# Stellaris - 4X/Grand Strategy Hybrid from Paradox **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 14, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001 "2016-03-14T18:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/41 "2016-05-02T15:16:07Z")
One week to release! I’m very looking towards this game. I’ve been reading through the [Dev Diaries list](http://www.stellariswiki.com/Stellaris_Wiki) on their wiki page. It looks like modding is going to be even easier. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/42 "2016-05-02T16:01:28Z")
There’s going to be 14 hours of multi-player sessions starting tomorrow through Wednesday, featuring some youtubers, including Arumba and Quill18. Seems so close now! ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/43 "2016-05-02T17:51:20Z")
Also streamers already received early copies: > **[Youtubers got their copies! HYPE!](https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/youtubers-got-their-copies-hype.924249/)** > > Hype overload! I hope it's not too long until they start uploading or even streaming! > > quill18 ‏ > Ooooooh, @TroyGoodfellow got me an awesome birthday present a whole day early! > https://twitter.com/quill18/status/726098999002931200 > > Arumba ‏ > Excuse... They are allowed to show footage starting on the 5th. Even Scott “Kerbal” Manley is getting in on the action. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/44 "2016-05-05T19:55:53Z")
Today was the embargo date for let’s plays and game streams so there’s a bunch of youtubers out there with footage of the game. I’m mostly watching quill18, Scott Manley and Macsen, but you can just search stellaris and limit the search to today to find the 20+ vids out there. The game really is looking fantastic, I can’t wait to get my hands on it on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/45 "2016-05-05T23:42:39Z")
Woot! looks like some some Babylon 5 shadows: [![](https://i.imgur.com/removed.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/removed.png) Tempted to play as them 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/46 "2016-05-06T01:18:35Z")
I’d take a Vorlon, in or out of its encounter suit. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/47 "2016-05-07T12:32:22Z")
It looks promising. Knowing Paradox, I’ll probably pick it up, play it for a little bit, get bored and/or frustrated, open up the data files to pseudo-mod it, and then play it a whole bunch more but only kinda like it. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/48 "2016-05-09T07:50:00Z")
I bought it because I’m impulsive like that (and the game looks interesting). I was kind of hoping that I’d be able to play it a bit tonight (sometimes May 9th means May 8th 10:00pm local time), but that’s not gonna happen. Unlock is apparently at 18:00 GMT. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/49 "2016-05-09T11:02:48Z")
That’s 2 pm for me but I won’t be able to get to it until the evening. Paradox is having a launch stream over at their twitch channel. I think they’re going to keep playing the Blorg. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/50 "2016-05-09T13:30:43Z")
Why can’t I pre-load the game? I hate that. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/51 "2016-05-09T13:44:23Z")
Reviews are coming in. The [IGN review](http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/09/stellaris-review) was not at all favorable, saying that it gets dull very quickly. [PCWorld](http://www.pcworld.com/article/3067310/software/stellaris-review-etch-your-stories-across-the-stars-in-paradoxs-latest-grand-strategy-game.html) was a lot kinder but still says the game isn’t as good as CKII and that the game gets boring around the midpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/52 "2016-05-09T13:47:27Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Why can’t I pre-load the game? I hate that. I don’t know the answer for Stellaris in particular, but for other Paradox games, it’s because they have no DRM. You’ll need a Steam account to legally download it, but the files can be easily copied to wherever and played without Steam. So, they’re not going to spend resources on a one-time lock. The benefits to getting the game legally is support on and better access to their forums. And mods, of which there’ll be plenty. Plus easy updates to game. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/53 "2016-05-09T13:52:12Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Why can’t I pre-load the game? I hate that. It’s small, under 4 gigs. > [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Reviews are coming in. > > The [IGN review](http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/09/stellaris-review) was not at all favorable, saying that it gets dull very quickly. [PCWorld](http://www.pcworld.com/article/3067310/software/stellaris-review-etch-your-stories-across-the-stars-in-paradoxs-latest-grand-strategy-game.html) was a lot kinder but still says the game isn’t as good as CKII and that the game gets boring around the midpoint. Yeah, going to listen to the 3 moves ahead podcast to see some context for that. In the meantime [https://explorminate.net/2016/05/09/stellaris-review/](https://explorminate.net/2016/05/09/stellaris-review/) gave it an exemplary rating, which is their highest. Gamewatcher [Stellaris PC Review | GameWatcher](http://www.gamewatcher.com/reviews/stellaris-review/12559) 9/10 PC gamer [Stellaris PC Review | GameWatcher](http://www.gamewatcher.com/reviews/stellaris-review/12559) 9/10 > [@Pleonast](#): > > I don’t know the answer for Stellaris in particular, but for other Paradox games, it’s because they have no DRM. You’ll need a Steam account to legally download it, but the files can be easily copied to wherever and played without Steam. So, they’re not going to spend resources on a one-time lock. > > The benefits to getting the game legally is support on and better access to their forums. And mods, of which there’ll be plenty. Plus easy updates to game. No DRM on Steam means you can just create a desktop shortcut and play the game that way, without loading Steam if you don’t want to. Getting the game legally is the only way to get the game for people that aren’t assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/54 "2016-05-09T13:58:53Z")
oops, links are wrong: PCgamesn: [Stellaris review | PCGamesN](http://www.pcgamesn.com/stellaris-review) 9/10 ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/55 "2016-05-09T15:28:02Z")
Damnit, how much longer until i can install this? ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/56 "2016-05-09T16:12:08Z")
It’s out now! installing! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/57 "2016-05-09T16:37:22Z")
I was a little surprised by the lack of pre-load. Ah, well; I’m at 77% after just a few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/58 "2016-05-09T17:31:22Z")
Anyone able to play it? Everytime I try the game freezes on startup. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/59 "2016-05-09T18:17:15Z")
All other things being equal, I am going to be inclined to trust the more negative review. And PC Gamer gets no real weight from me, at all. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001/60 "2016-05-09T22:28:26Z")
Early impressions from those of you who are playing? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stellaris-4x-grand-strategy-hybrid-from-paradox/749001.md?page=4)