Race characteristics?

[HsojVvad]

Well I have been playing humans in all my games, and with the new public beta out, I am going to start a new game with a new race and I noticed do they really mean anything for the human player? Like the stats Very Aggressive, Slightly Reckless, Extremely Unfriendly and Unreliable. Do they mean much when you are the human player?

All I look at is what advantages or disadvantages and in alot of the races it's very hard to choose from. For example I look at one race, the Dhayut and the only thing I can see to tkae them is the war weariness of -50%. While I look at the Boskara, they have -25% troop maintenacne, lower war weariness of -70%. So it looks like the Boskara are a better choice. So why should I bother with the Dhayut since to me, they seem weaker to play as. Am I missing something here?

If I was making these races from scratch, it would seem that Dhayut are underpowered if we go by points costs. So I can't understand having more or less in for example: aggressive and friendly traits would make a difference when the human plays these races.

So what am I missing? What do I not understand here?

[Wade1000]

The galaxy is packed with a huge variety of alien races. Many of them are content to live quietly on their home planet, remaining aloof and independent. Others are intent on exploration and expansion, building a powerful empire.
Trade and cooperation between empires can lead to peace and prosperity. But achieving this requires understanding each distinct alien race, their likes and dislikes. Some races may be more inclined to dominance and conquest than peaceful coexistence...
Race Characteristics
Each race has a number of characteristics that are outlined in detail below. Note that these characteristics also influence the types of governments that are most suitable for the race.
Reproduction Rate
How fast the population of the race grows at their colonies.
Intelligence
The overall smartness of the race. Highly intelligent races have the following attributes:
·         perform research faster, gaining access to new technology sooner
·         have stronger troops
·         more likely to placate other empires with monetary gifts
·         show more caution when setting colony tax rates, avoiding overburdening their citizens
·         include extra components in their ship designs
·         recruit more intelligence agents
Aggression
The general level of aggression and willingness to use violence. Highly aggressive races have the following attributes:
·         more likely to attack or provoke others through ship attacks or intelligence missions, even against stronger empires
·         more tolerant of war hardship, more willing to continue wars
·         more likely to implement blockades when have trade sanctions against another empire
·         build more large military ships like cruisers and capital ships
·         assign more military ships to attack fleets
·         include more weapons in their ship designs
·         recruit more intelligence agents
·         have stronger troops, and recruit more troops
·         colony inhabitants defend against invasions more vigorously
·         when an independent population, less likely to join an empire when colonized
Caution
The overall level of carefulness and prudence of the race. Highly cautious races have the following attributes:
·         less likely to enter into treaties with other empires, also less likely to go to war
·         more likely to attack or provoke others through ship attacks or intelligence missions
·         higher level of concern at encroachments on their system’s territory
·         more likely to placate other empires with monetary gifts
·         less tolerant of war hardship, less willing to continue wars
·         build more smaller military ships like escorts, frigates and destroyers
·         assign more military ships to attack fleets
·         military ships more likely to flee battles sooner
·         include more shields and engines on their ship designs
·         less willing to overspend on ship building
·         recruit more troops
·         show more care and caution when selecting intelligence missions, ensuring greater chance of success
·         stock more resources at colonies
Friendliness
The general level of openness and affability of the race. Highly friendly races have the following attributes:
·         more likely to form treaties with other empires
·         when an independent population, more likely to join an empire when colonized
·         more likely to placate other empires with monetary gifts
·         show more caution when setting colony tax rates, avoiding overburdening their citizens
Loyalty
The general level of reliability and dependability of the race. Highly loyal races have the following attributes:
·         more likely to stick to treaties with other empires
·         more likely to honor mutual defense pacts
·         more tolerant of war hardship
·         less susceptible to defection from high cultural influence of nearby colonies of other empires
Bonus Abilities
Some alien races have extra bonus abilities that make them naturally better at certain tasks. Your empire can gain these bonus abilities by assimilating these races into your empire, either through colonization or conquest.
When your empire has a population of at least 10 million but less than 2 billion of a particular race then your empire receives 50% of their race ability bonuses. When your empire has a population of over 2 billion of a particular race then your empire receives their full race ability bonuses.
All available race ability bonuses are shown below.
Master Engineers
Ship maintenance costs lowered

Warrior Class
Troop maintenance costs lowered

Industrious Miners
Resource extraction faster

Fierce Rivalry
War Weariness lower

Natural Optimists
Happiness bonus

Gifted Scientists
Research faster

Cunning Schemers
Better spies

Natural Merchants
Colony income bonus

(From the Galoctopedia file 'Alien Races'.)

tm.asp?m=2386321 (Distant Worlds: Introduction of the alien races.)

[HsojVvad]

So basically then the attributes of aggression, caution and friendliness dosn't mean much when the Human player is playing that race then. So all races are not equal then when the humam is playing a certian race then. I am surprised it took me so long to see this. Well it is a nice change of pace not playing humans or a huminoid race now.

[Erik Rutins]

Davor,

That's not the case at all, those characteristics do have an effect even when you are playing the race. See the list that Wade posted from the Galactopedia.

[Wade1000]

Also, some races are balanced with their free advanced technology put into the considerations... I think.

[HsojVvad]

I guess it's just one of those days. I am having brain farts and not understanding anything. As a human player what does it mean to have a high loyalty score? What does it mean to have a low loyalty score? You can be a very loyal score, but as a human player, you can screw or back stab the AI when ever, so I don't see those scores coming into effect. Same goes for aggression or Friendliness. This is what I don't get. Yes I can see, and I did read, how they work, but again, I can have a score of a high loyalty, but I can back stab the AI whenever. This is what I don't understand. How can these scores effect the human player?

[Fishman]

The loyalty score affects how well your other attributes function, however, like colony defection, war weariness buildup, etc. Obviously, it has no effect on your international relations anymore, because you are running the show there. All the attributes do SOMETHING, but not all the effects matter because they are overridden by the player. Some always still matter, though.

[HsojVvad]

I can't believe I didn't see what Wade put out. What effects the human player is in bold. I never noticed that yesterday. Had a big headach, that is why I didn't notice it. Today I see it as clear as day.

[Wade1000]

*Thumbs up*  Welcome.