How diverse is civ6?

[Duke William of Normandy]

That's exactly why I don't see the Inuit happening. Sure they would have an interesting gameplay mechanic probably revolving around snow or exclusively being able to work the ice tiles, similar to Inca working mountains, but that's about it. Of course there is also an igloo unique infrastructure, even though they weren't mainly used by Inuit but it's not like there are any other choices.

Cities would have to be made up not to mention finding a leader and possibly a UU as well.

"Oh wow, the Inuit have a really unique culture and could have some interesting gameplay mechanics to boot!"

"See! What did I tell you?"

"One question: Who's going to be the Leader?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"A... snowman...?"

 

[Leucarum]

Most civs in civ6 are based on 1-2 stereotypical traits that get exaggerated into their abilities. Prime example: Canada. You don't need much historical information to come up with a couple of hooks to make a new civ.

There's also advantages to having minor civs be represented. A lot of players enjoy the 'what if' alternate history elements of civ. And if the bulk of civs were post colonial or european you'd be ignoring a lot of interesting game mechanics.

I think it's a given that major polities will make up the core civs in Civ6, but I also like it when more obscure options get their chance to shine. It's why we get interesting designs like the Maori...

 

[AsH2]

That's exactly why I don't see the Inuit happening. Sure they would have an interesting gameplay mechanic probably revolving around snow or exclusively being able to work the ice tiles, similar to Inca working mountains, but that's about it. Of course there is also an igloo unique infrastructure, even though they weren't mainly used by Inuit but it's not like there are any other choices.

Cities would have to be made up not to mention finding a leader and possibly a UU as well.

I think Eskimo (meaning "snowshoe-netter") would be their UU..

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

I think Eskimo would be their UU..

Dog sled, you mean...

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

"Oh wow, the Inuit have a really unique culture and could have some interesting gameplay mechanics to boot!"

"See! What did I tell you?"

"One question: Who's going to be the Leader?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"A... snowman...?"

That being said if we got the Olmec I wouldn't mind a talking colossal head as the leader.

I liked watching that show when I was young.

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

That being said if we got the Olmec I wouldn't mind a talking colossal head as the leader.

I liked watching that show when I was young.

Ah, yes. When kids would search for Blackbeard's treasure map and Galileo's Cannonball. Good times.

 

[AsH2]

Dog sled, you mean...

Nope, "snowshoe-netter".

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

Nope, "snowshoe-netter".

Oh my word, that's even worse!

 

[anonxanemone]

Modder Lime designed an interesting civ based on Thule that takes advantage of the snow terrain.

 

[The Civs 6]

I at least think the Inuits could offer a potentially interesting gameplay style. I just don't know enough about their mode of existence, but I think having cities would be a minimum requirement.

Also another non-european civ that no one seems to talk about is Israel. Not populous, I get that, but they were a regional power twice in one of the two most historically significant areas of its time. They are one of the longest lived polities in history. Jerusalem was one of the most important cities in the classical era. They obviously have a distinct identity. You could potentially incorporate the diaspora as part of their mechanism.

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

I at least think the Inuits could offer a potentially interesting gameplay style. I just don't know enough about their mode of existence, but I think having cities would be a minimum requirement.

Also another non-european civ that no one seems to talk about is Israel. Not populous, I get that, but they were a regional power twice in one of the two most historically significant areas of its time. They are one of the longest lived polities in history. Jerusalem was one of the most important cities in the classical era. They obviously have a distinct identity. You could potentially incorporate the diaspora as part of their mechanism.

Israel's also on my wishlist.

 

[AsH2]

Oh my word, that's even worse!

Not as much as naming a "norse civ" Vikings or giving Anglo-Saxons Housecarls as UU.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I at least think the Inuits could offer a potentially interesting gameplay style. I just don't know enough about their mode of existence, but I think having cities would be a minimum requirement.

Even if they had permanent settlements, I don't know if any were named.

Also another non-european civ that no one seems to talk about is Israel. Not populous, I get that, but they were a regional power twice in one of the two most historically significant areas of its time. They are one of the longest lived polities in history. Jerusalem was one of the most important cities in the classical era. They obviously have a distinct identity. You could potentially incorporate the diaspora as part of their mechanism.

I've seen (Ancient) Israel talked about some. I don't know if many people bring it up due to modern day politics and if they would even consider doing a civ called Israel for that reason.

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

Not as much as naming a "norse civ" Vikings or giving Anglo-Saxons Housecarls as UU.

Ah... I did that as well. @$%@*!#$(@$%(#$)^%)@#%&@#*%@^@$^*(#$&^%$I^*#(@*%(@&%&$^@^2. (I don't actually curse, it's just for cheap comedy.)

 

[AsH2]

Ah... I did that as well. @$%@*!#$(@$%(#$)^%)@#%&@#*%@^@$^*(#$&^%$I^*#(@*%(@&%&$^@^2. (I don't actually curse, it's just for cheap comedy.)

Don't worry - just blame Civ5..

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, I see the problem as not a lack of substantive culture and tribes to pick from, it's a lack of leaders. The Harappans and Norte Chico come to mind. They were the earliest Culture known to man, yet they have never made it into Civilization because they have no Leaders that we have enough information on to give them their abilities and agendas.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, I see the problem as not a lack of substantive culture and tribes to pick from, it's a lack of leaders. The Harappans and Norte Chico come to mind. They were the earliest Culture known to man, yet they have never made it into Civilization because they have no Leaders that we have enough information on to give them their abilities and agendas.

They also don't have a known spoken language.
Of course this doesn't matter for Humankind as the Olmecs and the Harappans are in and you have customizable leaders.

However for me the charm of Civilization is actually playing and interacting as historical leaders. I don't think that will go away as that's the one niche that the Civilization franchise has over the other historical 4X games so for that reason I'm okay with Olmecs and Harappans constantly getting skipped over.

The bright side is as long as they continue to make city-states more unique, then we could keep on getting cultures like the Olmecs and Harappans almost acting like minor civilizations at least.

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

However for me the charm of Civilization is actually playing and interacting as historical leaders. I don't think that will go away as that's the one niche that the Civilization franchise has over the other historical 4X games so for that reason I'm okay with Olmecs and Harappans constantly getting skipped over.

True to me as well. Each and every Leader has such a unique personality and their movements really convey their motives and emotions. This is where I feel Humankind falls short is the Leaders. While customizable, you never feel the same dread when they declare war on you as you do when Shaka does.

The bright side is as long as they continue to make city-states more unique, then we could keep on getting cultures like the Olmecs and Harappans almost acting like minor civilizations at least.

La Venta is already one of the best City-States you can get. Mohenjo-Daro though... meh

 

[The Civs 6]

They also don't have a known spoken language.
Of course this doesn't matter for Humankind as the Olmecs and the Harappans are in and you have customizable leaders.

However for me the charm of Civilization is actually playing and interacting as historical leaders. I don't think that will go away as that's the one niche that the Civilization franchise has over the other historical 4X games so for that reason I'm okay with Olmecs and Harappans constantly getting skipped over.

The bright side is as long as they continue to make city-states more unique, then we could keep on getting cultures like the Olmecs and Harappans almost acting like minor civilizations at least.

Well the other side of this is that Civ isn't really a good simulator for pre-historical stuff. Like it has the pretense of doing so, with development of agriculture and so on (in some versions, in others you start with it). But a city of 20,000 people, which is usually the approximated population of a pop 1 city, has already developed a lot of those things. Maybe if civ had basically an entire pre-historical era, then you could fit in some of these groups and ponder what could have happened.

 

[Evie]

We have real account of what many African and American people did. They just don't strike the imagination as much because they are outside our culturally defined expectation of "advancement" - we look in popular culture for civilizations that resemble what we're familiar with and hold those similarities (eg, big stone cities) as proof of their advancement, while ignoring advancement and achievements along different axes.

I do however agree with the above poster that having the leaders is essential - and that civs with no known historical leaders just can't fit. Language...well, I'm not so fond of it, but it seems to be here to stay also. So yes, people for whom we have no documented language or no documented leaders are....pretty much just not possible. Fortunately, we do have surprisingly extensive documentation and a surprising number of fairly recognizable figures.