We have encountered the Neinzul before, but never like this. All we have ever seen is their vanguard; their young, their hunters. We have never encountered the full central might of their civilization... until now.
Be A Necromancer
A new optional way to play the entire game! Rather than playing as the usual Human Empire, playing as a Necromancer gives you control over a mobile fleet that feasts on the living from other universes. Capture enemy guard posts, make skeletons and wights out of enemy ships, and quest against the Templars and the Neinzul Elderlings. Development on this massive new playstyle took an entire year, and the word from most our testers is that this is their new favorite way to experience the game.
For multiplayer, there is an optional Necromancer Sidekick that can play alongside human or necromancer empires, or in single-player or multi-player you can have any number of Necromancer Empires on their own or with other player types.
NPC Faction: Neinzul Sappers
Sappers can be the ultimate ally... for you or your enemies. As an ally to you, they will help you defend your planets and have no downsides.
NPC Faction: Neinzul Elderlings
Elderlings are giant scary creatures you can unleash to roam around the galaxy, even without the necromancer. Each elderling will defend a territory of the map, and reproduce slowly. Eventually more and more Elderlings will patrol the galaxy. Killing Elderlings will grant Science.
If the Elderlings are not culled regularly, then they can make it very hard to move around the galaxy.
NPC Faction: Neinzul Custodians
The custodians are a relatively large collection of Neinzul that have found their way to our galaxy have fractured due to disagreements, each new small force reaching out to potential allies. While no longer collectively strong, they will show undying loyalty to any that accept them.
Enabling this faction causes a number of Neinzul to join in as allies to you, allies to the AI, and allies to minor faction teams. These Neinzul act as a very potent mobile addition to any team they manage to join, and may potentially cover what would normally be a weakness.
NPC Faction: Neinzul Migrant Fleets
The Neinzul are migrating through the galaxy. Should you assist them in their journey, you may find your nation home to a new alien life.
This faction acts as a sort of never ending quest for whatever team they're aligned with. Due to their constant apperance at random on the map, they may either open up new holes in your enemies' defenses or aggravate them and leave you to pick up the pieces. On higher intensities, you may find yourself overwhelmed due to their sheer number, so be warned.
NPC Faction: Neinzul Wild Hives
A number of Neinzul have started corrupting the resources of this galaxy, and begun to spread. Largely ignored by the AI for the moment, they will be competing with you for control over your resources. They appear to be relatively peaceful if left alone, but their hives actively inhibit the abilities of any ships within their territory.
If left alone and allowed to propagate in your territory, you may find yourself a new ally, albeit a very clingy one that greatly inhibits your regular economic power. Be wary to not allow them to cripple you while you're not looking.
This faction works by claiming (and in some cases stealing) resources that are normally yours. They can be exceptionally sticky and hard to remove once engrained in a sector of the galaxy.
If you only have one Wild Hives faction, they will otherwise be passive unless you attack them, leading to an overall Moderate impact.
If you have multiple instances of this faction however, they will actively compete with one another for resources, and will be much more aggressive. Rival Hives on the same planet will become aggressive, lashing out at not only each other, but at any ships that get in the way of their dispute.
More Notable Features
- Orbital ships, including new capturable Wards that you can use with any fleet.
- New Destroyers ship class available for capture throughout the galaxy.
- The ability to hack AI command stations and turn them to your own use. There are pro's and con's with each planet.
- Various new strikecraft and frigates in general.
- Two new map types.
- Eight new AI types (Aggressor, Skirmisher, Orbital, Vanguard, Heroic, Panopticon, Speedster, and Neinzul Enthusiast).
- Optional "Showdown Devices": allows for an alternative win condition where you get and hold four mysterious devices on four planets. Capturing them will trigger an all-out war which, if you can survive it, will lead to victory for humanity.
- Optional "Brutal Guardian Lairs": New evils full of an entirely new class of guardian spawn around the galaxy, and periodically move. Killing them is difficult and raises the AIP, but gives you exciting rewards.
