2025 Recap (12.12.2025)

Recap time : but I am gonna throw something into it as well : A bit of lore about someone you already met in mod.

So 2025 in that regard, now that I had also chance to look at all data was really crazy, and to show you all let's go through combined patch notes for each module.

Dreams of Past

• Overhauled entire awakening system, making it now like major event, similar to Colony crisis or Hyperspace Topography, with unique rewards.
• Added two new skills related towards admins and administrators, that can be get from awakening event: Man out of time
• Replaced sprite of Ark
• Added new condition: Domain Majority

Lore time for newcomers: Dreams of Past is what started entire Ashes of the Domain. Nearly 3 years ago, name of this mod, was actually Cryosleeper 2.0 : Domain Electric Boogallo Edition.

By far module that is most competed, given it's smaller scale. I do really loved making entire event, to feel like it is more... grandeur? And also I can finally have size 7-8 colonies without feeling cheating.

Question of Loyalty

• Added ability to revolt from commissioner faction
• Added ability to retire from commissioner faction
• Added bonuses to retirement
• Added consequences of your actions (when you rebel or betray a faction)
• Removed blockade on attacking commissioner fleets; instead, once you hit -50 reputation, you are out of the faction as a traitor and bounty fleets will pursue you
• Added a new way of handling vanilla dedicated colony crises with some of the vanilla factions
• Added more missions to be included in earning commission points (bar missions)
• Nerfed earning points from destroying fleets significantly
• Buffed earning points from surveys slightly

Question of Loyalty might feel a bit abandoned, compared to other modules, given amount of updates. I was thinking about it for long time, and there is huge chance, that this module will be incorporated as part of Seats of Power.

I personally feel it's good, but can be much much better and intricate. Time will tell, what this module will turn out, as you need to remember, beside Dreams of Past, rest is basically heavily work in progress.

Vaults of Knowledge

• Overhaul of entire Special Project mechanic: now having its own tab
• Introduced 4 new projects related to AI cores, new commodity ship enhancement, and corrupted nanoforges
• Reworked entire framework for Special Projects, allowing much more customization
• Added production reports and production history for weapons, ships, and fighters
• Removed 7 structures/industries: Orbital Manufactirum, Fracking, Polcrystalizator, Cascade Reprocessor, Planetary Defence Force, Heavy Production, and Stella Manufactorium
• Added 7 new structures/industries: Exomatter Processing, Plasma Harvester, Maglev Central Hub, Black Site, Trade Outpost, Macro-Industrial Complex, and Star Citadel
• Commerce and Underworld are now upgrades from Trade Outpost
• Added new type of market: Trade Outpost Market
• Removed upkeep from megastructures when claimed and not restored; lowered upkeep costs of restored sections while increasing restoration costs
• Special Projects are now Black Site projects, which require Black Site to be operational
• Some industries now have custom AI core effects
• Added a growing demand mechanic for certain AotD commodities (Domain Heavy Machinery and Compound)
• Added 2 new special projects as collaborations: What We Left Behind and Neon Ship Pack
• Added new pre-colonization mechanic: Colony Development Path, allowing long-term colony specialization choices
• Overhauled the Shroud encounter and the method to obtain hullmods and weapons
• Added 1 new commodity: Tenebrium Cells
• Added 4 new colony items
• Added 2 superweapons
• Added a fourth upgrade for high-tech and low-tech stations: Star Citadel
• Added 9 additional Special Projects
• Overhauled the scientist mechanic: additional recruitable scientists, each with upkeep, a passive skill, and an active ability (active only when they are head of R&D)
• Megastructures now spawn in the same constellation as Hypershunt (with potential future spawning within ~10 LY)
• Adjusted the tech tree and added new bonuses to compensate for the removal of some industries
• Added 4 new technologies to research
• Changed production for several industries and updated their names and descriptions
• Overhauled the Nidavelir texture and made it visible in additional parts of the UI
• Research UI now supports proper hover tooltips
• Overhauled the Synergy mechanic and added 22 industry synergies
• PCF facility entries can now be deleted (Thanks Purple Nebula)
• Replaced all industry AI sprites with artwork by Cy/Milkydrommeda, Neoysod, and Jeremy Cohen
• Creation of Building Menu Overhaul (First was meant to be Vaults of Knowledge feature, but I decided to be too much Quality of Life, thus I split it to separate mod)

Alright fine... I am not beating allegations, that Vaults of Knowledge is the "favourite child" from all modules. Especially that because of this module, another mod has been born, that is not AoTD module, but it is being used by two of them.

In entire retrospective and because of other people opinions, I do also think, that Vaults of Knowledge is what kickstarted massive popularity for Ashes of the Domain. The whole idea of progression in colonies with tech tree and all stuff. This module went through a lot of updates, overhauls. And ofc introducing our beloved scientist : Sophia Anderson.

In any case: Silence AoTD module, a "new" AoTD module is speaking.

Seats of Power

• Added Faction Timeline and Events
• Added Faction XP and Faction Policies
• Added Faction Overview
• Added Faction Goals and their perks
• Added a new type of buildings: Capital Buildings
• Added 2 structures: Nova Exploraria and Hexagon
• Added faction policies
• Added Patrol Fleet Overhaul

A brand "new" addition to collection. Another lore time for new comers. There was time at the very beginning, where we had 3 modules. Cryosleeper Options (Dreams of Past), Vaults of Knowledge, and Seats of Power. Back then I removed SoP, cause it was unrefined, compared to other modules. But now here we are, with fresh, new module.

Unfortunate for VoK, this is going to be new favourite child for next year, as 4.0 Seats of Power patch will be even bigger, than 4.0 Vaults of Knowledge. Bringing in a lot of new mechanics.

In 2025, there was also major shift, that is still not directly in mod, but involves one person you met. Sophia Anderson. Her design has changed drastically over this year, and thanks to one artist especially. Some friends will already know about who I am speaking so without further do: Thanks DNS

Design and Lore of Sophia Anderson

Here quick image so you can see her first design, which is still in game.

Tech Tree and Sophia

A lot of people coming here, are from my discord ( I think?) That is why I ll recap here her lore very quick. Wanna read more come to my server.

Sophia Anderson is a woman born on Eventide in Cycle 206 in Anderson Family , raised by her father Alexander (Yes hellsing fans calm down). Now around twenty-five years old, she comes from one of the system’s most influential families, which gave her access to education and opportunities far beyond the average citizen. Her academic talent and connections made her career as a Galatia Academy scientist exceptionally promising from an early age.

During one expedition beyond the Core Worlds, Sophia discovered an extremely old and largely undocumented neural implant. Its primary purpose was to enhance the brain’s neural network, granting heightened cognition and a limited ability to interface with machines. The implant proved to be a double-edged sword: strengths became greater, but flaws were magnified just as intensely.

Her already strong thirst for knowledge grew into obsession, while her long-standing alcoholism—developed during countless sleepless nights in the Galatia Scholarship Program—worsened significantly. After witnessing what a single forgotten piece of Domain-era technology could achieve, Sophia became fixated on the reclamation of lost Domain knowledge, convinced that even greater wonders remained buried and waiting to be uncovered.

A quick recap of all important stuff. So now let's see that reflect in new design.

It is dns fault

Artwork itself was a gift from my friend and writer : Myriad. Artist did a good job representing her new design as well as new clothing.

In next year, she will receive new portrait sprite, that will be up-to date with her current design.

Full transition from AI Art

This year, finally all of Ashes of the Domain AI Artwork has been replaced. Thanks to efforts of artist listed on website, where huge thanks goes to big 3 : CY/Milkydrommeda, Neoysod and Jeremy Cohen.

Entire AI art debt has finally been dealt with, and here you can see all of artwork done so far for mod! That would not ever be possible without huge financial support on Patreon.

Thank you all for this!

2026

As was discussed in prev dev diary, 2026 will be densely packed with content, much much more than this years. With it I also wanna ask you all for financial support on Patreon. I aim to earn around 1.1k euro monthly, so it can not only cover art expenses, but also mine as well. Truth be told, now with knee busted and constantly going from interview to interview, this is my only source of income.

I appreciate every cent I get because it is nothing more than a good will from people and their showcase of support. So for all of that I really thank you all. The only way I can show you that gratitude is by my hard work. You are gonna see soon something that I had spent a lot of money in mod, something that I don't think anyone expects to be done inside starsector engine.

Wait a minute... we forget about sth this year ahh right.

Virtues of Society

Obliterated