PhoenicianGold
Emperor
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2018
- Messages
- 1,828
Except they do. They are by and far the strongest option for a Native American civ within the VI paradigm.
First, look at the reasoning behind including the other two Amerindians tribes. The Cree fill out the widest area of the northern territories of Canada and are the largest or second largest Canadian tribe by population (it is unclear whether the Ojibwe are larger but the Ojibwe don't have the same unique geographic niche. The Mapuche fill out the northern half of Chile and Argentina and are the largest tribal population in both countries. The loose rule is a) largest population, b) largest territory a region that needs filling.
Depending on who is counting, either the Navajo or the Cherokee have the largest native population in the U.S. The Cherokee would start a bit close to the U.S. on a TSL map but the Navajo are solidly in the western U.S. Moreover, the Navajo hold the largest reservation in the U.S., so of the larger nations which occupy a weird role between statehood and separate country, the Navajo are actually the best representation in the entire U.S.
Second, look at the mechanical design space that remains for Amerindians tribes. In the past we have had a forest/trader/longhouse civ in the Iroquois, and a plains/horseback civ in the Shoshone or Sioux. The Cree are occupying the first role in VI, and as a consequence many of the larger tribes that people are kneejerking toward have been preempted. The Iroquois, the Ojibwe, the Blackfoot are probably not happening. The Mapuche are occupying the second role in VI, and again this means that we probably won't get the Sioux, the Shoshone, the Apache. Any tribes that can fill a completely different niche will probably be considered first before the devs pivot to more of the same (this has been true for EVERY civ, not just tribes...*cough* Babylon).
The Cherokee could probably find some differentiation from the Cree and Mapuche, maybe have some river mechanics. But the Navajo would be even easier to distinguish. They are one of the only large desert tribes. They have a unique unit in the code talker that no other tribe could match. Hogans could interact with a health mechanic or they could get an irrigation UI. Whereas the Cherokee would take some work, particularly tying into new mechanics, a Navajo civ would practically design itself and it would be equally distinct from both the Cree and the Mapuche.
Granted, there exist a few other options. For one, there are the Pueblo, who would be an equally great SW desert civ, but Firaxis has probably already given up on that. For two, there are all the Pacific coastal tribes which have unique things like fishing and totem poles. However, the Pacific coast is a patchwork of dozens of smaller-yet-similar tribes, so there really isn't a clear frontrunner as to who best represents them (see geography and population, point one). The two options players seem to latch onto are the Haida and the Tlingit, but at populations of 2500 and about 14000 both are still fairly small populations. And both are Canadian tribes, so neither solves the problem of wanting to fill out the western U.S. specifically. So the reality is that none of the other western American tribes actually work for the niche that needs filling.
To my mind, there are only two tribes competing with the Navajo right now. The first are the returning civ the Shoshone, who occupy the Utah area and we're included in V because they fit into the old expansionist model, especially if you lump them in with the Comanche. But they were kind of blobby, and would not fit the VI paradigm well which is placing more focus on cultural integrity and modern relevance (population size). And more to the point, the Comanche unit is again a horseback raider unit like the Mapuche so they would have to pivot to a different UU. I don't consider the Shoshone likely unless the devs somehow cannot get Navajo approval and have to pivot again.
The other contender is the other native powerhouse the Cherokee. But again I've pointed out why geographically and mechanically and even by land-holding sovereignty the Navajo kind of beat them all around. And even if the Cherokee were a stronger option, they would never be included because some historical tragedies are so bad that players should never be given the opportunity to reenact them. The Navajo don't have the baggage of a trail of tears, so they have all the upsides with very little downside.
To my mind, the Navajo are the only perfect Amerindian choice to fill out the VI roster. Given how dicey cultural consultation and approval is, it's no guarantee, but I would be astounded if it wasn't the devs first choice. And if any tribe would be progressive enough to work alongside Firaxis, the Navajo are one of if not the most likely to be on board. Especially given how R&F did right by Poundmaker and the Mapuche.
Any argument that Sumer's design is poor for lack of information is not supported by the abundant historical records left by the Sumerians--in fact, that argument could much better be laid at the feet of, say, Achaemenid Persia, whose records were notoriously sparse and mostly filtered through their archenemies, the Greeks. Or Scythia, given that Tomyris is completely unattested outside of Herodotus, who himself expresses doubt of the stories veracity--and if Herodotus gives you a disclaimer... 
and after the government was switched back to an Oligarchy that would drop the (probably very legitimate) charges against him 
