[First Look] Teachers of the Shroud Origin (2024)

This week we explore the mysterious Teachers of the Shroud Origin with Nivarias!

Lift the veil that covers the Shroud, and entangle yourself in the strange processes of the Shroud Beacon. Interstellar exploration will now be quicker and infinitely more mysterious for those who choose to take a shortcut through the Shroud.

Wishlist Overlord now!

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Pancakelord said:

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See Also

Stellaris: Psionic Ascension GuideStellaris: How to Form a Shroud CovenantNew Shroud Patron Random Events OverviewStellaris: Utopia - The Shroud, Explained

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As always previews may have placeholder text.

A psionics origin. Finally. This expansion was basically pre-order immediately for me the second a shroud origin was even mentioned.

Considering the unique robed portrait the Shroudwalkers get, the Masked #7 Necroid portrait feels perfect for this origin. We're apprentices so it's natural that we would mimic our teachers.

Cry_Havok said:

Will have to learn to Speedrun ditching the spiritualist ethic, because this sounds fun but Spiritualist is the absolute worst ethic in the game

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It's pretty good when combined with psionic ascension though?

Lorenerd11 said:

It's pretty good when combined with psionic ascension though?

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Eh, not really, psionic is already pretty weak, and having to choose between the best pops in the game (synths) and an angry faction and robot uprising is just the worst. Spiritualist is impossible to keep happy with their nonsense demands

Free T1 psionics perk? Oof. Sounds like guaranteed full psi-ascension in 2220-2230 without any RNG and cheeses like zroni precursor or living sea event.

I'm awaiting the moment when Custodians will re-imagine all existing origins, because, for example, Mechanists in this case must have free cyborgs if spiritualists have option to skip annoying psi-theory fishing with origin.

Nerisande said:

Free T1 psionics perk? Oof. Sounds like guaranteed full psi-ascension in 2220-2230 without any RNG and cheeses like zroni precursor or living sea event.

I'm awaiting the moment when Custodians will re-imagine all existing origins, because, for example, Mechanists in this case must have free cyborgs if spiritualists have option to skip annoying psi-theory fishing with origin.

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I've seen an argument that Mechanists should start with not just robots but also the robo-modding tech, and -10% to robot upkeep instead of a measly -5%.

Cry_Havok said:

Eh, not really, psionic is already pretty weak, and having to choose between the best pops in the game (synths) and an angry faction and robot uprising is just the worst. Spiritualist is impossible to keep happy with their nonsense demands

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Psionics is weak, but you can get it much earlier than other ascensions. This makes it not so bad at all, especially when you have some luck with psi-theory.

Cry_Havok said:

Eh, not really, psionic is already pretty weak, and having to choose between the best pops in the game (synths) and an angry faction and robot uprising is just the worst. Spiritualist is impossible to keep happy with their nonsense demands

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Psionic is okay. You can get it early and without any additional cost in form of tech for modification. Given the bonus trait for you governor and the Psi corp you get +10 stability and with the telepaths another 10% resource ouput, that are 16% resources output for a basically nothing. Given that you can get it ridiculously early and you don't need a second tech for the second asencion perk, it is a decent pick. Also being Spiritualist you probably rush through the first 3-4 tradition meaning you get it on the side.

Certainly it has some nasty RNG attached and I'm far from the best player out there, I think it is pretty strong for a speedrun. Also the faction is pretty easy to keep happy, even with robots, just don't allow AI and don't settle any tomb world.

Damn, this has significant warmonger potential.

Psionic was already already a good military rush strategy when you timed it with Carrier Cruisers for a power explosion, while using alloys for fleets that pay off faster than robots. This is even better- not only guaranteeing psionic as a second rather than third ascension for corvette/destroyer breakouts, but exceptional early-game tech bonuses and a strong output modifier. Intelligent-psionics are very comparable to synths, only this will come much, much, much earlier.

Lithoids in particular are really going to be able to capitalize on this. The shroud beacon requiring crystals is a bit of a block to tech, but crystal-lithoids can get this super-earlly through market purchases. This could amount to an early wormhole, giving you more expansion flexibility regardless of galactic RNG, and more targets for expansion. Given that rare crystal lithoids are already good for making the most of the already strong critter techs- crystal plating, tiyanki energy syphons, and mining drones- via edict or plating instead of alloys, and lithoids are good for getting started colonizing anywhere and everywhere for early game advantages...

I expect some interesting spiritualist and xenophobe/authoritarian/militarist conquest build synergies.

Cry_Havok said:

Eh, not really, psionic is already pretty weak, and having to choose between the best pops in the game (synths) and an angry faction and robot uprising is just the worst. Spiritualist is impossible to keep happy with their nonsense demands

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If you have to choose between them, you already lost the snowball. Mechanically, Psionics is an early military rush strategy- it doesn't want robots because it can get more pops faster using the alloys for ships, and snowball before the synths can even be made.

Synth is much more a pop/econ blooming strategy, but unless you're playing in a meta that blocks early aggression or has crisis strength modifiers, it's ability to get bigger numbers doesn't really change the likely results.

So, if I got this correctly, this origin gives you :
1. The Latent Psionic trait for at least some of your pops.
2. The Mind over Matter perk from day 1 (which also means the Psionic Theory tech).
3. Contact with the Psionic Enclave from day 1.
4. The option to create one of those new Shroud beacons to link your Empire to the psionic Enclave very early, which would allow you to secure it AND to expand around them (unless they own their system like the Caravaneers).

Overall, it feels like a psionic and/or better Galactic Doorstep. And I would love to try it. The Angel Lithoid portrait with the Scintillating Skin trait would be perfect for this origin.

And the question: if you start with ascension perk, does this mean that you also will have one finished tradition tree?

So the thoughts about how it can work:

1. Origin just gives +1 AP, that is absolutely free. This is the strongest option. Constant advantage in one AP sounds like something cool.
2. You start with one tradition tree. Of course, it will be Harmony because Spiritualism. Maybe it will depend on your civics/government/ethics, but I don't think so. Not so strong, especially if the free tradition tree will be Harmony (because Harmony is meh, let's be honest), but it is still 10-15 year advantage in traditions.
3. You will not get your AP after finishing first tradition tree. The weakest, the most boring and the most balanced option, that cuts off any hidden advantages.