Alien Race Pitches

But we're doing this just for fun, right? Anyway, I'll play along.

An energy-based race evolved amidst the storms and swirling clouds of a gas giant. Due to the limitations of their environment, and the nature of their physiology; their culture, technology, and language are strictly entwined with the only thing they can conceivably work with: Their own somewhat ephemeral bodies. As a result, as opposed to human languages, theirs knows no distinction between signifier and signified. Any "word" must at once be a little demonstration of the concept it stands for. Thus, "talking" to one is a very rich visual experience, almost like watching a weird cartoon. Their ships are literally small groups of cooperating individuals, each playing the role of a specific part of the vessel.

"You're a shitty engine."

"SHUT UP, GUN!"

It's not necessarily for fun, they might actually use ideas from us. That's kind of the point of a Founder's Program, right?

P.S. That is a beautiful concept.

I just had the impression they are past brainstorming aliens, and probably have a rough alien roster by now.

Wow. Thanks!

You meet a race of aliens that claim to be the founders. They are an ancient race that had spent eons analyzing a parallel universe. They have come to idolize this universe, and the race's leaders are attempting to recreate it. But... They have to change elements of this universe, or else the denizens of this parallel universe will come to our universe and destroy everything.

The founders are currently engaged in a doctrinal conflict.  Members of the race have a diverse view on what elements of this parallel universe were superior. They constantly debate the merits of said elements, with some emphasizing combat and others pushing for further exploration. . After months of conflict, the believers in the losing doctrine will rage against the victors, destroying everything in their path with ruthless propaganda and slander. 

 Little do they know.... There are other races out there that will judge their work without a thought about the beloved parallel universe...

(EDIT: Improved, thanks to prodigalmaster.

And to be honest, I hope these founders make it into SCR as an actual race. It would destroy the 4th wall in amusing fashion. Bonus points if Stardock uses forum names for starship pilots.)

Lets just have a doctrinal conflict. Afterwards, the losing side will fly against the hype, destroying everything in their path. The winners will fly with the hype, and once we meet again we'll have another war over the precursor games.

The funniest aliens would be aliens based on the characteristics and personalities of actual people.

Imagine an alien race like "Trump". That would be hilarious. It would be like the Druuge and Melnorme combined, with a sprinkle of angry Pkunk, and shaken not stirred please, and then put into an Umgah body. And don't forget to add the funny hairdos.

Then you have Hillary, already considered to be an Android by most people.... get that essence and create a new robotic race called the Hmllmry. That are masters of diplomacy in-spite of the fact that they don't sweat and have no emotions. An alien with a straight face no matter what happens or is said. Whether it is a threat or praise or declaration of love it is the same expression and tone of voice. No wonder they are masters of diplomacy! You never know if they are joking or not.

I have several ideas:

Magmox - stone/magma race with ships that trail lava. When the lava cools, it provides an asteroid-equivalent barrier on the map.

Capacitor Aliens (no name yet) - Pure electricity. Grounded by different apparatus on their ship's bridge. Their ships store the first hit every x seconds as battery power, acting as both a shield, and a recharge.

Mining Aliens (Again, no name) - Mining vessel is ramshakle in appearance, but it's secondary ability is to capture asteroids nearby and then again to launch them at foes, or to use them like a fully powered Melnorme shot as a shield.

Magnetite Aliens (I'm terrible at names!) - Ship is a metallic cube, with smaller random cubes attached, just like naturally growing magnetite in nature. This ship tumbles seemingly at random on the combat map, which would look pretty cool in and of itself. When shot at, lost crew are actually fragmented off a magnetite chips that cling very close to the ship. If the chips are hit again by anything, they die a final death, but if the magnatite ship activates its secondary ability, if re-absorbs chips, regaining lost crew.  Basically, dead crew form a temporary small field of interference, and can be reacquired at a substantial cost to battery.

Best look!!!

Simplest form of the idea...

Best combination of the two!

Ethereal Race (as in "insubstantial", not Ethereal as a proper noun.) - No ship idea, but their worlds on the Hyperspace map would be very hard to locate until you were right on top of them.  Drop in-game hints to location, and then when you travel through such-and-such void in the map, BAM! Suddenly you're on top of 3-4 star systems that you didn't realize were there because the whole race is ethereal.

That's all for now. 

(Edit added pictures)

A race of aliens who look basically like "Aliens" from Ridley Scott movie (i.e. evil, mean, claws, fangs, acid and etc. - something along this line) but who turn out to be one one of the friendliest species you encounter who at the same time try to tame their neighbors who look just like some plush toy that you want to hug, or  something like that (really neat, friendly (at first sight) and etc.) who turn out to be the dirties evil bastards there are. 

A race of aliens that can posses (not necessarily bad ones btw.) other aliens , i.e. they can be encountered anywhere in SC world - i.e. there will be a slightly modified background for such encounters and a different music, but basically any (or almost any species) can be possessed by these guys. ~Assuming control~ type of thing . And when you get a special device to see them - they look like genies pulling the strings attached to their "puppets"

A race of aliens with four brains and each time you encounter them - it might be a different brain who is @leading@ the show and all brains might be constantly struggling to become the @lead@ brain during conversation, thus creating funny moments and confusion.

Aliens who might change their form depending on their mood, if they are angry - they become solid, if they are neutral - they are liquid and if happy - they look like fog or gas of something.

A race of sentient stars?

This!  A race with variable personality would be so welcome in the series.  Your description makes sense, and even allows for good humor, naturally.  I like it!

I can't believe I forgot this suggestion the first time around!  Here goes:

A race of radioactive aliens. Any ships that get too near get hurt, so for combat, it would be easy to design a ship around that. Does x crew damage when closing within y range of enemy, and every z seconds thereafter, if still within y range.  That could BE their primary weapon. Secondary weapon could be to send 2 crew to the engine room (meaning you temporarily lose them and are more vulnerable) but while they're down there, your ship gains a LOT of speed for a short time, allowing you to stay close to the enemy and dodge/damage them.  Think about it.....

As for the aliens themselves, have them be internally lit and slightly transparent. No light sources on the ship, they are their own light. And they are shy/friendly! They're a super-helpful race, and overcoming their radioactivity could be a joke/plot point with them.

"On a tour of your ship the Radioactive Race attempt to hug the docking crew, resulting in severe burns and a deluge of apologies. Further relations are conducted via comms." Or some such. 

A friendly but unapproachable race has so much potential. and being radioactive could give some really need effects to encounters and space battles! 

Please consider this if you're still coming up with races!

Thanks!

P.S. Call them the Isotopes, or Free Radicals, or the Atoms. Naming them would be all kinds of fun!

I think they already have their main races pretty well worked out by now, but they have mentioned that you will be able continue playing and exploring "and meeting new aliens" after the storyline ends... so maybe they will be adding "minor race" aliens kind of regularly after release to expand the post-story universe.  So assuming that is the situation where these race ideas might be used... here is my race for the post-story universe.

Ship: Average speed, slightly above average maneuverability.  Above average health.  This is a powerful ship, meant to face a powerful post-storyline player.

Weapon #1 -Medium range "gravitic beam weapon".  Does average damage, pushes enemy away as it deals damage.  A light bump away, it does not fling them across the map.

Device #2 - Gravitic Mine.  Mine that does very little damage (1 crew if crew is still the health) but leaves a 2-4 second gravity well where it detonates.

Obviously, these guys are masters of gravity.  They would be very advanced as would be obvious from their look and surroundings when speaking too them.  Their homeworld would be near a large black hole, which is why they have learned so much about gravity.  At one time they worshiped the black hole as a passageway to the gods, before they learned the secrets of gravity they know today and that religion faded.  There are fanatics among them who still believe it is a passageway to the gods.

P.S. This is also my SuperMelee dream ship for 1v1 dueling:-)

EDIT: I had to come explain the weapon better, just in case they actually like this:-)  It's not a straightforward sustained beam weapon like the Vux had, it's what I call a wavelock weapon.  Meant for more complex ship designs with "avionics" (radar, targeting, ECM, etc) it can also be made in simple arcade form.  It has a 15-25 defgee firing arc (probably somewhere in there, playtesting would determine where).  It will automatically "lock on" to any target within that arc and then "pulse" damage and it's gravitic effect down the beam.  It can sustain fire until energy reaches 0, and then must be fully recharged to fire again (it can only fire when fully charged).  If the target escapes the firing arc the wavelock is broken and all remaining energy is lost, and it must fully recharge before firing again.  Ta-da!  The arcade version of what can be a very complicated weapon in a more "serious" game:-)