[NFP] Game Mode Speculation

The thing i am most excited about is the six toggle-able game modes we are going to be getting. So far two have been announced. Apocalypse and secret societies, it is also confirmed four more are coming.

Apocalypse seems self-explanatory. More natural disasters, extremely powerful natural disasters, and a way to control them through the soothsayer unit. Secret societies sounds super interesting! The only thoughts on the top of my head are more powerful espionage and perhaps some more tools too achieve a diplomatic victory.

These will already completely change the way the game is played, and this is only two out of six. So there are already four more we have no idea about.

In terms of what they could have, many 4x games now have a 'late game crisis' mechanic. A powerful AI controlled faction appearing in the late game and going all out for world conquest. I initially thought that this would never fit in with the civilization franchise, but because the game modes are taking a much looser approach too history i can see us maybe getting a rogue AI uprising or something along the lines of an alien invasion. We might also see a game mode based around plagues.

But even if these are the third and the fourth that still leaves two more i have no idea about. I am very interested in hearing peoples thoughts and speculation on what they could be.

 

Would a game-mode where you mix leaders and civs be too superficial? Like, Cleopatra leads China or something?

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Disease and Pandemic Mode at some point.

 

But just to make some math ... if there is 6 new game modes that's basically new expansion worth of material, because those game modes are comparable to what we had in Rise and Fall (maybe not Gathering Storm which was biggest expansion ever for Civ game).

But they have been doing on those new Civ's and everything else past year ... which is time needed to make expansion. What will they do in next year when all of those being released. Its like this content took 2 years, while R&F and GS took one year to make.

 

The official CivGame twitter has had two tweets regarding Justinian recently, so my prediction is that Byzantine Empire is in and led by him.

There's a separate wikipedia page for natural disasters during his reign including earthquakes, and even a deadly plague named Justinian Plague.

So I bet the game mode included with him adds earthquakes and plagues!

Another speculation:
PACK 4: 1 civ, new city-states and numerous great people

- I feel we get Portugal and new type of great people: Great explorer!

 

I'm still asking for a 'custom civ' option. Should be a very simple game mode to implement.

Even customizing flags, colors & city names would already be nice. But a point system for traits aka master of orion or master of magic would be even better.

 

https://twitter.com/antonstrenger/status/1259887099001688071

 

"We considered earthquakes, but ultimately ended up choosing other disasters that we thought were more fun and better balanced."

So that means no earthquakes, and only real possibility for Byzantium would be plague. Also I dont think they would add new things seperatly, like natural disasters --- they all coming together in this first DLC ... and what we get there is what will be released considering that topic.

 

I believe that quote was from when GS released, right? While true for that, I think the apocalypse mode they may bring in more items that are unbalanced - I mean, I don't think a meteor strike that wipes an entire city off the map is in any way balanced, so an earthquake compared to that feels "minor".

 

I think he tweeted this 4 hours ago ... I dont ever use Twitter --- so maybe I dont know when tweet was made, but its in above Twitter link ... scroll down and you will see it. I am 99% sure he said this few hours ago.

 

I'm looking forward to see how the community will perceive these game modes. Will people treat it like a scenario and play it when they want to do something different or will the community embrace these game modes as the new standard? These modes are modular mechanics that you can add to the main game so, once all the modes are available, I wonder if the community will play mostly the game with all modes enabled, if we will be conservative and stick with standard, or if there will be one specific mix that will be the most popular.

I'm not a fan of meteors destroying whole cities, at least not in my standard Civ experience, and the Soothsayer unit seems fun but out of place for Civ, so I'm not sure if I'll stick with this mode or play once then go back to "normal" Civ.

 

I'd be rooting for some sort of 'civil war' game mode, or basically something where they seriously dial up the affects of loyalty, lack of amenities, etc. Added bonus if things like free cities becoming city states, or even barbarian camps becoming free cities (with some diplomatic intervention) becoming city states instead of city states just appearing at the start.

 

What are your predictions for the other optional game modes?

My first guess would be a random event mode that focuses on immersive gameplay and storytelling.

My second would be a prehistory mode where you start as a nomadic tribe. Human history before 4000BC is actually very interesting with contact with megafauna and other human species.

Third, I really hope for an alternative more "realistic" religion mode that does not have religious victory but incentivises players to adopt and spread religions founded by other players depending not only on their bonuses but also for diplomatic reasons.

Fourth, I would like to see a mode that focuses on domesticating plants and animals with bonuses for planting crops in areas of the map that have the right climate. Any mode that focuses on resources including combining resources to make manufactured goods would be really interesting.

 

I think they more or less explicity said this is something they'd be looking at as well, to give insight into what the user base wants.

 

Could someone with twitter please ask Anton Strenger if there will be something related to the ideologies?

He replied to the guy asking about Diplo Victory so I guess he could give a hint.

 

I don't think any of the new Civs will have abilities which depend on certain modules to be turned on. That sounds very limiting.

 

I hope they make the world congress a game mode, so I can turn it off.

 

Hm, I had hoped for earthquakes and related buildings or policies to reduce/thwart earthquake damage (think of Japan's current cityscape and its building design for example), but I guess with plague coming (maybe?) that should be sufficient for tactical and strategic consideration.

 

So by game modes, does that mean no new major mechanic systems? I was really hoping for a trade/corporation system, but it sounds like any changes won’t be all encompassing if some people only buy one pass.

 

well trade/corporations would't be new system, it would be just extension of already trade and resources system in the game. Like we already have disasters in game --- and this apocalypse game mode is extension of that.

That alone doesnt mean trade would be reworked in this game modes, but I think there is chance.