Policies

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (3.8) of the game.

Policies window

See also: Species rights

Policies are empire-wide laws of behavior that outline the governing precepts for how an empire will guide its expansion through the stars and its stance on certain subjects. Policies are different from edicts in that they cost nothing to implement, but have effects on how citizens and other empires are likely to view each other. Once altered, a specific policy cannot be changed until 10 years have passed.

Changing policies is advised as a way to mitigate faction unhappiness in large empires that have a lot of pops of different ethics, besides the possibility of opening up new possible avenues of power.

Some resolutions in the Galactic Community can make certain policies a breach of galactic law. In this case the policy will show a warning sign next to it.

Diplomatic Stance

Diplomatic Stance determines the behavior an empire takes towards other empires on the galactic stage. It cannot be changed during a war.

Stance	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Cooperative	+25% Diplomatic weight +50% Envoy improve relations −50% Border friction +25% Operation cost +25% Operation upkeep  0.25 Influence cost to harm relations	Xenoist +10  Progressive +5  Technologist +5  Imperialist −10  Isolationist −10  Supremacist −10	Inward Perfection  Barbaric Despoilers Genocidal	Modifiers0 ×3.00 Federation Builders AI personality ×2.00  Fanatic Xenophile ×1.50  Xenophile ×1.30  Fanatic Egalitarian ×1.30  Fanatic Pacifist ×1.30  Exploration Protocols ×1.25 AI personality likes aliens ×1.15  Egalitarian ×1.15  Pacifist ×1.10  Fanatic Materialist ×1.05  Materialist ×0.75  Authoritarian ×0.50  Fanatic Authoritarian ×0.10  Xenophobe ×0.01  Become the Crisis ×0.00  Fanatic Xenophobe ×0.00 Hasn't encountered another empire	This empire will attempt to find common ground and negotiate with other empires in the name of friendship.
Expansionist	−10% Outpost build cost  +15% Colony development speed +100% Border friction	Isolationist −10	Genocidal	Modifiers0 ×2.00 Hasn't encountered another empire ×0.01  Become the Crisis	This empire seeks to grow peacefully, but has no specific diplomatic focus.
Isolationist	+10% Monthly unity  +25% Governing ethics attraction  −50% Diplomatic weight +100% Diplomatic influence cost +200% Border friction  0.25 Influence cost to improve or harm relations	Isolationist +10	Corporate Genocidal	Modifiers0 ×100.  Inward Perfection ×2.00  Xenophobe ×0.25 Hasn't encountered another empire ×0.01  Become the Crisis ×0.00 Federation Builders AI personality ×0.00 Fanatic Befrienders AI personality ×3.00 AI personality is isolationist	This empire wishes to be left alone to their own affairs.
Belligerent	−10% War exhaustion gain  +10% Naval capacity  −10% Claim influence cost  0.25 Influence cost to improve relations	Imperialist +10  Supremacist +10  Isolationist −10  Prosperity −10	Inward Perfection Genocidal	Modifiers0 ×5.00 Slave raider ×3.00  Hive Mind or  Driven Assimilator and can't expand ×2.00  Fanatic Militarist ×1.50  Militarist ×1.50  Fanatic Authoritarian ×1.25  Authoritarian ×1.50  Nationalistic Zeal ×1.50  Warrior Culture ×1.50  Private Military Companies ×1.50  Strength of Legions ×1.50  Warbots ×1.50 AI personality likes conquest ×0.50  Any degree of Pacifist ×0.50  Pacifist unless a neighbor rivaled them ×0.00  Fanatic Pacifist unless a neighbor rivaled them ×0.00 Hasn't encountered another empire	This empire will attempt to bully weaker empires into submission to their will.
Supremacist	+100% Diplomatic weight from fleet power  −20% War exhaustion gain  +20% Naval capacity  −10% Claim influence cost  0.25 Influence cost to improve relations  −100 Opinion to and from all empires with the same policy Relaxed requirements for rivalry	Imperialist +10  Supremacist +10  Isolationist −10  Prosperity −10	Finished the Supremacy tradition tree  Inward Perfection Genocidal Subject Humiliated	Modifiers0 ×10.0 Awakened Empire ×10.0 The Horde ×3.00  Warrior Culture ×3.00  Private Military Companies ×3.00  Strength of Legions ×3.00  Warbots ×2.00  Nationalistic Zeal ×2.00  Fanatic Militarist ×1.50  Militarist ×1.50  Fanatic Authoritarian ×1.50 AI personality likes conquest or subjugating other empires ×1.25  Authoritarian ×1.25 Slave raider ×0.25 Another known, neighbouring independent regular empire has at least Superior relative power ×0.00 Another known independent regular empire with the same stance has Overwhelming relative power ×0.00  Any degree of Pacifist ×0.00 Hasn't encountered another empire	This empire demands that all will bow before them.
Mercantile	+25% Diplomatic weight from economy  +10% Trade value +5 Trade protection  +0.25 Influence cost to close borders against non-rivals	Prosperity +10  Isolationist −10	Gestalt Consciousness  Inward Perfection  Fanatic Purifiers One must be true:  Corporate  Merchant Guilds  Corporate Dominion	Modifiers0 ×3.00  Corporate ×1.25  Free Traders ×0.65  Private Military Companies ×0.65  Private Prospectors ×0.01  Become the Crisis	This empire desires the facilitation of trade above all else.
Purification		Isolationist −10	Fanatic Purifiers	Always	This empire believes that enemies exist solely to be destroyed, and that they are the ones chosen to do so.
Hunger			Devouring Swarm	Always	This empire hungers and consumes.
Extermination			Determined Exterminator	Always	This empire's purpose is to destroy all biological life.
Dormant			Fallen Empire	Always	This empire fell into a dark age long ago, and largely isolates itself from the rest of the galaxy.
Ignorant			Pre-FTL Civilization  Awareness Completely Unaware or Low Awareness	Always	This pre-FTL civilization is ignorant of the reality that exists beyond its gravity well.
Questioning			Pre-FTL Civilization  Awareness Partially Aware	Always	This pre-FTL civilization is beginning to question what might exist beyond their star system.
Uncertain			Pre-FTL Civilization  Awareness High Awareness or Fully Aware  Xenophile  Xenophobe	Always	This pre-FTL civilization is uncertain as to how to approach alien societies.
Eager			Pre-FTL Civilization  Awareness High Awareness or Fully Aware  Xenophile	Always	This pre-FTL civilization is eager to set out to the stars and meet the rest of the galaxy.
Fearful			Pre-FTL Civilization  Awareness High Awareness or Fully Aware  Xenophobe	Always	This pre-FTL civilization is afraid of the alien dangers that exist in the galaxy.
Stellar Culture Shock	−100 Diplomatic Acceptance		Pre-FTL Civilization Stellar Culture Shock	Always	This pre-FTL civilization is still adjusting to the knowledge that they are not alone in the galaxy.

First Contact Protocol

First Contact Protocol dictates an empire's stance on unknown aliens as well as whether an empire can order fleets to attack another empire before establishing communications. Encountering alien life for the first time will bring the option to set the initial policy, which cannot be changed for at least 10 years.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Proactive	Cannot attack neutral fleets Other empires will find it easier to establish communications +50% Influence from successful first contact +10% First contact discovery speed	Xenoist +10  Supremacist −5  Isolationist −10	Payback  Xenophobe Genocidal	Modifiers0 ×2  Pacifist ×2  Xenophile ×2  Rogue Servitor	Meeting alien civilizations presents an exciting opportunity to make new friends and fresh discoveries. We shall do our utmost to ensure that first contact happens smoothly, hailing unknown ships with a cordially-phrased greeting and a copy of our Official Standard Encyclopedia, along with its audio-visual companion dossier.
Cautious	Cannot attack neutral fleets Negative first contact events are less likely Other empires will find it harder to establish communications +2 First contact target difficulty	Supremacist −5	Genocidal	Modifiers0 ×1.5 Always	We will take every measure to prevent information about ourselves from falling into alien hands before we have decided whether they will be friend or foe.
Aggressive	Can attack neutral fleets Enables hostile first contact actions	Supremacist +10  Xenoist −10	Pacifist  Xenophile	Modifiers0 ×2  Militarist ×2  Xenophobe ×2  Gestalt Consciousness	Unknown dangers may hide among the stars. To ensure our continued survival we must be ready to strike without hesitation.

War Philosophy

War Philosophy limits the systems an empire is allowed to make claims for. The limit is removed during defensive wars for the defender and does not apply for systems owned by Fallen Empires. War philosophy cannot be changed while at war.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Unrestricted Wars	No restriction on system claims	Prosperity −10  Isolationist −25	Pacifist  Crusader Spirit civic	Modifiers0 ×10 Doesn't have a valid AI personality ×10 AI personality likes conquest, subjugating other empires, or purging aliens ×10  Become the Crisis ×0.1 Banned by  Rules of War resolution 4 or 5	War is a dish best served frequently, and to those who will not cook for themselves.
Liberation Wars	Claims can only be made during defensive wars Animosity casus belli against rivals is replaced with the Ideology casus belli	Prosperity −10	Fanatic Pacifist  Gestalt Consciousness  Fanatic Purifiers	Modifiers0 ×2  Pacifist and doesn't have a valid AI personality ×2 AI personality likes conquest, subjugating or liberating other empires	We must further our own interests, even when they run contrary to the interests of others.
Defensive Wars	Cannot declare war except for independence wars against the overlord Claims can only be made during defensive wars	Prosperity +10  Imperialist −30	Fanatic Militarist  Crusader Spirit civic Genocidal	Modifiers0 ×0  Pacifist	Violence is a last resort to ensure the integrity of our nation.

Subjugation War Terms

Subjugation War Terms determines the initial terms of agreement for subjects created by the  Subjugation and Imposed Inclusion casus belli as well as their starting  Loyalty. This policy is not available to subjects, though a player who becomes subjugated will regain what they had previously if they become independent. (If they are controlled by AI when they become independent, they get a ×10 weight towards picking the policy previously picked by the player.)

Type	Subject integration	Diplomatic freedom	Expansion	Overlord conflicts	Contribution		Faction approval	Authority	AI weight	Description
Oppressive	Integration Permitted	Limited Diplomacy	Expansion Prohibited	All		−100	Totalitarian +10  Imperialist +5  Supremacist +5  Xenoist −10		Modifiers0 ×1.30  Fanatic Authoritarian ×1.30  Fanatic Xenophobe ×1.15  Authoritarian ×1.15  Xenophobe ×0.50  Pacifist ×0.5 0 Xenophile ×0.10  Fanatic Pacifist ×0.10  Fanatic Xenophile	Those we subjugate are inferior to us, we tolerate them only because they remain silent and shower us with their pathetic gifts.
Balanced	Integration Prohibited	Restricted Voting	Expansion Regulated	Defensive		−50	Supremacist −5		Modifiers0 ×1.30  Fanatic Egalitarian ×1.30  Fanatic Materialist ×1.15  Egalitarian ×1.15  Materialist	We believe in treating our subjects fairly. Perhaps in time, they will see the wisdom of our ways and the errors of theirs.
Benevolent	Integration Prohibited	Independent Diplomacy	Expansion Permitted	Defensive		0	Xenoist +10  Progressive +5  Imperialist −5  Supremacist −5  Totalitarian −10		Modifiers0 ×1.30  Fanatic Pacifist ×1.30  Fanatic Xenophile ×1.15  Pacifist ×1.15  Xenophile ×0.50  Authoritarian ×0.50  Xenophobe ×0.10  Fanatic Authoritarian ×0,10  Fanatic Xenophobe	Our subjects are as much part of us as we are of them, their success is our victory, and we shall move forward as one.
Hostile Takeover	Integration Prohibited	Restricted Voting	Expansion Regulated	All	+45% +15%	−100	Imperialist +5  Supremacist +5  Totalitarian +5  Xenoist −10		Modifiers0 ×1.30  Fanatic Authoritarian ×1.30  Fanatic Xenophobe ×1.15  Authoritarian ×1.15  Xenophobe ×0.50  Pacifist ×0.5 0 Xenophile ×0.10  Fanatic Pacifist ×0.10  Fanatic Xenophile	The pathetic attempt to block this acquisition has failed; no matter their convictions, in the end, everyone has a price.
Standard Acquisition	Integration Prohibited	Restricted Voting	Expansion Regulated	Defensive	+30%	−50	Supremacist −5		Modifiers0 ×1.30  Fanatic Egalitarian ×1.30  Fanatic Materialist ×1.15  Egalitarian ×1.15  Materialist	With a satisfactory deal in place, both parties can now get back to work.
Negotiated Synergy	Integration Prohibited	Independent Diplomacy	Expansion Permitted	Defensive	+30%	0	Xenoist +10  Progressive +5  Imperialist −5  Supremacist −5  Totalitarian −5		Modifiers0 ×1.30  Fanatic Pacifist ×1.30  Fanatic Xenophile ×1.15  Pacifist ×1.15  Xenophile ×0.50  Authoritarian ×0.50  Xenophobe ×0.10  Fanatic Authoritarian ×0,10  Fanatic Xenophobe	The best deals benefit both parties; like life itself, business flourishes in harmony.

War Doctrine

War Doctrines become available after finishing the  Supremacy tradition tree. They are also used by mercenary enclaves. This policy determines the overall strategic military doctrine for fleets.

Type	Effects	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Defense in Depth	+10% Home territory fire rate		Modifiers0 ×0.1 Always	Let the enemy come to us. We shall fight them for every planet, every moon, every asteroid that lies within our space. We shall never surrender.
Hit and Run	+2 Disengagement opportunities +33% Combat disengagement chance −25% Emergency FTL damage risk		Modifiers0 ×0  Any degree of Pacifist	A superior foe can be gradually whittled down by repeated hit and run attacks. The killing blow is delivered only when the odds are favorable.
Rapid Deployment	+25% Sublight speed +10% Ship weapons range		Modifiers0 ×100 Mercenary enclave	We must move quickly to strike where the enemy is weakest, and defend where the enemy means to attack. Maneuver is the key to success.
No Retreat	+100% Disengagement chance reduction +50% Emergency FTL jump cooldown +33% Fire rate	One must be true:  Militarist  Gestalt Consciousness  Fanatic Purifiers	Modifiers0 ×10 Always ×00 Honorbound Warriors AI personality ×00 Devouring Swarm AI personality	Our ships are expected to fight to the bitter end. We will tolerate no withdraws, no retreats, no routs. For our fleet there is only victory or death. Not one step back!

Orbital Bombardment

Orbital Bombardment limits the maximum available stance of planetary bombing when orbiting enemy worlds. AI empires will always use the most powerful policy unless banned by the  Galactic Community.

Type	Max orbital bombardment stance	Requirements	Description
Selective	Selective		Allows only the bombardment of identified military targets, while keeping civilian casualties to a minimum.
Indiscriminate	Indiscriminate	Pacifist	Allows the full use of all orbital weaponry, with no regards to life on the surface
Armageddon	Armageddon	One must be true:  Fanatic Purifiers  Determined Exterminator Peril	Allows the full use of all orbital weaponry, with no regards to life on the planet itself. Utter annihilation is the goal.

Orbital Surrender Acceptance

Orbital Surrender Acceptance determines whether surrenders caused by orbital bombardment are accepted. AI empires will always accept surrenders. This policy is not available to Genocidal empires as planets will never surrender to them.

Type	Effects	Description
Prohibited	Surrenders are not accepted	There will be no surrender. Orbital Bombardment will continue indefinitely.
Allowed	Surrenders are accepted	Foreign citizens have the right to surrender.

Pre-FTL Interference

Pre-FTL Interference determines in what ways empires can interact with pre-FTL civilizations as well as what observation types Observation Posts can conduct. This policy becomes available once a pre-FTL civilization has been found.

Type	Available observations	Espionage operations	Can reveal presence	Can invade	Faction approval	Requirements	Description
Non-Interference	Passive Observation	None			Xenoist +10  Supremacist −10	Unless Signatory:  Fanatic Xenophobe genocidal	It is not our place to influence the development of another society. Watch, but do not interfere.
Subtle Interference	Passive Observation	Some	High Awareness		Xenoist +10  Supremacist −10	Unless Signatory:  Fanatic Xenophobe genocidal	We can nudge their development in the right direction, but our touch must remain subtle.
Active Interference	Passive Observation Aggressive Observation	All			Supremacist +5  Xenoist −5	Signatory Genocidal	To unlock the secrets of the universe, any subject of interest must be made freely available for study.
Aggressive Interference	Aggressive Observation	Some			Supremacist +5  Xenoist −5	Signatory  Pacifist  Xenophile  Exploration Protocols	The strong hold dominion over the weak. The fate of less developed societies is ours to command.

Pre-FTL Enlightenment

Pre-FTL Enlightenment determines whether or not an empire can enlighten pre-FTL civilizations. This policy becomes available once a pre-FTL civilization has been found.

Type	Effects	Requirements	Description
Prohibited	Cannot enlighten pre-FTL civilizations		This society is not ready to grasp the wonders we have discovered. Exposing the truth too quickly can entail enormous risks for everyone involved.
Covert Only	Enables the Plant Advanced Knowledge operation	Fanatic Xenophobe Genocidal Non-Interference Pre-FTL Interference	Revealing our existence to pre-FTL civilizations would alter the natural course of their development. We should help them, but without revealing our presence.
Allowed	Enables the Plant Advanced Knowledge operation Enables the Provide Technology diplomacy interaction	Fanatic Xenophobe Genocidal Non-Interference Pre-FTL Interference	By sharing our knowledge, we can actively encourage less advanced societies to take their rightful place in the galactic community.

Resettlement

This policy determines if forced organic pop resettlement is enabled. The policy is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness who always have it enabled.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Description
Prohibited	Pops can't be forcefully resettled	Progressive +10	Free pops cannot be forcibly resettled between planets.
Allowed	Pops can be forcefully resettled	Progressive −10	Pops can be forcibly resettled between planets.

Land Appropriation

Land Appropriation determines whether conquered planets with pops without Full Citizenship will have some bottom-stratum pops replaced with Full Citizenship pops. The replaced pops will become refugees. The policy is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires, who always purge or assimilate (or make into Bio-Trophies, in the case of Rogue Servitors).

Type	Effects	AI weight	Description
Prohibited	Conquered planets will have their population preserved as is	Modifiers0 ×10 AI personality likes aliens	The land that our empire controls belongs to all of its inhabitants.
Allowed	Planets conquered from non-citizen species will have up to 5 pops displaced and replaced with citizens from our other planets	Modifiers0 ×10 AI personality does not like aliens	The land that the lesser species are not properly utilizing can be put to greater use by their betters.

Leader Enhancement

Leader Enhancement determines whether technology can be used to improve leaders' abilities. This policy becomes available once  Selected Lineages is researched and the effects also apply to already hired leaders. With  Federations, if the Unchained Knowledge resolution 4 is passed, members of the Galactic Community must use the most powerful leader enhancement policy they have technology for, or be in breach of galactic law.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	Description
Natural Selection	Leaders gain no additional bonuses	Progressive +5  Totalitarian −5		Let nature take its course - it is in the crucible of experience that genius is forged.
Selected Lineages	+10% Leader experience gain +10 Leader lifespan +50% Leader cost	Totalitarian +5  Progressive −5	Selected Lineages technology  Fanatic Egalitarian	Careful reproductive planning should be incentivized, lest we waste valuable genetic legacies.
Capacity Boosters	+20% Leader experience gain +20 Leader lifespan +100% Leader cost	Totalitarian +5  Progressive −5	Capacity Boosters technology  Egalitarian	We leave nothing to chance, no matter the cost. Through exacting curation of DNA banks do we build the leaders of tomorrow.

Initial Border Status

Initial Border Status determines whether borders start open or closed to other empires.

Type	Effects	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Open	Borders will be open to other empires by default	Genocidal		Isolation invites suspicion, and suspicion invites conflict. Let us show our neighbors that we have nothing to hide.
Closed	Borders will be closed to other empires by default		Modifiers0 ×5 Existential Threat ×0  Corporate ×0 AI personality is not isolationist and does not like attacking neutrals ×0  Not any degree of Xenophobe	The borders of our empire must be well guarded, lest we fall victim to insidious influences. Only those who have proven themselves worthy may enter our space.

Economic Policy

Economic Policy determines whether civilian or military resource production should receive more focus. The policy is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires, which have a production policy instead.

Type	Effects	Description
Civilian Economy	+25% Consumer goods from jobs −25% Alloys from jobs	The needs of the populace must come before the business of war. Economic might, not military prowess, is what our empire will be founded on.
Mixed Economy	No bonuses or penalties to resource production	To commit ourselves fully to either war or peace is to restrict ourselves to a narrow view. We must be ready for whatever the future may hold.
Militarized Economy	−25% Consumer goods from jobs +25% Alloys from jobs	To neglect our defense is to neglect our survival. Trinkets and baubles are scarce comfort when the enemy is battering down the gates.

Trade Policy

Trade Policy determines what each unit of  Trade Value is converted into once it reaches the capital system. The policy is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires. At the start of the game, only Wealth Creation is available. The Trade League Policy is available for empires in a  Trade League federation and replaces Consumer Benefits and Marketplace of Ideas options. AI always uses Consumer Benefits or Trade League if it can.

Type	Exchange Rate	Requirements	Description
Wealth Creation	1 Energy		The purpose of trade is to generate profits for individuals and revenue for the state. We should focus our trade efforts fully on this creation of wealth.
Consumer Benefits	0.5 Energy  0.25 Consumer goods	Adaptive Economic Policies tradition  Trade League federation	Profits and taxes must take second place to improving the lives of our citizens. We should focus our trade efforts towards the manufacture and distribution of everyday necessities.
Marketplace of Ideas	0.5 Energy  0.25 Unity	Adaptive Economic Policies tradition  Trade League federation  Holy Covenant federation level 3	Trade can be used not only to move goods around, but also to facilitate the spread of ideas. We should focus our trade efforts towards ensuring that the message of our government is heard on all planets where we do business.
Trade League	0.5 Energy  0.2 Consumer goods  0.2 Unity	Trade League federation	By banding together in a trade league, we are able to prosper and secure profits on a whole new level.
Holy Covenant	0.5 Energy  0.5 Unity	Holy Covenant federation level 3	By banding together in a holy covenant, we may bask in the collective glory of our divine purpose.

Production Policy

Production Policy determines what drone stratum a  Gestalt Consciousness empire focuses on. AI will always use Balanced Production.

Type	Effects	Description
Balanced Production	No bonuses or penalties to resource production	The Mind dedicates itself equally to the production of raw resources and finished goods.
Extraction Focus	+20% Menial Drone Output −20% Complex Drone Output	The Menial Drones that extract raw resources are given priority by the Mind, becoming more productive at the expense of the Complex Drones.
Manufacturing Focus	−20% Menial Drone Output +20% Complex Drone Output	The Complex Drones that manufacture finished goods are given priority by the Mind, becoming more productive at the expense of the Menial Drones.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence policy determines how much freedom an empire gives to artificial intelligence. This policy becomes available once the  Positronic AI or  Synthetics technology is obtained, or after contact with certain empires. This policy is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires as they either cannot use robots or must use them. AI decides this policy based on AI personality.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	Description
Outlawed	Robot Pops have their sapience removed Robot Pops are restricted to Worker and some Specialist jobs Robot Pops can be disassembled Android armies and Sapient AI Assistants are disassembled Cannot research Sapient Combat Computers (can still be used if already researched)	Technologist −30	Materialist  Synthetic Evolution special project	Intelligent, self-aware machines are an incalculable threat to all living things. The creation of an artificial intelligence is an offense punishable by death.
Servitude	Robot Pops cannot take Ruler Stratum Jobs Robot Pops do not require consumer goods Robot Pops can be dissassembled Robot Pops cannot join factions Not affected by workers and specialists bonuses (doesn't shown in ingame tooltip) The AI-Related Incidents situation can take place	Technologist +10  Traditionalist −10		The overriding purpose of any machine must be to serve its masters and perform whatever tasks it was designed for, regardless of how intelligent it may be.
Citizen Rights	Robot Pops cannot be disassembled Robot Pops require consumer goods (if sapient) Robot Pops can join factions (if sapient)	Technologist +10  Traditionalist −20	Spiritualist	Any self-aware machine that fulfills the criteria of possessing true artificial intelligence is to be regarded as an individual, with all the rights and obligations that entails.

Robotic Workers

Robotic Workers policy determines whether robots are allowed in an empire. This policy is not available to  Hive Mind empires, which disassemble all robot pops, or to  Machine Intelligence empires, which always integrate them as drones.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Outlawed	Robot pops cannot be assembled All robot pops are disassembled Robotic armies are disassembled Cannot research technologies related to robots	Technologist −30	Materialist Citizen Rights AI policy	Modifiers0 ×0  Any degree of Materialist ×10 AI personality does not like exploiting robot workers ×10 AI personality does not like liberating robots	Robotic automatons are a threat to not only our people's livelihoods but to the very fabric of society itself. We must not allow ourselves to be made obsolete.
Allowed	Robot Pops can be built and exist in the empire	Technologist +10  Traditionalist −5			The benefits of automation are obvious and immense. For the future of our people, we cannot afford to ignore the opportunities presented to us by technology.

Pre-Sapients

This policy determines whether an empire tolerates pre-sapients living on their worlds or not. This policy is unlocked when a world within the empire's borders has a pre-sapient pop on it.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Protected	Alien Zoo buildings can be constructed on worlds with pre-sapient species Pre-sapient pops cannot be purged Planets with pre-sapient pops cannot be terraformed		Genocidal	Modifiers0 ×2 AI personality likes aliens	Though still only simple animals, these beings are no less than what we ourselves once were. They should be allowed the chance at a future.
Tolerated	Pre-Sapient pops can be purged Planets with pre-sapient pops can be terraformed		Genocidal		Intelligent animals are still just animals. They can be safely ignored.
Hunted	Pre-sapient pops will be hunted for food, slowly depleting them Planets with pre-sapient pops can be terraformed	Xenoist −10	Utopia  Xenophile  Fanatic Purifiers  Machine Intelligence  Synthetic Evolution special project	Modifiers0 ×0 Not Hive Mind	An animal without sapience can hardly be considered to be part of our empire, but perhaps they can help our growth in other ways...
Extermination	Pre-sapient pops will be purged automatically Planets with pre-sapient pops can be terraformed	Xenoist −10	Xenophile	Modifiers0 ×0 One of the following is true:  Not any degree of Xenophobe  Not Machine Intelligence, unless  Rogue Servitor or  Driven Assimilator	All rights spring from the capacity for reason. An animal is just an animal, and an animal that stands in our way is just a pest.

Debris

Debris policy determines what will the empire do when investigating battle debris and is unlocked after another species has been met.

Type	Effects	Requirements	Description
Research Debris	Investigating debris grants 10% progress towards used component technologies	Scavengers civic	We will research our enemies' technologies from the remains of their ships.
Scavenge Debris	Investigating debris grants 10% of the ships' cost	Scavengers civic	We will scavenge resources from the remains of our enemies' ships.
Research & Salvage Debris	Investigating debris grants 10% progress towards used component technologies and 10% of the ships' cost	Scavengers civic	As Scavengers we will strip debris for both research and resources.

Refugees

Refugees policy determines the stance on accepting refugees that are fleeing from purges, displacement and persecution in other empires. This policy is unlocked after another species has been met. It is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires unless they have the  Rogue Servitor civic.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	AI weight	Description
No Refugees	Refugees may not arrive	Xenoist −10	Xenophile	Modifiers0 No base weight	To open our borders to the dregs of other societies would only serve to undermine the state.
Citizen Species Only	Refugees may arrive if their species has Full Citizenship rights	Xenoist −10	Gestalt Consciousness	Modifiers0 Base: 5	We cannot allow compassion to overpower good sense. Only those who would be worthwhile additions to society should be brought into our borders.
Refugees Welcome	Refugees may arrive if their species does not have Undesirables rights	Xenoist +10  Isolationist −10	Xenophobe	Modifiers0 Base: 10 ×0 None of the following are true:  Any degree of Xenophile  Rogue Servitor AI personality likes aliens	Those fleeing death and persecution at the hands of tyrants will be welcome within our borders.

Population Controls

Population Controls policy determines the stance on the Population Controls Species Right. The policy is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	AI weight	Description
Prohibited	Can use the Discourage Planetary Growth decision Cannot enable population control in species rights	Progressive +5		To reproduce and propagate their species is the inalienable right of all our citizens.
Allowed	Can use the Declare Population Controls decision Can enable population control in species rights	Progressive −20	Modifiers0 ×0 Any degree of Egalitarian or  Xenophile	Long-term demographics is too important a matter to be left solely in the hands of individual actors.

Slavery

Slavery policy determines whether an empire can give an alien species the Slave Citizenship.  Gestalt Consciousness empires cannot access this policy, but may give the Slave Citizenship without it (except  Rogue Servitors, who must subject them to Mandatory Pampering instead, and genocidal types, who purge them).

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Prohibited	Cannot use Slaves species rights +100% Slave market cost		Slaver Guilds  Indentured Assets		The enslavement of sentient beings is an abomination and will not be tolerated within our Empire.
Allowed	Can use Slaves species rights	Xenoist −25	Authoritarian or  Xenophobe  Broken Shackles Signatory	Modifiers0 ×0AI personality does not like slavery ×0All of the following are true:  Not any degree of Xenophobe  Not any degree of Militarist  Not Slaver Guilds  Main species is not Decadent  Any degree of Pacifist or  Xenophile	Allows the enslavement of pops within our Empire.

Purge

Purge policy determines an empire's position on the forced removal of species that are no longer wanted. This policy option only dictates which degree of purging is allowed; further details on which pops are to be purged and in what way can be managed with the species rights system. Pops that cannot integrate with the empire (e.g.  Hive-Minded pops outside a  Hive Mind) may be purged regardless of this policy setting.

Type	Effects	Faction approval	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Prohibited	Cannot use Undesirables species rights		Gestalt Consciousness  Fanatic Purifiers		The purge is an atrocity and should always be treated as such.
Displacement Only	Can use Undesirables species rights Can use Displacement purge type	Xenoist −25	Xenophile Genocidal	Modifiers0 ×0AI personality likes aliens	It is not our responsibility to see to the needs of those who would undermine the foundations of our society. Let them find their homes outside our borders.
Allowed	Can use Undesirables species rights Can use all purge types	Xenoist −25	One of the following:  Gestalt Consciousness  Xenophobe  Become the Crisis  Broken Shackles Signatory	Modifiers0 ×40  Gestalt Consciousness, unless  Empath ×0  Any degree of Pacifist ×0  Not Gestalt Consciousness and AI personality does not like purging ×0.1 Banned by  Rules of War resolution 2 or higher	The troublesome and corrupt elements within our Empire must be cleansed, lest their rot take root in us all.

Assembly Standards

Assembly Standards is only available to empires that have the Assembly Standards tradition and determines the traits of pops created by Mechanical Pop Assembly.

Type	Roboticist output	Description
Robotic Components	Mechanical pops	The benefits of a steady supply of robotic workers willing to do the work we ourselves are not suited to cannot be understated.
Cybernetic Components	Cybernetic pops	We enter a new future, a synthesis of organic and machine.

Knightly Duties

Knightly Duties policy is only available to empires with the  Knights of the Toxic God origin and grants various bonuses to the empire. The Herald Knights option is only available following certain choices during stage 5 of the Quest for the Toxic God situation. The policy will be removed if the Order is disbanded.

Type	Effects	Description
Questing Knights	+15% Survey Speed +15% Anomaly Discovery Chance	Our Knights will focus on the Quest and nothing else. We will seek out the Toxic God wherever it lies.
Knight Commanders	+10% Ship Fire Rate +20% Home Territory Fire Rate +10% Army Damage −0.2 Monthly Progress in the Quest for the Toxic God situation	Our Knights are required to serve on the battlefield. We cannot spare our best fighters any longer.
Courtly Knights	+5% Diplomatic Weight +1 Available Envoys	Our Knights will be sent as ambassadors to help in our diplomatic efforts.
Herald Knights	−15% Edict Cost and Upkeep −0.2 Monthly Progress in the Quest for the Toxic God situation	Throughout our domain, the Knights are sent to proclaim our edicts, and inspire our people.

Industrialism

Industrialism becomes available to empires with the Relentless Industrialists civic at the conclusion of the Environmental Degradation situation. It modifies the effects of Coordinated Fulfillment Center and Universal Productivity Alignment Facility buildings.

Type	Effects	Description
Full Steam Ahead	+50% Coordinated Fulfillment Center bonuses +50% Universal Productivity Alignment Facility bonuses	Our industries shall not suffer any constraints.
For Science!	Can terraform planets to Tomb Worlds If did not use this policy before, it unlocks the The Secret to a Safer Radiation special project Reduced penalties from Coordinated Fulfillment Center and Universal Productivity Alignment Facility after completing special project	There is much to learn from the process of irradiating a planet.
Cleanup	Planets with relentless industrialist buildings no longer turn into Tomb Worlds 10 Unity Upkeep from Coordinated Fulfillment Center buildings 20 Unity Upkeep from Universal Productivity Alignment Facility buildings	We shall take steps to mitigate our environmental footprint.

References

Game concepts