Crossroads of the World and Right to Rule DLC - themed predictions based on what we know

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I'm not saying we don't need Aztecs, they just have lower priority now.

Maybe, but I'm not so sure.
You could use the same argument that we don't need Modern British either because we already have the Normans and America. And well I definitely don't expect the British to be a low priority civ.

As far as regional pathways go, I'm not sure why Mesoamerica doesn't need one right now when most other regions sort of already have a full one now? The Middle East/North Africa could have a Modern Age one like the Ottomans or Morocco, and Polynesia and South America will eventually need more than one civ, but that's it right now.

 

[j51]

Maybe, but I'm not so sure.
You could use the same argument that we don't need Modern British either because we already have the Normans and America. And well I definitely don't expect the British to be a low priority civ.

As far as regional pathways go, I'm not sure why Mesoamerica doesn't need one right now when most other regions sort of already have a full one now? The Middle East/North Africa could have a Modern Age one like the Ottomans or Morocco, and Polynesia and South America will eventually need more than one civ, but that's it right now.

I would argue that west, east and south/central Africa should also each have a basic path.

 

[Uberfrog]

I agree that gameplay diversity should be considered ahead of filling in any geographic gaps.

Fortunately though, both are possible! It’s safe to bet that the Civ 7 Aztecs will play very differently from both the Maya and Inca, as indeed they have done in every prior game!

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I would argue that west, east and south/central Africa should also each have a basic path.

Yeah, I'm sure they will eventually too. In my mind I just lumped all of them into Sub-Saharan Africa for now. Then again, Buganda is considered East Africa so that region does have two right now.
Though I'm sure the Aksum civ will eventually want to end up as Ethiopia in the future.

 

[Xandinho]

A historical path that starts with Aksum and Nubia, migrates to Kilwa/Somali in Exploration and ends with Buganda, Ethiopia and Omani would be very interesting.

In the southernmost part of Africa, Mutapa/Zimbabwe should migrate to modern Zulu.

 

[Ornen]

Pyramid of the Sun is a Teotihuacan wonder, not an Aztec one. Not to be confused with Tenochtitlan, which was the capital of the Aztecs.

The Aztecs will probably come with Huey Teocalli.

my mistake, for some reason my brain filled in Aztecs there from discussions some months ago... didn't look closely at the full list. though I'd be surprised to see Tenochtitlan show up before Aztecs (good chance they arrive together)

I agree that gameplay diversity should be considered ahead of filling in any geographic gaps.

Fortunately though, both are possible! It’s safe to bet that the Civ 7 Aztecs will play very differently from both the Maya and Inca, as indeed they have done in every prior game!

my sense is that Firaxis chooses civs based on...

1. Cultural & geographic diversity
2. Overall historical impact
3. New civs we haven't seen before
4. Gameplay diversity & other factors

gameplay diversity is probably easiest to manage, as so many civs can be taken in different directions.

I also expect they'll balance each DLC so that it includes at least 1-2 "headliners" (big names everybody knows) & deep cuts (civs we haven't seen before, or haven't seen much of). I don't think they would drop a DLC of Goths/Nabateans/Kilwa/Oman for instance because it doesn't include a name that's going to move copies. likewise, I don't think you'll see 4 big names bundled together in one pack.

on that front, I would be surprised to see a DLC that includes none of the below names until all of the following are in the game:

• England/Britain
• Babylon
• Aztec
• Zulu
• Ottoman
• Byzantine
• Edo Japan
• some form of medieval Germany/Francia

my next row would probably include Carthage/Phoenicians, Vikings, Celts, Korea, Brazil

 

[j51]

A historical path that starts with Aksum and Nubia, migrates to Kilwa/Somali in Exploration and ends with Buganda, Ethiopia and Omani would be very interesting.

In the southernmost part of Africa, Mutapa/Zimbabwe should migrate to modern Zulu.

Yes! And two West African paths ultimately would be nice. One Sahelan: Wagadou/Ghana, Songhai, Sokoto/Fulani
And one coastal: Nok/Ile-Ife, Benin, Ashanti
Or some such in each case. There’s lots of great choices!

 

[Siptah]

A historical path that starts with Aksum and Nubia, migrates to Kilwa/Somali in Exploration and ends with Buganda, Ethiopia and Omani would be very interesting.

It doesn't even have to diverge that much to the South. While Kilwa is probably the more famous, Ajuran could easily fill the same spot and would be somewhat close to Aksum and later Ethiopia or Omani.

Here's hoping that at the end of the cycle, we'll finally end up with 10+ African civs.

 

[Zaarin]

my next row would probably include Carthage

I hope we continue to see the civ called Phoenicia, both to push it away from being characterized by the Punic Wars and because Carthage was a Phoenician colony.

 

[Krikkit1]

I hope we continue to see the civ called Phoenicia, both to push it away from being characterized by the Punic Wars and because Carthage was a Phoenician colony.

Britain gets to deal with what Phoenicia had for a long time

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

A historical path that starts with Aksum and Nubia, migrates to Kilwa/Somali in Exploration and ends with Buganda, Ethiopia and Omani would be very interesting.

A Kilwa/Swahili civ would already bridge the gap nicely between Aksum and Buganda. Modern Morocco could do the same for Abbasids and Songhai.

 

[AriochIV]

You may have missed Dur-Sharrukin (Assyria)

Yes, thanks for the correction.

Pyramid of the Sun is a Teotihuacan wonder, not an Aztec one. Not to be confused with Tenochtitlan, which was the capital of the Aztecs.

I don't think Civilization has ever made the distinction between the two; Teotihuacan is usually an Aztec city name.

 

[Krikkit1]

Yes, thanks for the correction.


I don't think Civilization has ever made the distinction between the two; Teotihuacan is usually an Aztec city name.

That woulld be an interesting gameplay unlock…build Pyramid of the Sun to unlock Aztecs

 

[Ornen]

I don't think Civilization has ever made the distinction between the two; Teotihuacan is usually an Aztec city name.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Teotihuacan added later in the C7 lifecycle. but I don't think Aztec would urgently need a predecessor aside from Mayans or Mississippi, given that base game has progressions like Norman to Russian or Egypt to Songhai.

 

[Zaarin]

Or my personal bête noire, Mississippians to Hawai'i.

 

[Xandinho]

I don't think Civilization has ever made the distinction between the two; Teotihuacan is usually an Aztec city name.

True, but I think they've been trying to be a bit more historically accurate in the last few editions. I think if the Pyramid of the Sun signals anything, it’s the possible inclusion of Teotihuacan at some point—or it might simply remain unassociated, as this pyramid is stunning enough to deserve inclusion on its own.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I don't think Civilization has ever made the distinction between the two; Teotihuacan is usually an Aztec city name.

Except that it's confirmed as an Antiquity IP now.

 

[AriochIV]

Except that it's confirmed as an Antiquity IP now.

Yes, and so are Babylon, Assyria, Silla and Goths. I'm increasingly unsure if that actually means anything; if it does, that knocks a lot of names off the list.

 

[Zaarin]

Yes, and so are Babylon, Assyria, Silla and Goths. I'm increasingly unsure if that actually means anything; if it does, that knocks a lot of names off the list.

I don't think it means anything in terms of upcoming civs. Granada was a Spanish city at launch and became a city-state in the first DLC. They don't even need to have their abilities transferred now because abilities come from generic pools.

 

[ehecatzin]

I don't think Civilization has ever made the distinction between the two; Teotihuacan is usually an Aztec city name.

And It's always been wrong of Firaxis to do it. that city list has always driven me nuts.

That woulld be an interesting gameplay unlock…build Pyramid of the Sun to unlock Aztecs

I don't think we've seen any wonder unlock civs. As for similar gameplay we've seen, settling near X swamps and lakes could do it.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Teotihuacan added later in the C7 lifecycle. but I don't think Aztec would urgently need a predecessor aside from Mayans or Mississippi, given that base game has progressions like Norman to Russian or Egypt to Songhai.

After seeing gameplay I can absolutely imagine a Teotihuacan that plays like an influence based Rome, with lots of towns feeding a large mega capital and a focus on Independent peoples, mechanically I think there's cool niches it could fill. But yeah, I know mesoamerica is not in a top list of civs players want (besides Aztecs and Mayans), but seeing the Pyramid of the Sun gives me hope Firaxis is broadening their horizons on civ choices.