Filling in the gaps - Charting the optimal Civ Switches

[Hellenism Salesman]

Speaking of filling gaps, I really hope they fix the uninteresting mess that is the current set of transitions within the African continent. Seriously — what do Aksum, Songhai, and Buganda have in common besides 'oh, they’re from the same continent'?

It would be fantastic if they released a civ pack specifically aimed at fixing this, and here’s what I’d suggest:

Kilwa (exploration): serves as a bridge between Aksum and Buganda. Not perfect, but definitely works better than Songhai.
Ethiopia (modern): an alternative transition from Kilwa and a direct connection of Aksum.
Ghana (antiquity): a proper predecessor to Songhai.
Sokoto (modern): a fitting successor to Songhai.

That way, we’d have two African historical paths that actually make sense:
Ghana > Songhai > Sokoto
Aksum > Kilwa > Buganda, Ethiopia
They should also add leaders relevant to those paths. I’d suggest Mansa Musa and an Ethiopian leader.
Somalia could also come later as an alternative to Kilwa, offering a stronger connection to Ethiopia.

Finally, they could expand into other parts of Africa in the future — for instance, the southern region — with a historical path like:
Bantu > Mutapa > Zulu

And if Southeast and South Asia are getting so many wonders, it would be great if Africa received some love in that area too, with a few disassociated wonders like: the Great Sphinx of Giza, the Great Mosque of Djenné, and the Church of Saint George of Lalibela.


Regarding a Caribbean leader, I’d suggest Anacaona. She wouldn’t be linked to any other civ except the Taíno, though. For a modern Caribbean civ, I’d go with Haiti.
Unfortunately, Haiti suffers from having many of its thematic niches already filled:
Revolutionary civ: Mexico
Revolutionary Latin leader: Simón Bolívar


It could still work, but thematically they fit better in the Exploration Age — they even interacted with the Inca, for that matter.

I’d love to see the Garamantes too, though they don’t really align with anything.

 

[Lord Lakely]

Updaded my graphics for the Euro leaders:

Well, all but Augustus and Isabella because I'm only allowed 10 attachments per post...x

 

[moondog385]

I’d love to see the Garamantes too, though they don’t really align with anything.

I think they would work as a Garamantes > Berber > Morocco path.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I think they would work as a Garamantes > Berber > Morocco path.

Aren't the Garamantes considered one of the Berber people? Or at least they can be considered a proto-Berber people mixed with other groups?
I think both would encompass the same playstyle and both would be in Antiquity, if you mean when the region wasn't Islamized yet. Unless when you mean "Berbers" it could refer to one of the many different Berber dynasties such as the Almohads or Almoravids?

 

[socratic]

The Almoravids can work because they encompassed much of North Africa, West Africa, and Iberia. Can easily be a middle stage for a lot of civs.

 

[moondog385]

Aren't the Garamantes considered one of the Berber people? Or at least they can be considered a proto-Berber people mixed with other groups?
I think both would encompass the same playstyle and both would be in Antiquity, if you mean when the region wasn't Islamized yet. Unless when you mean "Berbers" it could refer to one of the many different Berber dynasties such as the Almohads or Almoravids?

Yeah, good correction. Garamantes are considered Berbers or proto-Berbers which I why I put them as a predecessor. For medieval Berbers, I was referring to the Almohads and Almoravids together since they both existed for only about a century each.

 

[Lord Lakely]

I personally, like the idea of just calling the medieval civ 'Berbers' (or 'Amazigh') just because the different Berber dynasties were fairly short lived and difficult to distinguish from each other. They all had meharists, corsairs, foggara's and those neat fortificed granaries to some extent, and that's basically all you need to craft your own version.

The only other compromise I would accept would be calling them 'Andalus', which IS a distinct faction in its own right, and a worthy, recognizable name that can challenge Spain.

Antiquity Berbers I don't really consider a priority due to Carthage existing, but 'Modern Berbers' (or similar) would be the best possible bookend for the Carthage/Battuta line. Morocco, Algeria, Tuareg, Tunisia... there's quite a few good choices there.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

The only other compromise I would accept would be calling them 'Andalus', which IS a distinct faction in its own right, and a worthy, recognizable name that can challenge Spain.

As far as I can tell, Andalus only refers to the parts of Iberian peninsula under Muslim control, so that wouldn't encompass the rest of North Africa. Though I suppose that could be an interesting alternative.

 

[Lord Lakely]

As far as I can tell, Andalus only refers to the parts of Iberian peninsula under Muslim control, so that wouldn't encompass the rest of North Africa. Though I suppose that could be an interesting alternative.

They're still berber muslims, though. (Well, partially. Morocco isn't exactly one big ethnic monolith either). AoE2 treats them as such, and that would be a way in for fans of both games.

(though we should avoid the factual errors AoE2 made. Berber Genitours.... l-o-l.)

 

[Xandinho]

I hope they add the Emirate of Granada at some point. Islamic Iberia is a very interesting part of history, yet it's been largely overlooked in the franchise. One city-state and a single wonder aren’t enough to reflect its brilliance. Give us a Granada civ with the Alhambra as its associated wonder.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I hope they add the Emirate of Granada at some point. Islamic Iberia is a very interesting part of history, yet it's been largely overlooked in the franchise. One city-state and a single wonder aren’t enough to reflect its brilliance. Give us a Granada civ with the Alhambra as its associated wonder.

I can see that happening. They could have an Alcázar improvement, like the city-state did in Civ 6, and the Alhambra as a wonder.

 

[Lord Lakely]

Tentative path for the Duckman? (It only needs two new Civs, so that's good)

 

[moondog385]

We definitely need an Ancient Mesopotamian leader. My vote goes to Enheduanna. We have so many warmongers already.

 

[Lord Lakely]

We definitely need an Ancient Mesopotamian leader. My vote goes to Enheduanna. We have so many warmongers already.

Zenobia is probably the most likely, and I think i prefer her. Palmyra was a part of the Assyrian empire, so it would be able as acceptable a fit as Songhai would be for Amina or Normans for Lafayette.

 

[moondog385]

Zenobia is probably the most likely, and I think i prefer her. Palmyra was a part of the Assyrian empire, so it would be able as acceptable a fit as Songhai would be for Amina or Normans for Lafayette.

I would like Zenobia as well, but she would likely be militaristic and it seems like nearly every other leader we get is geared towards that playstyle.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I would like Zenobia as well, but she would likely be militaristic and it seems like nearly every other leader we get is geared towards that playstyle.

I'd picture her as more of a cultural/expansionist, considering the Palmyrene Empire was a multicultural empire. Though upon further research Ara: History did make her have more commerce related abilities, so that's always a possibility.
Though Enheduanna would probably synergize well with Assyria if they give her abilities to do with codices.

 

[Hellenism Salesman]

Though Enheduanna would probably synergize well with Assyria if they give her abilities to do with codices

I’d be awfully surprised if they didn’t