Galactic Civilizations IV has many old and beloved civilizations in its lineup, but also has several newcomers that we know you’ll enjoy - including the members of the Baratak Grove, a race of sentient tree-like creatures who have taken root.
The above line might sound like a pun (and don’t get me wrong, it absolutely is), but it’s not all that far from the truth of what the Baratak are best at: reviving dead worlds. The stout citizens of the Grove require very little in order to feel content and, because of their hardiness and innate abilities, they are able to grow, thrive, and flourish on just about any world.
The catch with the Baratak is that pollution is severely detrimental to their health and well-being. Originally denizens of a garden paradise, the Baratak followed a unique evolutionary path as the most advanced of an array of symbiotic life forms within their homeworld’s ecosystem. As plant-like creatures whose health is dependent on nutrients and clean air, worlds that become too polluted will eventually be unable to house them and could accumulate some severe penalties.
The Baratak are intuitive and start the game with access to Xeno Anthropology technologies, as well as a free culture trait. Their “spores” ability allows them to deploy spores to 3 dead worlds in order to restore life; each time they gain a new culture trait, another charge is earned so that they can revitalize another planet.
At their core, the Baratak believe in upholding tradition. Tradition is at the root of their empire and is what allows their culture to grow and flourish. They are intolerant of threats to their way of life and aren’t shy about expressing their disdain for the way the rest of the civilizations in the galaxy behave in regards to nature - and just about anything else, for that matter.
The Baratak are able to explore further from their borders in order to seek out dead worlds and restore them to former glory. They are also staunch and courageous defenders of their home and anyone attempting to invade their space is in for a hefty challenge if they’re hoping to succeed.
The Baratak Grove is one of over a dozen civilizations available in Galactic Civilizations IV, which is in beta right now! If you haven’t joined the beta yet, you can get more information on that here. If you’re already playing, let me know what your favorite civilization is and if you’ve tried the Baratak Grove yet!
Check out our other Civilization Highlights:
Meet the Mimot Brotherhood
Meet the Terran Alliance
Meet the Manti Cluster