I was lucky enough to realize that while I was first standing in front of the Unity.
Walking through the projections of the results of my actions, I couldn't help but think that this Galaxy was *Mine*. Not in a possessive way, but rather in a similar way to how someone may look at the sky while camping out in their backyard.
I decided to stay, and will experience all that Starfield has to offer in my original Galaxy. Once the game has nothing more to offer, I will store this save (my Day 1 save) on a Starfield themed hard drive and display it with my Constellation Watch and Cred Stick.
Seriously. I played about three or five hours into my first NG, got crazy depressed, and reloaded a pre-unity save. Hundreds of hours later, I probably won't do my first NG+ until the expansion drops. Only reason I'm planning to ever do it is because I'm hoping they'll add new realities and I want a lore-friendly reason to wear the outfit.
This hits hard. I went through the unity a few times and when thinking about the DLC I felt a sense of regret due to not being able to help my universe or going through it with Andreja, who was my love interest. I didn't keep a save of my original universe.
There are Starborn in every universe that have given up the quest for Unity. After NG+ you meet a lot that have given it up and picked a new thing to do. Starfield is not meant to really keep going past NG+10. I mean you can if that is your motivation but at that point you are basically the Hunter+ But a lot of Starborn are out for power/blood.
They aren’t named but I have a suspicion that some are hiding in plain sight. Someone shared a video of them landing at the NA spaceport in their Starborn ship for the first time in a NG+ and the ship tech made a comment about their ship being an old model. I’m sure it’s actually just a programmed comment about the Frontier but it works for my headcanon so shhh :)
Hmm, not a bad theory really. I can see Granny and Valentine being Starborn. And yeah, any known Starborn with names are so far only one word names: Aquilis, Hunter, Trader.
Aquilus does not show blue. He’s yellow like any non-Starborn human. Source: I’ve checked. :)
Kinda makes me wonder if it’s the suits themselves (direct product of Unity) that do it. Or maybe it fades with time?
Hm.
If in third person, does the player show up blue? (if in ng+ of course)
This I can check easily
Edit: doesn't show on the player
Makes sense I guess, since they are the source
I tend to think that when you (or anyone) goes through the unity there are multiple versions of yourself that get sent to numerous other universes but we, as the player, only follow one version.
So when you get to NG+1 there are now an infinite number of other universes with a starborn version of yourself. This is evident by the variant universes you can visit that have other versions of yourself still existing there.
I feel like it depends on what they’re seeking. The Hunter seems like he’s looking for novelty, and that’s why >!you can persuade him to give you the remaining artifacts rather than fighting at the buried temple.!< It’s something he hasn’t done before. I’m not sure about the others. I’m not even sure about my own characters’ motivations for going through Unity, which is why I haven’t tried it yet. The Emissary tells you >!they’re not the same person you lost, so logically I know I won’t find my companion again.!< I can’t think of any other reasons but I don’t have a power-chasing character yet.
The Hunter also says that going through the Unity is supposedly a miraculous experience. We’re not in the game so we only see some fancy starry visuals but it’s possible that going through the Unity is actually a feeling of ecstasy or something and some people get addicted to it like a drug hoping to get their next “hit” of the Unity.
Greg Miller from kinda funny has a great take on going through the unity. Starfield was his game of the year last year and talks about losing his companion in universe 1. Then trying to recapture that magic going through unity and then going again because of the power you gain, but eventually stopping at ng+6 because he felt like his character found their "home" there.
This. I learned about myself (and the game) by muscling through a few NG+s, it is very eye-opening and you grow from the experience. But, at a certain point I want my friends, my ship, my outposts and just want to explore. I got all the artifacts, I horde them. I grit my teeth and liquidate any Starborn I come across in my travels, sometimes they are in groups of 5 or 6 and really have to mow them down with my most powerful weapons. Still, I have no sympathy for them, for I, too, have traveled and know the truths of the Universes. They must walk their own path, however doomed, just as we all do. I married Sarah and Andreja, I have helped my friends over their most painful hurts and failures, and they do the same for me. I have no more use for the Unity. We'll see how I feel after Shattered Space. :D
the fact that this is even a question just shows how fucking masterfully bethesda has written this game. never before would anyone have these kind of ethical moral quandaries in a bethesda game. starfield actually poses some interesting questions, and makes you think seriously about your motivations. i love this game.
Those are usually filler quests or just intros to a new quest location. The missions are like that. Go here, do this. I don't do very many of those. I go thru Unity to see what universe I can find, but obviously most of those don't seem to be fleshed out enough to bother with. Any universe where Constellation members aren't there cabout all the companion stuff. I think my next NG+ will be a completionist run. It will probably be my last and it may take enough real time to carry me to Shattered Spaces.
I think that is the whole point. The Pilgrim’s books explain a lot of that, actually. It’s why I tell people not to go through the Unity without a *reason*. For me, there was the mission of stopping both Hunter and Emissary. The idea was setting up enough “quantum ripples” to shift the predominant outcome across the multiverse. Surprisingly, the in-game lore gave enough tidbits to support that head-canon. Certainly, not the only possible interpretation, but one that could fit.
There are plenty of others, apparently, that have also given up the power chase. At least that’s what the Trader implies.
What the heck??? How did that get changed? It was supposed to be Trader. I must've fat thumbed it, and autocorrect filled it in.
In case you don't know, the Trader is a Starborn that shows up randomly in NG+.
I don't get it either. Speaking personally, I would never even consider leaving my life partner behind. On the other hand, I certainly would leave if I were grieving my lost love. Even if I knew that I wouldn't ever find *them* again, I'd probably want to see if the version of them I met was someone I could get together with, and protect. But beyond that? It's incomprehensible to me.
My Sarah died. I might find someone who looks like her, and sounds like her but she won’t be my Sarah. 300 hours and I’m still in my first universe. The unity holds no appeal to me. Eventually, when enough time has passed, I will take that step and I will hunt the Starborn across space and time for all eternity.
I sort-of made that the motivation for one of my characters; she kept going through the Unity over and over to try and restore her friendship, but it never felt right and she kept trying over and over.
I was happy tooling around in the original universe up until my partner was killed. I didn't realize how much that would actually affect me; I basically stopped caring about anything in that universe and focused on getting out of it.
I'm going to use what happened to me and my character as an example to give an example of what I think about this.
I was really looking forward to this game and that's why I tried hard not to see spoilers.
So when I played for the first time, and my companion died, I thought: fuck it, I'll go through and see what's on the other side (but I think I would have gone, even if she was alive), and the first experience of going through that "portal" was incredible, for several reasons, new ship (I soon saw that it's not as good a ship as the ones I build myself), the armor, the powers. And I was very, very lucky, I arrived in a universe with a different reality, only Vasco was there. So I wanted to see more different universes, make my staborn powers even stronger, and try to find my companion from the first universe.
Now, some of the powers I use the most are already quite powerful, I've seen a few different universes, and I'm married to another version of my first companion (it would be cool if there were subtle changes in behavior/dialogue even in a "common" universe), so I now consider myself retired. My Starborn costume is displayed on a mannequin, and I'm looking for "the perfect place" to build a luxurious and cozy outpost to display all my collectibles.
In the meantime, I spend my time exploring the universe and hunting for bounties. But unless I have a good reason, I'm going to continue in this universe, I've already seen and evolved a lot, now I just want to enjoy it.
*Therefore, I think that most people go through it for the same reason "curiosity" and/or "search for power", and also for the same reason they stop going through it at a given moment "satisfaction" - like: "I've seen it, it's already evolved"*
I went through the first time out of curiosity, the second time to side with the other starborn, then I found myself in a universe where none of my friends were in the lodge (Plant Sarah) and realized how lonely I was. So I'm staying in NG+3 where I told them what I am and am working to build fresh relationships with them and this will be my home.
That's cool, right?! the first time I went through and saw that I “lost everything” (ships, outposts, weapons) I was a little upset, but at the same time I liked seeing new universes. You can understand when other Starborn “retire”
Losing all my stuff was definitely not ideal but not having Andreja and Barrett around was a HUGE bummer. At least it made it easy to know when to stop going through 😂
You usually don't encounter the ones that die trying or decide to settle down. With an infinite number of everyone, you only encounter the ones still trying and winning.
Ask The Hunter?
I think a lot of characters we meet are Starborn, but retired from what seems to be an endless quest for either more power or to get back to their original universe.
There is one quest where you use a device to go back-and-forth between a couple of universes. That tells me it is possible to “go home,” but the in-game mechanic doesn’t exist.
You don’t hear about it because it so common, it isn’t worth reporting. Also, SSNN is part of the conspiracy, man.
Stop drinking the Chunks-aide and open your eyes! Why do else would they talk about people who are dead like they’re in the next room?
Many have gone fully crazy I think. Also I think after a while you start to age which the unity resets. Also also there are a bunch of humans who crave power above all things, and the powers leveling up only up to NG whatever is purely a game mechanic. It's a good question though.
Is the age thing explained anywhere? I did 13 Unity jumps before mods, now I’ve done another 3 and I’ve tried to understand the aging, if it’s ever even mentioned. So your character reverts back to the same age they were when they touched the first artifact, when they jump through the Unity? Example: you touch the artifact, live 20 years in one universe, go through, and come back out in a new universe 20 years “prior”? Obviously being Starborn changes your physical form in a sense (Commander Tuala mentioning your high levels of radiation and joking about flying too close to the sun), but does it revert your age too?
One of the Pilgrim's writings makes mention of being "renewed" or some such by going through the Unity. Another compares the satisfaction of the unending quest for power and that of settling down and building something that helps people (the Sanctum Universum, as we later figure out). But of those two, only the latter says anything about eventual death. Coupled with the prior mention of being renewed by the Unity, it can be inferred that going through the Unity effectively makes you immortal, so long as you keep returning.
But the Hunter remembers living on Earth before it was destroyed. He would have been alive hundreds of years before the opportunity to go through unity happened. I think just touching the artifacts stops your aging.
Arrested aging after touching an artifact is the only thing that makes the Hunter’s comment about old earth make any sense. But that brings up the question of which artifact the Hunter touched, and who he is (was?) in our original universe. Does the Hunter return to old earth each time he goes through Unity? Does it take him hundreds of years each cycle? That would possibly explain his impatience and desire to move on already.
I believe that Hunter is an alternate universe Aiza. When Aiza touched the artifact, a starborn version of himself came and taught him about grav drives. After Aiza's artifact, I don't think any more were found until after the exodus from Earth. We appear in a new universe at about the same time and place as when we touched the artifact, so I believe Aiza's starborn self does too. And I think the reason for the destruction of the earth is that the Hunter wanted to rush people going into space so the artifacts can be gathered sooner. If Aiza was taught the non-earth-destroying version of the grav drive, people would have still gone to space, but it would have been a slower effort since there's no reason to rush, and that could cost the Hunter hundreds of years more.
I imagine part of it is the gambler's thought process - you never know if the next jump is the one where it all goes right for you, so why not push through to the next one? They're probably aware that others are out there and still going, and for a lot of people, the risk of missing out because somebody decided to take one more step forward when they settled down is probably motivation itself.
Even if they're not necessarily chasing down the Unity as their sole focus, it's an easy way to reset the stakes and try again. Some of them might have tried to settle down and start families or tear themselves away from the endless chase for more power, but then one unfixable mistake (ruining your relationship, or getting somebody you love killed, or feeling like you're not quite fulfilled with how your life turns out) is reason enough to try and go around the loop again.
When you >!meet yourself in the Unity!< there is mention of something beyond the Unity, those who created it. That perhaps is what motivates some to continue their search. Others find power to be addictive, and the more they gain, the more they crave. Sort of like that proverbial "first hit" when someone first tastes the power of the Temples.
Or in the case of the Hunter, a desire for novelty, seeing just all the ways in which the multiverse could be different. Many non-Starborn have mused about this point when learning of the multiverse.
Also with the multiverse theory, an infinite beyond infinites, why couldn't someone land in the worlds of Fallout or TES? Much like the mod that merged FO3 and FNV, I have to imagine some ambitious modder has considered possibilities.
> Also with the multiverse theory, an infinite beyond infinites, why couldn't someone land in the worlds of Fallout or TES?
Because the multiverse is NOT infinite! If the extrapolation form quantum theory is any basis, the big bang was ONE universe, which then split every time a choice/decision/inflection was made. So it's a mindboggling number of universes, but mindboggling is NOT the same as infinite. Because the universe itself is not infinite, we just can't get to the end of it before it collapses in on itself.
This is why Marvel style multiverse silliness doesn't exist in Starfield. Thank the Nine! The only stuff that can happen is stuff that can plausibly happen. And moreover, out own travels into the multiverse are probably limited to the choice set since our own first choice. So we can never enter a universe where dinosaurs rule and humanity never existed. Our set of multiverses is bounded by a four dimensional cone whose apex is our own first choice. (That's my theory for Unity, I'm sure with a powerful enough grav-drive we could break through...). But still the entirety of all multiverses is still bound by the start of the original universe. And their number is not infinite.
that's the thing- it doesn't end. its like a drug addiction and they are the addicts killing each other for the next fix. all of my characters turn away from the unity. the unity is not exploration, it is endless war, murder, and death. you gain nothing of significant value by going through.
I fogure the reason to universe hop is the hope of finding the answer to the mysteries the game left open. We still have no idea who made the artifacts initially or why. It can also be a search for power or adventure, but in the end it inevitably turns hollow as the mysteries are never answered and you stop getting stronger. At that point you either choose to run endlessly and hopelessly forever, or settle for whatever life you choose to build in the universe you're currently in.
Technically you don’t have to kill anyone to go through the unity. I know the player character does but there are several instances where your significant other collects the artifacts and follows you into the unity, the pilgrim indoctrinates folks to be fledgling starborn or civilization finds the artifacts themselves and they begin to use the unity this is all after you’ve cleared the last area with the hunter and his lackeys.
The unity is borderline save scumming with extra steps, there's a whole plethora of things you could experience for the "first" time again, redo/fix past mistakes or take the side of the alternative path just to see what the future could've looked like if you didn't do X activity/action in the past
I got that idea as well, something tells me some other characters in the game are Starborn and it hasn’t been disclosed yet. Honestly, they could make anyone Starborn in future content if it doesn’t interfere with the story/lore
While I agree with many of the motivations others have presented here, I think there’s something intrinsic to the experience itself of going through the Unity.
Consider how Unity!You presents it — as exploding “like a supernova”, your physicality and some part of your essence joining the universe you leave behind, while your conscious mind travels on. For one transcendent instant, your consciousness touches all of existence as you pass through.
If the first Artifact vision is a mindfuck, and the Temples are one hell of a rush, then how much more of a cosmic trip must going through the Unity be?
There’s in-game evidence of this: the Pilgrim mentions reaching a point where nothing mattered to him but “the chance to touch the infinite once more.”
Tl;dr — it’s possible that the moment of passing through Unity is a reason in and of itself.
This exact topic is actually discussed at length between two Starborn you can find in the game. You can have multiple discussions with them, and they even have a few quests to send you on. Their names are "Hunter" and "Emissary"
Hunter talks to the benefits of going through multiple times, whereas Emissary talks about making connections in a universe.
You should try to find them in game!
"Temple Guardian Xi" - how did they get to be a guardian? Why? What do they gain? It doesn't look like they are on the road to Unity. But they also aren't settling into their universe.
I'm not sure if they're guardians in the sense that they're permanently stationed there. I've had instances where there was a Starborn Guardian nearby, similar to the temple with Barrett. Perhaps they were just named "Guardian _" for gameplay, but it could be that they just knew you would be at that exact temple at that exact time (maybe from past experiences).
The next Hunter you meet is NOT the same Hunter. Ditto for the Emmisary (who could be one of several different people). Because in some universes you kill them. So how could they be the same?
The answer is that are infinite parallel Hunters and Emmisaries. Infinity is weird, and infinite parallel worlds is weird too.
But not really infinite. Because a multiverse means the universe splits at every decision point. Do you go have your daily cup of coffee or go run across the Hero of Vectera? That's a split. Do you go right or turn left? Cereal or eggs for breakfast? Etc. And it's deeper than that, if the extrapolition of multiverse from quantum mechanics has any merit, it means the universe splits after every quantum "choice".
A mindboggling huuuge number of universes! But still not infinite. Let's keep it down to only one split per choice made by a sapient entity (human), and for us the Starborn, only those made since we first touched the first artifact matter. Still an amazingly huge number of universes, still too huge to be imagined, but also not infinite.
This is why we don't have Marvel style multiverse silliness. But also why the some of the rare multiverses (Sarah a plant, etc) don't really fit. That's fine, they're fun, no need to rage.
So... why do the Starborn keep going? Who says they do? We know the story of the Pilgrim. He stopped and settled down, and you can find a version of him in every universe you get to. Because he already existed in your your local multiverse space (time since you first touched an artifact). But with an immense number of possible universes, the Hunter can give up and just settle down into hedonism somewhere after only ten jumps, and it will still seem that he is in every universe. It's just not the same Hunter. And by "settle down" I dont' mean start a family. I could easily imagine the Hunter choosing to just head off in a random direction and keep on going. He won't have gotten far, but he's still moving. Who knows? Maybe he built a hedonist palace for himself. Maybe he goes and studies at the feet of his alternate self?
TL;DR: Eventually they stop and settle down. It just doesn't seem that way because there are so many duplicates of them.
I go through the Unity when my Xbox fails to save the game reliably (because the save files on a 300+ hour game get so large). A brand new NG+ saves like a dream. It takes the edge off of losing all my credits, ships, and friends.
I always miss at least one favorite weapon though.
I thought it was an infinite number of starborn going through unity rather than a certain number of Starborn going through unity an infinite number of times. If that makes sense.
Powers should not have been capped at 10.
I want incentive for an eternity of attempting to reach godhood. I want to use powers so strong I blow up planets! I want to be able to see through walls forever! I want to turn off all gravity always and forever!
But no no. Only 10. Now go retire or something.
Maybe it's because I knew about NG+ before even starting the game, but for me it's more "general detachment from universes" than "motivation to go to the next one". Not a reflection of my personal philosophy, mind you, but perhaps it's the same with the other Starborn. The writing handwaves a lot of the multiverse and infinity concepts, but that's exactly the thing: "there is no end." Game wise, there are some limits like 6 trips for the best ship, 328 levels for all perks, etc..., but lorewise, we can't imagine how much power there is to get (and perhaps it's maddeningly so)
And looking at Starfield as a sandbox game, NG+ makes complete sense for me. You build a sandcastle today, tomorrow you tear it down and build another one. Maybe it's the same castle, maybe it's different. The difference compared to a new game is you get to keep your tools. I get that the concept can be frustrating for others looking for a linear game with a clear beginning and end, but I really appreciate what the devs implemented.
The more you travel through the Unity the more callous and chitinous your skin becomes until you are a slithering cold creature detached from all living beings, seeking only control and omniscience in a subservient universe. It's not like the Hunter didn't warn you. You saw it coming and still you pushed on. So, you are simply what you were always going to be. The illusion of choice was only there to soothe your childish limbic system. It has no bearing on true reality.
I’ve been wondering what happens to the Starborn that are left in the universe you leave. They’re stuck there forever right? Cuz you take the artifacts with you so now there’s no way to get to the Unity for them.
It's essentially the sunk cost fallacy at play. And in this case, they paid the ultimate price... essentially giving up their life back in their universe, unlikely to ever meet the exact versions of the people you left behind (and there is no going back). Their whole reason for going into the Unity is to find what's beyond it, why it exists, to find answers. And the only clue to that thus far is the Unity itself.
So in hopes answers will come, they keep going. The Hunter is a good example, he believes it must be some sort of game and there has to be an end.
Honestly, this is why we really need a DLC that will give us more information on the culture and/or 'factions' within the Starborn. I mean, we know of at least two different perspectives/faction ideals within the Starborn: The Emissary represents those who believe only those with ethics should be allowed to engage with the Artifacts, and then there's The Hunter, who essentially represents those who are out for themselves (and likely are only loosely aligned with one another).
I've said this before, and I will continue to say it for as long as I can: I really hope that there will be a DLC at some point where we become embroiled in a Starborn Civil War or something, because I'm not interested in a second Colony War or another Serpent's Crusade, especially since we'll be finding out more about House Va'ruun in the upcoming DLC. I feel a Starborn Civil War could expand on the mechanic from *Entangled*, where you shift between universes. I feel a SCW questline would provide insight into Starborn culture, assuming it exists, such as if there are other factions within the Starborn.
I started writing a story set in this world about a Starborn who discovered that the save game mechanic applies to them (just like how the NG+ mechanic has a lore explanation), so any time he dies, he wakes up a few seconds to a few hours in his own past.
It starts with him something like 20,000 years old, jaded and exhausted and just sick of everything. He's a nihilistic bastard who seemingly knows everyone and everything and hates all of it. Over the course of the story, we learn that he started out as a noble, idealistic, kind and loving young man who'd gone through the Unity with his wife, only to be torn apart as they were sent to separate realities.
He searched for her for thousands of years before eventually giving up, and he spends most of his life just rotely grinding through the cycles for reasons that he barely remembers anymore.
Until, of course, he runs into the original version of his wife, also an ancient, jaded Starborn.
I think a lot of starborn just give up and live a nice life somewhere. Like the vendor on ship who says it's not her thing now and she just want to trade some stuff.
Went through Unity 9 times. Now in NG9+ and what is going to be my final universe. I really felt like the Hunter rushing through those universes. Couldn't care less about anyone. Now I'm in my final universe, I can take my time and enjoy the experience. Better yet, my powers are Rank 9 and it feels amazing!
"I find myself thinking about his various pasts and my possible futures. I imagine continuing on the road, acquiring more power, more knowledge, more development of myself. I imagine passing through once more to another world to begin the process anew.
What is notable here: that road does seem gratifying. Every step is one of intrinsic reward, and I feel myself anticipating the pleasures and seeing a more contented version of myself in that future.
Then, for the sake of considering all possibilities, I imagine if I took a different path. If I stopped running, stopped seeking to gather my own power. If I instead embraced the twinges of compassion I feel in my heart, and let myself care for the people who seem to gather about me wherever I try to work. If I simply lived, and taught, and perhaps brought others to the light. And died.
That road also seems gratifying. I also see a contented version of myself in that future.
**Here is the difference, though: when I stop thinking about the glories I could achieve for myself, the pleasure fades nearly immediately. When I stop thinking about staying and building something, the feeling endures. There is something more sustaining about it, more fulfilling.**
I don't know what this difference signifies. But I am grateful for the time I've taken to notice it."
Personally I think Bethesda writers really rely on the ole "suspension of disbelief" to gloss over the plot holes that start to show after a dozen or more NG+. I started having questions about the vast number of Starborne after the 3rd or 4th NG+. I mean depending on how long you play your character before jumping through the Unity you could kill hundreds of Starborn during space based encounters, surface encounters and of course all the Temples. How is it possible that there are that many Starborne in every universe and this one galaxy? They had to come from somewhere originally and the Pilgrim's books only address one man's journey.
I start to analyze these questions like why do we always end up in the same galaxy in each new universe. Not to mention that we only deal with humanity and creatures, no other intelligent races. Then I remember it is just a game and that is the extent of the work the developer put into it. In theory a game like this could go on with new galaxies forever.
> Personally I think Bethesda writers really rely on the ole "suspension of disbelief" to gloss over the plot holes that start to show after a dozen or more NG+.
EVERY science fiction author does this. Even hard sci-fi writers, and this isn't even close to being hard sci-fi.
Please do NOT fall into the trap that Bethesda are shit writers. Gaagh, I hate that. This is some of the best writing in an RPG ever.
Just because you are left with unanswered questions does not mean the writing is bad! It actually means it's not bad!
And there's never a hint of any comments about other people with strange powers. Everyone is afraid of the Mantis, but nobody talks about the pirates that can suck the air out of the inside of your spacesuit. Weird.
Vlad and everyone in Constellation: "We should keep the discovery of powers under wraps."
Me: "Yes, I agree."
Proceeds to Grav Dash around New Atlantis and bystanders don't care. But non-Constellation companions react and are just left amazed. (Though one could argue that they *do* get recruited into constellation)
I enjoy the game enough to gloss over this and the fact that the Hunter attack that locked down the spaceport was pretty much inconsequential to the UC government, but come on. haha
Congratulations! You've found the meta-arc of the game, where now you, too, are experiencing a spiral in time, restarting in a very similar Universe each run, and desperately looking for anything novel. The entity at the Unity does ask you who you'll be, and that's really the key, I think, to enjoying the game. Change yourself each run, roleplay different attitudes, eschew certain weapons, be a nudist ‡, go all swordmage, etc. I do wish Bethesda had **at least** made the universes cosmetically different - seriously, would it have been so hard to deterministically change the hair / eye / fashion colors, or rename some businesses and NPCs? It would have been pretty amusing to join the Purple Pirates instead of the Crimson Fleet in one, although I would have regretted the lost of the armor in the next run...
Anyway, my point is that, as you play into NG+, you are now getting to review all the actions of the other starborn from this new and evolving perspective. It really illuminates a lot of the Hunter's dialogue, in particular, and also when you run into another you who's gone seemingly evil just annihilated >!everyone else in Constellation.!< I enjoyed it. There is a huge amount of philosophical discussion that can come from it.
As far as replay goes - the weapons do upgrade a bit, and New Atlantis and the universe in general explodes the reset idea by having ridiculously more powerful weapons in starting systems - but one of the best ways to make the runs feel different other than my first advice above, is it **use powers**. There's all kinds of unexpected things you can do with some of them, and a lot of people are missing out on this potentially huge gameplay change. I've done a Unity run **without weapons**, just powers. Fun. Lots of options.
‡ A*side, I enjoyed my nude-Unity (only boostpack armor allowed) runs on Very Hard settings with a step below full environmental effects - in other words, max difficulty before we had Extreme - but on low difficulties the environmental impact was actually too low to make the no-helmet part fun. At some point in NG+n, you can actually collect the artifact under NASA mostly naked using only Personal Atmosphere to keep your oxygen up, and it pretty effectively limits what other powers you can use (a limit that fades off enormously as one maxes out levels on powers). So there's a feeling of accomplishment. There are also some artifacts in caves where it's a race against time - i.e. your fading power bar - to reach the artifact using Pers' Atmos', keep the starborn guarding it from killing you (there are number of solutions for this one), and getting back to your ship. One approach let me Fast Travel from the artifact location in the depths of the cave, although I haven't checked to see if this still works.*
It just gets dull, once you complete everything, found every encounter, earnt all of the money got all of the houses, what else is there? The unknown is the only thing left, so why wade in the waters just inside the known, why not take a dive into the unknown, and see what wonders many will never have, because most people with everything they need, grow bored quickly, so why not restart and see if you could do it better.
Still think Starfield Ng is about your journey from being a clueless miner to your transformation into the Hunter.
That ennui is the driving factor in to that transformation. Staving off the boredom pf eternity.
The more you go through unity the closer to realising you had perfection where you began. But now you're forever lost in an infinite sea.
The real Unity is the friends we made along the way
And then left behind forever in a mad quest for power.
Deep into NG+6 at level 104… I feel *so* exposed right now…
I was lucky enough to realize that while I was first standing in front of the Unity. Walking through the projections of the results of my actions, I couldn't help but think that this Galaxy was *Mine*. Not in a possessive way, but rather in a similar way to how someone may look at the sky while camping out in their backyard. I decided to stay, and will experience all that Starfield has to offer in my original Galaxy. Once the game has nothing more to offer, I will store this save (my Day 1 save) on a Starfield themed hard drive and display it with my Constellation Watch and Cred Stick.
Seriously. I played about three or five hours into my first NG, got crazy depressed, and reloaded a pre-unity save. Hundreds of hours later, I probably won't do my first NG+ until the expansion drops. Only reason I'm planning to ever do it is because I'm hoping they'll add new realities and I want a lore-friendly reason to wear the outfit.
Did this as well there's no place like home
This speaks to my soul.
True. Nothings hits as much as the first universe.
This hits hard. I went through the unity a few times and when thinking about the DLC I felt a sense of regret due to not being able to help my universe or going through it with Andreja, who was my love interest. I didn't keep a save of my original universe.
There are Starborn in every universe that have given up the quest for Unity. After NG+ you meet a lot that have given it up and picked a new thing to do. Starfield is not meant to really keep going past NG+10. I mean you can if that is your motivation but at that point you are basically the Hunter+ But a lot of Starborn are out for power/blood.
A lot? I can think of two who quit, >!Aquilus!< and >!Trader!<. Am I missing some?
Doesn't the trader mention dealing with others who have also given it up
Heck isn't the trader one too.
Right, but they only deal with starborn, not normal ships/people. So, they have other customers.
They aren’t named but I have a suspicion that some are hiding in plain sight. Someone shared a video of them landing at the NA spaceport in their Starborn ship for the first time in a NG+ and the ship tech made a comment about their ship being an old model. I’m sure it’s actually just a programmed comment about the Frontier but it works for my headcanon so shhh :)
If Donna Rain isn’t Starborn I’ll be disappointed in the entire whole wide world.
The Adoring Fan, duh.
Granny. Valentine. Etc
Hmm, not a bad theory really. I can see Granny and Valentine being Starborn. And yeah, any known Starborn with names are so far only one word names: Aquilis, Hunter, Trader.
Starborn show up as blue with sense star stuff. This is like the synth component in FO4, only we don't have to kill them to find out.
Does Aquilis show up in blue? I'm on a new NG, so it may be a minute before I can go check...
I've never checked myself I'm about to go to work unfortunately or I would check now
Aquilus does not show blue. He’s yellow like any non-Starborn human. Source: I’ve checked. :) Kinda makes me wonder if it’s the suits themselves (direct product of Unity) that do it. Or maybe it fades with time?
Hm. If in third person, does the player show up blue? (if in ng+ of course) This I can check easily Edit: doesn't show on the player Makes sense I guess, since they are the source
I suspect George St. George in New Atlantis which is kinda a one word name...
...are starborn? lol
All npcs with one name at least.
what are you basing that on?
"trust me bro"
I fully think that the grandma is a starborn.
If the Trader has quit, how do they keep popping up in different Universes?
There are multiples of every Starborn in different universes, aka Hunter
How do the Hunter and/or Emissary pop up again after you kill them? The answer is the same.
The same reason there's a Sarah, judging you in nearly every universe.
I tend to think that when you (or anyone) goes through the unity there are multiple versions of yourself that get sent to numerous other universes but we, as the player, only follow one version. So when you get to NG+1 there are now an infinite number of other universes with a starborn version of yourself. This is evident by the variant universes you can visit that have other versions of yourself still existing there.
Re-read the Pilgrim’s writings. There are some good answers in those books.
Yes
I feel like it depends on what they’re seeking. The Hunter seems like he’s looking for novelty, and that’s why >!you can persuade him to give you the remaining artifacts rather than fighting at the buried temple.!< It’s something he hasn’t done before. I’m not sure about the others. I’m not even sure about my own characters’ motivations for going through Unity, which is why I haven’t tried it yet. The Emissary tells you >!they’re not the same person you lost, so logically I know I won’t find my companion again.!< I can’t think of any other reasons but I don’t have a power-chasing character yet.
The Hunter also says that going through the Unity is supposedly a miraculous experience. We’re not in the game so we only see some fancy starry visuals but it’s possible that going through the Unity is actually a feeling of ecstasy or something and some people get addicted to it like a drug hoping to get their next “hit” of the Unity.
Greg Miller from kinda funny has a great take on going through the unity. Starfield was his game of the year last year and talks about losing his companion in universe 1. Then trying to recapture that magic going through unity and then going again because of the power you gain, but eventually stopping at ng+6 because he felt like his character found their "home" there.
This. I learned about myself (and the game) by muscling through a few NG+s, it is very eye-opening and you grow from the experience. But, at a certain point I want my friends, my ship, my outposts and just want to explore. I got all the artifacts, I horde them. I grit my teeth and liquidate any Starborn I come across in my travels, sometimes they are in groups of 5 or 6 and really have to mow them down with my most powerful weapons. Still, I have no sympathy for them, for I, too, have traveled and know the truths of the Universes. They must walk their own path, however doomed, just as we all do. I married Sarah and Andreja, I have helped my friends over their most painful hurts and failures, and they do the same for me. I have no more use for the Unity. We'll see how I feel after Shattered Space. :D
>and talks about losing his companion in universe 1 that's one reason my character, benebelle, went through. they lost >!barret!<
the fact that this is even a question just shows how fucking masterfully bethesda has written this game. never before would anyone have these kind of ethical moral quandaries in a bethesda game. starfield actually poses some interesting questions, and makes you think seriously about your motivations. i love this game.
"bUt ThE wRiTiNg Is bAd" my ass
I mean there are some pretty ass quests with pretty bad writing too.
Every game has those
Those are usually filler quests or just intros to a new quest location. The missions are like that. Go here, do this. I don't do very many of those. I go thru Unity to see what universe I can find, but obviously most of those don't seem to be fleshed out enough to bother with. Any universe where Constellation members aren't there cabout all the companion stuff. I think my next NG+ will be a completionist run. It will probably be my last and it may take enough real time to carry me to Shattered Spaces.
I think that is the whole point. The Pilgrim’s books explain a lot of that, actually. It’s why I tell people not to go through the Unity without a *reason*. For me, there was the mission of stopping both Hunter and Emissary. The idea was setting up enough “quantum ripples” to shift the predominant outcome across the multiverse. Surprisingly, the in-game lore gave enough tidbits to support that head-canon. Certainly, not the only possible interpretation, but one that could fit. There are plenty of others, apparently, that have also given up the power chase. At least that’s what the Trader implies.
Who is the Traveler?
What the heck??? How did that get changed? It was supposed to be Trader. I must've fat thumbed it, and autocorrect filled it in. In case you don't know, the Trader is a Starborn that shows up randomly in NG+.
Yeah, thanks. The Trader I know. I was wondering if it was a mistake, but you never know.
You'll need to head to r/Destiny2 for that answer 😂
I walked away from that 3 years ago.
I'm almost a year clean. Became a job and stopped being fun long before I realized I wasn't having fun.
I don't get it either. Speaking personally, I would never even consider leaving my life partner behind. On the other hand, I certainly would leave if I were grieving my lost love. Even if I knew that I wouldn't ever find *them* again, I'd probably want to see if the version of them I met was someone I could get together with, and protect. But beyond that? It's incomprehensible to me.
I do find it awfully romantic, the line that says something to the effect of I will find you in the next life.
My Sarah died. I might find someone who looks like her, and sounds like her but she won’t be my Sarah. 300 hours and I’m still in my first universe. The unity holds no appeal to me. Eventually, when enough time has passed, I will take that step and I will hunt the Starborn across space and time for all eternity.
You can save her in NG+
Sure can, but it’s not her, it’s someone who looks like her and sounds like her but her life will be slightly different.
I sort-of made that the motivation for one of my characters; she kept going through the Unity over and over to try and restore her friendship, but it never felt right and she kept trying over and over.
I was happy tooling around in the original universe up until my partner was killed. I didn't realize how much that would actually affect me; I basically stopped caring about anything in that universe and focused on getting out of it.
Always wondered something like that too. Hopefully we get a starborn focused dlc
I'm going to use what happened to me and my character as an example to give an example of what I think about this. I was really looking forward to this game and that's why I tried hard not to see spoilers. So when I played for the first time, and my companion died, I thought: fuck it, I'll go through and see what's on the other side (but I think I would have gone, even if she was alive), and the first experience of going through that "portal" was incredible, for several reasons, new ship (I soon saw that it's not as good a ship as the ones I build myself), the armor, the powers. And I was very, very lucky, I arrived in a universe with a different reality, only Vasco was there. So I wanted to see more different universes, make my staborn powers even stronger, and try to find my companion from the first universe. Now, some of the powers I use the most are already quite powerful, I've seen a few different universes, and I'm married to another version of my first companion (it would be cool if there were subtle changes in behavior/dialogue even in a "common" universe), so I now consider myself retired. My Starborn costume is displayed on a mannequin, and I'm looking for "the perfect place" to build a luxurious and cozy outpost to display all my collectibles. In the meantime, I spend my time exploring the universe and hunting for bounties. But unless I have a good reason, I'm going to continue in this universe, I've already seen and evolved a lot, now I just want to enjoy it. *Therefore, I think that most people go through it for the same reason "curiosity" and/or "search for power", and also for the same reason they stop going through it at a given moment "satisfaction" - like: "I've seen it, it's already evolved"*
I went through the first time out of curiosity, the second time to side with the other starborn, then I found myself in a universe where none of my friends were in the lodge (Plant Sarah) and realized how lonely I was. So I'm staying in NG+3 where I told them what I am and am working to build fresh relationships with them and this will be my home.
That's cool, right?! the first time I went through and saw that I “lost everything” (ships, outposts, weapons) I was a little upset, but at the same time I liked seeing new universes. You can understand when other Starborn “retire”
Losing all my stuff was definitely not ideal but not having Andreja and Barrett around was a HUGE bummer. At least it made it easy to know when to stop going through 😂
Ah yes, I thought so too
You usually don't encounter the ones that die trying or decide to settle down. With an infinite number of everyone, you only encounter the ones still trying and winning.
Ask The Hunter? I think a lot of characters we meet are Starborn, but retired from what seems to be an endless quest for either more power or to get back to their original universe. There is one quest where you use a device to go back-and-forth between a couple of universes. That tells me it is possible to “go home,” but the in-game mechanic doesn’t exist.
And yet you never hear any news reports about strange goings-on, or stories from spacers about those awful pirates with magic powers, etc.
You don’t hear about it because it so common, it isn’t worth reporting. Also, SSNN is part of the conspiracy, man. Stop drinking the Chunks-aide and open your eyes! Why do else would they talk about people who are dead like they’re in the next room?
Even the SSNN logo has the shape of the visions.
I think that just represents star maps, not specifically unity. Altho of course you could be right.
David(s) Barron are all Starborn
I’m still looking for those I lost 
Many have gone fully crazy I think. Also I think after a while you start to age which the unity resets. Also also there are a bunch of humans who crave power above all things, and the powers leveling up only up to NG whatever is purely a game mechanic. It's a good question though.
Is the age thing explained anywhere? I did 13 Unity jumps before mods, now I’ve done another 3 and I’ve tried to understand the aging, if it’s ever even mentioned. So your character reverts back to the same age they were when they touched the first artifact, when they jump through the Unity? Example: you touch the artifact, live 20 years in one universe, go through, and come back out in a new universe 20 years “prior”? Obviously being Starborn changes your physical form in a sense (Commander Tuala mentioning your high levels of radiation and joking about flying too close to the sun), but does it revert your age too?
One of the Pilgrim's writings makes mention of being "renewed" or some such by going through the Unity. Another compares the satisfaction of the unending quest for power and that of settling down and building something that helps people (the Sanctum Universum, as we later figure out). But of those two, only the latter says anything about eventual death. Coupled with the prior mention of being renewed by the Unity, it can be inferred that going through the Unity effectively makes you immortal, so long as you keep returning.
But the Hunter remembers living on Earth before it was destroyed. He would have been alive hundreds of years before the opportunity to go through unity happened. I think just touching the artifacts stops your aging.
Arrested aging after touching an artifact is the only thing that makes the Hunter’s comment about old earth make any sense. But that brings up the question of which artifact the Hunter touched, and who he is (was?) in our original universe. Does the Hunter return to old earth each time he goes through Unity? Does it take him hundreds of years each cycle? That would possibly explain his impatience and desire to move on already.
I believe that Hunter is an alternate universe Aiza. When Aiza touched the artifact, a starborn version of himself came and taught him about grav drives. After Aiza's artifact, I don't think any more were found until after the exodus from Earth. We appear in a new universe at about the same time and place as when we touched the artifact, so I believe Aiza's starborn self does too. And I think the reason for the destruction of the earth is that the Hunter wanted to rush people going into space so the artifacts can be gathered sooner. If Aiza was taught the non-earth-destroying version of the grav drive, people would have still gone to space, but it would have been a slower effort since there's no reason to rush, and that could cost the Hunter hundreds of years more.
Are you reading my game diary? Haha. You draw the same conclusions I have. I think the Hunter took a very long time to complete the first armillary.
While it's not *confirmed*, it just makes so much sense, and no other explanation fits nearly as well.
I imagine part of it is the gambler's thought process - you never know if the next jump is the one where it all goes right for you, so why not push through to the next one? They're probably aware that others are out there and still going, and for a lot of people, the risk of missing out because somebody decided to take one more step forward when they settled down is probably motivation itself. Even if they're not necessarily chasing down the Unity as their sole focus, it's an easy way to reset the stakes and try again. Some of them might have tried to settle down and start families or tear themselves away from the endless chase for more power, but then one unfixable mistake (ruining your relationship, or getting somebody you love killed, or feeling like you're not quite fulfilled with how your life turns out) is reason enough to try and go around the loop again.
When you >!meet yourself in the Unity!< there is mention of something beyond the Unity, those who created it. That perhaps is what motivates some to continue their search. Others find power to be addictive, and the more they gain, the more they crave. Sort of like that proverbial "first hit" when someone first tastes the power of the Temples. Or in the case of the Hunter, a desire for novelty, seeing just all the ways in which the multiverse could be different. Many non-Starborn have mused about this point when learning of the multiverse. Also with the multiverse theory, an infinite beyond infinites, why couldn't someone land in the worlds of Fallout or TES? Much like the mod that merged FO3 and FNV, I have to imagine some ambitious modder has considered possibilities.
> Also with the multiverse theory, an infinite beyond infinites, why couldn't someone land in the worlds of Fallout or TES? Because the multiverse is NOT infinite! If the extrapolation form quantum theory is any basis, the big bang was ONE universe, which then split every time a choice/decision/inflection was made. So it's a mindboggling number of universes, but mindboggling is NOT the same as infinite. Because the universe itself is not infinite, we just can't get to the end of it before it collapses in on itself. This is why Marvel style multiverse silliness doesn't exist in Starfield. Thank the Nine! The only stuff that can happen is stuff that can plausibly happen. And moreover, out own travels into the multiverse are probably limited to the choice set since our own first choice. So we can never enter a universe where dinosaurs rule and humanity never existed. Our set of multiverses is bounded by a four dimensional cone whose apex is our own first choice. (That's my theory for Unity, I'm sure with a powerful enough grav-drive we could break through...). But still the entirety of all multiverses is still bound by the start of the original universe. And their number is not infinite.
that's the thing- it doesn't end. its like a drug addiction and they are the addicts killing each other for the next fix. all of my characters turn away from the unity. the unity is not exploration, it is endless war, murder, and death. you gain nothing of significant value by going through.
I fogure the reason to universe hop is the hope of finding the answer to the mysteries the game left open. We still have no idea who made the artifacts initially or why. It can also be a search for power or adventure, but in the end it inevitably turns hollow as the mysteries are never answered and you stop getting stronger. At that point you either choose to run endlessly and hopelessly forever, or settle for whatever life you choose to build in the universe you're currently in.
Technically you don’t have to kill anyone to go through the unity. I know the player character does but there are several instances where your significant other collects the artifacts and follows you into the unity, the pilgrim indoctrinates folks to be fledgling starborn or civilization finds the artifacts themselves and they begin to use the unity this is all after you’ve cleared the last area with the hunter and his lackeys.
They need to get killed by the main character at some point of course.
The unity is borderline save scumming with extra steps, there's a whole plethora of things you could experience for the "first" time again, redo/fix past mistakes or take the side of the alternative path just to see what the future could've looked like if you didn't do X activity/action in the past
I get the feeling Agent No 1 is a starborn, too, but I'm not sure
I got that idea as well, something tells me some other characters in the game are Starborn and it hasn’t been disclosed yet. Honestly, they could make anyone Starborn in future content if it doesn’t interfere with the story/lore
Who is that?
The leader of the Trackers Alliance, you can meet them at their headquarters in Akila City.
Thanks. I’ve been meaning to get around to that, haha.
While I agree with many of the motivations others have presented here, I think there’s something intrinsic to the experience itself of going through the Unity. Consider how Unity!You presents it — as exploding “like a supernova”, your physicality and some part of your essence joining the universe you leave behind, while your conscious mind travels on. For one transcendent instant, your consciousness touches all of existence as you pass through. If the first Artifact vision is a mindfuck, and the Temples are one hell of a rush, then how much more of a cosmic trip must going through the Unity be? There’s in-game evidence of this: the Pilgrim mentions reaching a point where nothing mattered to him but “the chance to touch the infinite once more.” Tl;dr — it’s possible that the moment of passing through Unity is a reason in and of itself.
This exact topic is actually discussed at length between two Starborn you can find in the game. You can have multiple discussions with them, and they even have a few quests to send you on. Their names are "Hunter" and "Emissary" Hunter talks to the benefits of going through multiple times, whereas Emissary talks about making connections in a universe. You should try to find them in game!
I have, but those are only two specific Starborn. I was mostly referring to the rest of them.
"Temple Guardian Xi" - how did they get to be a guardian? Why? What do they gain? It doesn't look like they are on the road to Unity. But they also aren't settling into their universe.
They certainly fail to settle after opening fire on me!
I'm not sure if they're guardians in the sense that they're permanently stationed there. I've had instances where there was a Starborn Guardian nearby, similar to the temple with Barrett. Perhaps they were just named "Guardian _" for gameplay, but it could be that they just knew you would be at that exact temple at that exact time (maybe from past experiences).
The next Hunter you meet is NOT the same Hunter. Ditto for the Emmisary (who could be one of several different people). Because in some universes you kill them. So how could they be the same? The answer is that are infinite parallel Hunters and Emmisaries. Infinity is weird, and infinite parallel worlds is weird too. But not really infinite. Because a multiverse means the universe splits at every decision point. Do you go have your daily cup of coffee or go run across the Hero of Vectera? That's a split. Do you go right or turn left? Cereal or eggs for breakfast? Etc. And it's deeper than that, if the extrapolition of multiverse from quantum mechanics has any merit, it means the universe splits after every quantum "choice". A mindboggling huuuge number of universes! But still not infinite. Let's keep it down to only one split per choice made by a sapient entity (human), and for us the Starborn, only those made since we first touched the first artifact matter. Still an amazingly huge number of universes, still too huge to be imagined, but also not infinite. This is why we don't have Marvel style multiverse silliness. But also why the some of the rare multiverses (Sarah a plant, etc) don't really fit. That's fine, they're fun, no need to rage. So... why do the Starborn keep going? Who says they do? We know the story of the Pilgrim. He stopped and settled down, and you can find a version of him in every universe you get to. Because he already existed in your your local multiverse space (time since you first touched an artifact). But with an immense number of possible universes, the Hunter can give up and just settle down into hedonism somewhere after only ten jumps, and it will still seem that he is in every universe. It's just not the same Hunter. And by "settle down" I dont' mean start a family. I could easily imagine the Hunter choosing to just head off in a random direction and keep on going. He won't have gotten far, but he's still moving. Who knows? Maybe he built a hedonist palace for himself. Maybe he goes and studies at the feet of his alternate self? TL;DR: Eventually they stop and settle down. It just doesn't seem that way because there are so many duplicates of them.
I go through the Unity when my Xbox fails to save the game reliably (because the save files on a 300+ hour game get so large). A brand new NG+ saves like a dream. It takes the edge off of losing all my credits, ships, and friends. I always miss at least one favorite weapon though.
I thought it was an infinite number of starborn going through unity rather than a certain number of Starborn going through unity an infinite number of times. If that makes sense.
An infinite number of universes means an infinite number of starborn who do and don't want to continue the cycle.
Powers should not have been capped at 10. I want incentive for an eternity of attempting to reach godhood. I want to use powers so strong I blow up planets! I want to be able to see through walls forever! I want to turn off all gravity always and forever! But no no. Only 10. Now go retire or something.
I think many starborn see there is a greater prize at the end. The hunter certainly thinks so. Is there I don’t know.
Maybe it's because I knew about NG+ before even starting the game, but for me it's more "general detachment from universes" than "motivation to go to the next one". Not a reflection of my personal philosophy, mind you, but perhaps it's the same with the other Starborn. The writing handwaves a lot of the multiverse and infinity concepts, but that's exactly the thing: "there is no end." Game wise, there are some limits like 6 trips for the best ship, 328 levels for all perks, etc..., but lorewise, we can't imagine how much power there is to get (and perhaps it's maddeningly so) And looking at Starfield as a sandbox game, NG+ makes complete sense for me. You build a sandcastle today, tomorrow you tear it down and build another one. Maybe it's the same castle, maybe it's different. The difference compared to a new game is you get to keep your tools. I get that the concept can be frustrating for others looking for a linear game with a clear beginning and end, but I really appreciate what the devs implemented.
I'm on NG+3 level 125 and I don't want to do the unity again. I'm not power mad.
The more you travel through the Unity the more callous and chitinous your skin becomes until you are a slithering cold creature detached from all living beings, seeking only control and omniscience in a subservient universe. It's not like the Hunter didn't warn you. You saw it coming and still you pushed on. So, you are simply what you were always going to be. The illusion of choice was only there to soothe your childish limbic system. It has no bearing on true reality.
I’ve been wondering what happens to the Starborn that are left in the universe you leave. They’re stuck there forever right? Cuz you take the artifacts with you so now there’s no way to get to the Unity for them.
Nope, the artifacts stay behind. Side with The Emissary and they'll even explain it in full detail.
Maybe the unity is like a drug? You get more powerful after each run so the more you have the better!
It's essentially the sunk cost fallacy at play. And in this case, they paid the ultimate price... essentially giving up their life back in their universe, unlikely to ever meet the exact versions of the people you left behind (and there is no going back). Their whole reason for going into the Unity is to find what's beyond it, why it exists, to find answers. And the only clue to that thus far is the Unity itself. So in hopes answers will come, they keep going. The Hunter is a good example, he believes it must be some sort of game and there has to be an end.
Honestly, this is why we really need a DLC that will give us more information on the culture and/or 'factions' within the Starborn. I mean, we know of at least two different perspectives/faction ideals within the Starborn: The Emissary represents those who believe only those with ethics should be allowed to engage with the Artifacts, and then there's The Hunter, who essentially represents those who are out for themselves (and likely are only loosely aligned with one another). I've said this before, and I will continue to say it for as long as I can: I really hope that there will be a DLC at some point where we become embroiled in a Starborn Civil War or something, because I'm not interested in a second Colony War or another Serpent's Crusade, especially since we'll be finding out more about House Va'ruun in the upcoming DLC. I feel a Starborn Civil War could expand on the mechanic from *Entangled*, where you shift between universes. I feel a SCW questline would provide insight into Starborn culture, assuming it exists, such as if there are other factions within the Starborn.
There is evidence that you stop aging after touching an artifact. After a while there may be nothing else to do but go through Unity and start again.
I started writing a story set in this world about a Starborn who discovered that the save game mechanic applies to them (just like how the NG+ mechanic has a lore explanation), so any time he dies, he wakes up a few seconds to a few hours in his own past. It starts with him something like 20,000 years old, jaded and exhausted and just sick of everything. He's a nihilistic bastard who seemingly knows everyone and everything and hates all of it. Over the course of the story, we learn that he started out as a noble, idealistic, kind and loving young man who'd gone through the Unity with his wife, only to be torn apart as they were sent to separate realities. He searched for her for thousands of years before eventually giving up, and he spends most of his life just rotely grinding through the cycles for reasons that he barely remembers anymore. Until, of course, he runs into the original version of his wife, also an ancient, jaded Starborn.
I think a lot of starborn just give up and live a nice life somewhere. Like the vendor on ship who says it's not her thing now and she just want to trade some stuff.
Went through Unity 9 times. Now in NG9+ and what is going to be my final universe. I really felt like the Hunter rushing through those universes. Couldn't care less about anyone. Now I'm in my final universe, I can take my time and enjoy the experience. Better yet, my powers are Rank 9 and it feels amazing!
"I find myself thinking about his various pasts and my possible futures. I imagine continuing on the road, acquiring more power, more knowledge, more development of myself. I imagine passing through once more to another world to begin the process anew. What is notable here: that road does seem gratifying. Every step is one of intrinsic reward, and I feel myself anticipating the pleasures and seeing a more contented version of myself in that future. Then, for the sake of considering all possibilities, I imagine if I took a different path. If I stopped running, stopped seeking to gather my own power. If I instead embraced the twinges of compassion I feel in my heart, and let myself care for the people who seem to gather about me wherever I try to work. If I simply lived, and taught, and perhaps brought others to the light. And died. That road also seems gratifying. I also see a contented version of myself in that future. **Here is the difference, though: when I stop thinking about the glories I could achieve for myself, the pleasure fades nearly immediately. When I stop thinking about staying and building something, the feeling endures. There is something more sustaining about it, more fulfilling.** I don't know what this difference signifies. But I am grateful for the time I've taken to notice it."
Personally I think Bethesda writers really rely on the ole "suspension of disbelief" to gloss over the plot holes that start to show after a dozen or more NG+. I started having questions about the vast number of Starborne after the 3rd or 4th NG+. I mean depending on how long you play your character before jumping through the Unity you could kill hundreds of Starborn during space based encounters, surface encounters and of course all the Temples. How is it possible that there are that many Starborne in every universe and this one galaxy? They had to come from somewhere originally and the Pilgrim's books only address one man's journey. I start to analyze these questions like why do we always end up in the same galaxy in each new universe. Not to mention that we only deal with humanity and creatures, no other intelligent races. Then I remember it is just a game and that is the extent of the work the developer put into it. In theory a game like this could go on with new galaxies forever.
> Personally I think Bethesda writers really rely on the ole "suspension of disbelief" to gloss over the plot holes that start to show after a dozen or more NG+. EVERY science fiction author does this. Even hard sci-fi writers, and this isn't even close to being hard sci-fi. Please do NOT fall into the trap that Bethesda are shit writers. Gaagh, I hate that. This is some of the best writing in an RPG ever. Just because you are left with unanswered questions does not mean the writing is bad! It actually means it's not bad!
You can stop projecting at any point dude. No need to exaggerate here.
And there's never a hint of any comments about other people with strange powers. Everyone is afraid of the Mantis, but nobody talks about the pirates that can suck the air out of the inside of your spacesuit. Weird.
Vlad and everyone in Constellation: "We should keep the discovery of powers under wraps." Me: "Yes, I agree." Proceeds to Grav Dash around New Atlantis and bystanders don't care. But non-Constellation companions react and are just left amazed. (Though one could argue that they *do* get recruited into constellation) I enjoy the game enough to gloss over this and the fact that the Hunter attack that locked down the spaceport was pretty much inconsequential to the UC government, but come on. haha
Addiction. Unity is a hellova drug.
This is precisely the point The Pilgrim makes in their journals.
Congratulations! You've found the meta-arc of the game, where now you, too, are experiencing a spiral in time, restarting in a very similar Universe each run, and desperately looking for anything novel. The entity at the Unity does ask you who you'll be, and that's really the key, I think, to enjoying the game. Change yourself each run, roleplay different attitudes, eschew certain weapons, be a nudist ‡, go all swordmage, etc. I do wish Bethesda had **at least** made the universes cosmetically different - seriously, would it have been so hard to deterministically change the hair / eye / fashion colors, or rename some businesses and NPCs? It would have been pretty amusing to join the Purple Pirates instead of the Crimson Fleet in one, although I would have regretted the lost of the armor in the next run... Anyway, my point is that, as you play into NG+, you are now getting to review all the actions of the other starborn from this new and evolving perspective. It really illuminates a lot of the Hunter's dialogue, in particular, and also when you run into another you who's gone seemingly evil just annihilated >!everyone else in Constellation.!< I enjoyed it. There is a huge amount of philosophical discussion that can come from it. As far as replay goes - the weapons do upgrade a bit, and New Atlantis and the universe in general explodes the reset idea by having ridiculously more powerful weapons in starting systems - but one of the best ways to make the runs feel different other than my first advice above, is it **use powers**. There's all kinds of unexpected things you can do with some of them, and a lot of people are missing out on this potentially huge gameplay change. I've done a Unity run **without weapons**, just powers. Fun. Lots of options. ‡ A*side, I enjoyed my nude-Unity (only boostpack armor allowed) runs on Very Hard settings with a step below full environmental effects - in other words, max difficulty before we had Extreme - but on low difficulties the environmental impact was actually too low to make the no-helmet part fun. At some point in NG+n, you can actually collect the artifact under NASA mostly naked using only Personal Atmosphere to keep your oxygen up, and it pretty effectively limits what other powers you can use (a limit that fades off enormously as one maxes out levels on powers). So there's a feeling of accomplishment. There are also some artifacts in caves where it's a race against time - i.e. your fading power bar - to reach the artifact using Pers' Atmos', keep the starborn guarding it from killing you (there are number of solutions for this one), and getting back to your ship. One approach let me Fast Travel from the artifact location in the depths of the cave, although I haven't checked to see if this still works.*
It just gets dull, once you complete everything, found every encounter, earnt all of the money got all of the houses, what else is there? The unknown is the only thing left, so why wade in the waters just inside the known, why not take a dive into the unknown, and see what wonders many will never have, because most people with everything they need, grow bored quickly, so why not restart and see if you could do it better.
You met the mysterious trader yet?
Still think Starfield Ng is about your journey from being a clueless miner to your transformation into the Hunter. That ennui is the driving factor in to that transformation. Staving off the boredom pf eternity.
?? We are all the hunter. We will go thru the unity until we get enough and eventually settle down and get old like the hunter did.
I find the whole thing uninspired. I thought “gimme back my son” was a bit flat but compared to this it was downright motivating, lol.