Policies

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (3.2) 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.

Diplomatic stance

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

Stance	Effects	Supporting faction	Opposing faction	Requirements	AI weight	Description
Cooperative	+25% Diplomatic weight +50% Envoy improve relations −50% Border friction 0.25 Influence cost to send Envoys to Harm Relations	Progressive Technologist Xenoist	Imperialist Supremacist	Inwards Perfection Genocidal	Modifiers ×3 if Federation Builders AI Personality ×2 if  Fanatic Xenophile ×1.5 if  Xenophile ×1.3 if  Fanatic Egalitarian ×1.3 if  Fanatic Pacifist ×1.15 if  Egalitarian ×1.15 if  Pacifist ×1.1 if  Fanatic Materialist ×1.05 if  Materialist ×0.75 if  Authoritarian ×0.5 if  Fanatic Authoritarian ×0.1 if  Xenophobe ×0.01 if  Become the Crisis ×0 if  Fanatic Xenophobe ×0 if it 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			Genocidal	Modifiers ×2 if it hasn't encountered another empire ×0.01 if  Become the Crisis	This empire seeks to grow peacefully, but has no specific diplomatic focus.
Isolationist	+15% Administrative Capacity +10% Monthly unity +25% Governing Ethics Attraction -50% Diplomatic weight +100% Diplomatic Influence Cost +200% Border Friction 0.25 Influence cost to send Envoys to Improve or Harm Relations	Isolationist		Corporate  Merchant Guilds  Corporate Dominion Genocidal	Modifiers ×100 if  Inwards Perfection ×2 if  Xenophobe ×0.25 if it hasn't encountered another empire ×0.01 if  Become the Crisis	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 send Envoys to Improve Relations	Imperialist Supremacist	Prosperity	Inwards Perfection Genocidal	Modifiers ×5 if uses slaves ×3 if  Hive Mind or  Driven Assimilator and can't expand ×2 if  Fanatic Militarist ×1.5 if  Militarist ×1.5 if  Fanatic Authoritarian ×1.5 if  Nationalistic Zeal ×1.5 if  Warrior Culture ×1.5 if  Private Military Companies ×1.5 if  Strength of Legions ×1.5 if  Warbots ×1.25 if  Authoritarian ×0.5 if  Pacifist ×0 if  Fanatic Pacifist unless a neighbor rivaled them ×0 if it 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 send Envoys to Improve Relations -100 Opinion to and from all empires with the same Policy No Relations requirement for Rivalry both for and against the empire	Imperialist Supremacist	Prosperity	Finished the Supremacy tradition tree  Inwards Perfection Genocidal Subject Humiliated	Modifiers ×10 if Awakened Empire ×10 if The Horde ×3 if  Warrior Culture ×3 if  Private Military Companies ×3 if  Strength of Legions ×3 if  Warbots ×2 if  Nationalistic Zeal ×2 if  Fanatic Militarist ×1.5 if  Militarist ×1.5 if  Fanatic Authoritarian ×1.25 if  Authoritarian ×1.25 if uses slaves ×0.25 if another empire has Superior Relative Power ×0 if another empire with the same stance has Overwhelming Relative Power ×0 if  Pacifist ×0 if it 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 keep borders closed against non-Rivals	Prosperity		One must be true:  Corporate  Merchant Guilds  Corporate Dominion  Inwards Perfection Genocidal	Modifiers ×3 if  Corporate ×1.25 if  Free Traders ×0.65 if  Private Military Companies ×0.65 if  Private Prospectors ×0.01 if  Become the Crisis	This empire desires the facilitation of trade above all else.
Purification				Fanatic Purifiers civic	Always	This empire believes that enemies exist solely to be destroyed, and that they are the ones chosen to do so.
Hunger				Devouring Swarm civic	Always	This empire hungers and consumes.
Extermination				Determined Exterminator civic	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.

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	Requirements	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	Xenophobe Genocidal	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	Genocidal	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 first contact hostile actions	Pacifist Xenophile	Unknown dangers may hide among the stars. To ensure our continued survival we must be ready to strike without hesitation.

War Philosophy

Main article: Warfare

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	Supporting Factions	Opposing Factions	Requirements	Description
Unrestricted Wars	No restriction on system claims	Imperialist	Isolationist Prosperity	Pacifist	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 on rivals is replaced with the Ideology Casus Belli	Imperialist Isolationist	Prosperity	Fanatic Pacifist  Gestalt Consciousness  Fanatic Purifiers	We must further our own interests, even when they run contrary to the interests of others.
Defensive Wars	Cannot declare wars except for independent wars against the overlord Claims can only be made during defensive wars	Isolationist Prosperity	Imperialist	Fanatic Militarist Genocidal	Violence is a last resort to ensure the integrity of our nation.

War Doctrine

The War Doctrine policy becomes available after finishing the Supremacy Tradition tree and determines the overall strategic military doctrine for fleets.

Type	Effects	Requirements	Description
Defense in Depth	+10% Home Territory Fire Rate		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	+33% Combat Disengagement Chance -25% Emergency FTL Damage Risk		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		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	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

This policy limits the maximum available stance of planetary bombing when orbiting enemy worlds.

Type	Effects	Requirements	Description
Selective	Orbital bombardment capped at "Selective" Moderate damage to Armies and Planets Light damage to Pops Will not kill the last 21 pops Will not bombard undefended planets		Allows only the bombardment of identified military targets, while keeping civilian casualties to a minimum.
Indiscriminate	Orbital bombardment capped at "Indiscriminate" Heavy damage to Armies and Planets Moderate damage to Pops Will not kill the last 11 pops Will bombard undefended planets	Pacifist	Allows the full use of all orbital weaponry, with no regards to life on the surface
Armageddon	Orbital bombardment capped at "Armageddon" Massive damage to Armies and Planets Massive damage to Pops Will bombard undefended planets Can reduce planets to lifeless Tomb Worlds	One must be true:  Fanatic Purifiers  Determined Exterminator	Allows the full use of all orbital weaponry, with no regards to life on the planet itself. Utter annihilation is the goal.

Native Interference

Native Interference determines an empires' policy on how to interact with pre-FTL civilizations. This policy becomes available once a primitive civilization has been found.

Type	Effects	Supporting Faction	Opposing Faction	Requirements	Description
Passive Studies	Observation stations are limited to Passive Study Cannot use colossus weapons on primitive worlds	Xenoist	Supremacist	Fanatic Xenophobe Genocidal	Primitive societies have the right to exist and evolve at their own pace, free from the control and designs of others.
Active Studies	Observation stations can perform every type of study		Supremacist Xenoist	Is a Signatory Genocidal	To unlock the secrets of the universe, any and all interesting subjects must be made freely available for study.
Unrestricted Studies	Can invade primitive worlds	Supremacist	Xenoist	Is a Signatory Pacifist	Even the most primitive lifeform is but another actor on the stage of galactic conflict. Should they lack the strength to resist, what right do they have to be masters of their own fate?

Native Enlightenment

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

Type	Effects	Requirements	Description
Prohibited	Can not enlighten primitive worlds		No native would be ready to grasp the wonders we have discovered, and exposing them to the truths of the galaxy would carry enormous risks for everyone involved.
Allowed	Can enlighten primitive worlds	Fanatic Xenophobe Genocidal	Through sharing our knowledge we can actively encourage natives 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 if  Gestalt Consciousness who always have it enabled.

Type	Effects	Supporting Faction	Opposing Faction	Description
Prohibited	Pops can't be forcefully resettled	Progressive		Free pops cannot be forcibly resettled between planets.
Allowed	Pops can be forcefully resettled		Progressive	Pops can be forcibly resettled between planets.

Land Appropriation

Land Appropriation determines if newly acquired 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.

Type	Effects	Description
Prohibited	Conquered planets will have their population preserved as-is	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	The land that the lesser species are not properly utilizing can be put to greater use by their betters.

Leader Enhancement

Leader Enhancement determines if technology can be used to improve leader's abilities. This policy becomes available once Selected Lineages is researched and the effect affects already living leaders. In 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 the Galactic Law.

Type	Effects	Supporting Faction	Requirements	Description
Natural Selection	Leaders gain no additional bonuses	Progressive		Let nature take its course - it is in the crucible of experience that genius is forged.
Selected Lineages	+1 Leader Level Cap +10 Leader lifespan +50% Leader Cost	Totalitarian	Selected Lineages technology  Fanatic Egalitarian	Careful reproductive planning should be incentivized, lest we waste valuable genetic legacies.
Capacity Boosters	+2 Leader Level Cap +20 Leader lifespan +100% Leader Cost	Totalitarian	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 if borders start open or closed to other empires.

Type	Effects	Description
Open	Borders will be open to other empires by default	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	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

The economic policy determines whether civilian or military resource production should receive more focus. The policy is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires.

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

This 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 to empires. The Trade League Policy is available for empire in Trade League federation and replaces Consumer Benefits and Marketplace of Ideas options.

Type	Exchange Rate	Condition	Description
Wealth Creation	Energy credits 1		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	Energy credits 0.5  Consumer goods 0.25	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	Energy credits 0.5  Unity 0.25	Adaptive Economic Policies tradition  Trade League Federation	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	Energy credits 0.5  Consumer goods 0.25  Unity 0.25	Trade League Federation	By banding together in a trade league, we are able to prosper and secure profits on a whole new level

Production Policy

This policy determines what drone Stratum will a  Gestalt Consciousness empire focus on.

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

This policy determines how much freedom an empire gives to artificial intelligence. This policy becomes available once the  Positronic AI or  Synthetics Tech is obtained, or after contact with certain empires. In  Synthetic Dawn synthetics in servitude may start an AI rebellion.

Type	Effects	Supporting Faction	Requirements	Description & Notes
Outlawed	Robot Pops have their sapience removed and can only take Worker Stratum Jobs Robot Pops can be disassembled Android armies and Sapient AI Assistants are disassembled Cannot research Sapient Combat Computers (they can still be used if already researched) If robots show signs of rebelliousness removing their sapience will start an AI rebellion	Traditionalist	Materialist	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	Technologist		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) Robot Pops will never rebel	Technologist	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

This policy determines whether robots are allowed in an empire. This policy is not available to  Hive Mind empires, which disassemble all robot Pops.

Type	Effects	Requirements	Description & Notes
Outlawed	Robots Pops cannot be built All robot Pops are disassembled Robotic armies are disassembled Cannot research technologies related to robots	Materialist Citizen Rights AI policy	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		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 planets or not. This policy is unlocked when a planet within the empire's borders has a Pre-Sapient pop on it.

Type	Effects	Supporting Faction	Requirements	Description & Notes
Protected	Pre-Sapient Pops cannot be purged Planets with Pre-Sapient Pops cannot be terraformed	Xenoist	Genocidal	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	Xenoist	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		Xenophile  Fanatic Purifiers  Machine Intelligence	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		Xenophile	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.

Refugees

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

Type	Effects	Supporting Faction	Requirements	Description & Notes
No Refugees	Refugees may not arrive	Isolationist	Xenophile	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	Isolationist		We cannot allow compassion to overpower good sense. Only those who would be worthwile additions to society should be brought into our borders.
Refugees Welcome	Refugees may arrive if their species does not have Undesirables rights	Xenoist	Xenophobe	Those fleeing death and persecution at the hands of tyrants will be welcome within our borders.

Population Controls

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

Type	Effects	Supporting Faction	Description & Notes
Prohibited	Can use the Discourage Planetary Growth decision Cannot enable Population Control in the species rights	Progressive	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 the species rights		Long-term demographics is too important a matter to be left solely in the hands of individual actors.

Slavery

This 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.

Type	Effects	Supporting Faction	Requirements	Description & Notes
Prohibited	Cannot use Slaves species rights +100% Slave Market Cost	Xenoist		The enslavement of sentient beings is an abomination and will not be tolerated within our Empire.
Allowed	Can use Slaves species rights		One must be true: Authoritarian Xenophobe Is a Signatory	Allows the enslavement of pops within our Empire.

Purge

This 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.

Type	Effects	Supporting Faction	Requirements	Description & Notes
Prohibited	Cannot use Undesirables species rights	Xenoist		The purge is an atrocity and should always be treated as such.
Displacement Only	Can use Undesirables species rights Can use Displacement purge type		Xenophile Is a Signatory	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		Xenophobe Is a Signatory	The troublesome and corrupt elements within our Empire must be cleansed, lest their rot take root in us all.

References

Game concepts