Expansion: Mongolia, Dutch, Turkey
Rise and Fall put the emphasis on Cultural Flipping, not a conquest.
Therefore I think Mongolia could be there on the other side, as an empire which was
challenged by the cultural diversity of its dominions.
Dutch, however, could have William of Orange, as
their liberator, and not simply a colonial power.
After that I think we see the return to the Venice styled Italian civ, where it plays with crazy mechanics based around the independent city flipping mechanics.
Is it really likely that they'll add Venice in two consecutive versions? It is too much of a niche civ.
Man, the more I think about it, the more I think
Kwame Nkrumah's the perfect leader for Rise & Fall. Great for city loyalty/defections, diplomacy, and corralling free cities. I have a very strong feeling he'll be in R&F as the leader of Ghana.
If already adding Ghana, is a modern leader the best choice?
Quite odd to me. It is not really a prosperous state...
Extremely likely
- Netherlands (focused on trade, alliances, governors and expansion. Almost a given).
- Mongolia (probably the most wanted civ (+ civ leader icon), focused on expansion (agressive city flipping?) and horses)
Likely
- Isabella of Spain (focusing on exploration, bonuses for governor overseas, specific golden age mechanic, female ruler)
Similar to what I've written to Ornen above you -
I can't see how Genghis Khan has anything to do with this expansion.
A late Mongol Khan is far more relevant, one who's empire has to deal with ethnic diversity and loyalty.
While Kublai Khan is another iconic pick that might fit better, it would be amazing if they add Golden Horde's
Batu Khan.
And Dutch - well, their European existence and William van Orange's career could be the emphasis,
not necessarily the maritime power.
And I don't get it.
Why adding Isabella? It is nearly as ridiculous as Grogo.
It was the same culture and period of Philip II.
If you want a leader for European colonialism:
- Simon Bolivar
- Franciso Pizzaro
- Readjustments of Victoria's personality.
- Charles de Gaulle
- Louis de Buade de Frontenac (some have mentioned the wonder of his name.....)
Ok gotta ad another bet:
Canada!
The game cover includes Chateau Frontenac, located in Canada. Probably a wonder in game, and a hint of Canada's appearance.
Well, how about it being a hint for New France's 17th century
Governor of the same name?
And it wouldn't change anything, since they won't include two new civs from both North and Central America, and certainly not three from the America's. We also already have the Aztecs, so the Maya's are actually unlikely, if Canada makes it into the expansion, what it will do.
I think if we will see one leader return from the returning civs we will have, it's going to be Genghis Khan, because they tend to keep the God Tier Icon Leaders like Alexander, Montezuma and Gandhi, and Genghis Khan fits that sterotype.
Even if the extra 9th leader is not a Mongol, it's no problem.
One later Mongol leader could be added now, while
Genghis may be included in the next expansion.
Who knows, maybe the next expansion will be Horde-based, with Genghis, Atila and Alp Arslan starring the front cover?
Could be interesting to mix with the Emergency.
Also, if they included Tamerlane (Timur), they should give him the mechanic of creating artifacts by destroying cities with wonders in them.
Whose leader will he be? Mongols? A second Persian?
Having a Muslim Persian leader will be amazing and should have happened long ago in Civ's history.
I think Bolivar's efforts to recruit and hold together different parts of Gran Colombia might make him a sneaky shot to be there with bonuses relating to city liberation/flipping. Hiawatha/Jigonhsasee of the Iroquois, or Garibaldi for Italy might also be candidates here.
From the opposite side, the maintenance of a large and diverse empire with bonuses to loyalty at the fringes could include the Ottomans or Austria (screw it let's do Metternich). Maybe the Mongols.
Either Metternich or Franz Joseph would be absolutely fabulous figures to see on screen!
Both can work with the expansion's guidelines:
- Metternich - counter-nationalism, Flipping and Loyalty issues
- Franz Joseph - WWI system of Alliances, and moreover, first ever appearance of a WWI leader!
Macedon was still a long-lasting country, and empire for a while. Including Macedon wasn't the worst decision, they did. Maybe more a question of not the right timing.
But it was part of the Greek world.
Alexander should have been a Greek leader. Instead of the ridiculous choice of Grogo.
One new suggestion -
How about
Bohdan Khmelnytsky of the Cossack Hetmanate?
Ukraine was never represented of course, and it could be a good example of a breakaway state.
. I don't think we will have three civs from the America's.
(And of course Constantine was unquestionably a Roman emperor, but I'd still rather see a Medieval Byzantine ruler like Alexios I Komnenos to further remove it from both Rome and Greece.)
Or what about modern Greece? Ioannis Metaxas as a new leader of the Greeks.
