Patch 2.20 (22 December 2015) Gameplay General

The Capital now increases Morale to 35 (up from 25) and Economy to 25 (up from 10)

Advanced Hulls is now unlocked from Basic Logistics

Life Support is now unlocked from Advanced Hulls

Several techs moved to improve AI use

Mind Control Center moved to Concept of Malice

Shrine of the Mithrillar now gives a 10% population growth bonus civ-wide

Shrine of Tandis now gives a 10% morale bonus civ-wide

Information Warfare tech now requires Advanced Diplomacy (instead of Planetary Invasion)

Temporal Mechanics cost increased from 10 to 30

Hyperion Packages cost increased from 10 to 30

Entertainment Center now requires Innovative History

Slave Pits, Slave Labs, Collectives and Maintenance Grid have had their costs adjusted

Research Matrix bonus decreased from 12 to 10

School maintenance increased from 1 to 2

University maintenance increased from 2 to 3

Space Weapons no longer grants a Military bonus

Economic Direction Unit bonus reduced from 50 to 25

Ultra Spices now requires Extreme Entertainment instead of Xeno Cultural Trends

Merchant Trade Complexes cost increased from 800 to 1100

Buffed Tier 1/2 starbase attack modules and battlestations 4; removed Singularity Armor

Neutrality Learning Center cost increased from 500 to 1000

Cultural Enlightenment no longer has a pre-req; moved to Pure Research

Healing Pools now requires Planetary Improvements; cost decreased from 300 to 100

Nano Materials now requires Basic Space Construction

Advanced Philosophy now requires University

Enhanced Adaptation cost increased to 150/450/600

Robust Hull Construction now provides 15 HP (up from 10)

Precursor Library cost decreased from 400 to 100

Miniaturization techs bonuses updated to be better

Empathic Tactical Center now grants a defense bonus of 25% instead of an attack bonus of 20%

Various weapons rebalancing

Plus much much more adjustments. See the Progressive Changelog for more.
Terran Alliance

Changed default alignment from 50 to 75

Now start as Mercantile political party

Starts with +10 Economics, -10 Social Production, +25 Trade and 12 Logistics (up from 6)

Starting techs changed to: HyperDrive, Industrial Revolution, Fusion Reactors, Traditional Research, Innovative History, Capitalism and Basic Space Construction

Terrains gain a 10% bonus to propulsion and diplomacy research
Drengin Empire

Now starts game as War Party political party

Starts with: +10 Military Production, -30 Diplomacy (increased from -25), 20 Loyalty (up from 0) and 14 Logistics (up from 7)

Starting techs changed to: Fusion Reactors, Ruthless History, HyperDrive, Stellar Cartography, Specialized Research, Capitalism and Traditional Slavery.

Propaganda Machine is now a special project

New invasion tactic added (version of Information Warfare)

Drengin suffer a 50% penalty to trade techs; and a 100% penalty to diplomatic techs
Altarian Resistance

Now starts game as Pacifists political party

Starts with: +10 Luck (up from 0), 10 Logistics (up from 5)

Starting techs changed to: HyperDrive, Industrial Revolution, Fusion Reactors, Traditional Research, A History of Benevolence, Stellar Cartography, Capitalism and Basic Space Construction.

Social Matrix is now a special project

Altarians gain a 20% bonus in Labs research
Arcean Empire

Now starts game as War Party political party

Starts with: +10 Economics, +10 Morale, +20 Military Production, +30 Ship HP (up from +20), +20 Soldiering (up from +10), +25 Courage, +20 Loyalty and 20 Logistics (up from 8).

Starting techs changed to: Glorious History, Fusion Reactors, HyperDrive, Industrial Revolution, Stellar Cartography, Traditional Research, Capitalism and Basic Space Construction.

Stellar Forge and Cathedral of Valor are now special projects

Arceans now gain a 20% bonus to Hull and Logistics research

Arceans now gain:

15 HP from Superior Hulls (up from 10)

20 HP from Master Hull Building (up from 15)

15 HP from Reinforced Hull Design (up from 10)

15 HP from Hardened Hull Design (up from 10)
Torian Confederation

Now starts as the Populists political party

Starts with: +30 Loyalty, 16 Logistics (up from 8)

Starting techs changed to: Torian History, Fusion Reactors, HyperDrive, Stellar Cartography, Inherited Technology, Capitalism and Basic Space Construction.

Can now research Advanced Aquatic World Colonization cheaper

Aquatic Transport Station is now a special project

Torians now suffer a 20% penalty to Hull research

Changed Advanced Computing requirement to University (from Scientific Method Implementation)

Changed Planetary Improvements and Enhanced Adaptation to require Basic Space Construction

Added Basic Space Construction with cost 75

Xeno Communications now requires Cultural Enlightenment
Yor Collective

Now starts game as the Industrialist political party

Starts with: -30 to Diplomacy and 12 Logistics (up from 6)

Maintenance Grid and Distributed Energy Matrix are now special projects

New invasion tactic: Terror Drones (Cost 250, 20% bonus to attack, 25% improvement damage)

Yor now can a 20% advantage in Labs research
Dominion of Korx

Now starts as the Mercantile political party

Starts with: +15 Economics, +10 Diplomacy and 12 Logistics (up from 6)

Starting techs changed to: A History of Mercantilism, HyperDrive, Stellar Cartography, Industrial Revolution, Fusion Reactors, Traditional Research, Capitalism and Basic Space Construction.

Festival of Capitalism, Mercenary Academy and Freighter Command are now special projects

Korx gain a 20% bonus to economic research
Drath Legion

Changed default alignment from 75 to 50

Now starts as the Populists political party

Starts with: +25 Espionage (up from 0) and 16 Logistics (up from 8)

Starting techs changed to: Way of the Drath, Industrial Revolution, Basic Space Construction, HyperDrive, Fusion Reactors, Traditional Research, Stellar Cartography and Capitalism.

Drath gain a 20% bonus to diplomatic research
Thalan Empire

Now starts as the Technologists political party

Starts with: -50 Population Growth (increased from -30), +40 Loyalty and 12 Logistics (up from 6)

Starting techs changed to: Fusion Reactors, HyperDrive, Stellar Cartography, New Propulsion, Artificial Gravity, Xeno Biology, Xeno Medicine, Xeno Engineering, Hyperion Packages, Temporal Mechanics and Interstellar Construction.

Gaia Vortex and Church of Valor are now special projects

New invasion tactic: Mechanized Warriors (Cost 250, 50%/90% min/max bonus to attack, 100% improvement damage)

Thalan suffer a 50% penalty to trade and diplomatic research
Iconian Refuge

Now starts as the Federalists political party

Starts with: +10 Morale (decreased from 20), +20 Research, 0 Espionage (decreased from 100), -5 Soldiering (decreased from 0) and 16 Logistics (up from 10)

Precursor Library is now a special project

Expert Engineering is now unlocked after Advanced Hulls

Soil Enhancement, Xeno Biology and Space Mining moved to the Enhanced Adaptation tree

Iconians gain a 20% bonus to terraforming research
Korath Clan

Now starts game as War Party political party

Starts with: -30 Diplomacy (decreased from 0), +10 HP (decreased from 20), +30 Soldiering (increased from 10) and 14 Logistics (increased from 7)

Starting techs changed to: Fusion Reactors, Ruthless History, HyperDrive, Stellar Cartography, Specialized Research, Traditional Slavery and Black Market.

Graft of Ages is now a special project

New invasion tactic added (version of Information Warfare)

Korath suffer a 50% penalty to trade techs and a 200% penalty to diplomacy research
Krynn Consulate

Now starts as the Universalists political party

Starts with: -15 Research (decreased from 0) and 12 Logistics (increased from 6)

Starting techs changed to: HyperDrive, Industrial Revolution, Basic Space Construction, Fusion Reactors, Traditional Research, The Path, Stellar Cartography, and Capitalism.

Super Spy Training Center, Temple of Espionage, and Oracle of Krynn are now special projects.

Krynn suffer a 20% penalty to labs research but gain a 20% bonus to government research
Minor Races

Changes to various minor races that play more into their background lore. Watch out for the Snathi!
Graphics

Updated race colors for Iconian Refuge and Krynn Consulate

Improved Rally Point indicator

Various UI tweaks
AI

Each race's AI has been tuned to better match their background lore and relative strengths

All AI opponents will now use the maximum amount of CPU possible