[NFP] Ethiopia Update Discussion Thread

[sonicmyst]

Imagine Eleanor with the Voidsingers. That would be insane!

 

[TheMarshmallowBear]

Secret Societies look far more substantial than the Apocalypse mode, which is nice. There's at least four extra games in it, if you only wanted to try each of them once, and they all look like a fun fantasy spin on the gameplay.

The diplomatic district, at the first glance, looks like a no brainer - you'll definitely want to build it quick, and there's no choices within it. Would love to know how it affects the envoy bonuses; is it going to be a nerf, effectively?

Hard to judge Ethiopia just yet. They've shown more than it appears at first (you can see the improvement at 1:40 and the leader is spelled out at 2:32) but will need the full first look to see how it ties together.

Catherine and Roosevelt personas are a bit confusing; are they going to change the base version of latter for everyone? Or just the people that install the pack?

They alternate versions. Similiar to the setup used by Eleanor, where it's two leaders of the same type (though in Eleanor case, she leads either France or England). Teddy and Rough Teddy are two leaders in-game now, same with Magnificent and Sneaky Cathy.

 

[SupremacyKing2]

they said thjs game mode would be fantasy . It’s also an optional game mode, you don’t have to play it....

Yes, that I why I said that you can turn them off if you want.

 

[Jewelrunna]

Also worth remembering for everyone who's complaining that Civ is becoming a fantasy game: these are optional game modes. If you wanna keep your game purely historical focused, like I do, you can always turn these modes off. I was hoping we'd get more of these game modes that are less... meme-y, for more "pure" playthroughs. But they'll at least be fun for one game, speaking personally.

 

[lotrmith]

"Envoy bonuses are now directly tied to [the diplomacy district]"...

Yikes

 

[IvoryPavane]

Generally quite pleased. I think it’s fun for them to experiment with the more whimsical elements in modes that can be toggled on and off. If you don’t care for Vampires, or they cross a line then you can simply just keep that toggle off.

If they can balance this with the free updates being perhaps more substantial in terms of Civ balance updates and refining of current systems etc, then I will be very happy overall

 

[Thenewwwguy]

Maybe. Alternately could they could make the Shotelai a medieval melee replacement at Military Tactics that we just haven't seen.

That being said I'm kind of surprised how much I like Secret Societies and will play it more than Apocalypse mode. I wasn't expecting Vampires but I wouldn't have minded a "vampire" like leader in Vlad Tepes, and I knew he wasn't coming, so it's a pleasant surprise.

yes, i agree. Secret Societies is exactly the type of game mode i would think i don’t like, but after looking at it, I think it’s going to be really enjoyable

 

[Uberfrog]

What's that unit in the bottom image?

The bloke in the horse with the leopard skin? That’s a Great General...

 

[Jewman]

Maybe. Alternately could they could make the Shotelai a medieval melee replacement at Military Tactics that we just haven't seen.

That being said I'm kind of surprised how much I like Secret Societies and will play it more than Apocalypse mode. I wasn't expecting Vampires but I wouldn't have minded a "vampire" like leader in Vlad Tepes, and I knew he wasn't coming, so it's a pleasant surprise.

I agree, I never play the scenarios and have been against sci-fi stuff generally but this just looks really interesting and well done. Sure the vampires is a litttttleee too far (cthluhu stuff was right on the money) but ill get over it pretty quickly I think.

 

[Kwami]

Ethiopia also appears to have a culture focus, perhaps through relics, just based off a passing comment they made, so we’ll see

More of a Faith focus, I think. The developers actually kind of say so in the video.

Anyway, at 1:52, you can see that they're using Faith to purchase a museum. But, Warrior Monks are also available for purchase. So, either Ethiopia has a built-in Jesuit Education bonus or else they can take more than one follower belief.

 

[pjotroos]

They alternate versions. Similiar to the setup used by Eleanor, where it's two leaders of the same type (though in Eleanor case, she leads either France or England). Teddy and Rough Teddy are two leaders in-game now, same with Magnificent and Sneaky Cathy.

Sorry, could've been clearer. They said something along the lines of Rough Riders only being available to Rough Rider teddy, which would suggest they're changing baseline version. I wonder how that change will work.

 

[Tigranes]

So Cthulu, Dracula, Bohemian Groove, and Alchemists.
Not quite what I expected. I think they went too far with Vampires
Also, Ethiopia UI is a stone church.

There are so many cool real life secret societies. Don't we have enough magical games on this planet? What could go wrong if they included Order of Assassins instead? Or Maffia? Illuminati? Skull and Bones? Templars? White Lotus? Yakuza? Why do the people think that Vampires are way cooler than any of the historical secret societies?

 

[Thenewwwguy]

More of a Faith focus, I think. The developers actually kind of say so in the video.

Anyway, at 1:52, you can see that they're using Faith to purchase a museum. But, Warrior Monks are also available for purchase. So, either Ethiopia has a built-in Jesuit Education bonus or else they can take more than one follower belief.

i thought they do mention culture, but perhaps i’m mistaken

 

[sonicmyst]

At least we have a game mode with effects in mid-game rather than wait for the max climate change level.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Where is @Zaarin ?
You got your wish of a Rock-Hewn Church unique improvement.

 

[TyrannusRex]

Does the Teddy split upset anyone else?
I mean, I preordered the pass because I'm rarely disappointed with what Firaxis does, but like... I like Teddy as he is? I thought these persona packs were just going to be visual and slight behavioral changes. Now I kind of don't want them.

 

[Thenewwwguy]

There are so many cool real life secret societies. Don't we have enough magical games on this planet? What could go wrong if they included Order of Assassins instead? Or Maffia? Illuminati? Skull and Bones? Templars? White Lotus? Yakuza? Why do the people think that Vampires are way cooler than any of the historical secret societies?

god can ppl stop whining? They said they wanted to go fantasy with this pack and that’s what they chose to do. If you don’t like it, don’t play it. ITS NOT LIKE THE FANTASY AFFECTS THE BASE GAME. It’s not like they want civ to be a fantasy game.

When CK2 has devil worshippers and horse and bear people by default on, be glad that civ at least takes the base game seriously.

 

[Jewelrunna]

With Teddy, it seems like both versions are getting remade, so don’t go talking about how both will be weak because they implied pretty heavily that regular teddy is also getting new abilities.

In terms of game systems and the Diplo Quarter, i’m glad they aren’t complicating the game with more mechanics. The game is already very loaded with mechanics and adding new mechanics instead of adding aspects to existing mechanics would be bad game design.

Ethiopia also appears to have a culture focus, perhaps through relics, just based off a passing comment they made, so we’ll see

But they are adding new game mechanics, just not good ones (in my opinion). The Diplomatic Quarter just makes the Diplo game more convoluted and obtuse. Now you have to build this district to get half of the rewards for playing the City-State game, which makes playing this aspect of the game much less appealing now that you have to build what essentially amounts to a Government Plaza with less bonuses.

I'm not sure what I expected from the "new district" tag though, but the Diplomatic Quarter just seems to only make the weakest area of the game (diplomacy) more complicated while not making it more fun. Those are just my first impressions though.

 

[wesplaysciv]

i thought they do mention culture, but perhaps i’m mistaken

You are right, they say they have "new ways" of using faith to claim a culture victory, as the video shows faith-buying an archeological museum

 

[Thenewwwguy]

Does the Teddy split upset anyone else?
I mean, I preordered the pass because I'm rarely disappointed with what Firaxis does, but like... I like Teddy as he is? I thought these persona packs were just going to be visual and slight behavioral changes. Now I kind of don't want them.

i would expect they have a toggle if ppl want the old teddy and catherine, just liek you can go pre-GS to play as the old victoria