7otM14 (2 Jan 2026) - Announcement

[Eyswein]

Welcome to Civ VII Game of the Month - 14 (2 Jan 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 Civ6 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: Militaristic (in Modern Age) (all VCs are enabled)
Leader (You): Harriet Tubman
Civilization in Antiquity: Egypt
Civilization in Exploration: Please choose Any
Civilization in Modern: Please choose Any
Mementos in Antiquity Age: Groma, Gold & Sapphire Flowers
Mementos in Exploration Age: Any, Any
Mementos in Modern: Any, Any
Mementos bonuses: +1 Expansionist Attribute Point; Gain 100 food in Capital when you spend an Attribute Point on the Expansionist Attribute Tree
Note: To receive the food bonus at the start, ensure you found your capital PRIOR to assigning the attribute point! If you settle your capital on the first turn, your capital will expand to size 2 on T1 and to size 3 on T2.
Starting Age: Antiquity
Start Position: Standard
Game speed: Standard
Age Length: Standard
End of Age Countdown: No Countdown
Age Transition Impact: Continuity
Initial Independent Hostility: Default
Bypass Civilization Unlocks: Disabled
Difficulty: Immortal
Map Type/Size: Shattered Seas / Standard Size
Civs (including player): 8 Civs
Disaster Intensity: Light
Crisis: Yes, all enabled

Game Options:
Start: Ancient Era
Enabled: Independent Powers
Game Version: This game was created in Civ7 version 1.3.1 on 12 Dec 2025
Game Requirements: Civ 7 base game & Tides of Power collection

Starting Position


Other Useful Information
Unique Attributes:

Spoiler Unique Attributes :

Leader: Harriet Tubman

Leader bonus: +50% Influence towards initiating Espionage actions. Gain 5 War Support on all Wars declared against you. Units ignore Movement penalties from Vegetation.

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 2 February 2026.

 

[civfanatic4sure]

Reminder to post spoiler threads

 

[torsteinvh]

Is pre-building by force ending turns considered an exploit, or is a legitimate strategy?

 

[Eyswein]

Is pre-building by force ending turns considered an exploit, or is a legitimate strategy?

I'll create a different thread to discuss exploits. My initial thought is that it (not starting to build something and using shift-enter to end the turn) should be allowed as it seems like a design feature.

There are some things that shift-enter does not work for so not sure if that was done with or without forethought by the designers. One item I don't like end turns without a decision for is being able to ignore two allies when they go to war with each other. I've actually put that in as feedback.