Leaders talking to each other, not the player

[SemiLazyGamer]

In all previous other Civ games, the AI leaders were talking and looking directly at the player.

In VII, the screen shows both your leader and the AI leader facing and talking to each other.

I like a lot of what VII brings to the table and while I could get used to it, it saddens me that this one aspect of the series has been taken away and I kinda hope an option is added in at some point.

View attachment diplomacy-screen-nitpick-civ-7-v0-6n0dqe7ar7kd1.webp
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[Zaarin]

Agreed. This is the closest thing to a deal breaker that I've seen.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

I'm also displeased with this presentation. For one thing, it's what all the strategy games that aren't as good as Civ do. But ubiquity doesn't make it the right choice. I've always appreciated the immersive quality of being directly addressed by other leaders. It was a hallmark of the series to me. Seeing the character I'm playing from the third person perspective is not nearly as immersive.

Secondly, when paired with the non-background and the wild gesticulations, it makes it look like the opening sequence of a Street Fighter match. Not great.

This is a very poor artistic choice, in my opinion.

 

[ombak]

Once people play I suspect there will be some who have a nagging feeling something doesn't feel like Civ, and it will be because the leaders are no longer talking to them, but because of all the talk about Humankind 2.0 and civ-switching, they will articulate that as the issue instead. Does that make sense?

In other words, I do suspect this will be the feature that feels less like Civ in the actual implementation and player impressions.

 

[pokiehl]

I don't know if I have a problem with leaders talking to each other vs me per se, but the overall presentation of leaders is maybe my only real disappointment so far.

First of all, the leader models don't look great to me. Hatshepsut and Ashoka are pretty undetailed and have bad lighting. Maybe it's just the preview build, because the render of Tecumseh looks a lot higher quality.

But beyond that, the staging of the leaders facing each other like that just looks kinda goofy and cheap to me.

 

[Unit 371]

I feel the same way, while we have progressed with the city sprawl presentation (they look great) the leader screens have progressively regressed. It negatively impacts the immersion. I write this as constructive feedback for future iterations or expansions.

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Secondly, when paired with the non-background and the wild animations, it makes it look like the opening sequence of a Street Fighter match. Not great.

If they're going with the sideways interactions they should just go the whole hog with all those whacky Street Fighter style interactions.

 

[AriochIV]

I like it in the sense that it gives you an opportunity to see your own leader. (We did this is Stars in Shadow.)

Unfortunately, the leader graphics for Civ 7 kinda suck.

 

[Zaarin]

I like it in the sense that it gives you an opportunity to see your own leader.

I'm less interested in seeing my own leader than in feeling like I'm interacting with the other leader. Plus, they don't feel like they're interacting--they're shouting across a screen filled with too much negative space. However..

Unfortunately, the leader graphics for Civ 7 kinda suck.

This kind of dampens my enthusiasm for leaders entirely. I'm not sure even a few solid art passes could add visual interest and personality to these models.

 

[SeelingCat]

If they're going with the sideways interactions they should just go the whole hog with all those whacky Street Fighter style interactions.

Finally! Extreme Diplomacy Game Mode!

 

[SupremacyKing2]

I think the graphics of the leader need to be improved. But I have no real issue with the leaders facing each other. It's just a stylistic choice. I think we will likely get used to it.

 

[Zaarin]

I think we will likely get used to it.

It's bordering on a deal breaker for me. I know I will probably eventually preorder because I like most of the mechanics, but the bad leader models and the even worse diplomacy screen have deflated a lot of my enthusiasm.

 

[TheSpaceCowboy]

It's especially sad and crazy since the Independent Powers screens are awesome.

Had Firaxis made similar dioramas for the main Leaders, I think it'd be much more aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Core Imposter]

I literally cannot believe that anyone cares about this.

 

[ehecatzin]

I don't mind them looking at each other as well, I always found it a bit dissapointing that I couldn't see my own leader doing it's thing. But I agree in that the detail seems lacking and the animation already looks repetitive, I hope they are still being worked on.

 

[Zaarin]

I literally cannot believe that anyone cares about this.

As hard as it is to believe, not everyone has the same priorities. I have a hard time believing anyone cares about how combat works beyond "Unit A bonks Unit B," yet some people do.

 

[SupremacyKing2]

To be clear, when you go into diplomacy to do something, you only see the other civ leader. We see both both leaders facing each other during first contact and when you declare war. There might be other cases that we don't know about yet, like making peace or signing an alliance. The two leaders facing each other seems to just be a cute diplomatic animation for something important like going to war or peace.

 

[Zaarin]

To be clear, when you go into diplomacy to do something, you only see the other civ leader. We see both both leaders facing each other during first contact and when you declare war. There might be other cases that we don't know about yet, like making peace or signing an alliance. The two leaders facing each other seems to just be a cute diplomatic animation for something important like going to war or peace.

We also see leaders facing each other during first meeting. It seems likely this is the format any time there is an active "deal" between civs.

 

[SupremacyKing2]

We also see leaders facing each other during first meeting. It seems likely this is the format any time there is an active "deal" between civs.

yes, I mentioned first contact.

I think the idea is to show the relationship between the two civs. In past civs, the leader would look at you and say something or do some animation to show the relationship status. My issue with civ6, is that it was not always clear what the other civ leader was trying to say.

I see it as a stylistic choice. We are like a third party watching our leader interact with the other leader. It is a different way of visualizing the relationship. It does not bother me that much. But I can see how others might not care for it.

 

[Zaarin]

yes, I mentioned first contact.

Sorry, I'm working so I'm doing some skimming.

I think the idea is to show the relationship between the two civs. In past civs, the leader would look at you and say something or do some animation to show the relationship status. My issue with civ6, is that it was not always clear what the other civ leader was trying to say.

I see it as a stylistic choice. We are like a third party watching our leader interact with the other leader. It is a different way of visualizing the relationship. It does not bother me that much. But I can see how others might not care for it.

Fair. I find the choice very off-putting and cheap looking, though.