[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/7f6ab1f8edb830360b1a0746620036ea7d07e730.png\"][/img]

by Eladrin

Hello, Stellaris community!\n\nWere hoping to get the 4.2.0 Open Beta up soon on the [c]stellaris_test[/c] branch. This build currently consists of architectural changes to modifier application and threading. We do not expect significant improvements from these changes by themselves, but as I mentioned last week theyre necessary to create the foundation for the 4.3 performance focus.\n\nThe 4.3 changes are currently being worked on and some have made it into our Closed Beta. This week a number of economic changes hit them, the biggest change likely being us moving away from Upkeep reductions being so prevalent and trivial to stack (including Colony Designations), replacing many of them with Job Efficiency. Were currently doing a pass on those as well so stacking doesnt get quite as nutty as before. On the ship front, weve buffed Frigates (again) and are continuing to gather data on the overall impact of the changes, but its looking positive.\n\nNow well be taking a look at the Red Giant origin and the new Crisis path, Galactic Hyperthermia.\n\n

Red Giant

The Red Giant at the heart of our home system has suddenly entered a phase of rapid and anomalous growth. Its energy output is increasing, but its unclear exactly why.\n\nAs we grow to understand exactly whats going on, well have to make the decision whether to halt or even reverse the process, or be reforged in its flames.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/18fb7123dfd804d73a5b4620b9db3b52c87ee29a.png\"][/img]Fapeaqul looks nice. Itd be a shame if something were to happen to it.

\nIf you dare investigate the issue, youll soon find that this is not, in fact, a natural occurrence, and that a twinned pair of subspace tunnels exist deep within your star.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/be4a9ba9c02d942b0b44c23b29e964f803f5ae65.png\"][/img]That situations Finisher Effect sounds super!

\nMore approaches will appear as we learn more about the situation, which could do anything from reversing the stellar inflation to well adding fuel to the fire.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/c4531e9108077cce97780c28339bb510b645c39b.png\"][/img]I suppose we can try to figure out where the problem is coming from, if we must.

\nAs the situation advances, there will be opportunities to exploit the phenomenon or to hide behind our scientists begging them for protection.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/cc6363979f4ae55095ab4c642970843d6bea44c1.png\"][/img]

This is fine. As the star grows the planet modifiers may change.

\nAfter triangulating the source of the disturbance and uh dealing with them (I was playing as Scorched World Heralds for this playthrough so it didnt go so well for them) well open up more options from reversing the process to accelerating it.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/aee597f082df7efdb0c34ed8981b33238d92108e.png\"][/img]Is that really the best idea?

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/3ea827827921e7503c6f64053d054da067cf9c09.png\"][/img]Goodbye, Fapeaqul, well miss you.

\nCompleting the situation in this manner will grant us a beautiful lightshow and a shortcut to Galactic Hyperthermia.\n

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/3fc4ce05822283e74ac58752b63912d5f5d2a435.png\"][/img]

Galactic Hyperthermia

Ill be continuing this playthrough by taking Galactic Hyperthermiaas my first Ascension Perk.(A little perk for blowing up my sun.)

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/99fda08192a9c69f4bc108aca97bd7c9ac9e33b8.png\"][/img]All it cost was 80% habitability cap on my homeworld and a little bit (okay a lot) of devastation.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/9cd23b423f3a4eabab041703f86d4d3a190b8d46.png\"][/img]

The Galactic Crucible is the core of Hyperthermia.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/88f410ef3e5d1c255ef29aa54cff0f662eaed774.png\"][/img]

Upgrading this Megastructure allows it to deploy Entropy Conduits - automated systems designed to channel and amplify stellar entropy. Much like those poor fools from earlier in this dev diary did by accident to your home star, you can itentionally intensify stars, turning them into red giants to support your empires expansion.

Conduits are completely autonomous, and are produced at regular intervals. To start with, they will remain within territory you control, but in time they will spread across the galaxy.

By default, the Crucible produces Crystallized Entropy and increases your Naval Capacity.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/7ead7ed53adbc623e1457093495e1b9a47f0c1cf.png\"][/img]

Its so cute!

\nThe Forced Ignition Crisis perk allows you to Overclock the Crucible, selecting different options.\n

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/2dd91d1bc9f2dab6dc162c37902e7d88a443eb59.png\"][/img]

Unlike the other Crises, Galactic Hyperthermia does have an opportunity to temper their ambitions.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/10164abb12cb29b201352d39d5d6a46f45def7fb.png\"][/img]I didnt pick the nice option.

\nEmber Cruisers and Battleships become available at various points in this Crisis path - theyre similar to standard Cruisers or Battleships, but gain additional benefits from the Hyperthermia perks. They cost Crystallized Entropy to build and are also wreathed in flames, which is pretty hot. The Ember Battleships can equip the Lensed Paralyzers that the Conduits carry.

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Completing the Crucible does not snuff out the galaxy - but it does begin the final phase of your plan. With the Crucible complete, you can secure access to six staging systems around the Galactic Core - deploying Conduits in all six systems and letting them do their work will allow you to reforge the entire galaxy at once.

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Sadly, the empires of the galaxy may disagree with our climate improving agenda, and mobilize against us. We have some time to prepare our defenses before they attempt to disrupt our operations.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/9703436/78592270f6994f569b3f68b5668f726836b73d8d.png\"][/img]

Just need to hold out a little bit longer.

\nGalactic Hyperthermia does have a little bit of an epilogue. After cleansing the galaxy in flame, if you choose to continue playing, you receive a relic that can seed thermophilic life suitable for the new, tempered galaxy.

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Next Week

Were almost there! Next week well have the Infernals and 4.2.0 \'Corvus\' Preliminary Release Notes!\n\nSee you then!\n\n\n

The Infernals Species Pack is included as part of Stellaris: Season 09 \nand will be released on November 25th!