This game seems to be everything I wanted for this series. The RPS interview have hyped TO THE MAX.
So let's discuss the specific selling points:
- Dynamic science & culture system. In-game player actions leading to shorter research / social policy times = WIN. Action shaping your bonuses rather than bonuses shaping your actions seems like a wonderful idea, and a very realistic one to boot
- Unique traits and abilities. Hell YES. People that wanted generic civilizations are out of their minds. Why making a history based game if you are then going to strip it out of its historical flavour? Good move Firaxis, and good equlibrium between flavour and customization
- Multiple city tiles. I haven't played Endless Legend, but if this is a good idea then I am glad that they have copied it. As a builder, this new system intrigues me greatly. But I do wonder about the possibility of many cities merging and if we will have enough space, and if we will be able to build upwards, and...
- Geography means destiny. I really love, love how the team has approached game design here. Yes, maps and location should greatly shape your civilization, and yes, historical logic (or "realism" if you want) should trump game-y logic as long as it doesn't create unbalances
- Improved diplomacy and AI. All my want. It would be good if some kind of BERT "political capital" system will be implemented too, let's wait and see what Firaxis comes with
- Limited 1UPT a la civ Revolutions / Alpha Centauri + hexes. Well, that the logical evolution of Civilization 5 system. Limited stacks is truthly the way to go, even if I would have rather my original idea of terrain types limiting stacking. Just give me a system where army composition and army position matters equally and I will be a very happy camper
- Religions, archeology, trade routes and Spyionage without expansions. I am really, really happy to know that I will buy a full flegded finished product rather than a capped off beta. Civilization 5 vainilla without patches was one of the most unpleasant "first day purchase" experiences that I have ever had, so I am very glad to know that Firaxis is learning from their past mistakes
- Visuals. This is a strategy game. That means that mechanics >>>>>> visuals. The game can look like dog poop (as it looks like now) and I won't care as long as that means that it runs big maps smoothly and that in-map information is easily readable.