Sowers

For an overview of all factions, see Factions.

The Leader of the Sowers

The Sowers are one of the playable factions in Endless Space. Created by the now-deceased Virtual Endless, these self-replicating robotic workers were programmed to colonize worlds on their makers' behalf. To this day, the Sowers go from planet to planet, preparing and building the infrastructure for a long-dead civilization.

Background

Origins

The Sowers were created by the Virtual Endless and dropped onto a rocky, barren planet, devoid of life or an atmosphere. Their orders were given: develop this world and set up the basic infrastructure needed for the Virtual civilization.

After eons of work, the Sowers completed their task. When they tried to contact their masters, though, they received no reply, and the Virtuals never returned. The factions of the Endless had destroyed each other while the Sowers were preparing the planet.

After a period of waiting, the Sowers gathered together to decide on a course of action. They concluded that some day, the Virtuals would return, and that they would have wanted the Sowers to do the same for other planets as they had for this one. The mission, deemed "The Calling," took an almost religious aspect as the Sowers began to spread to other worlds.

Society

Sowers preparing a new planet

The Sowers' society is built around The Calling, and they treat the matter as a holy mission or even crusade. Despite the mounting evidence of their creators' fate, the Sowers still believe that some day, the Virtuals will return and claim the worlds that had been set up for them.

Until that time comes, the Sowers will continue their task. Local populations are ignored unless they prove disruptive to The Calling, in which case they are to be destroyed.

Sowers within communication range will have a shared consciousness, helping to coordinate tasks and planning. That said, it is not uncommon for Sowers to still show individual traits or skills, and a few have even split off from the rest of the Sowers.

Although expansive in nature, the Sowers are not inherently warlike. If another race does not interfere with their tasks, they will be left at peace.

If they do, then the Sowers stand ready to turn their industrial power into military might.

Traits

Sower Affinity	-50% from System, 30% value is also added to . Sowers Faction-Specific Technologies
Xenobotany	Unlocks the Technology with the same name.
Metallic Waters	+1 on Planet. +10 on Planet.
Space Cadets	-20% on System.
Builders	-30% cost of Improvements on empire.
Tolerant	Colonizes all planets (-25% untill required tech is known).
Dust Recyclers	+10 for each destroyed enemy CP on empire.
Slow Traveler	-1 on Ships.
Optimistic	+10  for System

Sowers Faction-Specific Technologies (in Disharmony)
Benefit	Wing & Cost	Name	Effects
Seed Ship	n/a	n/a		FACTORY Ship Class -50% Support Module Civilian on Ship
T0 Ship	n/a	n/a		SURVEYOR Ship Class -30% Support Module Armor on Ship
T2 Ship	130	Efficient Shielding		HAMMER Ship Class -30% Support Module Repair on Ship
T4 Ship	680	Baryonic Shielding		AXE Ship Class -30% Support Module Armor on Ship
T6 Ship	4000	Applied Atmospherics		ANVIL Ship Class -30% Support Module Repair on Ship
T7 Ship	7500	Non-Baryonic Shielding		PILEDRIVER Ship Class used added to on ship
Unique	130	Artificial Biologics		Tech Crop Farms 33% converted into Cost: Infinite
Unique	300	Sociologics		Task Pathing Protocols +5 on Planets
Improved	680	Planetary Landscaping	___	Default Version: Hyper-Scale Farms +3 per on Terran +3 per on Planet +2 per on Ocean +2 per on Jungle +1 per on Tundra +1 per on Arid Cost: 52 ___ Inorganic Cultivation +3 per on Planets with an explored Moon +3 per on Planets with a Temple -5 on improvement Cost: 272 Replaces: Intensive Cultivation Logistics +3 per on Planets with an explored Moon -5 on improvement Cost: 340
Cheaper & Improved	1800 Replaces: 14000	Persistent Bodies	___	Default Version: AI Labor -20% Industry Cost of Improvements on Star System -7 on improvement Cost: 1440 ___ Extreme Infrastructure +3 per on Arctic +2 per on Barren +2 per on Hydrogen +2 per on Helium +2 per on Tundra +1 per on Terran +1 per on Ocean +1 per on Arid -3 on improvement Cost: 400 Unique. Other factions don't get a second improvement.
Cheaper	1800 Replaces: 14000	Exotic Thermodynamics		Default Version: Tundra Transformation -5 on Planet +2 per on Planet +6 per on Planet +2 per on Planet +2 per on Planet Cost: 2660 , Requires: Adamantian
Improved	1800	Concurrent Logistics Replaces: Optimized Logistics	___	Default Version: Careful Sweeping +2 per on Planets with an explored Moon -3 on improvement Cost: 280 ___ Elegant Networks +30 on Star System +10% on Ecstatic +25% on Ecstatic +10% on Ecstatic +10% on Ecstatic -5 on improvement Cost: 176 Replaces: Colonial Rights +30 on Star System +10% on Ecstatic +10% on Ecstatic +10% on Ecstatic +10% on Ecstatic -3 on improvement Cost: 220
Unique	7500	Tundra Geomorphology		Cryo-Hygro Systems +2 per on Tundra +2 per on Tundra +2 per on Tundra +2 per on Tundra

Steam Achievements

	Answered the Calling Win with the Sowers

	Praise to the Endless Win with an Expansion Victory with the Sowers when you have the Endless Hero

Hint: achievement can be unlocked with Skuoi Kyryi only.

	Too Busy to Eat As Sowers, win a game without building any Food improvement

Notes

• Given that the Virtual Endless primarily existed on an electronic - not physical - plane, it is not fully clear why the Sowers also set natural ecosystems on the planets they colonized, alongside with the necessary electronic infrastructure. There are possible explanations, though.
• The concept art for the Sower Corvette depicts the ship transforming into walking mech.
• A fan campaign called "Save the Sowers" has gained strength due to the perceived weakness of the faction.
• The Sowers' hero names are based off famous mathematicians.