Leaders talking to each other, not the player

[pokiehl]

Has any of you guys seen the newest Mortal Kombat game? Because as absurd as it sounds the new leader interactions evoke that pre-duel imagery for me.

Which is really lame and misbegotten design choice - nobody cares about two leader models facing each other as they are not going to engage in real dialogue anyway, I want them talking to me with their homeland in the background.

I fail to understand how Firaxis could think ever decreasing backgrounds are going to impress us, it seems fairly obvious that we are always going to be bitter over civ5 standard

EDIT
Now I have realized that the reason we have no backgrounds is clearly because leaders can be disconnected from civs.
Thankfully this means I can blame new leader on civ switching system, I was afraid this game is going to have more than one downside!

It's funny you bring up Mortal Kombat.

The very first thing I thought about when I saw Hatshepsut's animations was MK3. She keeps hitting the classic Sub Zero pose!

 

[Atlas627]

You will see your own leader in the leader attribute screen when you upgrade them. You will see them!! You don't need to see them in the diplomacy Vs Screen.

I would prefer to be reminded more often than that, and in a way that reinforces that I'm playing as that leader, since that's the only thing that remains consistent through the ages.

Regardless, it is also useful to avoid those mishaps that you hear casual players make where they accidentally sell off their cities instead of buying them, or not understand whether they're opening their borders or getting access to their opponent's. Small benefit, sure, but still a benefit.

As mentioned, the backgrounds don't make as much sense, since the leader can be leading any civ. I think them talking to each other looks far better than them standing in front of...the UI? Certainly not a void... [shudders]

 

[seasnake]

I don't mind this approach, but I think my top choice would have been leader addressing me directly with their palace behind them. I believe palaces will upgrade in this game like the old Civ 3, so it would be fun to see the physical palace get improvements on the map then have that form the background.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I have watched an interview with Ed Beach on rocketbeans where he explained why they change cultures (not civilizations) during the game but keep the same leader.

Interesting. I guess it makes sense that now you are creating your own customizable civilization with your own leader and cultures.
But then again, they are called civilizations on the official site.

 

[moondog385]

I would prefer to be reminded more often than that, and in a way that reinforces that I'm playing as that leader, since that's the only thing that remains consistent through the ages.

I agree. The disconnect between myself and the leader I’m playing as has been one of my minor gripes with Civ.

 

[Lazy sweeper]

I just want the options for static leaders.
I can't stand leaders animation.

If I can get a mod to just get a line of text to replace every leader I'd just install that mod.
It makes no difference to me that now they are talking to each other and not me.
I just mute them. It was already too much a change for me to have them talking instead of some plain text.
I can read fast enough, I don't need dictation...

 

[darko82]

This looks not good. They messed up leader screens completely. Why?

 

[Deer]

I don't mind being represented by the leader I picked earlier on. I just think it is a shame that they have moved further away from the attempts at immersion they did in Civ5 where you would be shown the grander parts of Queen Elizabeth's court when first seeing her, or hearing the fires sparkle in the background upon meeting Askia or even listening to Washington spin his globe. They really went all in on putting each leader in their element with the right theme and everything in that game. What we have seen so far seems more like what you would expect from a simplified CK3 event screen: Something made to offer great versatility in what characters are put on display, what stances they are having and what simple backgrounds they should be given. If that is the case, then maybe we can expect a larger number of leaders with some other flairs which would not be feasible if presented like in Civ5 or even 6.