I have put together a list of potential values to apply to various species. What I am proposing is setting up values in a system similar to Ethics in Stellaris. Each value will be a trait and have a corresponding opposite value. Species cannot have opposing values, but can have multiple different values. In this proposal the traits are grouped in positive values that generate happiness and their corresponding opposite negative values that generate unhappiness. Positive values aren't meant to be "good" and negative values aren't meant to be "bad", the distinction in on weather or not they increase or reduce happiness.
Positive Values:
- Gregarious: the opposite of Xenophobic. Generates happiness on surrounding colonies of other species.
- Warrior: the opposite of Pacifist. Generates happiness based on the number of troops and when at war.
- Cosmopolitan: the opposite of Isolationist. Generates happiness when near another empire's supply range and when in an alliance.
- Tribal: the opposite of Unified. Generates happiness based on distance of colonies of the same species.
- Industrial: the opposite of Environmentalist. Generates happiness based on the fraction of planets set to production.
- Elite: the opposite of Lowbrow. Generates happiness based on the fraction of planets set to research.
- Conformist: the opposite of Deviant. Generates happiness based on the fraction of planets set to influence.
Cosmopolitan species like foreign and alien cultures. Tribal species have diverse cultures and their communities value their autonomy and so like to spread out. Industrial species like industry and production. Elite species like academia and research. Conformist species like social stability and control.
Negative Values:
- Xenophobic: the opposite of Gregarious. Generates unhappiness on surrounding colonies of other species.
- Pacifist: the opposite of Warrior. Generates unhappiness based on the number of troops and when at war.
- Isolationist: the opposite of Cosmopolitan. Generates unhappiness when near another empire's supply range and when in an alliance.
- Unified: the opposite of Tribal. Generates unhappiness based on distance of colonies of the same species.
- Environmentalist: the opposite of Industrial. Generates unhappiness based on the fraction of planets set to production.
- Lowbrow: the opposite of Elite. Generates unhappiness based on the fraction of planets set to research.
- Deviant: the opposite of Conformist. Generates unhappiness based on the fraction of planets set to influence.
I would suggest that there should be unhappiness generated if an empire has species with opposing values, or a mutual negative opinion effect of some kind.
Anyway,I am hoping thsi generates some discussion on the topic so we can flesh it out.