Sophons

For an overview of all factions, see Factions.

The Sophon Triumvirate

The Sophons are one of the playable factions in Endless Space. Curious and eager to learn, they place the highest emphasis on science and technological progress.

Background

Origins

The Sophons evolved on Hekim, a rocky world orbiting a blue star. They evolved quickly because their sun produced a large amount of radiation, increasing the rate of mutation.

Despite their frail form and almost dangerous level of curiosity, the Sophons somehow survived the process of natural selection and developed a civilization. Before long, the Sophons were traveling across the cosmic strings of the galaxy.

Society

Interior of a Sophon ship

Sophon society is devoted to learning, philosophy, exploring, and study. They view the universe not only with awe, but also as an intellectual challenge for them to accept. Optimistic, they hold full faith in scientific progress and technological advancement.

To the Sophons, war is a wasteful undertaking, imposed on them by more warlike aliens. They prefer mutual cooperation with and, if possible, the studying of other species.

The Sophons played a critical role in the development of the Pilgrims. After hijacking an early interstellar colonization mission, the Pilgrims, then called the "Resistance," fled the Terran Solar System, beyond the reach of the United Empire's military might. After some time, fate brought them to a Kuiper Belt-like area of another star. It was rich in artifacts from the Endless and where the Pilgrims encountered a Sophon surveillance mission studying the artifacts. The two races became allies, and the Pilgrims received vital technological and material aid from the more experienced Sophons. The similarity between their ships is no coincidence.

Traits

Sophon Affinity	0-50% Tax Rate gives a +50-0% bonus. - 50% Support Modules Cost on Empire. Sophon Faction-Specific Technologies
Isolation Shields	Unlocks the Technology of the same name.
PEV-Scale Accelerators	Unlocks the Technology of the same name.
Neural Robotics	Unlocks the Technology of the same name.
Scientists	+ 30% on System.
Fast Traveler	+ 2 on Ships.
Meticulous Information Analysis	+ 1 on Ships.
Feeble Warriors	- 25% Defense on System. -8 Defense per on System.
Unskilled Builders	+ 10% Industry Cost of Improvements on Empire.

Sophons Faction-Specific Technologies (in Disharmony)
Benefit	Wing & Cost	Name	Effects
Seed Ship	n/a	n/a		HECTO Ship Class -50% Support Module Civilian on Ship +50% Weapon Module on Ship
T0 Ship	n/a	n/a		DEKA Ship Class -25% Support Module Scout on Ship +50% Support Module Civilian on Ship
T2 Ship	130	Efficient Shielding		KILO Ship Class +50% Support Module Civilian on Ship -25% Weapon Module on Ship
T4 Ship	680	Baryonic Shielding		GIGA Ship Class -25% Support Module on Ship +50% Defense Module on Ship
T6 Ship	4000	Applied Atmospherics		PETA Ship Class -25% Defense Module on Ship +50% Weapon Module on Ship
T7 Ship	7500	Non-Baryonic Shielding		YOTTA Ship Class -20% on Star System
Unique	300	Augmented Virtualization		Low-Impact Labs Increases Ind-Science Conversion from 33% to 50% Cost: Infinite
Cheaper	680 Replaces: 14000	Self-Organizing Data Replaces: Neural Net Society	___	Default Version: Alien Psychoanalysis +20% allied territory Defense on Ships ___ Default Version: Signal Lenser Array +10% on Star System +25% Influence Area on Star System -2 on improvement Cost: 2400 , Requires: Siderite
Cheaper & Improved	1800 Replaces: 7500	Dark Matter Condensing Replaces: Inorganic Biology	___	Adaptive Glue +180 Ship HP per Battle Phase on ship +60 Fleet HP per Turn (all sectors) on ship +0.1 Module regeneration (inside friendly area) on Fleet Cost: 100 Weight: 20% , Requires : HyperiumDefault Version: Adaptive Glue +180 Ship HP per Battle Phase on ship +60 Fleet HP per Turn (all sectors) on ship +0.1 Module regeneration (inside friendly area) on Fleet Cost: 200 Weight: 20% , Requires : Hyperium ___ Default Version: Siderite Reveals Siderite
Improved	4000	Wave Function Control	___	Advanced Optics Labs +4 per on Hydrogen +4 per on Methane +2 per on Helium +2 per on Asteroids +2 per on Arctic +2 per on Barren +2 per on Lava -5 on improvement Cost: 880 , Requires: Anti-Matter Replaces: Optics Research Labs +2 per on Asteroids +2 per on Helium +2 per on Barren +2 per on Arctic +2 per on Lava +1 per on Hydrogen +1 per on Methane -5 on improvement Cost: 800 , Requires: Anti-Matter ___ Default Version: EMP Battle card: Sabotage -20% efficiency for enemy antimissiles (block: -15%) -20% efficiency for enemy shields (block: -15%) Counters Defense.
Unique	7500	Adoptive Society		Redundant Infrastructures +20% on Ecstatic +5% on Happy +2% on Empire (with Approval:Fervent) -5 on improvement Cost: 1100
Improved	7500	Imaginary Game Theory Replaces: Futuristic Game Theory	___	Default Version: Alien Resources +2 Academy Cap on Empire -10 Turn(s) before new Hero arrival on Empire ___ Predictive Sensor Array +20% on Star System +25% Influence Area on Star System -2 on improvement Cost: 990 Replaces: Entangled Sensor Array* +20% Influence Area on Star System -2 on improvement Cost: 1000
Unique	14000	Adaptive Ecologies		Hearth Domes +15 on Helium +10 on Barren +5 on Arctic
Unique	25000	Dust Stimulation		Supra-Quantic Computing 200% converted into x0 on Star System Cost: Infinite

Steam Achievements

	Meeting of the Minds As Sophons, receive 30 technologies from others and give at least 30 technologies to others in a single game

	Science. It Works. Win with the Sophons

Notes

• While their military is not the strongest overall, the Sophon ships enjoy increased movement, giving them a better chance to intercept enemy fleets that threaten their planets with their weaker than average ground defense.