Subject empire

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (3.4) of the game.

Diplomacy

Vassalization request towards a Machine Intelligence empire

A subject is an empire that has a special diplomatic relationship with another empire, called the overlord. In the default galaxy map mode, subjects have the same color as their overlord.

An empire can become a subject willingly via diplomacy, the acceptance dependent on a number of factors, particularly relative power. Having an overall superior or overwhelming relative power enables an empire to use the Subjugation casus belli to forcefully make another empire a subject.

Subjects receive a −50% penalty to their diplomatic weight. In addition, operation difficulty is reduced between subjects and their overlord.

If they have fleets available, subject fleets tend to follow the overlord's.

Loyalty[edit | edit source]

Subjects have a secondary opinion type towards their overlord called Loyalty that ranges from −100 to 100. Subjects with negative loyalty have the Disloyal attitude, which prevents any diplomatic agreements; subjects with positive loyalty have the Loyal attitude, which increases acceptance of diplomatic agreements. Loyalty can also be used as part of trade deals between the overlord and the subject.

Loyalty is gained or lost monthly based on subject's opinion and terms of agreements; ethic compatibility, relative power, and overlord holdings have a lesser impact as well. A Pledge of Loyalty can also be negotiated via trade, adding +1.5 monthly loyalty for the duration of the trade deal; if the subject's opinion of the overlord is at least 150, the Pledge of Loyalty adds +2.5 monthly loyalty instead.

If an overlord has multiple subjects, each subject gains −1 monthly loyalty for every other subject. This penalty can be removed by the Feudal Society civic, Franchising civic, or the Shared Destiny ascension perk.

Loyalty also grants experience to specialized subjects. In addition, certain resolutions increase or reduce monthly loyalty as well.

Terms of agreement[edit | edit source]

All subjects and overlords have an Agreement towards each other, which may include certain obligations for the subject or the overlord. Agreements may only be changed once every 5 years. Reforming the government to add the Feudal Society or Franchising civics will remove incompatible terms from all agreements. Many agreement terms are restricted by subject type, primarily Tributary, or by the Suzerains and Sovereignty resolutions.

Category	Terms	Effects		Immediate	Monthly	Cost	Requirements
Subject Integration	Integration Permitted	Overlord can use the Integrate Subject interaction		−50	−4	275	Ensured Sovereignty resolution not enacted Subject: Not Subsidiary or Tributary Not Bulwark Not Prospectorium Not Scholarium
Subject Integration	Integration Prohibited	Overlord cannot use the Integrate Subject interaction		+5	+0.5	0
Diplomatic Freedom	Limited Diplomacy	Subject cannot engage in diplomacy with other empires Subject cannot vote independently		−15	−1	100	A Voice for All resolution not enacted Overlord: Not Feudal Society Not Franchising Subject: Not Subsidiary or Tributary
	Restricted Voting	Subject can engage in diplomacy with other empires Subject cannot vote independently Subject joins any Federation the overlord joins (if the federation law allows) Subject joins the Galactic Community if the overlord is part of it		0	0	25	Subject: Unless either Personal Oversight or A Voice for All resolution is enacted: Not Tributary Not Genocidal
	Independent Diplomacy	Subject can engage in diplomacy with other empires Subject can vote independently		+5	+0.5	0	Personal Oversight resolution not enacted
Expansion	Expansion Prohibited	Subject cannot construct outposts		−15	−1	100	Overlord: Not Feudal Society Not Franchising Subject: Not Subsidiary or Tributary Not Bulwark Not Prospectorium Not Scholarium
	Expansion Regulated	Subject must pay the overlord an additional 50% of the influence cost when constructing outposts		−5	0	50	Subject: Not Tributary
	Expansion Permitted	Subject can construct outposts		+5	+0.5	0	Overlord: Not Imperial Fiefdom overlord Unless A Voice for All resolution is enacted
Overlord Conflicts	None	The subject joins none of the overlord's wars		0	0	0	Subject: Not Subsidiary Not Bulwark
	Defensive	The subject joins only the overlord's defensive wars		−10 if not Pacifist −20 if Pacifist	−1	50	Subject: Not Tributary
	Offensive	The subject joins only the overlord's offensive wars		−20 if not Pacifist −40 if Pacifist	−2	100	Subject: Not Tributary
	All	The subject joins all of the overlord's wars		−30 if not Pacifist −60 if Pacifist	−3	150	Subject: Not Tributary
Subject Conflicts	None	The overlord joins none of the subject's wars		0	0	75	Overlord: Not Feudal Society Subject: Not Subsidiary or Tributary Not Protectorate Not Scholarium
	Defensive	The overlord joins only the subject's defensive wars		+5	+0.5	50
	Offensive	The overlord joins only the subject's offensive wars		+10	+1	25	Subject: Not Tributary Not Protectorate Not Scholarium
	All	The overlord joins all of the subject's wars		+15	+1.5	0	Subject: Not Tributary
Holdings Limit	0	The overlord cannot construct any holdings on the subject's worlds		0	0	0
	1	The overlord can construct 1 holding across the subject's worlds		−5	−0.4	25	Subject: Not Tributary
	2	The overlord can construct 2 holdings across the subject's worlds		−15	−1	75	Overlord DLC Subject: Not Tributary
	3	The overlord can construct 3 holdings across the subject's worlds		−30	−2	150	Overlord DLC Personal Oversight resolution not enacted Subject: Not Tributary
	4	The overlord can construct 4 holdings across the subject's worlds		−50	−4	250	Overlord DLC Borderless Authority resolution not enacted Subject: Not Tributary
Sensors	Independent Sensors	Subject does not receive sensor data from the overlord		0	0	25	Borderless Authority resolution not enacted Overlord: Franchising
Sensors	Unified Sensors	Subject receives sensor data from the overlord		+5	+0.5	0	Subject: Not Tributary Unless Borderless Authority resolution is enacted
Contribution	Basic	Basic Resources	Each contribution is adjustable in 15% increments as a proportion of the subject's income. Each contribution term can be up to −75% as a subsidy (to subject) or +75% as a tax (to overlord). Any contribution other than 0% blocks regular diplomatic trading of those resources.	0 to −45	+3.7 to −3.7	0 to 225	Vassal limited to 45% maximum tax Subsidiary or Tributary must pay at least 30% tax
	Advanced	Advanced Resources		0 to −45	+3.7 to −3.7	0 to 225	Vassal limited to 45% maximum tax Subsidiary or Tributary cannot receive subsidy
	Research	Research		0 to −90	+3.7 to −3.7	0 to 225	Vassal limited to 45% maximum tax Subsidiary or Tributary cannot receive subsidy
	Strategic	Strategic Resources		0 to −135	+3.7 to −3.7	0 to 225	Vassal limited to 45% maximum tax Subsidiary or Tributary cannot receive subsidy

Subject types[edit | edit source]

There are four types of regular subjects and three types of specialized subjects. There are also six types of preset, non-negotiable subjects.

Negotiable subjects[edit | edit source]

Type	Subject Requirements	Description
Vassal	Corporate overlord Inward Perfection Within 60% technological difference	A vassal is a subject of another empire, often with little to no self-rule. Having signed a pact with a foreign power, they are often at the whims and mercy of their overlord, forced to bend to whatever rules and regulations their liege wishes. For some weakened empires, this is the final stopgap before they are consolidated properly into the fold, as they are signing away their autonomy bit by bit.
Protectorate	More than 50% technological difference Not converting to specialist subject	A protectorate is a subject that is considerably weaker than their overlord, reduced to the point where their vassalage is considered a boon to them. Protected from the dangers of the greater galaxy, they can stabilize and improve their homeland as their liege looks out for them.
Tributary	Corporate overlord Within 60% technological difference	A tributary is a fairly autonomous subject, still in charge of their own affairs both internally and politically. They pay a considerable amount of tribute for their overlord's protection, and as long as the money is flowing, they are mostly free to do whatever they want.
Subsidiary	Corporate overlord Within 60% technological difference	A subsidiary is a subject with a considerable amount of self-rule, free to attend to their own affairs. They have signed away some of their independence for a deal where both sides are expected to support and aid one another.

Specialized subjects[edit | edit source]

Specialized subjects cannot be integrated and have additional effects. They can gain experience to increase in tier and gain additional effects. To reach tier 2, they need 1200 experience, and to reach tier 3, they need 3600 experience. Experience is gained monthly at a value of a tenth of the subject's loyalty. Empires with the Imperial Fiefdom origin will start as specialized subjects. Protectorates cannot be made into a specialized subject; any other regular type of subject can be turned into a specialized subject through the agreement screen.

Overlord effects do not stack if there are multiple specialized subjects of the same type. The Relay Network effects require a Hyper Relay connection between the overlord and subject's capital systems and only apply to overlord systems connected to the same Hyper Relay network.

Type	Effects for subject	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
Bulwark Overlord gains: Starbase upgrade cost: −20% Starbase upgrade speed: +20% Crime from Relay Network: −10% Stability from Relay Network: +5 Can construct Vigil Command holdings	Starbase damage	+50%	+50%	+75%
	Starbase hull points	+50%	+50%	+75%
	Defense Platform damage	+50%	+75%	+100%
	Defense Platform hull points	+50%	+75%	+100%
	Defense Platform build cost	−25%	−50%	−75%
	Defense Platform upkeep	−25%	−50%	−75%
	Defense Platform cap	+2	+5	+8
	Shield hitpoints starbase aura	+100%	+100%	+100%
	Hostile ship daily hull regen starbase aura	—	—	−0.3% (−0.5% with Unyielding traditions completed)
	Monthly energy	−20%	−35%	−50%
	Monthly minerals	−20%	−35%	−50%
	Monthly food	−20%	−35%	−50%
	Admiral Starting level	—	+1	+1
	Admiral level cap	—	+2	+2
	Admirals gain Bulwark traits	—
	Admirals can be traded to the Overlord	—
	Technologies Unlocked	FTL Inhibition	—	—
	Technologies added as research options	Starhold Planetary Shields	Star Fortress Modular Engineering	Citadel
	Can build Battlewright construction ships	—	—

Prospectorium Overlord gains: Mining station build cost: −20% Mining station build speed: +20% Planetary build speed from Relay Network: +25% Building cost from Relay Network: −25% Can construct Offworld Foundry holdings	Mining station build cost	−10%	−25%	−50%
	Monthly energy	+10%	+20%	+30%
	Monthly minerals	+10%	+20%	+30%
	Monthly alloys	+10%	+20%	+30%
	Monthly strategic resources	+10%	+20%	+30%
	Monthly research	−30%	−40%	−50%
	20% Yearly chance to discover a resource cache	Only energy or minerals	Also alloys or strategic resources	Also rare strategic resources
	Governor starting level	—	+1	+1
	Governor level cap	—	+2	+2
	Governors gain Prospectorium traits	—
	Governors can be traded to the Overlord	—
	Technologies added as research options	—	Exotic Gas Extraction Mote Stabilization Rare Crystal Mining	Dark Matter Drawing Living Metal Zro Distillation
	Enables the Strip Mining decision	—	—

Scholarium Overlord gains: Monthly research: +10% Researcher output from Relay Network: +10% Can construct Ministry of Science holdings	Monthly research	+20%	+30%	+40%
	Research alternatives	+1	+1	+1
	Naval capacity	−30%	−40%	−50%
	Military ship build cost	+30%	+40%	+50%
	Military ship upkeep	+30%	+40%	+50%
	20% Yearly chance to discover a research cache	+1000 points of single type	+2000 points of single type	1 in 4 chance: adds random research option instead of With Discovery traditions completed: +3000 points of single type
	Scientist starting level	—	+1	+1
	Scientist level cap	—	+2	+2
	Scientists gain Scholarium traits	—
	Scientists can be traded to the Overlord	—
	Can build Arctrellis science ships	—	—

Non-negotiable subjects[edit | edit source]

Non-negotiable types of subjects cannot be proposed by regular empires and have preset terms of agreement. They do not allow subject integration or holdings.

Type	Proposing empire	Diplomatic Freedom	Expansion	Overlord Conflicts	Subject Conflicts	Resource Contribution
Dominion	Doctrinal Enforcers awakened empire	Independent Diplomacy	Expansion Permitted	None	None	Basic 30%
Satellite	Watchful Regulators awakened empire	Independent Diplomacy	Expansion Permitted	None	None	Research 30%
Signatory	Benevolent Interventionists awakened empire	Limited Diplomacy	Expansion Permitted	None	Defensive	None
Thrall	Jingoistic Reclaimers awakened empire	Independent Diplomacy	Expansion Prohibited	None	None	Basic 30%
Satrapy	The Horde	Independent Diplomacy	Expansion Permitted	All	None	Basic 30%
Scion	Scion origin	Independent Diplomacy	Expansion Permitted	All	None	None

Integration[edit | edit source]

Subjects that have Integration Permitted in the terms of agreement can be integrated into the overlord empire after 10 years via a diplomatic action, transferring control of all systems and ships to the overlord. All leaders, resources, and armies are removed, and new scientists will be required for the new science ships. Only one subject can be integrated at a time. Integration costs 5 influence per month and has a base cost with the following formula: ${\text{Base cost}}=50+{\text{number of pops}}+(10\,\cdot \,{\text{number of planets}})\$

If the player empire is integrated, the game is automatically lost.

Holdings[edit | edit source]

Main article: Holdings

Overlord holdings are special buildings which can be constructed on subject's worlds. The max number of holdings across all of a subject's worlds depends on the Holdings Limit agreement term as well as the Bureaucratic Surveillance resolutions.