendly empires, so their choice of preferred neighbor is severely limited. I actually successfully gamed the game like that, when I made a forced-spawn Fanatical Purifier AI, and played as a Megacorp with the same species. And of course the game spawned them practically immediately next to me, so I quickly made them an ally and supplied them with resources in their never-ending war of purification, and just build branches on the planets they took over XD The never-ending war did end eventually once we formed a federation and for some reason they stopped building ships despite being absolutely LOADED with every resource (I'm pretty sure it's a bug). I kept defending them for a while but then I sort of gave up and made them my subsidiary instead. So if you're trying this strat, just keep your relations with the FPs at Defence Pact. Otherwise the friendly FPs will break.
@@B3RyL I've done something similar with my friend in an MP game, though he was the MC and I was the purifier. It's a great combo. I like Megacorps also, something about them just feels right. I also like one of the mods for them (Venture Politics I believe) which creates a 'genocidal' civic for them, but instead of hating all other species, you just hate other Megacorps. It's called Maniacal Monopolists. It's pretty fun.
I played a xenophile, egal, militarist void dweller merchant guild build I regret xenophile a lot considering that game everyone was xenophobe, there were 3 genocidals, and the only other xenophiles was my pocket country to make my trade league, and 1 that got eaten by a devoring swarm Also an event happened that spawned in a large ass country of fanatical purifiers with a shitton of fleet power and they started stomping me lol
As a wise man once said: "No corporate retirement plan survives early contact with a Devouring Swarm." Honestly, pretty much everything that could go wrong, did go wrong with your game XD Pretty much the only thing you got lucky on was getting the Galactic Market XD I literally can't handle how inadvertently disastrous this game was XD Please do another attempt! I was so hyped when I saw the title only to see the game turn on you unfairly. I think it was punishment for not playing for 2 weeks ;)
@@Ep3o Well, there's no one way to play as a Megacorp, but you made a good start. In theory it was a solid foundation for a successful megacorp. But as I said, the game turned against you really quickly. Even down to the fact there was this one-planet rival megacorp that could just spend its influence on nothing but branches. Even your spawn position was cursed, because as a megacorp you really want a spawn near the center of galaxy, not the edge. That way your sphere of diplomatic opportunity is 3x as big. But I could go on and on on how the game shafted you. What I really want is revenge ;)
You know, I once did a run that was almost exactly like this one! (I was a megachurch instead, however). Also, I think you should've gone for Arcology Project rather than Universal Transactions. I believe that Void Dwellers can live alright on Ecus and they benefit from Orbital Rings!
@@descuddlebat Well ringworlds are meant to emulate conditions on planets. You have lakes, rivers and mountains there. So apart from the horizon shooting off into space in two directions, they are pretty much just regular planets with climate control. So it makes sense why the species used to living in cramped conditions surrounded by metal on all sides would feel uncomfortable there (as opposed to Ecus).
Aliens: You don't even have resources, what are you even expecting to sell? Ultra Megacorporate Capitalist Empire: Our people have a saying - the real selling is the sale you make along the way. Aliens: SOLD!
You can trade with other empires for monthly strategic resources and that will unlock them in the market. When the deal with empire times out you can still increase/decrease amount you buy monthly from the market as long as you don't make it 0 and cancel it.
obviously no real evidence but when I play megacorp I almost always get megacorp / hive mind neighbors, literally like every time. I'm sure it's just a crazy coincidence but it is funny how it works out like that
6:39 - Is this anyone else's pet peeve with Stellaris? The prompts for commercial pacts are backwards. You didn't get that trade THEY did. It feels like a really simple bug to fix
Welcome to the joys of stellaris AI generation. Youre guaranteed to be spawned around non-pacters and i think it even just straight up increases them in the whole game. Tbh if you want to legitimately play as a megacorp without getting screwed over you should spawn in as a normal inpire then reform to megacorp lmao or use force spawns with customs do get the ones you want.
Yep this is how every game as MEGA-Corp goes. Gestalts and fanatic purifiers are everywhere and by the time you get past them, everyone is either a MEGA-Corp themselves or already has branch offices. When Toxoids I'm making an overturned slaver MEGA-Corp and just curb stomping everyone into being my customers.
I think it would be better to do fanatic xenophile with spiritualist to get that extra unity and edicts you would have gotten from brand loyalty, and go free traders and private prospectors and you would only be missing out on 5 percent research speed which is meh
great vid :D BUUUUT you did make one crucial mistake, you could have just build the ships out of money... That's what a real capitalist would have done. But you're on the right way. Kepp going and the stonks will always watch you.
Great to see a MegaCorp (tm) playthrough and a game that didn't go as planned... I like your sped-up and jump format that turns a 40+ video into 20 minutes. Usually I watch playthroughs on 1.5-1.75x speed. You and Montu and Aspec are helping me to open up my gameplay - so thanks!
Glad you enjoy the style! My biggest pet peeve of Stellaris on UA-cam was the fact there were no full games less than 30mins. All are usually over an hour or just the full thing unedited! Good luck and no problem!
Enjoyed this. Please try again. Never played a MegaCorp before so really interested in the mechanics. Looked like you weee on a roll early on before everything went sideways.
This is the same thing I usually deal with when playing megacorp. Even had to deal with five other megacorps that which two of them was a subject of another Megacorp. Not surprising to hear there was not a lot of room to grow, but plenty assets to seize. Just took me forever. Megacorp is Either Super Powerful or Very Annoying to play, and if you're helping a friend get into Stellaris, it's the best assistance Empire
I would love to see if you can beat my all-time record for TV Ep. It was eighty thousand total TV for the entire empire, and that wasn't even with a focus on trade. It was all just sheer population.
to people bothered about how game makes your neighbours , there is that neat option to force or sugest empires , make your rivals or friends and force them into your game:) , i got myself 1 vilain 1 friend and 1 fun races alweys in my games , its nice to have recuring vilain
Okay, as a void dwellers lover, and a trade value enthusiast I... felt physical pain when you took Commercial Enterprise as your second tradition trait Trickle-up is good for a first one of course, but commercial enterprise with just trade value will cause an immense drop in consumer goods, even if you have your trade policy set properly to the one that gives consumer goods. Honestly I take it 5th usually to close out the mercantile tree. You can obviously make it work, its just a lot more micromanagement for your economy
With thrifty, +50% TV bonuses, consumer benefits, and decent conditions; A pop going from clerk to merchant will generate (15.5-6.45)*0.25*1.5 = 3.4 added consumer goods, which will more than offset the 2+0.75 added consumption; He had more than +50% That said there is a problem still, if you take Commercial Enterprise as second you by definition don't have access to consumer benefits :)
ep3o: what am I gonna do with my alloys ahhhh me: *staring at the fucking bank hes making wondering why he hasn't monthly traded some of his 450/m credits*
Ngl, mega corp fanatic-xenophile, egaliterian, is my fav playstyle. Bunker down, built dozens of habitats, make friends, make a federation, get trade deals, and to quote scarface: "first you get the money, then you get the power, then when you get the power, then you get the women, and since we are egalitarian xenophilic, that's even more aliens to fuck, and/or get fucked by." - Tony Montana, kinda.
That is powerful. If you go militarist and naval contractors you can very quickly build a powerful naval force, which you don't pay upkeep for until you actually need them. Aaand, they pay you dividends, so eventually they pay for themselves.
I'd like to see another attempt. It's a cool idea but you got screwed by the AI and bad luck over and over. Maybe in another attempt you'd have better luck and be able to fully realize the full power of the build.
He just needs A luck, not even good luck. This whole game was cursed from the start. And it was truly tragic because we didn't get to see bazillions of EC being spent on trivial nonsense just to free up some space on the bank account, but it was also very funny XD
Alternative Solution: Start a new game, but make some generic empires (or copy-paste the defaults) that can be customers, lock them into spawning, and try again.
You need to leave one habitat for alloy production. And even you do not get all the alloys you will free a lot of trade credits to by something else, for example more alloys. Also, the reason you get spawned along with two hives is combination of difficulty level and that you are corp, other corps spawned because of that as well. This is not 100% but rise a chance to be so to make your game "difficult".
I’m doing the criminal syndicate grand admiral challenge with 25x crisis. Wish me luck lol. I already got a big break from having the tinkerers near me. So I’m just buying scrapped corvettes from them and saving tons on alloys.
So I got a question cause I’m love this build is it better to keep your pops from moving worlds so you can specialize or yolo it and let them do what they want cause I know it’s not good letting trade pops with that increased energy upkeep be on a science world
"Wait a second. I think you've got the wrong idea about capitalism." The Tenured Economics Professional injects within the first 30 seconds of video. "Shut up. You don't understand the joke." The random person (who doesn't know a thing about economics but is actually quite versed in the art of comedy) responds with
Even though the system of capitalism could benefit from a consumer base with high purchasing power for non luxury consumer goods, actual capitalists would prefer a *stratified economy* and direct control of resource production and factories to concentrate all wealth into the right hands. You created a social market economy.
Exclusive Toxoids gameplay coming this saturday so make sure to sub + bell :D
I get the feeling that the game is hard coded to give you hive minds and genocidal xenophobes as neighbors whenever you play as a MegaCorp.
If I recall correctly the game tries to spawn something like 50% opposed ethics, 25% neutral ethics, and 25% aligned ethics into the galaxy from the player empire. These were numbers I've seen people quote all over the subreddit and forums, so it could be a case of internet myth. The numbers do seem to line up though.
@@slicedham8449 It is a real thing and the devs have acknowledged it.
However, the general sentiment is that this is a bad design choice, as it results in every game playing out the same way.
@@LAZERAK47V2 I knew it was a real thing. It's rather the percentages I was unsure about. I do agree it's a bad design choice due to every game being the same
@@LAZERAK47V2 its also a bad design choice because this works out just fine for more aggressive/genocidal empires where other’s ethics don’t matter, but completely ruins the entire playstyle of cooperative empires
i mostly play with custom empires so i don't worry about this lol
"Boy do I feel like playing a Fanatic Xenophile Megacorp today! I'm sure this will be fun!"
*5 genocidal empires and 3 Criminal Syndicates later*
"Why do I play this game again?"
Time to start playing militarist megacorps my friend. You forcefully disencorporate your rivals and forcefully expand into new markets! Try it sometime! Nothings more fun than screaming "For Profit!" As you barrel headlong into enemy fire!
This is completely normal. I'm a dedicated megacorp player, and this happens A LOT. I think the AI spawns are designed to give you both a challenge and an opportunity. If you play as a normal empire it doesn't really matter to you if your neighbor is a friendly gestalt, a xenophobe isolationist or a megacorp. But for a megacorp it matters greatly, because Megacorps can only make trade pacts with normal, friendly empires, so their choice of preferred neighbor is severely limited.
I actually successfully gamed the game like that, when I made a forced-spawn Fanatical Purifier AI, and played as a Megacorp with the same species. And of course the game spawned them practically immediately next to me, so I quickly made them an ally and supplied them with resources in their never-ending war of purification, and just build branches on the planets they took over XD The never-ending war did end eventually once we formed a federation and for some reason they stopped building ships despite being absolutely LOADED with every resource (I'm pretty sure it's a bug). I kept defending them for a while but then I sort of gave up and made them my subsidiary instead.
So if you're trying this strat, just keep your relations with the FPs at Defence Pact. Otherwise the friendly FPs will break.
@@B3RyL I've done something similar with my friend in an MP game, though he was the MC and I was the purifier. It's a great combo.
I like Megacorps also, something about them just feels right. I also like one of the mods for them (Venture Politics I believe) which creates a 'genocidal' civic for them, but instead of hating all other species, you just hate other Megacorps. It's called Maniacal Monopolists. It's pretty fun.
@@StarboyXL9 growth and profits why its grofits (its a warframe thing don't mind me)
I played a xenophile, egal, militarist void dweller merchant guild build
I regret xenophile a lot considering that game everyone was xenophobe, there were 3 genocidals, and the only other xenophiles was my pocket country to make my trade league, and 1 that got eaten by a devoring swarm
Also an event happened that spawned in a large ass country of fanatical purifiers with a shitton of fleet power and they started stomping me lol
As a wise man once said: "No corporate retirement plan survives early contact with a Devouring Swarm."
Honestly, pretty much everything that could go wrong, did go wrong with your game XD Pretty much the only thing you got lucky on was getting the Galactic Market XD I literally can't handle how inadvertently disastrous this game was XD
Please do another attempt! I was so hyped when I saw the title only to see the game turn on you unfairly. I think it was punishment for not playing for 2 weeks ;)
I most likely will, i think there were aload of things I could do better too!
@@Ep3o Well, there's no one way to play as a Megacorp, but you made a good start. In theory it was a solid foundation for a successful megacorp. But as I said, the game turned against you really quickly. Even down to the fact there was this one-planet rival megacorp that could just spend its influence on nothing but branches. Even your spawn position was cursed, because as a megacorp you really want a spawn near the center of galaxy, not the edge. That way your sphere of diplomatic opportunity is 3x as big. But I could go on and on on how the game shafted you. What I really want is revenge ;)
You know, I once did a run that was almost exactly like this one! (I was a megachurch instead, however).
Also, I think you should've gone for Arcology Project rather than Universal Transactions. I believe that Void Dwellers can live alright on Ecus and they benefit from Orbital Rings!
Yep. The maluses are specifically against non-artificial planets (even Gaias, despite their 100% habitability) and Arcologies count as artificial.
@@LAZERAK47V2 Well they get maluses on ringworlds and they're pretty artificial, is that an exception? Or did that get changed?
@@descuddlebat Not sure, I haven't build one in ages.
@@descuddlebat Well ringworlds are meant to emulate conditions on planets. You have lakes, rivers and mountains there. So apart from the horizon shooting off into space in two directions, they are pretty much just regular planets with climate control. So it makes sense why the species used to living in cramped conditions surrounded by metal on all sides would feel uncomfortable there (as opposed to Ecus).
Aliens: You don't even have resources, what are you even expecting to sell?
Ultra Megacorporate Capitalist Empire: Our people have a saying - the real selling is the sale you make along the way.
Aliens: SOLD!
I like being just an economic powerhouse. Fighting is for barbarians.
>capitalist build
>social welfare for unemployed pops
what?
At the end, It just turns into a monopoly game, and starts expanding to more empires
You can trade with other empires for monthly strategic resources and that will unlock them in the market. When the deal with empire times out you can still increase/decrease amount you buy monthly from the market as long as you don't make it 0 and cancel it.
obviously no real evidence but when I play megacorp I almost always get megacorp / hive mind neighbors, literally like every time. I'm sure it's just a crazy coincidence but it is funny how it works out like that
6:39 - Is this anyone else's pet peeve with Stellaris? The prompts for commercial pacts are backwards. You didn't get that trade THEY did. It feels like a really simple bug to fix
Welcome to the joys of stellaris AI generation. Youre guaranteed to be spawned around non-pacters and i think it even just straight up increases them in the whole game. Tbh if you want to legitimately play as a megacorp without getting screwed over you should spawn in as a normal inpire then reform to megacorp lmao or use force spawns with customs do get the ones you want.
Yep this is how every game as MEGA-Corp goes. Gestalts and fanatic purifiers are everywhere and by the time you get past them, everyone is either a MEGA-Corp themselves or already has branch offices. When Toxoids I'm making an overturned slaver MEGA-Corp and just curb stomping everyone into being my customers.
That's why you force spawn custom empires that have non-purifier mechanics
I think it would be better to do fanatic xenophile with spiritualist to get that extra unity and edicts you would have gotten from brand loyalty, and go free traders and private prospectors and you would only be missing out on 5 percent research speed which is meh
great vid :D BUUUUT you did make one crucial mistake, you could have just build the ships out of money... That's what a real capitalist would have done.
But you're on the right way. Kepp going and the stonks will always watch you.
Typical capitalist: just throw your money at the problem and see it go away to no one's surprise.
Great to see a MegaCorp (tm) playthrough and a game that didn't go as planned... I like your sped-up and jump format that turns a 40+ video into 20 minutes. Usually I watch playthroughs on 1.5-1.75x speed. You and Montu and Aspec are helping me to open up my gameplay - so thanks!
Glad you enjoy the style! My biggest pet peeve of Stellaris on UA-cam was the fact there were no full games less than 30mins.
All are usually over an hour or just the full thing unedited!
Good luck and no problem!
i think its better to be egalitarian instead of materialist because of the high living standard can boost the trade value
Yep most of your pops should be leaders or specialists so academic privelage should be the way to go
@@christianwest6635going authoritarian + slaver guilds for max capitalist roleplay
Enjoyed this. Please try again. Never played a MegaCorp before so really interested in the mechanics. Looked like you weee on a roll early on before everything went sideways.
This is the same thing I usually deal with when playing megacorp. Even had to deal with five other megacorps that which two of them was a subject of another Megacorp. Not surprising to hear there was not a lot of room to grow, but plenty assets to seize. Just took me forever.
Megacorp is Either Super Powerful or Very Annoying to play, and if you're helping a friend get into Stellaris, it's the best assistance Empire
This is why I like Stellaris the stories can feel like "im going to do this. and the rest of your Neighbors are like... yeah how about no.
Welcome to Megacorp :D
give us your money before the Alien swarn eats you :)
Time for the popcorn
Grab me some!
@@Ep3o Do you want extra butter and salt or just normal? Any caramel?
@@StarboyXL9 all
@@Ep3o My man. Coming right up!
I would love to see if you can beat my all-time record for TV Ep. It was eighty thousand total TV for the entire empire, and that wasn't even with a focus on trade. It was all just sheer population.
Ah yes. The only way to play Stellaris.
Stability does affect trade value
this is honestly how i play. obviously not so strictly. lol
Looking forward to attempt 2 :)
Wow UA-cam did not send me this notification! Just checking the comments here before I record part 2 👀 thanks!
to people bothered about how game makes your neighbours , there is that neat option to force or sugest empires , make your rivals or friends and force them into your game:) , i got myself 1 vilain 1 friend and 1 fun races alweys in my games , its nice to have recuring vilain
Okay, as a void dwellers lover, and a trade value enthusiast
I... felt physical pain when you took Commercial Enterprise as your second tradition trait
Trickle-up is good for a first one of course, but commercial enterprise with just trade value will cause an immense drop in consumer goods, even if you have your trade policy set properly to the one that gives consumer goods. Honestly I take it 5th usually to close out the mercantile tree.
You can obviously make it work, its just a lot more micromanagement for your economy
With thrifty, +50% TV bonuses, consumer benefits, and decent conditions; A pop going from clerk to merchant will generate (15.5-6.45)*0.25*1.5 = 3.4 added consumer goods, which will more than offset the 2+0.75 added consumption; He had more than +50%
That said there is a problem still, if you take Commercial Enterprise as second you by definition don't have access to consumer benefits :)
I love how nearly every plan failed. Your suffering was very entertaining.
ep3o: what am I gonna do with my alloys ahhhh
me: *staring at the fucking bank hes making wondering why he hasn't monthly traded some of his 450/m credits*
Ngl, mega corp fanatic-xenophile, egaliterian, is my fav playstyle. Bunker down, built dozens of habitats, make friends, make a federation, get trade deals, and to quote scarface: "first you get the money, then you get the power, then when you get the power, then you get the women, and since we are egalitarian xenophilic, that's even more aliens to fuck, and/or get fucked by." - Tony Montana, kinda.
You actually Play megacorp for trade?
I do it for that *sweet 7 mercenary enclaves*
That is powerful. If you go militarist and naval contractors you can very quickly build a powerful naval force, which you don't pay upkeep for until you actually need them. Aaand, they pay you dividends, so eventually they pay for themselves.
9:23 what is the background music
I don't think that is capitalism, but a trade confederation... clanker.
POV: you are Rubinsky building up FEZZAN
Another attempt with hopefully better luck would be awesome
I'd like to see another attempt. It's a cool idea but you got screwed by the AI and bad luck over and over. Maybe in another attempt you'd have better luck and be able to fully realize the full power of the build.
He just needs A luck, not even good luck. This whole game was cursed from the start. And it was truly tragic because we didn't get to see bazillions of EC being spent on trivial nonsense just to free up some space on the bank account, but it was also very funny XD
0/10, didn't disband the starting mining stations.
Alternative Solution: Start a new game, but make some generic empires (or copy-paste the defaults) that can be customers, lock them into spawning, and try again.
You need to leave one habitat for alloy production. And even you do not get all the alloys you will free a lot of trade credits to by something else, for example more alloys.
Also, the reason you get spawned along with two hives is combination of difficulty level and that you are corp, other corps spawned because of that as well. This is not 100% but rise a chance to be so to make your game "difficult".
I’m doing the criminal syndicate grand admiral challenge with 25x crisis. Wish me luck lol.
I already got a big break from having the tinkerers near me. So I’m just buying scrapped corvettes from them and saving tons on alloys.
Aiens must exist I tell you after all we meed some custemars to traid with.
Not nearly enough worker exploitation for a capitalism playthrough
I always play traders but not mega corps. Just plain old dictator with trade all the way.
So I got a question cause I’m love this build is it better to keep your pops from moving worlds so you can specialize or yolo it and let them do what they want cause I know it’s not good letting trade pops with that increased energy upkeep be on a science world
"Wait a second. I think you've got the wrong idea about capitalism." The Tenured Economics Professional injects within the first 30 seconds of video.
"Shut up. You don't understand the joke." The random person (who doesn't know a thing about economics but is actually quite versed in the art of comedy) responds with
Cool
pls do it again i need to do this to mess with my friends
There are no miners, factories, or power plants in capitalist systems?
wait... you can take on multiple traditions at the same time?
Imagine not taking universal transactions first.
Nice concept but you got unlucky and should try again. Also I think you should rush mercenary enclave.
For true capitalism you should have taken Lords of War, and gone mercs only fleet
then will you build habitats over ressources to build rare ressource mines^^
Wait, I thought the max amount you could buy or sell monthly for consumer goods and alloys was 12 or 13 not 26. Can someone else confirm?
But where do you buy all this stuff when you haven't met any other empire?
Jestalt!
It could have worked well if it weren’t for the horrible luck. 🙁
As a pacifist you have an increased rate of war exhaustion right?
What origin is this?
Resources are part of capitalism tho
why not use private prospectors?
I don't get why u made this vid lol
I love Capitalism
Oy vey, he did our way of life...
Second!!
47 comment better heart
Even though the system of capitalism could benefit from a consumer base with high purchasing power for non luxury consumer goods, actual capitalists would prefer a *stratified economy* and direct control of resource production and factories to concentrate all wealth into the right hands.
You created a social market economy.