LeperColony
Chieftain
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2006
- Messages
- 41
One area of Civ gameplay that I feel could have been stronger is the religious aspect. Now, I know that even the limited spiritual dimensions introduced in the game represent a certain risk to the franchise, political, social, and economic realities being what they are. So it is true that their introduction in the first place was a decision of some courage. However, I find (as have many others) that ultimately they feel like an unfinished engine at best, or simple window dressing at worst.
Even a cursory examination of world history will show the tremendous influence religion has had on human history, for good or ill. Given that it is such an important part of our affairs, I think it deserves a better system.
My basic idea (and I apologize ahead of time if it has already been suggested) is to introduce a religious system more closely modeled after the civics system. Civ 4 has done away with clear cut government types, instead allowing the player to choose from a menu of societal outlooks, each with certain characteristics. I would like to see a similar system with respect to religion.
There would be categories like the civics system, where the player could choose his outlook. For instance, one category might be "Belief Structure" or something, with options ranging from polythiesm to shamanism to even no accepted supernatural entity(ies).
Individual choices within a category would become available with certain techs, both religious (for instance, Monothiesm might unlock a Monothiesm option under the appropriate category) and more secular (for instance, hunting might unlock nature worship or shamanic aspects). Certain combinations of choices would result in the adoption or founding of a religion.
This system readily allows for derivitive religions, by having some with more closely related characteristics. For instance, after Chrisitanity has been founded, someone who alters one of the categories might found Lutheranism. Such a system allows for a more complex diplomatic situation, with more closely related religions perhaps tolerating others better (although historically, it has often been the other way around).
In my opinion, such a system has a number of advantages:
1. Detail: I know many people (myself included) simply like our grand strategy games to be as detailed as possible. Not everyone agrees, and certainly at some point the contention gets absurd, but currently religions are too bland.
2. Diversity: Obviously we would want to be careful to treat every belief with respect. But there are significant differences in these various spiritual views, and I think that a blanket happiness system sells them short.
3. Diplomacy: Currently it's either "I love you" or "I hate you" when it comes to religion. This system would allow diplomacy to be influenced by the similarities and differences of their respective beliefs.
4. Schisms: Although this is in apparent contrast to number 3, this system also allows for division along religious lines in the form of a schism. Either based on historical factors or on a some random chance, a subsequent developing religion might be considering schismatic, prompting an intense dislike between practicioners of the old and new beliefs.
5. Increase tech balance: By spreading out the religious tenets in a way similar to the civics, we can improve the tech balance. By increasing the number of religions, we can decrease the mysticism early advantage in founding religions.
Well, that's essentially what I've got. Obviously the idea is rough, and to be honest, I don't know how to execute it anyway. I'm one of those selfish people who makes a post about what I'd like to see, but I don't have the skills to make it happen.
Thanks for reading.
Even a cursory examination of world history will show the tremendous influence religion has had on human history, for good or ill. Given that it is such an important part of our affairs, I think it deserves a better system.
My basic idea (and I apologize ahead of time if it has already been suggested) is to introduce a religious system more closely modeled after the civics system. Civ 4 has done away with clear cut government types, instead allowing the player to choose from a menu of societal outlooks, each with certain characteristics. I would like to see a similar system with respect to religion.
There would be categories like the civics system, where the player could choose his outlook. For instance, one category might be "Belief Structure" or something, with options ranging from polythiesm to shamanism to even no accepted supernatural entity(ies).
Individual choices within a category would become available with certain techs, both religious (for instance, Monothiesm might unlock a Monothiesm option under the appropriate category) and more secular (for instance, hunting might unlock nature worship or shamanic aspects). Certain combinations of choices would result in the adoption or founding of a religion.
This system readily allows for derivitive religions, by having some with more closely related characteristics. For instance, after Chrisitanity has been founded, someone who alters one of the categories might found Lutheranism. Such a system allows for a more complex diplomatic situation, with more closely related religions perhaps tolerating others better (although historically, it has often been the other way around).
In my opinion, such a system has a number of advantages:
1. Detail: I know many people (myself included) simply like our grand strategy games to be as detailed as possible. Not everyone agrees, and certainly at some point the contention gets absurd, but currently religions are too bland.
2. Diversity: Obviously we would want to be careful to treat every belief with respect. But there are significant differences in these various spiritual views, and I think that a blanket happiness system sells them short.
3. Diplomacy: Currently it's either "I love you" or "I hate you" when it comes to religion. This system would allow diplomacy to be influenced by the similarities and differences of their respective beliefs.
4. Schisms: Although this is in apparent contrast to number 3, this system also allows for division along religious lines in the form of a schism. Either based on historical factors or on a some random chance, a subsequent developing religion might be considering schismatic, prompting an intense dislike between practicioners of the old and new beliefs.
5. Increase tech balance: By spreading out the religious tenets in a way similar to the civics, we can improve the tech balance. By increasing the number of religions, we can decrease the mysticism early advantage in founding religions.
Well, that's essentially what I've got. Obviously the idea is rough, and to be honest, I don't know how to execute it anyway. I'm one of those selfish people who makes a post about what I'd like to see, but I don't have the skills to make it happen.
Thanks for reading.
