pre-release info New First Look: Himiko

[FXS_Sar]

Introducing Himiko, including her High Shaman persona!​

Himiko, Queen of Wa (Base Game) ​

The queen of Yamatai, an early Japanese state, Himiko used her political wiles and, according to legend, shamanic charisma to bring (Japan/the land/her people) under her sway. Her political prowess was recognized by the Chinese kingdom of Cao Wei, who dubbed her a "friend of Wei." Her authority has echoed in Japanese folk history for over a thousand years.

Agenda:
Yamatai: Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with constructed Culture and Happiness Buildings. Increase Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with constructed Science and Gold Buildings.

Starting Biases:
None

Attributes:
Diplomatic
Scientific

Unique Ability:
Friend of Wei: Gain a Unique Endeavor called 'Friend of Wei' that can be performed in an Alliance to grant you and your ally increased Science. Can support Endeavors for free. Adds Science per Age for every leader you're Friendly or Helpful with.

Himiko, High Shaman (DLC Persona)​

The queen of Yamatai, an early Japanese state, Himiko used her political and religious authority as, possibly, a shaman of the sun-goddess Amaterasu to rule. Other accounts claim she had enthralled her subjects by magic. Whatever the truth behind Himiko's legend, her charisma was a powerful force, and resonates until the present day.

Agenda:
Shaman Queen: Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with constructed Science and Gold Buildings. Increase Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with Culture and Happiness Buildings.

Starting Biases:
None

Attributes:
Cultural
Diplomatic

Unique Ability:
Miko of Amaterasu: Increased Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings. Increased Production towards constructing Happiness Buildings. Gain increased Culture but slightly reduced Science, with increased effects during a Celebration.


Game Guide here: https://civilization.2k.com/civ-vii/game-guide/leaders/himiko/

 

[Zaarin]

Her High Shaman outfit looks much better than the Queen of Wa outfit we saw initially. I think Queen of Wa will be one of the early leaders I play as.

 

[moondog385]

High Shaman sounds right up my alley. She looks much better than she did before (even if that was on Switch).

 

[Siptah]

High Shaman looks really, really strong. I hope I get to play her before either her ability, Happiness or Celebrations get nerfed.

 

[pokiehl]

Very cool. Queen of Wa Himiko seems like the anti-Emperor Napoleon.

 

[Lord Lakely]

Yeah, i will have to echo that High Shaman Himiko looks strong, but I am not quite convinced that she is, actually. Huge Culture bonuses aren't that good. Happiness is very good, but I'm not sure if her bonuses to Happiness are that much better than the other, smaller Happiness bonuses we've seen (Ashoka, Charlemagne).

I think Queen of Wa Himiko is the better persona. No Influence costs to Endeavours is a fairly big deal, considering that Suzerainity, Espionage and Denunciations also cost Influence. In the hands of a cunning player, this should be more useful than a flat pile of stats.

 

[Calcifer]

I find it funny that her two different personas have opposite agendas and they would probably hate each other.

 

[Zaarin]

I think Queen of Wa Himiko is the better persona. No Influence costs to Endeavours is a fairly big deal, considering that Suzerainity, Espionage and Denunciations also cost Influence. In the hands of a cunning player, this should be more useful than a flat pile of stats.

Free support is everything I want from Queen of Wa; everything else is a little bonus.

I find it funny that her two different personas have opposite agendas and they would probably hate each other.

Unless you're hyperfocused in what you're building, I honestly think her agenda will usually amount to "has no particular feelings about anyone."

 

[TheSpaceCowboy]

Queen of Wa’s description should start with “can support Endeavors for free”. That seems like the most impactful of her abilities, and one which will come into play far more often than a 330 cost unique Endeavor.

I’ll definitely be having her in my games quite often, and look forward to playing with this Persona

 

[Leucarum]

Queen of Wa feels much more interesting than High Shaman... Perfect choice if you want a peaceful game. Not bad overall. I'll play her relatively early!

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

I'm a bit hesitant about the Queen of Wa LUA. I don't like to make alliances becasue they drag me into dumb wars. The High Shaman LUA isn't really very interesting. I appreciate having a lot of Celebrations, though.

 

[RedCourtJester]

Her High Shaman outfit looks much better than the Queen of Wa outfit we saw initially. I think Queen of Wa will be one of the early leaders I play as.

Yeah they seem to be locking the better/truer version of each leader behind the microtransaction paywall. While it seems the "base" version of each leader, at least for Himiko and Xerxes, seems better suited to which versions of Persia and Japan made it into the base game.

In other words it seem they had to contort certain leaders to work with the starting civs (Himiko into science and Xerxes into military), and personae are a way of still giving us versions of the leaders we probably would have preferred (cultural Himiko and economic Xerxes). I would argue default/extra Ashoka are roughly interchangeable and neither is particularly better at stringing together the three Indian civs than the other.

Also, as an aside, but I am finding the leader designs...inconsistent? Some of the leaders like Amina, Trung, Tecumseh, Xerxes, Harriet, and Pachacuti look very realistic, but then some like Himiko, Augustus, Machiavelli look kind of stylized/cartoony? And I can't even decide which category Confucius falls into.

 

[Leucarum]

I'm a bit hesitant about the Queen of Wa LUA. I don't like to make alliances becasue they drag me into dumb wars. The High Shaman LUA isn't really very interesting. I appreciate having a lot of Celebrations, though.

You don't have to be in an alliance for free support on endeavours though...

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

You don't have to be in an alliance for free support on endeavours though...

That's less directly helpful. It just allows you to pick winners of other people's wars.

 

[Leucarum]

That's less directly helpful. It just allows you to pick winners of other people's wars.

I think that's war support. This is getting the full benefits of endeavours offered by other players without spending any influence (that you can then spend on other stuff).

Depending on how freely the AI spreads the love (she might be significantly worse on higher dificulties) it might be her primary ability IMO.

At least that's how I read it!

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

I think that's war support. This is getting the full benefits of endeavours offered by other players without spending any influence (that you can then spend on other stuff).

Depending on how freely the AI spreads the love (she might be significantly worse on higher dificulties) it might be her primary ability IMO.

Oh, duh. I misread that. Yeah, getting the full benefit of endeavors is nice, although it's just ones the other leaders propose

 

[Leucarum]

Oh, duh. I misread that. Yeah, getting the full benefit of endeavors is nice, although it's just ones the other leaders propose

Yeah, I suspect of the leaders revealed this far, her utility is going to vary the most with difficulty.

 

[Cyon]

Queen of Wa seems very very strong.

With 4 friends you get +16 science in the first era, and if you do your special project with four friends you get 100% science! Add to that all endeveurs you can support for free to get tons of other stuff.

The Shaman persona seems harder to evaluate. I dont know how many happiness buildings you can have, can you even buy happiness buildings in Towns?

If you get a lot of celebrations you get a lot of social policy slots wich is very good.

+20% Culture but -10% science with +40% culture but -20% science seems less impressive than a +25% science bonus that is stackable. I guess you can use the +20% science celebration to cancel the mallus.

 

[Zaarin]

Yeah they seem to be locking the better/truer version of each leader behind the microtransaction paywall. While it seems the "base" version of each leader, at least for Himiko and Xerxes, seems better suited to which versions of Persia and Japan made it into the base game.

In other words it seem they had to contort certain leaders to work with the starting civs (Himiko into science and Xerxes into military), and personae are a way of still giving us versions of the leaders we probably would have preferred (cultural Himiko and economic Xerxes). I would argue default/extra Ashoka are roughly interchangeable and neither is particularly better at stringing together the three Indian civs than the other.

Not sure I agree. In terms of appearance, Achaemenid Xerxes' green tunic is jarringly anachronistic. In terms of gameplay, Xerxes Shahanshah better fits Persia, and High Shaman Himiko looks weaker than Himiko Queen of Wa with her free Support on top of other bonuses.

 

[local_hero]

Queen of Wa seems very very strong.

With 4 friends you get +16 science in the first era, and if you do your special project with four friends you get 100% science! Add to that all endeveurs you can support for free to get tons of other stuff.

The Shaman persona seems harder to evaluate. I dont know how many happiness buildings you can have, can you even buy happiness buildings in Towns?

If you get a lot of celebrations you get a lot of social policy slots wich is very good.

+20% Culture but -10% science with +40% culture but -20% science seems less impressive than a +25% science bonus that is stackable. I guess you can use the +20% science celebration to cancel the mallus.

I thought you can only have one endeavor of each type active at once? Isn't that part of Benjamin Franklins abilities, that he can have two of the same type?