7otM12 (Dec 2025) - Announcement

[Eyswein]

Welcome to Civ VII Game of the Month - 12 (December 2025)

These games will allow new and old GotM fans to play Civ7 in a friendly competitive environment. Participants are encouraged to post questions, stories, advice, tricks and failures in the dedicated game threads (described below). Each game will specify the Civ you will play.

How to Play

1. Please read our Must Read Rules and Game Details sections below for important information before playing.
2. Consult our Other Useful Information section below and ask spoiler free questions in this thread before starting your game if needed.
3. Click the 7otMxxx.Civ7save file attachment at the bottom of this post to download the Civ7 savefile.
4. Move the Civ7 savefile from your ...\Downloads folder to your ...\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VIi\Saves\Single folder. (This is the standard Civ67install location so please let us know if yours is different or you can't find it)
5. Load the 7otMxxx.Civ7save file in Civ7 and play the game adhering to all our Rules and Victory Conditions specified below. (In game, click Single Player, Load Game, 7otMxxx should be at the top.)
6. Once finished, report your results in the appropriate thread and attach your finished save game to your post in the final thread.

Must Read Rules!

We would like to ask you to please abide by our most sacred rule: Do NOT replay any turns! If you make a mistake, accept it and try to recover. To ensure fair play and prevent results exclusions, please set your Autosaves to 1 turn. In the event of a computer crash while playing, just reload to the previous save and play it as closely to how you played it the first time.
We also ask that you only use UI mods and not any game changing mods.

Game Details

Goal for this Civ7 GOTM: Fewest total turns.
This Civ7 GOTM Final Score Example: Across all 3 ages, keep track of your turn per age. Add all 3 of them together for total.
Civ7 Scoring: In most previous Civ games, fewest total turns has been a good measure; appears to still be a good overall measure, but please provide feedback if you believe there is a better method.

Victory Condition: Science (in Modern Age) (all VCs are enabled)
Player (You): Lafayette - Rome (Antiquity Age)
Player (You): Spain (Exploration Age) - please choose for the Exploration Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Player (You): Mexico (Modern Age) - please choose for Modern Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Mementos: Complaint to Ea-Nasir, Travelers Sandals - pick any mementos you desire for future ages; specific mementos may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Mementos bonuses: +1 Economic Attribute Point; Gain 10 of the corresponding yield whenever you spend an Attribute Point
Starting Age: Antiquity
Difficulty: Sovereign
Start Position: Standard
Game speed: Standard
Age Length: Standard
End of Age Countdown: No Countdown
Age Transition Impact: Continuity
Initial Independent Hostility: Standard
Bypass Civilization Unlocks: Disabled
Map Type/Size: Pangaea & Islands / Standard Size
Civs (including player): 8 Civs
Disaster Intensity: Light
Crisis: Yes, but only Antiquity and Exploration Plague Crisis enabled

Game Options:
Start: Ancient Era
Enabled: Independent Powers
Game Version: This game was created in Civ7 version 1.3.0 patch 1 on 27 Nov 2025
Game Requirements: Civ 7 base game & Tides of Power collection

Starting Position


Other Useful Information
Unique Attributes:

Spoiler Unique Attributes :

Leader: Lafayette

Leader bonus: Gains a unique Endeavor, Reform, which grants an additional Social Policy slot. Supporting this Endeavor also grants the other Leader an additional Social Policy slot. +1 Combat Strength for all Units for each Tradition, but not Policy, slotted in the Government. +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled for Settlements in distant lands.

Thread information:

Spoiler Thread information :

Announcement thread (this one): This thread is used to announce the game and clarify the settings and rules (don't be afraid to ask questions). It's also used to discuss the game before you start, and post problems with opening the save. Once you have opened the save, DO NOT POST game-related information in the Announcement thread.

Internal staff coordination - @leif erikson @Blake00 @The_J

Game Length:

This game ends 1 January 2026.

 

[Head_North]

Probably a stupid question, but what do you mean by the last part of this phrase:

-“ please choose for Modern Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs“

Regarding scoring: I understand that there is no scoring in the game and I can’t come up with anything better than number of turns. But the turn that, say antiquity, finishes not only depends on how well I play but also how well the AI play; right?

Oh, and just a friendly pointing-out: in the “how-to-play” section the save file is referred to as “civ6 save”

 

[MutilationWave]

Probably a stupid question, but what do you mean by the last part of this phrase:

-“ please choose for Modern Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs“

I take it as a disclaimer that you may have to have purchased certain DLC to play. Also, some games have allowed choice of civ in certain ages.

Regarding scoring: I understand that there is no scoring in the game and I can’t come up with anything better than number of turns. But the turn that, say antiquity, finishes not only depends on how well I play but also how well the AI play; right?

That's correct, it could happen, but it shouldn't matter since everyone is playing the same game. It would only matter if you were comparing turn counts of different games.

 

[Eyswein]

I take it as a disclaimer that you may have to have purchased certain DLC to play. Also, some games have allowed choice of civ in certain ages.


That's correct, it could happen, but it shouldn't matter since everyone is playing the same game. It would only matter if you were comparing turn counts of different games.

Currently running the games so you don't have to have purchased any DLCs, except for the free Tides of Power collection. Normally we add all the DLCs as a requirement at some point when most have purchased them. For example, if a major DLC that added another age, etc. were to be released.

 

[Eyswein]

Probably a stupid question, but what do you mean by the last part of this phrase:

-“ please choose for Modern Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs“

Regarding scoring: I understand that there is no scoring in the game and I can’t come up with anything better than number of turns. But the turn that, say antiquity, finishes not only depends on how well I play but also how well the AI play; right?

Oh, and just a friendly pointing-out: in the “how-to-play” section the save file is referred to as “civ6 save”

A specific civ is identified for most of the GOTMs so games are more comparable. Sometimes they are not as the strategic decision on which civ to choose is worth comparing also. Some more games like this will be added.

Yes, total turns in the first two Ages are impacted by what the AI completes. You'll notice in some of the really good player write-ups they try to account for this in their planning.

And thanks for the catch!!

 

[Ballcrusher]

Another small correction: The save file says the map type is Pangaea & Islands

 

[Head_North]

Ok, thanks for the reply. I understand now. I too thought it referred to owning particualr DLC. May I make suggestion of, what I would perceive, as more clear game description:

Instead of writing:
Player (You): Lafayette - Rome (Antiquity Age)
Player (You): Spain (Exploration Age) - please choose for the Exploration Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Player (You): Mexico (Modern Age) - please choose for Modern Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Mementos: Complaint to Ea-Nasir, Travelers Sandals - pick any mementos you desire for future ages; specific mementos may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Mementos bonuses: +1 Economic Attribute Point; Gain 10 of the corresponding yield whenever you spend an Attribute Point
I suggest writing:
Leader (You) - Lafayette
Civilization to choose for antiquity - Rome
Civilization to choose for exploration - Spain/Free choice
Civilization to choose for modern - Mexico/Free choice
Mementos to choose in antiquity - Complaint to Ea-Nasir, Travelers Sandals
Mementos to choose in exploration - Free choice
Mementos to choose in modern - Free choice

The comment about "specific civs may och may not be required for specific ages" I think instead can be posted under the "Welcome to the CIV VII gamet of the month". The same goes for the corresponding comment about mementos.

 

[Eyswein]

Another small correction: The save file says the map type is Pangaea & Islands

Thanks for the catch!

 

[Eyswein]

Ok, thanks for the reply. I understand now. I too thought it referred to owning particualr DLC. May I make suggestion of, what I would perceive, as more clear game description:

Instead of writing:
Player (You): Lafayette - Rome (Antiquity Age)
Player (You): Spain (Exploration Age) - please choose for the Exploration Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Player (You): Mexico (Modern Age) - please choose for Modern Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Mementos: Complaint to Ea-Nasir, Travelers Sandals - pick any mementos you desire for future ages; specific mementos may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Mementos bonuses: +1 Economic Attribute Point; Gain 10 of the corresponding yield whenever you spend an Attribute Point
I suggest writing:
Leader (You) - Lafayette
Civilization to choose for antiquity - Rome
Civilization to choose for exploration - Spain/Free choice
Civilization to choose for modern - Mexico/Free choice
Mementos to choose in antiquity - Complaint to Ea-Nasir, Travelers Sandals
Mementos to choose in exploration - Free choice
Mementos to choose in modern - Free choice

The comment about "specific civs may och may not be required for specific ages" I think instead can be posted under the "Welcome to the CIV VII gamet of the month". The same goes for the corresponding comment about mementos.

Thank you! I'll make updates for the next game. Definitely looks better to me.

 

[Bleidraner]

I feel the free choice comment can be understood as you can choose whatever civilization you want, and I believe that is not the case, in this game we should all choose the same civs to have comparable games. Or have I missunderstood the instructions?

 

[Head_North]

I feel the free choice comment can be understood as you can choose whatever civilization you want, and I believe that is not the case, in this game we should all choose the same civs to have comparable games. Or have I missunderstood the instructions?

I’m not sure I’m following you. In som games the civ is given. In som games there is a free choice.

 

[Bleidraner]

As far as I know, in all 11 games so far we have been given specific civilizations to choose in all three ages, which makes sense as the point of the GoTM is to have games that are as comparable as possible. But maybe I have misunderstood the instructions.

 

[Head_North]

As far as I know, in all 11 games so far we have been given specific civilizations to choose in all three ages, which makes sense as the point of the GoTM is to have games that are as comparable as possible. But maybe I have misunderstood the instructions.

See Eysweins reply above

A specific civ is identified for most of the GOTMs so games are more comparable. Sometimes they are not as the strategic decision on which civ to choose is worth comparing also. Some more games like this will be added.

 

[Eyswein]

As far as I know, in all 11 games so far we have been given specific civilizations to choose in all three ages, which makes sense as the point of the GoTM is to have games that are as comparable as possible. But maybe I have misunderstood the instructions.

Not all, but most.

 

[Bleidraner]

I get it now, thank you @Head_North and @Eyswein.

 

[Head_North]

Thank you! I'll make updates for the next game. Definitely looks better to me.

Ok, I´ve given it some more thougths. My phrasing "civilization to choose in antiquity" doesn´t fit since that has already been choosen by the game creator. And your "Please choose" sounds more friendly than only "choose". So to make it coherent (and friendly) I suggest the following:

So instead of writing:

Player (You): Lafayette - Rome (Antiquity Age)
Player (You): Spain (Exploration Age) - please choose for the Exploration Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Player (You): Mexico (Modern Age) - please choose for Modern Age; specific civs may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Mementos: Complaint to Ea-Nasir, Travelers Sandals - pick any mementos you desire for future ages; specific mementos may or may not be required for Civ 7 GOTMs
Mementos bonuses: +1 Economic Attribute Point; Gain 10 of the corresponding yield whenever you spend an Attribute Point

I suggest writing (new suggestion):

Leader (You) - Lafayette
Civilization in antiquity age: Rome
Civilization in exploration age: Please choose Spain/Free choice
Civilization in modern age: Please choose Mexico/Free choice
Mementos in antiquity age: Complaint to Ea-Nasir, Travelers Sandals
Mementos in exploration age: Free choice
Mementos in modern age: Free choice

Sorry for the nitty pickidness. I cant think to much about phrasing...