Sorry to bump this thread. But there are so many threads bumping around at the moment that I didn't want to create new thread for what is a small thought...
I was looking a Civ 5's rules. And I thought, it's a bit odd Civ VI still doesn't really have any mechanics around ideology or how that impacts culture, diplomacy etc. Civ 5 had this whole thing where your ideology could impact other Civ's happiness and visa versa. Civ VI has even more to play with here, what with tourism, loyalty etc. If FXS did expand Ideologies, they could really make something super fun and interesting.
And it also feels really weird Governors, Government Plazas and Governments aren't getting some serious expansion (see
here).
I'm very happy with the next expansion (bar a few small niggles ... which I wonder might not even be there when the game comes out, given it looks like a lot of balancing is going on). I think Civ VI plus the next expansion (... and a few patches... and or some balance mods...) really could be better than either IV or V. The game will feel pretty close to "complete".
...but there are still some, well, gaps...
...and some of those gaps feel, well,
intentional...
...particularly as Ed was lead designer was responsible for all the ideology stuff in BNW - hard to believe he wouldn't bring that into the game...
...and FXS clearly have a very iterative* approach to Civ VI.
Looks like the World Congress might have been planned for RnF, at least judging from the RnF trailer and the very half-hearted Emergencies mechanics. Instead, it got held over to GS, maybe because they wanted to work on it for a bit longer...
I could really see a scenario where FXS maybe didn't plan a third expansion from the start, but mechanics around Ideologies just took that little bit longer, and or they later thought there was enough content for a third expansion and so decided to spread things out a little more...
Like I said. I'm guessing Civ VI will feel very "complete" after GS. ...wouldn't a third expansion then be particularly tempting? A chance to really build on the solid game FXS have made??
(*) Indeed, as much as RnF was kinda underwhelming, I wonder if that more iterative approach is why GS is looking so good and why the game is so good overall.
(**) Anyone interested in this topic might also want to check out
this Reddit thread. People really want a third expansion.
tl;dr: hard to believe we won't get a third expansion focusing on ideologies and cultural influence.