4.x.x Stellaris Compatible 🔷 AETHER is a curated overhaul built around Real Space, NSC, Planetary Diversity, UI Overhaul, and Ethics & Civics—expanding scale, strategy, and storytelling while preserving balance, performance, and clarity. Version 4.2.1 – “Celestial Overwrite”


Please be aware: This mod collection is developed and primarily tested on Windows.
Compatibility and performance on Linux or macOS are not guaranteed, and I cannot offer dedicated support for issues specific to these operating systems. You may encounter unexpected behavior or performance issues.

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Version: 4.2.1 - “Celestial Overwrite"
Compatible with Stellaris Game Version: 4.x.x
Last Updated: 19/05/2025

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• A Hotfix Odyssey - Great collection trying some new and different things (No Bug branch and uses planetary diversity, which will add more stability to the gameplay in my opinion)

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AETHER is a curated mod collection crafted for players who want to expand Stellaris into a grander, deeper, and more beautiful game—without breaking its narrative tone or performance. It focuses on galactic scale, internal complexity, visual polish, and strategic diversity.

Whether you're roleplaying an ancient empire, engineering a technocratic utopia, or conquering through war and vassalage, AETHER provides the tools and immersion to make it epic.

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These are the foundational mods that AETHER is built around. Removing any of them is not recommended.

• Real Space – Vastly expands galactic scale, visuals, and realism
  
• NSC3 – New Ship Classes & More – Adds advanced fleet mechanics, new ships, and military roles
  
• Real Space – New Frontiers – Introduces new planet and star classes with real gameplay impact
  
• UI Overhaul Dynamic (+ Extensions) – Streamlines and improves Stellaris’ interface
  
• Ethics & Civics: Bug Branch – Deepens internal politics, ethics, and civics systems

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Enhance and tailor your game with these optional mods that integrate smoothly with the AETHER core.

• Major Expansions:
  Archaeology Story Pack, Forgotten Empires, Extra Events, More Events Mod, Xenology – Biological Module (Ever Universe), Real Space – New Frontiers, Extra Ship Components NEXT, NSC3
  
  
• Ethics, Civics & Balance Enhancements:
  Empires Expanded, Uncivic – New Mechanics for Vanilla Civics, NGS Ethics Variant, E&C: Bug Branch – 7 Ethic Points, Ethics & Civics: Bug Branch, EthicsSpawnBias - EC:BugBranch Compatch
  
  
• Visuals & Atmosphere:
  Immersive Beautiful Stellaris, Amazing Space Battles (+ASB Addons), Kleom’s Colorful Ships, SE – Restyled, Flags: Emblems & Backgrounds
  
  
• AI & Fixes:
  AI Game Performance Optimisation, Smarter Hyper Relays, Stellaris Fixes, No More Exclaves, Better Ship Behaviors
  
  
• Tech & Traditions:
  Technology Ascendant, Reworked Advanced Ascension, !!Universal Modifier Patch, ESC NEXT: Overwrites – Component Progression, Ascension Perks Broadened, Plentiful Traditions (+Extra Perks)
  
  
• UI Modules & Extensions:
  UI Overhaul Addons – SpeedDial, Ascension Slots, More Traditions, Improved Text, Extended Topbar, Tiny Outliner, Tiny Options, Agress0r’s UI, UI + Bug Branch
  
  
• Quality of Life & Utility:
  Intuitive Habitables Slider, No Default Empires, Name Lists (Cybrxkhan), Portrait Trigger Pack, SE – Asset Repackage, Ultimate Automation, ! Casako’s Framework & Modmenu, ! Universal Game Rules Patch
  
  
• Leader & Trait Variety:
  Conditional Leader Backgrounds, Another Leader Traits Mod, More AI Personalities

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For flawless mod management and compatibility, AETHER uses the Irony Mod Manager[bcssov.github.io].
This tool streamlines mod installation and maintenance, allowing you to focus on strategy and exploration without worrying about conflicts or load order.

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• AETHER – Irony – Load Order
  
• AETHER – Mod Recommendations
  
• AETHER – Full Changelog

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• Sartek – Currently incompatible with 4.x.x

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• No compatibility-breaking changes. Existing save games from 4.2.0 remain stable and fully functional.
  
  
• New Additions:
  
  • Ascension Perks Broadened 4.0 – Adds a wide variety of new ascension perks with strategic depth
    
  • Plentiful Traditions 4.x – Greatly expands the number of available tradition trees
    
  • Plentiful Traditions 4.x – Extra Perks – Supplements Plentiful Traditions with additional perks
    
  • Better Ship Behaviors – Improves AI fleet movement and ship combat logic
    
  • More Specialized Zones – Adds new planetary designation options for more flexible economic management
    
  • UI Overhaul Dynamic – Tiny Options – Adds extended toggles and refinements to the outliner and HUD
    
  • ! Universal Game Rules Patch – Enables better interaction between rule-changing mods
  
  
• No Removals: All existing mods from 4.2.0 were retained.
  
  
• Changelog Summary:
  This update builds on 4.2.0’s core by expanding customization and automation options while continuing to support enhanced fleet behavior and UI clarity.
  Designed for continued campaigns – no reset required.