Faction icon of the Empire
The Empire is an ultra tech level faction added by the Royalty DLC, with a variety of unique mechanics.
They can have a randomized name with a Greek theme, though the description will contain "Empire".
You can choose to join the Empire promoting your pawns with Nobility ranks and being rewarded with things such as the powerful Psycasts, Monoswords, or Cataphract armor; Alternatively you can fight them and loot the same things.
Empire caravans, trade ships and settlements can only be traded with by a pawn that holds the title of knight/dame or higher. This pawn must be in any be the one to initiate the trade and must be present in any caravan parties.
Lore
An ultratech refugee society from the planet Sophiamunda. Their culture is based on a code of honor, a strict class system, and enforced social stasis. These are the survivors of a great calamity that tore apart Sophian society. They fled to the rimworld using the remnants of their fleet. Despite losing so much, their ships and technology still make them powerful. They will refuse to trade with anyone who lacks the appropriate royal title.
— In-game faction description
The Empire are the remnants of a technologically advanced interstellar empire, or of one section of it, originating from the planet Sophiamunda that have fled from a great calamity. They are organized in a feudal hierarchy nominally headed by a far-off Emperor, however, due to the lack of faster-than-light travel, much of true day to day power is held by the Stellarchs who have dominion over their entire star system.
Various facts about the Empire can be gleaned from Imperial Backstories, namely:
- The noble households are served by the common folk in a variety of roles from domestic to military, despite the technology available to the Empire before its fall.
- An Imperial Church exists, monotheistic organization with both Inquisitors in the church's anti-heresy school, and psychics in the church's psychic school. The church also provided Chaplains for the military, non-combatants that provided for the medical and spiritual needs of the soldiery.
- Grand, ancient starships acted as powerbases for noble families along side more traditional planetary holdings. Nobles and commoners alike would be born and raised on these ships.
- Wars of succession, as well as smaller scale conflicts over inheritance, were not unheard of. Some families implemented contingencies to guard against this.
- They fielded a developed military and, unlike most Glitterworlds, it saw combat, possibly routinely but definitely within the last generation. This combat included both planetary combat, involving infantry and aircraft, and space-borne ship-to-ship combat.
- Noble titles are primarily hereditary, and at least some families practiced primogeniture. Those that did apparently practiced absolute, rather than male-preference, primogeniture.
Note that while the update to version 1.3.3066 removed the reference in the faction description to a "multi-planet empire", the Title descriptions of make reference to multiple Consuls each in charge of their own planet, and multiple Stellarchs each in charge of their own star system. Thus, the Empire is, or was, canonically multiplanetary and interstellar.
Nature of the calamity
An ultratech refugee society from another planet, organized along feudal lines. They lived for thousands of years in a stable multi-planet empire with a strict caste system, an intricate code of warrior ethics, and enforced cultural stasis. Invaded by powerful outsiders, they fled. Despite losing almost all of their people, their fleet and technology still make them powerful. They will refuse to trade with anyone who lacks the appropriate royal title.
— In-game faction description prior to
1.3.3066
The calamity that forced the Empire from their territory and to the rimworld where the game takes place was originally explicitly invasion by a powerful, unknown enemy. This was confirmed by both the in-game description and contemporary statements by RimWorld developer, Tynan Sylvester. With the changes to the faction description in 1.3 to references to a nonspecific "calamity", it is unclear whether this invasion is still canon.
What arrives at the rimworld is a fragment of a destroyed Empire which was mostly annihilated by some unknown enemy. It's a small refugee fleet with tiny numbers of people but very strong technology and an honor-and-tradition based culture. They're led by a stellarch, the highest-ranking person in their faction. The Emperor never shows up in the game.
Inspiration
The Empire appears to be roughly based on the Byzantine Empire - a fracturing, once-mighty empire driven from their previous homeland. This inspiration carries over to the use of Greek-inspired names for imperial pawns, similar Greek and Latin inpsiration for their settlements and their use of term Cataphracts for their heavily armored elite forces. Janissaries, conversely, are Ottoman in origin. The Ottomans were, in part, a successor to the Eastern Roman Empire. This is partially confirmed by the above quote from Tynan.
Names
The name of the Empire varies from game to game, but follows one of several patterns:
- [Empire] of [ofThing]
- The [Empire] of [ofThing]
- The Exodus [Empire]
- The Refugee [Empire]
- The Broken [Empire]
- The Shattered [Empire]
- The Fallen [Empire]
- The [Color] [Empire]
Where [Color], [Empire] and [ofThing] are replaced by one of the following:
| Part
|
Word |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| [Empire]
|
Empire
|
Commonwealth
|
Imperium
|
Dominion
|
Sovereignty
|
|
|
|
| [ofThing]
|
[Constructed Word]
|
the Sun
|
the Moon
|
the Universe
|
God
|
Perfection
|
Eternity
|
the Spirit
|
| [Color]
|
Red
|
Blue
|
Green
|
Purple
|
Black
|
White
|
Gray
|
Orange
|
Examples:
- The Imperium of the Sun
- The Green Commonwealth
- The Exodus Sovereignty
Pawns
Main article:
Empire/PawnsEmpire pawns always have backstories from the "Imperial Common", "Imperial Fighter", or "Imperial Royal" categories. While "Imperial Common" is nominally the default, Imperial Citizens can spawn with backstories from either the "Imperial Common" or "Imperial Fighter" categories, Troopers, Janissaries, Champions, Cataphracts, Stellic Wardens and Stellic Defenders spawn with the "Imperial Fighter" category exclusively, while Bestowers and Nobles, including the Noble "Wimp", always have backstories from the "Imperial Royal" category.
| Pawn Type |
Image |
Combat Power |
Gear Health (%) |
Avg. Gear Quality |
Clothing Budget |
Weapon Budget |
Available Weapons |
Age Range |
Additional Info
|
| Imperial Citizen
|
 |
30 |
100 |
? |
200-1000 |
? |
Charge lance Charge rifle Persona monosword Persona plasmasword Persona zeushammer |
Up to 65 |
Never has Nudist trait. Will always be a noble between Freeholder and Knight/Dame. Will only rarely spawn with a weapon - additionally they will only ever spawn with a gun when also spawning with a military Backstory, and will only ever spawn with a persona weapon when spawning also as a Knight or Dame.
8% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Cochlear implant Peg leg Prosthetic arm Prosthetic heart Prosthetic leg Wooden foot Wooden hand.
|
| Imperial Trader
|
 |
40 |
? |
? |
1250-2500 |
1100-3500 |
Autopistol Revolver |
Up to 65 |
Will always be a noble of at least Freeholder rank. Always spawns with either a Beret, Top hat (Males only) or Ladies hat (females only). 15% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Aesthetic nose Bionic ear Bionic stomach Bionic tongue Drill arm Field hand Joywire Painstopper Power claw
|
| Laborer
|
 |
30 |
100 |
? |
200-1000 |
? |
? |
Up to 50 |
Is never incapable of Dumb Labor, Skilled Labor, Cleaning, Hauling, Mining and Firefighting. Never has Nudist trait.
8% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Cochlear implant Peg leg Prosthetic arm Prosthetic heart Prosthetic leg Wooden foot Wooden hand.
|
| Trooper
|
 |
65 |
70-230 |
? |
5000-8000 |
1100-2500 |
Assault rifle Chain shotgun Heavy SMG Hellcat rifle LMG |
Up to 55 |
Always has a Flak jacket, Flak vest, Flak pants and implanted Death acidifier. Has a 25% chance to have a Gunlink. Can spawn with implants. Never has Brawler or Body purist trait. Always has Shooting skill between 4 and 10.
30% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Aesthetic nose Aesthetic shaper Armorskin gland Circadian assistant Circadian half-cycler Coagulator Drill arm Field hand Gastro-analyzer Healing enhancer Immunoenhancer Learning assistant Love enhancer Neurocalculator Nuclear stomach Reprocessor stomach Sterilizing stomach Toughskin gland.
|
| Janissary
|
 |
100 |
70-230 |
? |
6000-9000 |
1550-2700 |
Assault rifle Chain shotgun Charge lance Charge rifle Heavy SMG Hellcat rifle LMG Sniper rifle |
Up to ? |
Always has Black Recon armor, an implanted Death acidifier and either a Black Recon helmet (80% chance) or Gunlink (20% chance). Can spawn with implants. Never has Brawler or Body purist trait. Always has Shooting skill between 6 and 10.
30% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Aesthetic nose Aesthetic shaper Armorskin gland Circadian assistant Circadian half-cycler Coagulator Drill arm Field hand Gastro-analyzer Healing enhancer Immunoenhancer Learning assistant Love enhancer Neurocalculator Nuclear stomach Reprocessor stomach Sterilizing stomach Toughskin gland.
|
| Champion
|
 |
100 |
70-230 |
? |
1100-2500 |
1250-2500 |
Axe Gladius Longsword Mace Monosword Plasmasword Spear Warhammer Zeushammer |
Up to 40 |
Always has white Plate armor and a Shield belt. Can spawn with implants. Never has Body purist trait. Always has a Melee skill between 8 and 13.
30% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Aesthetic nose Aesthetic shaper Armorskin gland Bionic arm Bionic ear Bionic eye Bionic heart Bionic leg Bionic spine Bionic stomach Bionic tongue Circadian assistant Circadian half-cycler Coagulator Detoxifier kidney Detoxifier lung Drill arm Field hand Gastro-analyzer Healing enhancer Immunoenhancer Joywire Learning assistant Love enhancer Neurocalculator Nuclear stomach Painstopper Power claw Reprocessor stomach Sterilizing stomach Toughskin gland.
|
| Grenadier
|
? |
100 |
70-230 |
? |
6000-9000 |
1100~2500 |
Frag grenades |
Up to 55 |
Always has green Marine armor and helmet, and an implanted Death acidifier. Never has Brawler or Body purist traits. Always has a Shooting skill between 4 and 10.
30% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Aesthetic nose Aesthetic shaper Armorskin gland Circadian assistant Circadian half-cycler Coagulator Drill arm Field hand Gastro-analyzer Healing enhancer Immunoenhancer Learning assistant Love enhancer Neurocalculator Nuclear stomach Reprocessor stomach Sterilizing stomach Toughskin gland.
|
| Cataphract
|
 |
150 |
70-230 |
? |
7000-10000 |
1250-2500 |
Charge lance Charge rifle Minigun |
Up to 40 |
Always has white Cataphract armor, implanted Death acidifier and Armorskin gland, and either a white Cataphract helmet (80% chance) or a Gunlink (20% chance). Has a small chance to be Yeoman, but if not, will always be a Freeholder. Never has Brawler or Body purist traits. Always has a Shooting skill between 8 and 12.
30% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Aesthetic nose Aesthetic shaper Armorskin gland Bionic arm Bionic ear Bionic eye Bionic heart Bionic leg Bionic spine Bionic stomach Bionic tongue Circadian assistant Circadian half-cycler Coagulator Detoxifier kidney Detoxifier lung Drill arm Field hand Gastro-analyzer Healing enhancer Immunoenhancer Joywire Learning assistant Love enhancer Neurocalculator Nuclear stomach Painstopper Power claw Reprocessor stomach Sterilizing stomach Stoneskin gland Toughskin gland.
|
| Stellic Warden
|
 |
150 |
100 |
Excellent |
7000-10000 |
3000-3500 |
Persona monosword Persona plasmasword Persona zeushammer |
Up to 40 |
Always has a Black Prestige cataphract helmet, Red Prestige cataphract armor and hyperweave clothes, Shield belt, and implanted Death acidifier, Stoneskin gland, and 2x Bionic eyes. Will always be a Knight/Dame. Never has Body purist, Wimp or Nudist traits. Always has a Melee skill between 11 and 16. Can never spawn with a Mindscrew.
30% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Aesthetic nose Aesthetic shaper Armorskin gland Bionic arm Bionic ear Bionic eye Bionic heart Bionic leg Bionic spine Bionic stomach Bionic tongue Circadian assistant Circadian half-cycler Coagulator Detoxifier kidney Detoxifier lung Drill arm Field hand Gastro-analyzer Healing enhancer Immunoenhancer Joywire Learning assistant Love enhancer Neurocalculator Nuclear stomach Painstopper Power claw Psychic harmonizer Psychic reader Psychic sensitizer Reprocessor stomach Sterilizing stomach Stoneskin gland Toughskin gland.
|
| Stellic Defender
|
 |
150 |
100 |
Excellent |
7000-10000 |
3000-3500 |
Charge lance Charge rifle |
Up to 40 |
Always has a Black Prestige cataphract helmet, Red Prestige cataphract armor and hyperweave clothes, and implanted Death acidifier, Stoneskin gland, and 2x Bionic eyes. Will always be a noble between Freeholder and Knight/Dame. Never has Body purist, Brawler, Wimp or Nudist traits. Always has a Shooting skill between 11 and 16. Can never spawn with a Mindscrew.
30% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Aesthetic nose Aesthetic shaper Armorskin gland Bionic arm Bionic ear Bionic eye Bionic heart Bionic leg Bionic spine Bionic stomach Bionic tongue Circadian assistant Circadian half-cycler Coagulator Detoxifier kidney Detoxifier lung Drill arm Field hand Gastro-analyzer Healing enhancer Immunoenhancer Joywire Learning assistant Love enhancer Neurocalculator Nuclear stomach Painstopper Power claw Psychic harmonizer Psychic reader Psychic sensitizer Reprocessor stomach Sterilizing stomach Stoneskin gland Toughskin gland.
|
| Bestower
|
 |
50 |
? |
Excellent |
1000~1500 |
99999 |
Eltex staff |
50+ |
Always has a Red Hood, red hyperweave Prestige robe, red formal shirt, red hyperweave pants. Has an 8% chance to also spawn with a red eltex vest. Never has Body purist or Nudist traits. Is never incapable of Violence.
15% chance to have one of the following prostheses: Aesthetic nose Aesthetic shaper Armorskin gland Bionic arm Bionic ear Bionic eye Bionic heart Bionic leg Bionic spine Bionic stomach Bionic tongue Circadian assistant Circadian half-cycler Coagulator Detoxifier kidney Detoxifier lung Drill arm Field hand Gastro-analyzer Healing enhancer Immunoenhancer Joywire Learning assistant Love enhancer Neurocalculator Nuclear stomach Painstopper Power claw Psychic harmonizer Psychic reader Psychic sensitizer Reprocessor stomach Sterilizing stomach Stoneskin gland Toughskin gland.
|
| Yeoman
|
 |
120 |
100 |
Excellent |
? |
? |
Monosword Plasmasword Zeushammer |
? |
Will always be a yeoman. Wears miscellaneous clothes depending on their role in the empire. Has a 30% chance to wear a cape
|
| Acolyte
|
? |
125 |
100 |
Excellent |
? |
? |
Monosword Plasmasword Zeushammer |
? |
Will always be an acolyte. Always wears a tan-coloured formal shirt, cape and a black beret. All clothes will be made of synthread.
|
| Knight/Dame
|
? |
130 |
130 |
Excellent |
? |
? |
Monosword Persona monosword Persona plasmasword Persona zeushammer Plasmasword Zeushammer |
? |
Will always be a knight/dame. Always wears a black-coloured formal shirt, cape and beret. All clothes will be made of synthread.
|
| Praetor
|
? |
135 |
100 |
Excellent |
? |
? |
Monosword Persona monosword Persona plasmasword Persona zeushammer Plasmasword Zeushammer |
? |
Will always be a praetor. Always wears a grey-coloured formal shirt, cape and a black beret. All clothes will be made of synthread.
|
| Baron/Baroness
|
? |
135 |
100 |
Excellent |
? |
? |
Monosword Persona monosword Persona plasmasword Persona zeushammer Plasmasword Zeushammer |
? |
Will always be a baron/baroness. Always wears a formal shirt, a formal vest (Male) or corset (Female), a cape and a steel coronet. Non-pants clothes will be dyed grey or purple at random. All clothes will be made of synthread.
|
| Count/Countess
|
? |
135 |
100 |
Excellent |
? |
? |
Monosword Persona monosword Persona plasmasword Persona zeushammer Plasmasword Zeushammer |
? |
Will always be a count/countess. Always wears a purple formal shirt, a black formal vest (Male) or corset (Female), a purple cape or prestige robe and a steel coronet. All clothes will be made of synthread.
|
| Duke/Duchess
|
? |
135 |
100 |
Excellent |
? |
? |
Monosword Persona monosword Persona plasmasword Persona zeushammer Plasmasword Zeushammer |
? |
Will always be a duke/duchess. Always wears a purple formal shirt, a black formal vest (Male) or corset (Female), a purple cape or prestige robe and a plasteel coronet. All clothes will be made of synthread.
|
| Consul
|
|
135 |
100 |
Excellent |
? |
? |
Monosword Persona monosword Persona plasmasword Persona zeushammer Plasmasword Zeushammer |
? |
Will always be a consul. Always wears a navy blue formal shirt, navy blue formal vest (Male) or corset (Female), white cape or prestige robe and a plasteel coronet. All clothes will be made of hyperweave.
|
| Stellarch
|
 |
135 |
100 |
Excellent |
? |
? |
Monosword Persona monosword Persona plasmasword Persona zeushammer Plasmasword Zeushammer |
? |
Will always be a stellarch. Always wears a purple formal shirt, purple formal vest (Male) or corset (Female), red prestige robe and a golden stellic crown. All clothes will be made of hyperweave.
|
Faction bases
Despite being ostensibly space based, the Empire maintains settlements on the surface of the planet, presumably as outposts. Trading with these outposts requires a title of Knight/Dame or above.
If attacked, these bases always/usually have:
The base is usually defended by the a force approximating the following:
- 5x Troopers
- 3x-4x Janissaries
- 2x Cataphracts
- 4x Champions
Royal Tribute Collector
If you are not hostile to the Empire, Royal Tribute Collectors will visit the colony approximately twice a year. Tribute collectors are essentially Empire-only trade caravans that exclusively accept gold and prisoners in exchange for Honor.
Version History
- Royalty Release - Added
- 1.1.2647 - Stellic Wardens and Defenders now spawn with prestige cataphract armor and helmets, instead of regular cataphract armor and helmets.
- 1.2.2719 - Empire soldiers now have more distinctive haircuts. Empire is no longer enemy with civil NPC factions. Warning added if players call Empire military aid when there are enemies on the map that the aid won't fight. All Empire pawns have at least the title of Freeholder. Bestowers and Bestowal Ceremony added to Titles mechanics. Empire faction bases will have a throne room and shuttle pad, often with a shuttle on it about to take off.
- 1.2.2753 - Bestower is no longer required to have archotech eyes.
- 1.3.3080 - No longer proselytizers
, making it less annoying to host them.
See Also
References
- Human Factions
- Ancients (Neutral, Hostile) • Tribes (Gentle, Fierce, Savage, Cannibal, Nudist, Fierce neanderthal
, Savage impid) • Outlanders (Civil, Rough, Rough pig) • Pirates (Normal, Cannibal, Yttakin, Waster) • Empire 
- Non-human Factions
- Insectoids • Mechanoids
- Related
- Faction base • Raider
