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Vanilla Xenotypes Improved

Introducing Vanilla Xenotypes Improved! This is a mod for the vanilla-lovers out there, with an emphasis on adding content that lines up exactly with Biotech’s original aesthetic, xenotype design, and balance.

This mod does the following:

• Adds 37 new genes, each one with an icon designed to fit in with vanilla genes
  
• Rebalances vanilla xenotypes to increase attention to the original lore while refreshing each one. Several have new genes to make them more useful or make their downsides more rewarding to work around.
  
• Rebalances the effects of many vanilla genes to make more sense and feel more engaging to play with. Full list here[github.com].
  
• Rebalances metabolism to ensure genes provide or reduce metabolism that properly offsets their effects
  
• Adds 6 new xenotypes which can be found naturally in the world’s factions to increase exposure to both vanilla and new genes
  
• Many, many minor changes to make your experience more engaging and immersive. For example, butchering furskinned pawns now nets you human fur, cat ears are hair-colored, xenotypes can spawn over genotypes, etc.
  
• Ensures compatibility with popular mods, including the Vanilla Races Expanded series

This mod requires Harmony.


Every vanilla xenotype has been rebalanced to add new genes and remove unfun mechanics while keeping things balanced and lore-friendly. For example, Hussars are famed for their hussar stare, a “dead expression that unsettles many people." Hussars now have the unsettling gene, which makes non-hussars uncomfortable to be around them.

Every xenotype has been tweaked, with an emphasis on lore-accuracy, balance, and refreshing new content.

You’ll find impids and yttakins much better-adapted to their natural environments, highmates more charming and slower to age, and neanderthals no longer slow to learn.


This mod adds many new genes, adding them to both new and old xenotypes. These genes include:

• Charming and Unsettling, which influence trade prices, romantic prospects, and interpersonal opinion between pawns
  
• Solar and Lunar Enthusiasm, which increase work and move speed when the carrier is out during the day or night
  
• Nerve Stapled, which trades the ability to do complex tasks for a large happiness boost
  
• Nonterrestrial, which increases pain and reduces comfort when not in space

And many others! Full list here[github.com]


Biotech has a lot of underutilized or unused genes. To increase gene variety, the below six xenotypes are included, balanced specifically to feel like natural extensions of the base Biotech expansion. They fit into the original game's aesthetic and lore and each one has vanilla-esque icons and artwork.

• Kitul - An athletic race possessing superficial animal features, with sharp eyesight and keen reflexes. Heritable.
  
• Artemid - Possess a natural touch, making them talented at working among plants and animals. However, Artemids are somewhat neurotic. Non-inheritable.
  
• Nizhar - A xenotype engineered to be a peak close-combat fighter. Nizhar are excellent melee fighters, but their complex genetic modifications have left them with a dependency on wake-up and a need to regularly kill. Non-inheritable.
  
• Prole - Easygoing and kind worker drones. Proles are excellent builders, miners, and cooks. They have weak immune systems, short lifespans, a predisposition to cancer, and are very ugly. Heritable.
  
• Gwennin - An upbeat, dog-like furskinned humanoid. Gwennin are a bridge between the reclusive and stubborn yttakin and the rest of the Rim. Heritable.
  
• Reaper - A rare xenotype with several powerful genes, Reapers are mentally resilient medical specialists. Their improved fine motor precision greatly helps their abilities in many areas, including surgery. However, they are utterly incapable of violence. Non-inheritable.

Most mods will be compatible with this one. This mod changes vanilla gene metabolisms, which will affect any xenotype that uses them. The following xenotype mods have been checked and have patches included (if needed):

• All Vanilla Races Expanded mods
  
• Alpha Genes
  
• Big and Small
  
• Resplice Charmweavers
  
• Rimsenal Harana
  
• Vanilla Genes Rebalanced

...and loads of others!

Let me know if there's a conflict with a mod. You are free to upload your own patch if I haven't gotten to it quickly enough.


A special thanks to the following people:

chiomaus, author of Horns & Ears & Things, who created the horizontal elven ears

Anthitei, who created the imp tail for me