2023 Stellaris Beginner's Guide | Part 5 | Factions, Policies, and Trade Value

[@MaxTheCatfish]

We're getting toward the end of the tutorial series! I still want to cover Diplomacy and Warfare - which will likely be our last two videos. What other features are you still curious about? Let me know and if there's enough of them I'll create an FAQ video at the end of the series answering everything else you'd like to know about the game!

[@huntermanikas6881]

A video on different “builds” of approaches you can take to win would be pretty cool

[@ConditionOfMan]

A series on different builds, how they start, how they are managed at mid-game, and how they are managed late game would be great. I seem to be a powerhouse in the early game but fall off midgame and I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

[@foxfireballroom]

I feel like the game doesn't actually explain how to win, especially with peaceful strategies like diplomacy.

[@kodiakash]

Steam sale ends on 7/7 that vid on which DLCs to get while they may still be on sale could be great.

[@Nitidus]

This is a really good tutorial on the basics of the game. But what everyone always seems to be missing is a follow-up on how to progress! Knowing the foundations is great but once you expanded a bit, got your first colonies going and are now bordering other empires, what to do next? That's where I became stuck in all of my like 5 campaigns up to today, putting the game aside as a result.

[@ccaslake]

Wife heard me yell, he did another one already! Dude, these are amazing. I posted them on reddit to bring in more viewers. These deserve a hard sticky anywhere Stellaris is mentioned. Are you planning on doing a complete play through after so we can see a game from start to finish?

[@Nitidus]

Oh, yes please! Playthrough! That would be incredibly helpful.

[@Chronostix]

honestly my gamer i couldn't fucken wrap my head around this game til i found that first tutorial, great work that is unfortunatly going underappreciated.

[@cesarheuvelmans]

Can't even start to explain how much this series is helping me play and love this game. I bought the game a day ago and would never have understood the amount this series has thought me, on my own... The game is enourmous and you, Max, and this series is a must to any beginner starting out. Please, please, give us more! ❤️

[@crowxar]

I'd like you to talk about the actual gameplay. So far all the tutorials have been about the mechanics of the game and explaining the UI and stuff which is wonderful, and is incredibly helpful. However I'm finding myself getting stuck shortly before the mid game crisis, regardless of how I play or who I play etc. It usually ends up with me taking control of a section of territories, I'll have the choke points fortified with the star base, and I'll have a couple of planets colonized. However it gets to the point where it feels like it's so overwhelming and there's so much to do that I end up in a state of paralysis, and decades go by without me doing much or AI just start to irrevocably hate me that sending envoys to improve relations does nothing I have yet to finish an actual full game, but these tutorials are really helping me out.

[@MaxTheCatfish]

Yeah, Stellaris can get REALLY complex fast. Especially in the mid-game when you own a large territory with several entrances into your space. The way I keep things straight is that I have periods of Stockpiling/Preparation, then War, then Re-construction. If playing a run-of-the-mill species (Not Fanatical Purifiers or Pacifists) I tend to set my eyes on one enemy in space and make it my goal to conquer or vassalize them. I stockpile resources for the effort because I tend to lose track of planets and economy when I'm managing war on multiple fronts. Then wartime - where the goal is to crush my opponent. I end most wars struggling with my energy income due to exceeding my Fleet Supply Cap or because I've now taken several planets-worth of pops that I didn't have before. And after the war, I focus exclusively on Reconstruction - building new districts and buildings on planets, tearing down old starbases and building new ones at forward chokepoints, figuring out what to do on every planet I've conquered, etc. This helps me focus on one thing at a time, which is necessary for me in a game with this many simultaneous moving parts. It means some times the game is moving REALLY fast, and sometimes the game feels like it's in a bit of a lull. Which is normal! You touched on some elements of Diplomacy and late game management. These will be our next two topics actually, though I'm not sure I'll actually get to show you a full game all the way through. If you want to see that, I recommend checking out my livestreams on Twitch - the content is much easier to show there than on YT. Thanks for being a supporter of the channel through the tutorial series!

[@Perfidion]

Stellaris is a massively overwhelming game for newbies, and these tutorials break everything down in plain language, with easy to understand concepts, so you know what effect tweaking one thing has on another thing... and planetary management actually makes sense now. I've still got a ton to learn (I'm looking at you Gestalt Consciousness), but I kind of know what I'm doing now. Thanks, Max! You're a legend! (If you do a series on Crusader Kings 3, I will create a shrine in your honor.)

[@krasus2119]

It is perfect, I was just checking Stellaris store page, saw your guide broadcasting there and found your channel in KZbin. I was looking someone who gives great detailed guide about latest state of game. Greatly appreciated for videos!

[@willmunshower8401]

Wow. I just bought Stellaris a few days ago. I am so fortunate to have found your channel two days before I pulled the trigger. I would *never* have the knowledge I have now without your fantastic tutorial. It's the best I've seen. Subscribed, of course. You're also the first sub I've hit the notify icon for! You rock, bruh!

[@huntermanikas6881]

Great job again, finally found some success in my own game thanks to these videos and having a hell of a good time

[@MaxTheCatfish]

Glad to hear it!

[@lennylenkova8729]

Best Stellaris tutorial in 2022 for beginners ever. Thx Catfish. Well done

[@OLIV3R_YT]

This series is gold! Thanks!

[@ConditionOfMan]

It's funny, Max; my learning of the aspects of the game seem to be just a week ahead of each of these episodes. At least it's confirming what I learned along the way

[@MaxTheCatfish]

You're definitely able to play more than I'm able to teach in a week! That's a good thing though. After a while, you'll be the one teaching me! :D

[@splode7414]

These are the simply the best tutorials I have come across for a Paradox game... and finally I am no longer bouncing off Stellaris! Thanks so much Max!

[@KoniZooboo]

This has been a supremely helpful series so far. I'm an EU4 player, so I can see a lot of similarities between mechanics in Stellaris and EU4, but even so, having the nuances, hidden effects and non-explained parts of the game mechanics laid out so clearly, so patiently and so methodically has made me take the plunge and buy Stellaris in Steam's summer sale. Thank you so much for what you're doing, Max. Also, it would help to hear your thoughts on the DLCs - which to buy, which to be wary of (I've read some scathing reviews of Overlord, for instance) for new players, etc. Subbed, and I can't wait for the next in the series! :-)

[@MaxTheCatfish]

Yeah, I get asked about the DLCs more than any other question when I stream on Twitch. I'll probably do a DLC video after all of these are done!

[@KoniZooboo]

@@MaxTheCatfish Thanks, Max. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for that video whenever it comes.

[@grimechristopher]

Me: Oh wow I heard good things about this tutorial. Ill watch the first video to get a good overview.... Hours later I'm on part 5. I learned so much

[@repuglia]

You explain incredibly well. I am sure paradox should pay you for this videos. Their games are great, but are almost impossible to understand by the newbie player. Thanks for your patience and kind work! Keep it up.

[@dmunro5069]

Fantastic video series, so very clear and full of enthusiasm- the benchmark of how beginner guides should be!

[@rabidcentrist]

24:00 Trade routes can also be found on the left side banner, bottom option, top of the list.

[@MonyetLepasCh]

you deserve more subs and viewers honestly. the quality of the video is top notch. great work!

[@chetranqui]

You're killin' it, man!

[@nealm6764]

Great Stuff Max! You really helped me learn the game as I went along! Just a tip on the subject of Pirates on trade routes, for other newbies like me - you can put a defensive platform (just need 1) on you outpost and that will stop the pirates in that system. You will need to do that in each system where you have piracy, but I find it easier than sending out fleets. I didn't come up with that, I read it posted somewhere, and it works.

[@skyborne80]

Thank you for these tutorials! As a viewer who is watching these videos before diving into my first serious game of Stellaris, I'm finding the information extremely helpful in unraveling the chaotic ball of twine I encountered when I first loaded up the game. As to the theme of this video, I have to say the faction mechanic is brilliant! It seems like a no-brainer mechanic in this kind of strategy game and I can't believe I've never personally seen it done before.

[@JamesColeman12]

ur tutorial videos is underrated, I myself is guilty of this, i been watching it from part one and clicking next before i know it, i forgot to like and comment a few already.

[@stephenbiggs3623]

Thanks :) Policies are amazingly powerful. e.g Civilian economy produces a large surplus of consumer goods. I can support all my specialist pops with far fewer pops producing consumer goods.

[@pactus7808]

Just a thought on this one. In fact you may have already addressed it later. There are some things that are different if you are hive mind or machine. Such as trade value and factions not being a thing for them. Maybe that's a later bit of content. Cheers, Max. Keep it up!

[@chickenbonelives]

I bought all the dlc except for overlord during the last summer sale. $110 is the most I've ever spent on a video game, but i really wanted to experience the whole thing.

[@sellingenglandbythepound5255]

Cheers Max, excellent tutorials & information

[@stevepaynter]

These tutorials have been fantastic, you should consider doing a full campaign I would definitely watch the hell out of that. Maybe give some options at the end of each video asking which steps the empire should take next. Thanks for these vids, they have been a big help as I take my first steps amongst the stars.

[@ДімаБогданов-ъ8ш]

12:44 Reduction of consumer goods and increase of alloys at -25% and +25% respectively aren't the same amount of products, if I am not mistaken. If you have much more alloy specialised planets then goods specialised ones, then overall number of products (alloys and goods) will increase. Let's say, an empire produces 300 alloys and 100 goods at mixed economy. It is better to have a militarized economy, because an empire would produce 375 alloys and 75 goods. You would have 75 alloys at expense of 25 goods. Or am I wrong? I never checked that because I assumed it works like that from the beginning.

[@MaxTheCatfish]

That's correct. As for which economy is better, however, is more complex. If you can't produce enough consumer goods to fulfill your population's needs, and the price of alloys is low and can't be sold for CGs, then you might want to choose a different economy. But yes, each of the two numbers affect the total production of each good type.

[@Pow3rGaming]

You're really good with these how-to's. Thank you. Several times I wondered if you worked for Paragon. And thought they should pay you. Thanks again. You've helped me tremendously.

[@Valvoorik]

33:27 Hey Max. First of all, thanks for the massive tutorials. Helped me really out. Regarding DLCs, I would love to see a sort of ranking from you which DLC is important having in your opinion. And why you prefer some ones over others. Cause many new players have problems to figure out if there is a DLC really shining out. Thanks in advance :^)

[@binterwinterboyii1095]

Couple of questions: -Is creating jobs the only way to increase population. What else could I do -How do I gain more influence and unity -How to decrease empire sprawl -What can consumer goods and food be used for (what can it be spent on) -Can you increase the number of space ports you have -Is is best to max out a tradition tree one at a time, should I have multiple tradition trees open at once (You may have answered these questions in future videos but I'm mid-game and I think I need to start over)

[@nakilad5542]

Great video as always Max, thanks! I would like some more details on researching, I seem to have real trouble getting it going in the early to mid game. Pairing Researchers and Technologies to get research times down seems to be just a wild stab in the dark most times.

[@JayGriffinblaze]

I always build 3 research labs in homeworld to start with. Then prioritse research options that give +10% boosts overall, or to specific research trees. Finally build a scout ship, hire a reseacher with +10% or higher research speed and have them assist research on any planet you have researchers.. Prioritise the most optimal scientist for the shortest times. That could mean matching the right field of study or a higher rank.

[@realtingdis9099]

This is wat I needed thanks bro

[@j.m.b.7449]

Awesome tutorial up until now! I'll make sure I'll backtrack all other vids with a like, because they're well deserved! Thanks for all the great effort put into this, much appreciated.

[@BenEphla442]

Dang these tutorials have been super helpful! Thank you so much!

[@Tirso99128925]

Only got this game yesterday.. completely clueless… thanks for your vids mate… learning a lot.. i will watch all of your vids first before i get into it..

[@WavyCats]

This series is actually insane

[@azinnovates1352]

Brevity as essence, is wit.

[@Gtreeko]

Great video!

[@Savin877]

Great video as always. Definitely looking forward to this continuing on and most definitely would love to hear what DLC/Expansions you would recommend as well. I have been playing the base game for a while now and ready to expand.

[@MaxTheCatfish]

Definitely! I'll probably give the DLCs their own video separate from the FAQ because I'm asked SO often about them! Thanks for watching and keeping up with the series!

[@tomkmb4120]

God damn this game is deep. I've been playing along with these tutorials but I'm ahead now. I think the amount of pop up events out numbers even CKIII in frequency! Will you be explaining about Galactic councils and federations etc? What's the upsides and downsides and what is the most important thing to pay attention to? Also, at what point do I need to start paying attention to my defenses outside of just having starports on the borders of my less friendly enemies? I'm currently aligned with two larger neighbours but there is one on my other side that is constantly threatening me etc and outside of just making more Corvettes im not sure how to handle it since my limit is 20 of what I can support! As always great video! Also, would love to see you do a 'lets play' or just a playthrough after this so we can see how you handle the early, middle and late game with all of your knowledge and good communication skills! I'm sure we'd all benefit from something like that

[@MaxTheCatfish]

Thanks so much for watching - awesome to hear you've exceeded the series! That means you're doing something right! 😉 As long as your energy income can support exceeding your Naval Capacity (Which right now is 20) then you're free to build as many ships as you want! They just become more expensive as you exceed the cap. I'll be releasing a video today covering diplomacy, though I won't be tackling the Council or Federations explicitly. And next week I should have our last video out that covers early warfare. I'll think about the Let's Play style. I have soooo many on Twitch already and you could check out some of the VODs there for a full playthrough! I miiiiight get one out on KZbin if there's enough interest!

[@tomkmb4120]

@@MaxTheCatfish I look forward to the other videos! I didnt even realise about Twitch, i'll check those out!

[@robbieballzhuge2796]

I want someone to love and talk to abt me how this guy does to stellaris

[@nokanoka435]

I came to the series for stellaris tutorial, got more than tutorial including real life facts

[@DaniPotatoArt]

Thank you so much! Very helpful series!

[@macaroni1139]

You are a great Stellaris teacher!

[@tomgrinham433]

Really a top notch series. Would love you to do one on Frostpunk and Xcom2 but I know they're old.

[@MaxTheCatfish]

I love Frostpunk and X-Com 2! They're definitely older titles that aren't so searched for these days on KZbin so I probably won't do a tutorial for them. But maybe for Frostpunk 2!

[@tomgrinham433]

@@MaxTheCatfish Yeah I just signed up for the new PS plus so I suddenly have access to a lot of great older games that I never played. I love strategy games so I hope you continue to do videos for the new ones as they come out. You're definitely better than anyone else I've seen.

[@contrekems1193]

First time on your channel, amazing videos, amazing vibe, amazing explanation. I'm halfway through the Playlist and they're just amazing. Keep up the good work I'm glad I've found your content!

[@ian69williams]

This series is fantastic turned a game I could not play to an amazing game essential watch for new players so thanks!

[@JP_813]

Thanks so much, getting so much out of your guides, Watched all so far and great info.

[@BeLittleBeHumble]

Love your tutorials mate!

[@artiomcybov]

Great video same as all the others before it.

[@Veloletum]

You mentioned being careful about expansion due to the influence cost, but then I noticed you started building starbases left right and center without too much comment. Could you expand on that a bit? What's a reasonable progression line look like for time/starbase? Thank you so much for these videos, I'm loving them!

[@MaxTheCatfish]

Absolutely! So at the very early part of the game, spend that influence as fast as you possibly can. Influence is your key resource to securing space throughout the entire game, but it's a LOT easier to spend influence to take empty space than it is to spend influence to make claims against your opponents. Just keep in mind that Influence is also the same currency used to make diplomatic deals, or to propose new laws in the galactic council, etc. The very start of the game you should just be smart about how you use your influence and which systems you choose to take. Spending influence to take a system that gives you 2 minerals and no habitable planets, IMO, is a bad idea. But if that system is at a chokepoint that you could reasonably use to defend against enemy attacks then DEFINITELY take it. Every system has a different value, and it's about gauging what value you're gaining, vs how much you're losing. Don't forget as well (I haven't explained this much during the tutorial series) that taking new systems, planets, and building population ALL cause your Empire Sprawl to increase. This increases the cost of new Traditions and Technologies. So every system you choose to inhabit means you're increasing the time it takes to get new Tech and Tradition upgrades. Is it worth taking that 2-mineral system if it means your costs will increase by 2%? I'd say no. But you also have to weigh that against the fact that after a war, you and your opponent will gain open borders to one another. And during peacetime that opponent could swoop in with a science vessel and construction vessel and claim that system for themselves! Now you're really in trouble. There's no hard and fast answer for anything in Stellaris really (though a lot of the community wants you to think that there is). Ultimately you just need to build that intuition about the game and its mechanics. You'll become a better player over time as you face some of these choices and mistakes. As long as you keep recognizing and learning from your mistakes. :) Hope this helped!

[@Veloletum]

@@MaxTheCatfish This definitely helped! Thank you! :D

[@solomani5959]

This is very useful since my first game I crashed my empires economy lol

[@gidds617]

The Dysons sphere concept is so fascinating in real life I gotta get the dlc😂

[@Albireo8]

Brilliant.

[@visacrum]

I'm loving this tutorial series but I have to say one thing that is actually giving me the giggles: Max: ZOMG THE ASCENSION PERKS IF YOU HAVE THE DLC'S!!!! (Gesticulations and all) Replace body parts! Dyson spheres! But hey, the vanilla perks are ok too. Me: Well now I'm starting to feel bad I just bought the vanilla version in a Steam sale.

[@MaxTheCatfish]

I'm actually at the point where I think I have *too many* DLCs installed. There's so much to do in the game that around year 2300 I find myself wanting to try a completely different empire/build. That and the game changes so frequently (the Psionic/Cybernetic/Genetic ascension perks and unlocks have changed since I created this tutorial!)...there's just so much to do. Take your time, enjoy what you have, and know there's always another upgrade around the corner when you want to expand your horizons. :)

[@joshuadesjardins8294]

Thank you for the video series! This is honestly one of the best tutorial guide series I’ve ever seen..for ANY game. So thank you! I just have a question for you that maybe you can answer but maybe not. I noticed you have 3 influence in your monthly income. I’m doing the the tutorial plythrough on Xbox One but my influence has only been 1 per month this whole time :( so naturally it’s made my expansion much slower. s this a weird thing with only the tutorial play though or something? Or maybe an Xbox bug or something? I cant remember doing anything to lessen the monthly income of Influence. Anyway if you or anyone else knows that would be amazing. Thanks

[@fikrimohdnoor2475]

thanks for the tutorial its help me a lot man!!..thankss

[@alvaromallo2356]

You should be the tutorial IN the game. I had the game quite in the background since I started watching this tutorial series. Please do an entire playthrough.

[@darrelllarue5877]

thanks

[@solomani5959]

35:30 did you ever get around to doing the perk tier list? Thanks.

[@edsoncampos8947]

Awesome!

[@GrandmaTheGamer]

Do you ever mix taking Traditions, not doing the entire tree before doing an Ascencion perk?

[@MaxTheCatfish]

Frequently! Sometimes my needs change in the game before I'm able to finish a tradition tree (like when a neighbor first implies that we will go to war). In a "perfect" game, you will finish your tradition trees as quickly as possible, because doing so nets you three simultaneous rewards - the tradition, the tree completion reward, and the ascension perk. So try to make this your priority. But if you're half-way into Expansion when a neighbor declares war against you, it's not a bad thing to switch to Supremacy for the fire rate and ship cost bonuses.

[@paranidherc]

I also wonder why the fuck Harmony matches the Unity Icon, given it doesn't offer more Unity income.

[@fabuloussloth8670]

27:26 What’s the difference between this and armies on planets? One of my colonies has lots of ships or something and the other colony has none. Why is that?

[@dancingwilderness]

Two questions: I got a situation log that says I can uplift a species, but I can't find them on the map. And, it says I have trait points to use, but I can't see how to apply them. Thanks for the excellent tutorials!

[@MaxTheCatfish]

Two great questions! I'll include these in the FAQ but give you an answer here too. Uplifting a species happens in a System that has a sapient species and an Observation Post built over the planet that houses them. It appears on the Galaxy View with an icon that looks like a prehistoric Axe. There's a planet in that system that has a sapient species. If you go into the System View and click on the planet, you can choose how to interact with that species. As for Trait Points - that is how you update and genetically modify your species. This is done in the species window. You can click on your species (or any of the species in your empire) and click "Create Template". There you can create a new genetic template for your species just like you do when you first customize your empire's starting species. After creating a template you can choose where to apply it - so you can apply it across your entire empire, or you can selectively apply it on different planets. This allows you to create population that have different strengths and weaknesses on each planet. So a major tech planet could theoretically *require* population with traits that benefit technology. And planets that generate minerals/energy could have a genetically-modified population more capable of generating those resources.

[@JayGriffinblaze]

Max's response is not correct. His reply is referring to 'Primitive Species'. Those are the civs that have not yet discovered FTL, with tech levels from the Stone AGe to Early Space travel, on a sliding scale. These are the ones that you can build observation posts around their homeworlds and nudge towards your ethics with indoctrination setting in your obs post. If these become absorbed into your empire through conquest or picking tech advancement option, or if they discover FTL stage on their own, they become a protectorate of yours. You cannot 'uplift' these. You can genetically modify them if any of them migrate to your controlled worlds or if you control their homeworld. Note that when you do this your societal research is put on hold for the period it takes to modify the number of species in your empire you select (variable by population size). To 'uplift' a species they must be a 'PRE-SAPIENT' species, not 'Primitive'. That means they must inhabit one of your controlled worlds as a SECONDARY species NATIVE to that world, but not intelligent with civilisation . SOmetimes they exist already when you colonise, other times clearing a dangerous wildlife tile can uncover them. When you uplift them you bring them to the level of the rest of your species and incorporate them into your empire, with whatever traits they naturally have as a general baseline. They will grow on that planet and eventually migrate if conditions permit to other worlds like any other species. tl:dr Can only uplift Pre-sapient species on controlled worlds. These guys are cetacea, cephalopods and canines (dolphins, octopuses and dogs) Do it through the species screen.

[@user-c4b9b]

I should be in bed, but instead I bought the game and a grip of the main DLC.... Great series Max!

[@Loki19810310]

Good tutorials, but I could do without the background music. Its hard to listen and focus 50 min with music in the background. But good job on the vids!

[@CptCarbon]

Which DLC gives you megastructures and biiiiig ships?

[@Monius13]

you didn't really mention it, but would the prosperity tree counter the negative effects the habitability has on certain planets?

[@MaxTheCatfish]

The +5 Stability you get from finishing the Prosperity Tradition Tree won't do much to help a planet with only 25% stability, no. Is this a planet you've recently conquered? Can you figure out where your stability issues are coming from exactly?

[@Monius13]

@@MaxTheCatfish ohhh no, I was referring to the one in your video with only 80% habitability. I don't remember now, but I think that was -25%. But if prosperity give it 25% would that cancel it out? Sorry, I feel like I can't quite explain right here haha

[@itsjustameme]

I noticed that you can build multiple thade hubs on a station. Do they ad up somehow or is it a waste?

[@thegremlin5886]

He explained that the starbase collects in it's own system, each hub extends out the collection range one hyperjump per hub for adjacent trade collection.

[@itsjustameme]

@@thegremlin5886 Ahh - thank you c",)

[@jamesmoon5632]

Great video thanks for this tutorial as the game would have been unplayable

[@spencerstevens2175]

My favorite part was when you implied pirates were extinct and a thing of the past in our modern world here on earth

[@owN-77]

Comment for the algorithm.

[@Aykun_]

You got that right.

[@MalekitGJ]

Funny how he omited the R34 Ascention Perk Edit: it is a DLC one

[@thenk0000]

Damn, I feel like buying a dlc

[@jm52995]

so you dont need to build a trade hub on every starbase?

[@MaxTheCatfish]

Definitely not! A single Starbase can collect trade from up to 6-8 systems away depending on your technology choices.

[@matias.bevilacqua]

Missing trade is likely pirates.

[@charlesorne5813]

Paradox needs to get you on payroll FR

[@jeremyflowers8908]

LOL: 2022 spoken ... 2023 in title

[@dobexx9352]

bro u shouldnt talked about dlcs rip my wallet haha great video

[@leaner33]

PIRACY IS STILL A MODERN DAY ISSUE MAX !

[@ZeNex74]

Watched all till now. Still a noob here lol years later a noob

[@neko77025]

this series would be so much shorter if you did not repeat everything 4 -5 times

[@iorifori91]

hey can I get a free DLC? it's my birthday