Mastery of Life: Where Paths Meet

Base Mod (v1.5.0)

MoL is a mod that focuses on the Ascension Paths, allowing some empires to follow paths they formerly couldn’t, for multiple paths to be followed at once to some degree, and additional features for empires that go for multi-ascension. While previously it has had two versions, one with everything I happened to work on thrown in and another with just the core features, I am merging the two and instead implementing a submod system that will allow you to choose which non-core features to add. Additionally, I am splitting off Creation and Emanations, which is what I have been working on for the previous few months, thus the mod reverting to its original name. C&E will be focused on a new primordial species archetype, with a playable beta being released by month’s end.

Ascension

• The Biological, Psionic, and Synthetic Ascension Paths can be combined freely and still allow the completion of one path, or both Biological and Psionic Ascension can be achieved by forgoing Synthetic Ascension entirely
• An empire that has all three first tier perks and completes one Ascension Path unlocks the Diverse Sentience Ascension Perk, granting additional organic and robotic species trait points and substantial economic bonuses
• An empire that achieves both Biological and Psionic Ascension unlocks the Mastery of Life Ascension Perk, granting additional organic species trait points, an additional civic choice, and other governing bonuses
• Restrictions preventing empires with the Hive Mind Authority from achieving Psionic Ascension have been removed, they remain for Synthetic Ascension at this time

Species Modification

• Max trait picks are raised for all species archetypes: 8 for Biological, Lithoid, and Machine species and 6 for Robotic Species
• Researching Advanced Epigenetics (requires Epigenetic Triggers) enables pre-sapient life to be uplifted without colonization, and primitive life to be enlightened by era
• Researching Biogenetic Synthesis (requires Genetic Resequencing) enables the creation of new species on uncolonized but habitable planets
• Psionic Empires with the pre-requisite technology can trigger primitive civilizations to undergo transcendence themselves

Gaiaterra Worlds

• Researching Biogenetic Synthesis and selecting the Mastery of Life, Mastery of Nature, and World Shaper Ascension Perks allows for a Gaia World to be artifically refined via decision
• After this expensive and lengthy process is completed, the planet in question will be converted into a Gaiaterra World, a powerful combination of the Gaia and Ecumenopolis planet classes
• Gaiaterra Worlds have their own district set that allows for substantial economic development, with raw material production and manufacturing customizable by decision

Ever Higher: Increases the maximum number of Ascension Perks
Wonders in the Void: Tweaks to Dyson Spheres and Matter Decompressors, adds the Penrose Sphere Megastructure
Support Ships and Strike Fleets: Adds new ship sections for cruisers, battleships, and titans

Game/DLC Requirements

• Stellaris must be updated to v2.7.*
• The Utopia DLC is a hard requirement
• The Species Packs are only required to enable the creation of those species classes

Other Mods

• Mastery of Life overwrites Species Archetypes and the vanilla Ascension Paths
• The submod system for non-core features is meant to increase compatibility, but consider checking each submod if there is an issue

This mod was inspired by the following mods:

• Better Diverse Ascension
• Species Engineering
• Societal Advancement