Is it intentional that the Boarines can't or won't trade tech, and lack options?

[Darloth]

It seems like it might be, they're very insular, but it's unusual.

I wasn't sure so I thought I'd make a post about it and see what other people thought rather than a mantis ticket.

I'd quite like to see more in the boarines' interplanetary relations action set anyway though - you already have to get up to 60 influence to even ask about those, and then maybe trading from them would be very much more expensive than other races, and perhaps lose you influence every time you suggested it?  I think something like that would be better than outright forbidding it.

How about everyone else?

Edit: A little further on, and the Boarines are attacking the Peltians without actually being 'at war' with them - they're friendly, apparently. Yet, if I defend the Peltians against what the regent must claim are merely opportunistic captains trying their luck, my influence with the Boarines in generally reduces as if I had aided a race properly at war with them (and the explanation is -10 Opposed in war).

I can't even persuade the boarines to stop attacking the peltians, because the boarines lack almost all of the standard diplomatic options.  I would love some opinions on whether they should outright have none of these options.

[PokerChen]

 Tell that to the Thoraxians and the Burlusts. Acutians have the trade tech option as well, but only if the right corporations are leading. It's probably ok to have a relatively "normal" race refuse to part with what is theirs. However, I suppose if the regent feels "cooperative", then the share tech option might pop up. They've been defensive most of the time, and it's not known to us how exactly to influence it.

 In general, I do think of the inflexibility of some races as an efficient way to enforce different approaches when dealing with them. For better, or for worse. A general pass through all of the races would be more productive, rather than just change individual races.

 To Chris: what is the overall balance point of interactability with each race? I acknowledge that the game text specifically cites the Scourges of the solar system as the hardest to deal with, but of the other races? Not easy for many players to simply roll the dice at the next election / mood swing.

[x4000]

Yep, it's intentional.

In terms of the balance implications?  The idea is "work with what you have."  There are a lot of options here, and so dealing with what options you are given, rather than always having the same options, is important, I think.  It feels more real in a lot of ways to me, and it's also something that prevents you from falling into a rut too much.

[doctorfrog]

This reminds me a bit of dealing with the Thraddash in Star Control II. And some other races. There are some who only understand one thing. Then there are some who don't understand anything, or simply don't care.

[PokerChen]

In other words, you shouldn't always be able to found the goody-two-things on your feet federation?

However, it feels that way sometimes since they are more flexible with influence options, horse-trading techs being the most obvious example of getting them to federation, and they are all able to do it.

[Darloth]

The issue I'm finding is that with the boarines especially, there -aren't- a lot of options.

They basically don't do much for you, or with you, on the stellar scale.  They're a one trick pony (influencing others against others) and while it's a pretty useful trick some of the time, it's difficult to work with them.  Even if some options never show up, I'd like a few more as inefficient levers.

As Zharmad implies, it seems a lot -easier- to just make the goody-two-things on your feet federation, even if all of the meaner races actually really like you.

[nas1m]

In other words, you shouldn't always be able to found the goody-two-things on your feet federation?

However, it feels that way sometimes since they are more flexible with influence options, horse-trading techs being the most obvious example of getting them to federation, and they are all able to do it.

This is indeed a problem, I think.
Mantissed it here, as well as some propositions.

[x4000]

The issue I'm finding is that with the boarines especially, there -aren't- a lot of options.

They basically don't do much for you, or with you, on the stellar scale.  They're a one trick pony (influencing others against others) and while it's a pretty useful trick some of the time, it's difficult to work with them.  Even if some options never show up, I'd like a few more as inefficient levers.

This actually is not true, or at least is only contextually true.  There are a number of options with the Boarines that are unusually powerful, but they have to have very high RCI values on the planet of the Regent they are at in order for them to consider those deals.

But they are isolationist, so there are fewer options in general.  With some races I really did want to be more restrictive so that you had to go through other races to interact with them more often than not (but not always).

The goody-two-things on your feet federations being overly common is not desired, though.

[nas1m]

There are a number of options with the Boarines that are unusually powerful, but they have to have very high RCI values on the planet of the Regent they are at in order for them to consider those deals.

Good to know! Maybe it would be wise to let the game give this information somewhere? Of all things, stuff that is controlled via the RCI values does not seem to be documented at all well by the game. Or is this intentional to give the player something to "explore"? One or two teaser/spoilers would not hurt even then, I think...

[x4000]

Yeah, to some extent it's meant to be explorable rather than hugely documented -- having a simulation be a LITTLE bit of a black box is good, as long as it seems like it is doing things that give a narrative that makes sense.  But a lot of things are undocumented right now that are intended to be documented.

[nas1m]

Yeah, to some extent it's meant to be explorable rather than hugely documented -- having a simulation be a LITTLE bit of a black box is good, as long as it seems like it is doing things that give a narrative that makes sense.  But a lot of things are undocumented right now that are intended to be documented.

That's fine with me. Just make sure to drop the occasional spoiler ...

[x4000]

I believe the Boarine text in two places does.

[nas1m]

Looks like I have good reason now to pay close attention to the racial introduction texts.
I treated them solely as flavor text until now - no more !

[Smithgift]

In my game, the Boarines are all for Solar Unity, but they don't actually have an option to join the federation. There is no clear reason why.

[keith.lamothe]

In my game, the Boarines are all for Solar Unity, but they don't actually have an option to join the federation. There is no clear reason why.

If you have a save of that, please post it on mantis

They do indeed have a vote-to-join-fed political deal, that is supposed to be available in that situation.