All Races in Distant Worlds are entirely static. There are zero in-game customisation options, so if you want something different you'll have to either pick up one of the race mods from the matrix forums here: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tt.asp?forumid=795
Or do some reading and make your own mod.
 
Anything notably good marked with (!!!)
 
 
Ackdarian
Planet Pref:    Ocean
Family:         Amphibian
Playstyle:      Balanced
Growth Rate:    19%
Troop Strength: 88
Abilities:      Military Ships +20% size (!!!)
                Construction speed +60% (!!!)
                Ship maint. cost -20% (!!!)
                Research rate +10%
                Access to special engine - Turbothruster (sublight, efficiency focus)
                Randomly gets a boost to happiness on all colonies which produce Nepthys wine
                Desert and Volcanic colony techs cost 50% more
Victory Conditions:
                Control 33% of all ocean colonies in the galaxy
                Control the 3 largest ocean colonies in the galaxy
                Own the largest capital ship in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Nepthys Wine +5 happiness
                Ucantium Pearl +5% development
                Steel +5% construction speed
 
Opinion:        Lots of decent advantages, only let down by mediocre troops. A good beginner race.
 
 
Atuuk
Planet Pref:    Continental
Family:         Rodent
Playstyle:      Expansionist
Growth Rate:    28%
Troop Strength: 68
Abilities:      Construction speed -25%
                Colony happiness +30%
                Randomly gets a boost to troop strength
                Randomly gets a setback to research progress
Victory Conditions:
                Control your homeworld
                Perform the LEAST research in the galaxy
                Have the largest population in the galaxy
                Have the happiest population in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Caguar Fur +5 troop strength
                Chromium +5% development
                Rephidium Ale +5 happiness
               
Opinion:        One of the more difficult races to play if you're after the racial victory, low tech is hard to play in DW.
                Rubbish troops are annoying. You have to dogpile them to see any effectiveness at all.
 
Boskara
Planet Pref:    Volcanic
Family:         Insect
Playstyle:      Aggressive
Growth Rate:    24%
Troop Strength: 134
Abilities:      Can use Hive Mind government
                Access to Firestorm bombarding torpedoes (one of only 3 weapons in the game which can attack both ships and planets)
                Troop maint. cost -25%
                War weariness rate -70%
                Randomly gets a bonus to weapons research (!!!)
                Randomly gets a boost to troop strength and recruitment speed
Victory Conditions:
                Destroy the most enemy ships and bases in the galaxy
                Exterminate or Enslave the most population in the galaxy
                Control the most homeworlds (including your own) in the galaxy
                Destroy the most enemy troops in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Acculon +5 troop strength
                Osalia +5% weapons research for every colony with access to it (!!!)
                Rephidium Ale +5 happiness
 
Opinion:        A good straightforward race to murder everyone with. Excellent troops make piracy a breeze too.
               
Dhayut
Planet Pref:    Desert
Family:         Insect (even though they're spiders, umm okay)
Playstyle:      Expansionist
Growth Rate:    12%
Troop Strength: 126
Abilities:      Occaisonally recieves random gifts of a full troop transport ship of your latest design
                Occaisonally a colony will "cannibalise" it's own population for 1 year
                Access to Torrent hyperdrives (higher speed, faster engage time)
                Every 5 years gets a boost to pop. growth which lasts 2 years and changes the growth rate to 28%
                War weariness rate -70%
Victory Conditions:
                Control your homeworld
                Conquer the most enemy colonies
                Have at least 25% of your empire population consist of enslaved races
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Wiconium +5 happiness
                Tyderios +5% development
                Osalia +5 troop strength
 
Opinion:        Slaves. If you're playing with victory conditions you're going to be doing a lot of invading.
                Oddly for an aggressive race, they play quite well as peaceful builders.
 
Gizurean
Planet Pref:    Volcanic
Family:         Insect
Playstyle:      Balanced
Growth Rate:    30%
Troop Strength: 92
Abilities:      Can use Hive Mind government
                Construction speed +10%
                Every 7 years gets a boost to pop. growth which lasts 2 years and changes the growth rate to 47%
                Ship maint. costs -35% (!!!)
                Randomly gets an event which lowers maint. costs for "small" ships
                Characters can occaisonally gain or lose skills
Victory Conditions:
                Own the Universal Hive wonder
                Spend the most time at war in the galaxy
                Keep your leader alive
                Build the most military ships in the galaxy
                Control 33% of all volcanic colonies in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Nekros Stone +5 troop strength
                Iridium +10% development
 
Opinion:        Not too bad to play any way. The medicore troops mean you have to rely on numbers, and they have no troop maint. reduction.
                Unique in that they are the only empire who can lose the game by losing thier leader.
 
Haakonish
Planet Pref:    Marsh
Family:         Reptile
Playstyle:      Defensive
Growth Rate:    16%
Troop Strength: 124
Abilities:      Military ships +15% size (!!!)
                Can use Mercantile Guild government
                Access to advanced fuel cells
                Ship maint. cost -20%
                Espionage ability +10%
                Occaisonally your colonies will get a random event which slowly kills any non-Haakonish population for a peroid of 1 year
                Occaisonally your colonies will refuse to assimilate alien populations for a period of 1 year
                Starts the game with 1 extra spy
Victory Conditions:
                Carry out the most successful intelligence missions in the galaxy
                Earn the most highest amount of trade bonus in the galaxy
                Control at least 1 'super luxury' resource
                Successfully intercept to most enemy intelligence missions in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Ilosian Jade +5 happiness
                Polymer +5% development
                Falajian Spice +5% trade income
 
Opinion:        Decent all rounders. Your opinon of them will depend on how you try to play them.
                Playing them as the Federation, you will LOATHE them and those 2 events so damn much.
                Playing them as the Empire of Man, you will adore them.
 
Human
Planet Pref:    Continental
Family:         Mammal
Playstyle:      Balanced
Growth Rate:    18%
Troop Strength: 121
Abilities:      Can use Corporate Nationalism government (don't, it's bugged and doesn't work right)
                Occaisonally a leader will gain a new skill "out of the blue"
                Research Rate +15%
                Espionage ability +15%
                Starts the game with 1 extra spy
Victory Conditions:
                Control 33% of all continental colonies in the galaxy
                Maintain mutual defence pacts with at least 15% of all empires in the galaxy
                Destroy more enemy ships and bases than you lose
                Earn the most trade income in the galaxy
                Earn the most tourist income in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Yarras Marble +5 happiness
                Emeros Crystal +5 troop strength
                Gold +5% development
 
Opinion:        Okay at everything, excells at nothing.
                At least they have decent troops. And the extra spy helps a bit too.
 
Ikkuro
Planet Pref:    Continental
Family:         Ursa
Playstyle:      Balanced
Growth Rate:    16%
Troop Strength: 132
Abilities:      Access to repair bots much earlier than anyone else (!!!)
                Colonies can randomly improve themselves by adding +1% to the quality of the planet (this is the only thing in the game which can change planet quality) (!!!)
                Ship maint. cost -10%
                Troop maint. cost -30% 
                Colony income +10% (!!!)
                All colony tech is 10% cheaper
Victory Conditions:
                Lose the fewest ships and bases in the galaxy
                Control 33% of all continental colonies in the galaxy
                Own the most spaceports in the galaxy
                Make free trade agreements, mutual defence pacts, or control as a protectorate at least 30% of all empires in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Megallos Nut +10% pop growth (!!!)
                Lead +5% development
                Osalia +5 troop strength
 
Opinion:        One of the best, if not THE best beginner race in the game.
                Lots of advantages and no disadvantages.
               
Ketarov
Planet Pref:    Marsh
Family:         Ursa
Playstyle:      Subversive/Espionage
Growth Rate:    16%
Troop Strength: 72
Abilities:      Can use Corporate Nationalism government (don't, it's bugged and doesn't work right)
                Any leader can be randomly "killed" for disloyalty and replaced with a spy (better than it seems - spies are v. good)
                Espionage ability +50%
                Starts the game with 3 extra spies
Victory Conditions:
                Carry out the highest number of successful intelligence missions in the galaxy
                Start the fewest wars in the galaxy
                Have the largest military (not including allies) in the galaxy
                Successfully intercept the most enemy intelligence missions in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Ekarus meat +5 happiness
                Carbon Fibre -5% base maint cost at colony
                Vodkol +5 happiness
 
Opinion:        Weak but fun. Espionage is maybe a little too good in DW, and these guys get so many spies they can afford to be quite aggressive with them. Something no other race can really do without leaving themselves vulnerable.
 
Kiadian
Planet Pref:    Continental
Family:         Mammal
Playstyle:      Passive
Growth Rate:    18%
Troop Strength: 128
Abilities:      Access to advanced ECM systems
                Ship maint. cost -10%
                Research speed +20%
                Randomly resets war weariness for the whole empire
                Can randomly start crash programs for research (!!!)
Victory Conditions:
                Have the longest lasting mutual defence pact in the galaxy
                Break the fewest treaties in the galaxy
                Perform the most research in the galaxy
                Have the longest lasting free trade agreement in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Natarran Incense +5% energy research for every colony with access to it (!!!)
                Polymer +5 development
                Rephidium Ale +5 happiness
 
Opinion:        Good all rounders. A decent beginner race.
 
Mortalen
Planet Pref:    Desert
Family:         Reptile
Playstyle:      Aggressive
Growth Rate:    16%
Troop Strength: 138
Abilities:      Access to advanced turning jets
                Ship maint. cost -10%
                Troop maint. cost -25%
                War weariness rate -35%
                Leaders and colony governers are occaisonally forced to "retire" and are replaced with a different character
Victory Conditions:
                Have the most experienced admiral in the galaxy
                Have the most experienced troop general in the galaxy
                Destroy the most enemy troops in the galaxy
                Conquer the most enemy colonies in the galaxy
                Subjugate the most empires in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Dantha Fur +5 happiness
                Wiconium -5% war weariness
                Silicon +5% development
 
Opinion:        Not really all that notable beside thier great troops. Turning jets aren't all that important.
 
Naxxilian
Planet Pref:    Ice
Family:         Reptile
Playstyle:      Balanced
Growth Rate:    23%
Troop Strength: 129
Abilities:      Periodically gets a sporting event which boosts development and resets war weariness
                Tourism income +10%
                Starts the game with a rather good spy
                Troop maint. cost -40%
                Volcanic colony tech costs 50% more
Victory Conditions:
                Control 33% of all ice colonies in the galaxy
                Control 33% of all continental colonies in the galaxy
                Own the most resort bases in the galaxy
                Have free trade agreements, mutual defence pacts, or control as a protectorate at least 25% of all empires
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Vodkol +5 happiness
                Jakanta Ivory +10 troop strength
                Tyderios +5% development
 
Opinion:        A good and fairly easy race to play. No notable downsides, and starting on ice worlds is pretty damn useful.
                T-Rexes in spess. Derpy as fuck. I love these guys.
               
Quameno
Planet Pref:    Ocean
Family:         Amphibian
Playstyle:      Passive
Growth Rate:    14%
Troop Strength: 95
Abilities:      Can use Technocray government
                Access to Novacore powerplants (better efficiency and output)
                Research speed +40% (!!!)
                Randomly "discovers" a special location
                Randomly resets one empires diplomacy to the maximum first contact penalty
Victory Conditions:
                Start the fewest wars in the galaxy
                Have the fewest treaties in the galaxy
                Have the most completed research branches in the galaxy
                Perform the most research in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Aquasian Incense +5 happiness
                Polymer +5% development
 
Opinion:        THE science race, which makes for a fairly good beginner experience.
                Diplomacy can sometimes be a bit tricky, but when you're decades ahead of everyone else you don't really need it.
 
Securan
Planet Pref:    Desert
Family:         Mammal
Playstyle:      Balanced
Growth Rate:    27%
Troop Strength: 76
Abilities:      Tourism income +10%
                Every 3 years gets a boost to pop. growth which lasts 1 year and changes the growth rate to 52%
                Can use the Utopian Paradise government
                Colony happiness +50%
                Randomly boosts diplomacy with one empire for 1 year
                Randomly contacts any uncontacted empire or reveals the territory map for a known empire
Victory Conditions:
                Own the most resort bases in the galaxy
                Make free trade agreements, mutual defence pacts, or control as a protectorate at least 50% of all empires
                Earn the most tourist income in the galaxy
                Have the happiest population in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Wiconium +5 happiness
                Natarran Incense +5% pop growth (!!!)
                Osalia +5% development
 
Opinion:        Not a bad bunch. Fairly easy to make money with the happiness and tourism boosts, but otherwise nothing really stands out to recommend them.
               
Shandar
Planet Pref:    Volcanic
Family:         Reptile
Playstyle:      Passive
Growth Rate:    21%
Troop Strength: 81
Abilities:      Can use Utopian Paradise government
                Can avoid disasters on volcanic colonies
                Spaceport armour strength +20%
                Colony happiness +40%
                Has a chance to avoid disasters on any colony
                Ocean and ice colony techs cost 50% more
Victory Conditions:
                Have the happiest population in the galaxy
                Own the Lava Palace wonder
                Mine the most luxury resources in the galaxy
                Control 33% of all volcanic colonies in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Otandium Opal +5 happiness
                Osalia +5% development
                Aculon -5% maint cost for bases at colony
 
Opinion:        Same again. Nothing really notable apart from the happiness and starting on a volcanic world.
               
Sluken
Planet Pref:    Marsh
Family:         Insect
Playstyle:      Aggressive
Growth Rate:    21%
Troop Strength: 130
Abilities:      Can use Hive Mind government
                Access to Starburner engines (sublight, speed focus)
                Troop maint. cost -20%
                War weariness rate -40%
                Occaisonally your colonies will get a random event which slowly kills any non-Sluken population for a peroid of 1 year
                Colonies with policy set to exterminate get a +10% pop growth
Victory Conditions:
                Control 33% of all continental colonies in the galaxy
                Control 33% of all marshy colonies in the galaxy
                Own the most troops in the galaxy
                Control the 3 largest marshy colonies in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Chromium +5% development
                Falajian Spice +5 happiness
                Questurian Skin +5 troop strength
 
Opinion:        A decent race for killing everyone else. Those engines allow you to make some pretty slick ships.
                And those engines are red. You know what they say about red ones? Well it's true.
               
Teekan
Planet Pref:    Desert
Family:         Rodent
Playstyle:      Expansionist
Growth Rate:    19%
Troop Strength: 65
Abilites:       Migration rate +20%
                Inter empire trade income +20%
                Construction speed +40%
                Military ships -20% size
                Civilian ships +20% size
                Can use Mercantile Guild government
                Colony income +20%
                Mining speed +30%
Victory Conditions:
                Have the highest private sector revenue in the galaxy
                Earn the most trade income in the galaxy
                Start the fewest wars in the galaxy
                Kill the most sand slugs in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Silicon +5% development
                Dantha Fur +5% trade income
 
Opinion:        A fun race to play, but not recommended for the beginner.
                The military ship size penalty in particular makes things a bit awkward. Also, worst troops in the game.
               
Ugnari
Planet Pref:    Ice
Family:         Rodent
Playstyle:      Passive
Growth Rate:    14%
Troop Strength: 72
Abilities:      Can use Mercantile Guild government
                Can avoid disasters on ice colonies
                Inter empire trade income +25%
                Can randomly start crash programs for research (!!!)
                Construction speed +20%
                Civilian ships +20% size
                Access to advanced targeting computers
                Colony happiness +10%
                Mining speed +20%
Victory Conditions:
                Have the most completed high tech research branches in the galaxy
                Earn the most trade income in the galaxy
                Own the most mining stations in the galaxy
                Control 33% of all ice colonies in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Terallion Down +5 happiness
                Aculon +5% development
                Tyderios +5% to high tech research for every colony with access (!!!)
 
Opinion:        One of the easiest races to play, and a good choice for a beginner. Ice starts are good.
                Poor troops are their only weakness.
 
Wekkarus
Planet Pref:    Ocean
Family:         Amphibian
Playstyle:      Passive
Growth Rate:    16%
Troop Strength: 84
Abilities:      Access to Wave Guns
                Can avoid disasters on ocean colonies
                Colony income +25% (!!!)
                Mining speed +15%
                Desert and volcanic colony tech costs 50% more
                Ocean colonies have +20% construction speed
Victory Conditions:
                Control your homeworld
                Spend the least time at war in the galaxy
                Own the Underwater Palace wonder
                Earn the most trade income in the galaxy
                Mine the most strategic resources in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Questurian Skin +5 happiness
                Dilithium Crystal +5% development
                Lead +5% development
 
Opinion:        Would be pretty average and boring if it were not for those guns.
                Wave guns are worth at least one play through with these guys.
 
Zenox
Planet Pref:    Continental
Family:         Rodent (b-b-but they're cats!)
Playstyle:      Balanced
Growth Rate:    17%
Troop Strength: 104
Abilities:      Starts the game with knowledge of 2 special locations
                Gets a research boost for exploring ruins (!!!)
                Random event lasts for 1 year - avert natural disasters at colonies, more accurate targeting in ship battles, better counter-intelligence, development bonus at all colonies
                Can use Technocracy government
                Access to advanced shields
                Colony happiness +10%
                Ship maint. costs -10%
Victory Conditions:
                Control the most ruins (by colonising) in the galaxy
                Explore 100% of the galaxy
                Own the Galactic Archive wonder
                Lose the fewest ships and bases in the galaxy
                Lose the fewest troops in the galaxy
Bonus Colony Resources:
                Bifuruan Silk +5 happiness
                Carbon Fibre +5% development
                Osalia +5 troop strength
 
Opinion:        Another excellent beginner race. The research boost for exploring is very handy.
 
 
Why Corporate Nationalism is shite, and why you should avoid it.
 
All your colonies are locked to 100% tax, which while it does not have a negative impact on happiness as it would under any other gov, it does still slow down growth.
A large amount of private ships (frieghters/liners) will be scrapped because the civvies can't afford to run them anymore as they no longer have a treasury to pay the maintenance.
They will also be VERY reluctant to build any replacements if any are lost, again for lack of money.
This means throughput of goods in your empire will drop, and happiness will drop as a result meaning you make less money, and growth will slow to almost nothing.
As there are less freighters, they will concentrate on strategic over luxuries making the situation nosedive even faster.
This continues feeding back on itself gradually getting worse and worse until the entire economy tanks and corruption goes through the roof.
Even if you switch to another gov. at this point it will take decades to unfuck itself.
 
The only benefit I can think of is if you know you're going to war and don't want your ports to use materials building frieghters.
And the short-term boost of having access to a pile of money.
 
A shining jewel from the thread:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous 08/27/17(Sun)20:00:25 No.187417158 ▶
 
    >>187416983 (You)
    No, it's not a bug. That's just Ancap fagots' wet dream.
 
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