Ignore the countless whiners. Ignore them.

I have played Stellaris since the very beginning and, though it was always a fun game, It had something arcadey to it. The planetary system was certainly not appropriate for 4X/Grand Strategy. It felt arbitrary, repetitive and, ultimately, meaningless. Oh look, elecricity, here is a central to exploit this. Boring, dull, childish.

Expansion was the same, grab everthing you can! Go go! Yeah, you spent most of the early years jumpstarting an endless snowball to which, somehow, the capabilities of your bureaucracy and state of internal politics were largely something you could ignore. Milk the factions, build yet another farm, prepare for the next war.

How is this apropriate for suposedly the paradigmatic change which is a space race across the galaxy.

It all demands immersion, not dumbing down.

With the new planetary system there are meaningful startegic choices concerning your planets and, lo and behold, building tall is becoming more of an option. There are clear opportunity costs and you, God forbid, actually have to think!

Paradox's challenge is to ultimately shelve the player qua direct godlike immersion breaking controler of an economy and society. Instead, and 2.2 was huge in getting us closer to this, we should be put under strain as rulers by a constantly evolving environment.

That's the way forward.

If you want to not use your brain and repeatedly click all around making obvious choices go play Master of Orion 3.

Stop complaining about a good thing.

Ignore the countless whiners. Ignore them. I have played Stellaris since the very beginning and, though it was always a fun game, It had something arcadey to it. The planetary system was certainly not appropriate for 4X/Grand Strategy. It felt arbitrary, repetitive and, ultimately, meaningless. Oh look, elecricity, here is a central to exploit this. Boring, dull, childish. Expansion was the same, grab everthing you can! Go go! Yeah, you spent most of the early years jumpstarting an endless snowball to which, somehow, the capabilities of your bureaucracy and state of internal politics were largely something you could ignore. Milk the factions, build yet another farm, prepare for the next war. How is this apropriate for suposedly the paradigmatic change which is a space race across the galaxy. It all demands immersion, not dumbing down. With the new planetary system there are meaningful startegic choices concerning your planets and, lo and behold, building tall is becoming more of an option. There are clear opportunity costs and you, God forbid, actually have to think! Paradox's challenge is to ultimately shelve the player qua direct godlike immersion breaking controler of an economy and society. Instead, and 2.2 was huge in getting us closer to this, we should be put under strain as rulers by a constantly evolving environment. That's the way forward. If you want to not use your brain and repeatedly click all around making obvious choices go play Master of Orion 3. Stop complaining about a good thing.