[DEVBLOG#59] New types of insectoids (Patreon)

Hello everyone, in today's development blog we will showcase new types of insectoids you will encounter as part of our Vanilla Factions Expanded - Insectoids mod.

I would like to start off by debunking a rumour circulating reddit and steam workshop alike. Vanilla Factions Expanded - Insectoids won't add a playable insectoid race. According to the RimWorld lore, which is our main source of inspiration, insectoids are hive-minded creatures. They don't have free will. Whilst other Vanilla Factions Expanded allow you to play as specific factions (Medieval kingdom and Settlers bandits), Vanilla Factions Expanded - Insectoid will allow you to play as a new player faction type called Unit. The starting scenario is as follows:

Overrun

Summary: A squad of imperial janissaries, overrun by the wrath of the hive.

Description: The five of you heard the motion sensors tripped all around your base perimeter. With only enough time to suit up, you await the inevitable - the hive knows about your location. You can try and hold off the incoming swarm, or escape to safety, abandoning your outpost.

Start with five people, chosen from eight

They will be 'New Unit”'

Arrive Standing

Spacer faction, with a large amount of technologies already unlocked.

Start in a small outpost map (same map generation as when you go fight the enemy outpost).

Start with five weapons

3 charge rifles

1 charge lance

1 plasteel longsword

Pawns start equipped with power armor and random augmentations.

Start with basic supplies

200 silver

20 packaged survival meals

15 components

10 medicine

2 glitterworld medicine

Start near basic building materials

200 steel

200 wood

12 insectoid hives and 6 large insectoid hives scattered around the map.

An insectoid raid arrives after 12 ingame hours.

As you can see, we are not allowing you to play as the hive itself. Such an overhaul is way out of the scope of the mod, and adding new pawn race that you can play as would force us to use Humanoid Alien Framework - which is something we are hesitant about.

Now, the reason you came here. What are the new types of insectoids you can meet on the battlefield?

 Queen - “A giant, genetically-engineered insectoid responsible for creating new spawn. A mother to the insects in her hive, a queen doesn’t do heavy work, and tries to avoid combat if possible. As massive as an adult thrumbo, the queen instills fear in most opponents. Her thick chitinous armor makes her hard to kill, whilst long, deadly blades can tear through plasteel shielding within seconds. Despite being quite slow in open terrain, an insectoid queen is capable of creating new larvae at a rapid pace, and should never be allowed to settle down.” 

 Larva - “A juvenile form of an insectoid, larvae are harmless, slow and easy to kill. After some time has passed, it undergoes a metamorphosis into an adult insectoid. There is no way to tell what kind of insect will crawl out of its cocoon.” 

 Megapede - “A giant, heavy insectoid that glides on dozens of tiny legs. Its thick chitin armor and sharp mandibles the size of an elephant’s tusk make it an excellent siege machine. Due to being extremely slow, they are somewhat vulnerable to hit-and-run tactics.” 

 Gigalocust - “A gigalocust is a genetically-engineered hunter drone the size of an elephant. It can fly over long distances, dropping down on unsuspecting targets, ripping them to shreds with it’s several sets of ripper-blades and sharp mandibles. Serving as special servants of the insectoid queen, these monstrosities are deadly, fast and nigh indestructible.” 

 Royal Megaspider - “Not actually a spider, the royal megaspider is a rhino-sized natural spawn of the insectoid queen herself, serving not only as her bodyguard but also a primary mate. Designed not for work, but for combat only, its thick chitinous armor makes it hard to kill, while its long deadly ripper-blades allow it to slay intruders in the name of his queen.” 

That's it for today's devblog. Await further information in the upcoming logs!