Game Check: Stellaris Overlord – News

With overlord is a new expansion for the science fiction strategy game Stellaris (in the test) appeared, just like Patch 3.4. It’s been some time since the release and there have already been a few hotfixes. I’ve spent some time with the game and in this review I’ll give you my impressions of the latest patches and Overlord after more than 30 hours of play, including a playthrough.

You can set up mercenary enclaves yourself.

overlord

In Overlord, the name says it all. Advanced minion mechanics allow you to specialize your minions and require them to make specific contracts with each other. I kept getting offers to become an overlord. And I also played with vassals, whose fleets also supported me well. A real empire with many subordinates is only in my next run. I take advantage of the vassal game and “my” fleet grows. At the same time, unlike with classic conquest, my empire does not expand.

There are three new enclaves with the Shroudwalkers, Salvage Workers and Mercenaries. If you are on good terms with the Shroudwalkers, you can, for example, use teachers to increase the production of unity on a planet. With the salvage workers you can scrap fleets (returns resources) or buy large ships to small fleets that are immediately available. You can hire mercenaries and ask them to raid other realms. And, provided you have the necessary resources, you can set up and promote mercenary enclaves yourself. You can hire the fleet and you will regularly receive tribute in the form of resources. You can build up a mercenary empire and increase your fighting power with energy instead of alloys. The maximum number of enclaves depends primarily on your Civics.

Five new origins ensure variety. Sometimes you start as a vassal, sometimes with the new, but initially defective, quantum catapult (catapults your fleet to the destination). I played Shroud Teacher, which gave me buffs again and again. I especially liked it underground. Bombardments lose power and you get a building slot for every three mining districts that also serve as accommodation! This is a very good push in the build-up phase. In return, construction times and prices will increase somewhat.

I couldn’t try the new megastructures Quantum Catapult and the Orbital Rings. For the hyper relays. Built in adjacent systems (Influence, Alloys, Crystals), your fleets jump from relay to relay. You can move your fleets extremely quickly on these “thick” hyperlane highways, which is a real asset even in the midgame.

The hyper relays provide “thick” hyperlanes, quasi highways through your empire.

Patches 3.3 “Libra” and 3.4 “Cepheus”
Patch 3.3 has overhauled the entire unity system. You get unity from factions, among other things. It is also required (instead of influence) by many edicts, for which you have a certain, scalable, free contingent. I like that, because I was much more inclined to activate edicts. Buildings and technologies, among other things, have been adjusted to match the changes in Unity and Influence. Relocating population units now also costs unity. There are negative effects of too large an empire spread only from 100 instead of 50. Part of the patch were also a new Civic, new anomalies and two archaeological sites.

This new situation affects my “hunting success”.

Through Patch 3.4 you can make contracts with vassals, similar to in Crusader Kings 3, modify. For example, this brings you resource advantages at the expense of loyalty or you restrict the diplomatic freedoms of the vassals. You can also construct buildings with the vassals, for example to tap resources or promote loyalty. Also new is that a kingdom can now secretly swear allegiance to you. This is pretty cool because you can then support it against its liege and the liberated realm will join you. Among the many improvements is the (mainly military) AI. And I actually felt that the enemy fleet movements were more logical.

The situations are reminiscent of crises in Europa Universalis 4, but increase in several stages, for example when resources are scarce. You have to pay more attention to resources. Because you can make an emergency purchase of food on the market, it will take a while for the situation to calm down and for you to get rid of the associated debuffs, such as research or population growth. New flag options and portraits complete the patch.

I disappointed the Shroud teachers a bit. But there was an achievement!

Conclusion

Despite a lot of playing time, I still haven’t been able to try out all the new features and origins. The origins alone offer so many new ways to approach a game. New megastructures offer options and especially the highways in space improve the gaming experience considerably. I have successfully experimented with the new minions game and had fun as well. Overlord is an extremely extensive expansion and, together with the patches, makes many correct adjustments. As a Stellaris player, you are guaranteed dozens more hours of fun. Today is also the very promising patch 3.4.4which among other things brings further quality-of-life features, was released.

• Strategy game expansion for PC
• For beginners to professionals
• Price: 19.99 euros
• In one sentence: Extensive expansion that turns many exciting adjustment screws and expands and improves the gaming experience.