For Fun: Naming the Hybrid Affinities

[DefiantMars]

But they never said the were full fledged affinities. They are supposed to reward the player for branching out so they don't avoid techs because its not their affinity or only grab a tech because it's their chosen affinity, not essentially be an entirely different scale of their own. That's why a lot of it is purely aesthetic, because it doesn't interfere with balance and it still has a lot of appeal to players. It's not a case of main affinities and these side affinities. It's main affinities and these offshoots of them.

Personally, I would love to see a mod that elevates them to the same status (maybe a little less in terms of number of units/buildings), but seeing how they were implemented, I just don't think that was actually what was intended by the developers.

Unfortunately, that thought process is in conflict with their statement that "hybrids are their own solutions, they're not merely the combination of two affinities". And from a gameplay stance it makes sense. But from a design point of view, there is a varying degree of follow-through on that claim.

Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled to have these alternate routes to play. I'm just running it through my own design review process, as an aspiring designer.

 

[Barathor]

I've always had that feeling in the back of my mind too, but I'm hoping Firaxis really pulled it off and it feels and looks great to play with.

The hybrids just contrast so much and are very unique in that they could easily become their own affinity. You can still keep the three "pure" ones and their points to collect (or rename the affinity points to something generic even), but you can end up with six different affinities. You still have the same gameplay benefit of deterring hard affinity beelines, but you also benefit by having six complete and uniquely flavored affinities.

For example, it's may feel odd to have cities of traditional, earth-toned buildings and sexy, menacing looking dark ones, along with the dark and sharply angled supremacy unique units or the earth-toned purity unique units and then have these bright white/cyan, rounded units alongside them.

Also, we already know carriers aren't affected by hybridization, so we may have these sharp, dark supremacy carriers and tacjets alongside are less aggressive looking white/cyan navy. It's just a bit off.

They're just so different. If their cities and improvements also became that same white/cyan theme, with the same rounded aesthetics, it would look amazing. The map could be filled with all kinds of uniquely themed empires contrasting each other.

Again, I'm not sure yet how things will work out while actually playing (especially late game) and what the flow of the game and its affinity evolution will feel like, but I'm hoping it feels and looks right.

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Also, I remember reading about how 6 unique affinities would be too much and make all factions hate each other over the diplomatic penalty for different affinities. It doesn't have to be like that either. The respect can still be based off of the three core affinities. So, you're still comparing A,B,C and its combinations, not A,B,C,D,E,F.

 

[Josephias]

Whether they're objective more ethical or not (nigh impossible to say), I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say they see themselves as more ethical, just as I'd imagine they'd see themselves as superior to baseline humanity in every way (I like to think Ascendancy running the Promised Land victory would be a lot more patronizing, a la thinking the earthlings are like little lost children who are helpless and must be guided).

Audacity (Harmony Supremacy), on the other hand, doesn't seem to care what everyone thinks of it. It makes machine man monstrosities, goes for the most aggressive names possible, and is the only one to play so heavily with stealth as a concepts (thus the only one with pseudo landmines, assassins, etc...) Probably why I still like Audacity - it has just enough of that sense of "We Dare" and still sounds like something they could conceivably call themselves.

I concur with this.

Also, I would like to bring back the idea that hybrid affinities seem to have also as well a part in common with the opposite affinity: they share a similar stance, but of course, with the opposite twist.

Therefore, the "ultimate being / designed god" is the dominion of Supremacy and Ascendancy (Purity-Harmony), but in opposite directions: "we replace what makes us weak" (Supremacy), vs. "we promote what makes us strong" (Ascendancy).

There is an "Adapt and Master" (both in the sense of "control" and "make the most of it", but more as a caretaker than an overlord) feeling both for Harmony and Mastery/Gentility. The difference being here in the focus: Planet's natural environment (Harmony) or Technical Creation (Mastery).

Then, both Purity and Audacity/Voracity seem to look for a simpler, straight goal: Survive (and Thrive), without all the compromises/risks of other affinities. But as with the previous the approach is opposite: "we strongly defend ourselves of the risks of going too far" (Purity), vs "we go as far as needed to be strong and defend ourselves of the risks" (Audacity).
<-- And to this, Audacity seems a neat label: those wo are not afraid to go as far as needed, not because an agenda imposes it, but because they think it is what they have to do.

 

[NukeAJS]

Dominate first --

Purity/Supremacy: Dominance (I actually like Mastery more but wanted to add something different)
Purity/Harmony: Guardians

Supremacy/Purity: Curators
Supremacy/Harmony: OMG ITS THE BORG! -- Transcendentalism

Harmony/Purity: Guidance
Harmony/Supremacy: Ascendance

 

[AshmanFTW]

I'm going with the easy route:

Supremacy + Harmony = Supramony
Harmony + Purity = Harmanity
Supremacy + Purity = Supremity. Or maybe Puremacy.

 

[Red Menace]

I'm going with the easy route:

Supremacy + Harmony = Supramony
Harmony + Purity = Harmanity
Supremacy + Purity = Supremity. Or maybe Puremacy.

Offline Report Post

How about Supurmaty?

 

[Alexander Boney]

Harmony/Supremacy
Borg Collective (organic+technological? win-win!)

Purity/Supremacy
Cardassian Union (they look close enough)

Purity/Harmony
Khan's Augments

 

[Westwall]

Purity-Harmony, while having the most so-so looking units of the three, is the single biggest reason I wanted to see hybrid cities.

Spoiler :

It would just be so otherworldly to come across a Purity-Harmony civilization, which would potentially look a lot like this:

Spoiler :

I mean can you even imagine coming across something like this as a Supremacy or Supremacy-Purity leader, seeing something so starkly different from your civilization?

It gives me chills.

It honestly sends a tingle up my spine and that's why I think they really made a mistake by not fleshing out the affinities more, and just stuck with those "half-and-half"-style cities.

 

[Barathor]

Nice find! Yeah, that definitely looks very Purity/Harmony.

 

[kipwheeler]

Purity-Harmony, while having the most so-so looking units of the three, is the single biggest reason I wanted to see hybrid cities.

I mean can you even imagine coming across something like this as a Supremacy or Supremacy-Purity leader, seeing something so starkly different from your civilization?

It gives me chills.

That would be pretty cool. I'd particularly love to see shining ivory towers for Supremacy/Purity to match the shiny white hybrid troops. iTowers for everyone in our cities!

 

[Galgus]

I still think that endgame Pure Purity cities should look like a city of wonders - full of columns, domes, and other elegant structures referencing the best of classic Earth architecture.

They would have the splendor of buildings people vacation to see like the Hagia Sofia and Saint Peter's Basilica with the function and capabilities of futuristic engineering.

Ideally the appearance would vary for each sponsor with varying inspiration from the past and a central building referencing a famous structure from that nation.

The cities would be works of art, with plenty of red banners celebrating Purity spread between them...possibly including some Marble and Gold coatings on buildings.

It's hard to find art that combines classical artistic flourish and landscaping with futuristic themes, but this works decently.

EDIT - Link seems to have failed. Alternate.
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Generally I think it would be better if city art evolved further as Affinity evolved, though hybrid affinities still need city art.

 

[Westwall]

That would be pretty cool. I'd particularly love to see shining ivory towers for Supremacy/Purity to match the shiny white hybrid troops. iTowers for everyone in our cities!

Well that's easy enough.

Spoiler :

 

[kipwheeler]

Well that's easy enough.

Spoiler :

 

[Westwall]

Yep... hybrid cities would've been amazing to see in the game.

Which is probably why they were left out.

I still think that endgame Pure Purity cities should look like a city of wonders - full of columns, domes, and other elegant structures referencing the best of classic Earth architecture.

The only problem I have with this is that it assumes all old fashioned architecture is Greco-Roman Antiquity/Classical.

 

[Galgus]

That is a good point, it would need to be more varied than that.

The general idea would be that the cities look like works of art, with heavily stylized architecture that tends to reference an old Earth tradition.

Ideally it could reference the specific history of the culture, but that may be excessive.
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In the center of the cities there could be a central building that references some important building from that sponsor's history.

It wouldn't need to look exactly like it, but it would be enough of a reference that players who knew of the original could clearly make the connection.

The other affinities could also develop a central building aesthetic at high affinity level, perhaps a giant organic, almost tree-like building for Harmony and a large, triangular nexus building for Supremacy.
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The African Union could have a pyramid-like megabuilding with windows showing and overlooking the city.

The Slavic Federation could have Saint Basil's Cathedral.

ARC's structure could reference the view of the reflecting pool between the Lincoln and Washington monuments.

Franco-Iberia could be either something resembling the Arc de Triomphe or the Sagrada Familia.

The Pan-Asian Cooperative could have the Forbidden City.

I'm less certain on the Kavithan Protectorate and Brasilia.

 

[Josephias]

I'm less certain on the Kavithan Protectorate and Brasilia.

Taj Mahal seems a close call for Kavithan (muslim+indian, here you have it).

Brasilia is a bit more difficult. Cristo Redentor is too cliché and probably unrepresentative. Colonial architecture might not be the best option either, and i don't think Brasilia's modern architecture is neither representative enough. Maybe something colonial, but colorful... but I can't recall a specific builiding now.


Nevertheless, while this idea is cool, i'm not sure it's worths as it only would work for purity... also, then you should then think on adjusting as well the looks of the battlesuit, the destroyer...

 

[kipwheeler]

That is a good point, it would need to be more varied than that.

The general idea would be that the cities look like works of art, with heavily stylized architecture that tends to reference an old Earth tradition.

Ideally it could reference the specific history of the culture, but that may be excessive.
[snip....]

I'm less certain on the Kavithan Protectorate and Brasilia.

I'd go with the Varanasi Ghats or the Mahabhodi Temple for Kavitha. Something by Oscar Niemeyer for Brasilia.

 

[Galgus]

I had to look them up, but they are beautiful buildings!

I think the Mahabodhi Temple fits the Kavithans best, somehow.
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The National Congress Building could work for Brazil.
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@Josephias

Yeah, I really doubt Firaxis would put that much effort into this, particularly without city aesthetics for hybrids.

If it were to be done, I think all but the central buildings would share a Purity neo-monumental aesthetic...I know next to nothing about architectural terms.

Of course for it to fit the other affinity cities would change appearance as well while as their devotion to their affinity rose, but without a sponsor-specific element.

 

[BevHeartMuncher]

The African Union could have a pyramid-like megabuilding with windows showing and overlooking the city.

The Slavic Federation could have Saint Basil's Cathedral.

ARC's structure could reference the view of the reflecting pool between the Lincoln and Washington monuments.

Franco-Iberia could be either something resembling the Arc de Triomphe or the Sagrada Familia.

The Pan-Asian Cooperative could have the Forbidden City.

I'm less certain on the Kavithan Protectorate and Brasilia.

Brasilia, since it's all of South America, could have Inca-style terraces and gold everywhere?
Since most of those other ideas herald way back to ancient civilisations.

 

[Galgus]

I like the idea, but I'm not sure exactly what it would look like.