First Contact Story Pack
First Contact leans into a specific fantasy: what happens when a spacefaring empire meets a civilization that hasn’t discovered faster-than-light travel yet, and how does that first encounter shape your empire’s story.
What’s actually in it
The headline content is a set of origins built around first-contact scenarios — including Broken Shackles, where you start as a captive taken to the stars rather than the one doing the discovering. Cloaking technology adds a new tool for stealthier fleet movement, useful beyond just the story-pack scenarios.
Who should buy this
If the pre-FTL first-contact premise specifically interests you, it’s worth picking up — Broken Shackles in particular offers a genuinely different opening. If you’re mainly looking for systemic depth rather than story content, this is a lower priority than a core expansion, and it’s worth checking user reviews on the current build before paying full price.
What's Included
- Adds origins and mechanics focused on pre-FTL civilization contact (Broken Shackles, Payback, Fear of the Dark)
- Adds new pre-FTL interaction options for a broader range of first-contact scenarios
- Adds cloaking technology
Pros
- The specific origins (especially Broken Shackles) offer a genuinely different opening experience
- Cloaking technology is a welcome small addition to the base espionage/exploration toolkit
Cons
- Content volume is on the smaller side for the price, and the community reaction at launch was mixed on value
Is It Worth It?
A smaller, more focused story pack than the numbers might suggest — some players feel the content doesn't fully justify the price unless the first-contact fantasy specifically appeals to you. Worth trying on sale rather than at full price if you're on the fence.