Pre-order: Map or scenario?

[cccv]

So you get a map if you pre-order. That's the word. But all over the place, like the confirmed features thread for example, I'm seeing it described as a scenario.

So, which is it? Because if it's a scenario like the scenarios in IV, which offered unique gameplay, then I want it. If it's just a map of Mesopotamia with or without pre-set civs and starting locations, then you could never possibly even begin to imagine how little I give a crap. I can't wait until after it's released to find out since it'll be too late to pre-order by then, so I don't suppose there's anyone who can tell me?

 

[Ahriman]

Firaxis is not always very clear on differentiating. Many of their scenarios have basically been vanilla units/techs/gameplay with *maybe* one extra mechanic, or a handful of scripted events.

 

[cccv]

Yeah, that's kind of the problem. I don't know if they had any really unique scenarios before IV (they didn't in II and I never played III), but in IV their scenarios were more than just maps with preset civs and locations. The scenarios really added value to the game, gave us a different way to play. The Vikings and the goal to get a lot of gold, with treasure quests. Mongols starting without cities but camps that spit out units based on the terrain, and techs being unlocked by conquering different places, etc.

Whatever it is you get with pre-order, they're calling it a "map pack." I don't know if they mean map like a plain map, or map like a really unique scenario like described above. Can Greg let us know? I mean, does 2K really want to squeeze out an extra couple of bucks so much that they'd sacrifice goodwill so that they can exploit our uncertainty? I'm gonna buy your damn game, I promise. I'll buy it once I can. But I want to wait and see if I have to buy deluxe to get Babylon or if it'll be DLC (cheaper than 10 dollars) when the game is out. And since 2K doesn't want us to know that they could at least tell me if I lose out on a unique gameplay experience forever if I don't preorder the game. Or am I asking too much?

 

[The_J]

The scenarios really added value to the game, gave us a different way to play. The Vikings and the goal to get a lot of gold, with treasure quests. Mongols starting without cities but camps that spit out units based on the terrain, and techs being unlocked by conquering different places, etc.

These have been mods, not scenarios (although they had to be played with a scenario for this mod).

I guess it's really only a map, nothing else.