Title. This thread is specifically devoted to those cultures you'd enjoy seeing in civ games, but you know their chances are extremely low and extremely few people seem to consider them. I think separate topic for them is a good idea, because in any regular "what civs would you..." they are obviously going to be utterly overshadowed by those regular dozens suggested civs everybody thinks about, arguments if Italy should be in, does Belgium exist, how to split India, would Tibet and Judea civs lead UN to condemn civ7 etc, you know mainstream usual stuff.
Basically you make a case for some cultures that you think are considered super niche suggwstions.
My contributions
A separate civ for Islamic Egypt, named after one of its imperial dynasties (alternatively you could introduce modern Egypt via Muhammad Ali but then you have that damn civ name overlap issue).
Islamic Egypt is an obviously separate civilization, identity and succession of empires, which has 95% nothing in common with ancient pagan Egypt and which is very different from Arab civs of Arab Peninsula/Levant/Iraq/Syria. It just annoys me that its 1400 years of magnificent history are always overshadowed by ancient Egypt. Also a ton of awesome leaders to choose from.
Albania, Albanians. Just such an exotic culture and language with history unusual for Europe, also Muslim European civ. Also an incredible candidate for a leader (Skanderbeg obviously). Never considered because of its supposed tiny importance and anger over too many European civs already, but Albanians have played disproportionally huge role in the Ottoman Empire (which is also interesting to me, as an unusual way for people to leave their mark on history).
Chechens, Chechnya. Legit impressive for its size (1,5mln Chechens in the world now) culture existing for a very long time, from a very unique and very exotic cultural group. History full of fighting well against impossible odds. Exotic, interesting, distinctive, dramatic possibility. Rather unlikely because of its obscurity and political separatism outrage, which I personally don't respect at all in this particular case.
Basically you make a case for some cultures that you think are considered super niche suggwstions.
My contributions
A separate civ for Islamic Egypt, named after one of its imperial dynasties (alternatively you could introduce modern Egypt via Muhammad Ali but then you have that damn civ name overlap issue).
Islamic Egypt is an obviously separate civilization, identity and succession of empires, which has 95% nothing in common with ancient pagan Egypt and which is very different from Arab civs of Arab Peninsula/Levant/Iraq/Syria. It just annoys me that its 1400 years of magnificent history are always overshadowed by ancient Egypt. Also a ton of awesome leaders to choose from.
Albania, Albanians. Just such an exotic culture and language with history unusual for Europe, also Muslim European civ. Also an incredible candidate for a leader (Skanderbeg obviously). Never considered because of its supposed tiny importance and anger over too many European civs already, but Albanians have played disproportionally huge role in the Ottoman Empire (which is also interesting to me, as an unusual way for people to leave their mark on history).
Chechens, Chechnya. Legit impressive for its size (1,5mln Chechens in the world now) culture existing for a very long time, from a very unique and very exotic cultural group. History full of fighting well against impossible odds. Exotic, interesting, distinctive, dramatic possibility. Rather unlikely because of its obscurity and political separatism outrage, which I personally don't respect at all in this particular case.