Pirates, Really?

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I don't think anyone is arguing that the concept of pirates is fictional or fantasy. But at the same time, I can understand why Pirates as a civ seems out of place. If we kept arguing that Vikings are an occupation, not a civ, and they should be split into Denmark, Norway, Iceland etc. why are Pirates different, considering that's an occupation too?

 

[stealth_nsk]

I don't think anyone is arguing that the concept of pirates is fictional or fantasy. But at the same time, I can understand why Pirates as a civ seems out of place. If we kept arguing that Vikings are an occupation, not a civ, and they should be split into Denmark, Norway, Iceland etc. why are Pirates different, considering that's an occupation too?

But that's a very particular pirate republic.

 

[queenpea]

Are there any Humankind players here? How were the Pirates implemented in that game?

 

[j51]

It’s a small bummer that both exploration civs in this pack still do not fill in the gaping regional holes for that era: Mesoamerica, Eastern Africa, Central Europe, and Japan.

Tonga and the Ottomans do fill holes in their respective eras, but adding Iceland and “the pirates” has created two new holes in antiquity and the modern era lol.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

But that's a very particular pirate republic.

Well yes, particularly made up mostly of former English privateers. In the old games that group of people would have just been under the English civilization, or better yet just a city-state if they wanted to make it independent.

It does also make more sense why they decided to go with the Normans in the same age, instead of an Exploration England, so as to not conflict with an eventual Pirate Republic.

 

[Jkchart]

TBH I have more of an issue with the Bermuda Triangle being a natural wonder than the Republic of Pirates being a playable civ.

This

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Tonga and the Ottomans do fill holes in their respective eras, but adding Iceland and “the pirates” has created two new holes in antiquity and the modern era lol.

Antiquity Norse would work for both.

 

[Leucarum]

Do we really need the holes filled, especially if civ switching becomes optional, but honestly, even with civ switching? Just on vibes, I do like Tonga and Iceland. Whether that translates to interesting gameplay remains to be seen.

 

[ehecatzin]

Do we really need the holes filled, especially if civ switching becomes optional, but honestly, even with civ switching? Just on vibes, I do like Tonga and Iceland. Whether that translates to interesting gameplay remains to be seen.

It does lessen the need a bit, but I think it still doesn't beat having a mostly thematic culture path like China has right now.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Do we really need the holes filled, especially if civ switching becomes optional, but honestly, even with civ switching? Just on vibes, I do like Tonga and Iceland. Whether that translates to interesting gameplay remains to be seen.

I believe so, especially for those that still want to play with civ switching and want it to be more historically accurate. Or until the game gets a Japan civ with samurai.

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

Pirate Republic being a playable faction? what does FXis thinks? i'm really off with this unless there's a distinct Middle Ages and Age of Exploration. AND Age transition automatically forces settlelements out of any Empire's posessions. and this requires player to have port cities.

 

[bladex1200]

It does lessen the need a bit, but I think it still doesn't beat having a mostly thematic culture path like China has right now.

NGL I think the decision to have some nations have at least thematic culture paths while others are left high and dry (whether due to historical propriety - there simply not being a clear-cut successor state - or to package for future DLC because they know specific paths are well-desire by the community) makes stuff like the Pirate Republic feel kind of like a waste.

If none of the civs had thematic culture paths and every single civ was subjected to a weird culture mish-mash era by era, I think inserting fantastic or 'orphaned' civs would be received less-badly because there would be no expectation of continuity. That would also probably have been very infuriating for some players who want continuity, but it would have at least been consistent in the principle that "all civs get a particular era to shine".

EDIT: I honestly get the feeling that the reason certain civs like India and China got thematic continuity paths was because these are markets where Civ is trying to expand into or knows they will struggle with if they anger players with perceived slights of not including a thematic cultural path. And I respect that players would probably review-bomb the bejesus out of Civ if they were offered anything less, I think other markets should be treated with the same respect and should retaliate strongly if they are not so they can get the same nice treatment.

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

here. Pirate UU. its name is no doubt' Pirates'.

^ And the reasons why Age of Exploration shold come late.
and still no less cartoonish than Civ6 counterparts. though now their brigantine is more or less clinker built. and what I like is that it now uses swivel guns.

 

[luca 83]

Another useless idea: when there would be to improve the game mechanics the improvement of eras , the enhancement of artificial intelligence, the creation of policies, simulate within the game , but when you look for the audience for the big audience, just an idea like this and the fish are caught

 

[Siptah]

Are there any Humankind players here? How were the Pirates implemented in that game?

They are militaristic civ with a bonus on pillaging (extra yields, and units heal). They have two unique units but no unique district: a buccaneer that replaces the musketeer that negates defensive bonuses from walls that an enemy would get, and a sloop that is a close combat ship. They don't play terribly special there, and have a very generalist legacy (less upkeep on units).

 

[Head_North]

If you're suggesting that anything that was a work in progress should have been in the base game and not sold as DLC, then I entirely disagree. The developers were very clear about what you got in the base game and they delivered precisely that.

No, that was not was I was trying to explain. Let me explain in a more conceptual way my thoughts:

Lets say I sell 2 item, A and B in the following cases:

Case 1: Item A and B are sold simultaneously at launch as a package for 100 $
Case 2: Item A is sold in a package for 50 $ and item B at a later time in an expansion package for 50 $.
Case 3: Item A is sold as a package for 100 $ and item B at a later time as an expansion pack for 0 $.

In case 3, do you regard item B as being free? I dont. The money we have paid have in all cases been used to (1) develop the product and (2) cover the margin of profit for the company.

That is why I was trying to explain that the question really comes down to: Do I enjoy the product (Pirate civ) wich they have produced with money provided by the consumers?

I dont, I think there are myriade of other things that would enhance this game so much better then the addition of a "fictional" civilization.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Trying to think of unique infrastructure that doesn't sound to stereotypical or generic for them is hard to do.
I thought of a Pirate Haven unique district with a tavern building, but not sure about another. The only other building that pops into my head is just giving them a "Pirate Fort".

Unique units seems easy. Buccaneer military naval unit and Flying Gang unique Great People.

 

[Widdershins]

i am not understanding why Pirate Republic is being added to this game. Firaxis is not committed to any facsmile of historicity. their priorities are totally off. We are adding a non-civilization to civilization BEFORE adding Ottomans? we are missing major major eras of key civilizations. This development team needs a wake up call. Iceland hopefully will be a medieval/exploration based viking civilization at least. Pirate Republic is not a real civilization and should not be in the game period. but at least don't add this fantasy civilization before REAL civilization that are conspicuously missing such as HRE, Austria, Edo Japan, Aztecs/Monty, Alex, byzantium, Brazil, Ottomans, renaissance italy/venice... i could go on. please rethink your priorities of who deserves inclusion in this game. REAL civilizations deserve priority.

The more I read about Civ 7 the more I'm resolved to give it a hard pass. Confucius as leader of Egypt? What a bunch of tosh and gimmicks.

 

[fantsu]

I don't think anyone is arguing that the concept of pirates is fictional or fantasy. But at the same time, I can understand why Pirates as a civ seems out of place. If we kept arguing that Vikings are an occupation, not a civ, and they should be split into Denmark, Norway, Iceland etc. why are Pirates different, considering that's an occupation too?

Now that you mention... this does give me a bit of "vikings" and "native american" vibes.

Never thought we go back in those. This time naming an englishman as an pirate because of legends. Maybe we get eskimos or aborginals as an more "modern barbarians" next update?

 

[Kwami]

Now that you mention... this does give me a bit of "vikings" and "native american" vibes.

Never thought we go back in those. This time naming an englishman as an pirate because of legends. Maybe we get eskimos or aborginals as an more "modern barbarians" next update?

How is this at all the same? The Republic of Pirates was a thing. Blackbeard was real. He really sailed on real ships with real pirate flags. This isn't some kind of composite of all pirates everywhere.