Q&A with Dennis Shirk

[The Observer]

The building on the bottom left looks like Masada from Israel to me

Would love to see Masada in the DLC.

 

[Hypereon]

Medici or Borgia rang the bells for me... my bet is Italy. This kind of teaser will probably always relate to a dark horse civ, not an obvious one like Portugal. They are usually just revealed with "Oh yeah, and Portugal's in the game too again" type phrase

 

[SolInvictus]

What about that hint that it's "not President Garfield". Was it just a red herring or a veiled clue?

Could be either. His first and second names (James and Abram, aren't really good clues.) However he was born in Moreland Hills, Ohio. Maybe a clue pointing to the Moors?

It's really Mediterranean looking, so it's almost certainly Portugal or the Moors.

 

[Kahless26]

Hmm the new shadow is tricky. The background tells me Portugal. It can be Dom Manuel I based on the scepter, but that plume on his hat... i'm clueless.

Nevertheless, I'm sticking with Portugal for this one. And i am pretty sure the Sioux are the civ tied to the new resource (Buffalos).

 

[JSMCAG]

This kind of teaser will probably always relate to a dark horse civ, not an obvious one like Portugal

Like what they did with Shaka?
... Oh wait!

 

[Quinas]

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1702/ceptroreal300.png

 

[poom3619]

Ah yes, I should have recognized the famed Nepalese coastline in the background.

What if it is just his swan pool?

 

[Dragonflow]

Medici or Borgia rang the bells for me... my bet is Italy. This kind of teaser will probably always relate to a dark horse civ, not an obvious one like Portugal

The obvious mention of tragedy and a dynasty does seem to speak for one of the great houses of Italy.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1702/ceptroreal300.png

This seems to speak for Portugal.

 

[ferretbacon]

Is Vlad the Impaler a possibility? He has a crown with a feather in every portrait I find of him.

Certainly mad to a degree.

 

[SamBC]

Weren't most European dynasties tinged with madness at times?

 

[johnny139]

My immediate thought was something North African, so possible the Moors... but Portugal makes sense and is pretty much a shoe-in. The mention of "tragic dynasty" does evoke Italy, though, so... hmm, I'm stumped. This one's a lot more exciting than Shaka, either way.

 

[Hypereon]

Like what they did with Shaka?
... Oh wait!

Yeah but that's why the Shaka thing was such a strange move, to be made as a Gustaphus-like mystery...

 

[Glassmage]

can't be italy. They are republics not feudal lords.

 

[gigantomachyusa]

Tragedy is not saying much, but madness is a good clue.
Let's think of famous dynasties in warm climate area:
Timurids?
Medici?
Borgia?
Aviz?

The key word being 'dynasty' does make me shy away from Portugal. Dynasty evokes Asia for sure

 

[Dragonflow]

Weren't most European dynasties tinged with madness at times?

Happens if you keep marrying your cousins for generations.
Although there were tragic dynasties outside of Europe as well.

 

[SamBC]

Dennis also pointed to the lower part of the PAX poster, left of centre (as you look at it), as there being a clue or something he was surprised people hadn't noticed.

 

[The Observer]

With water behind him? Unlikely.

Black Sea.

It is definitely a possibility.

 

[gigantomachyusa]

While we are on the subject of Nepal, their monarchy did end in 'tragedy': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalese_royal_massacre

 

[daveydave8]

Keep in mind guys, the shadow depicted might not represent the actual leader, Example being Gustavus Adolphus, if i had seen his shadow before g&k I would never have guessed seeing the leader in g&k is actually Eric XIV of sweden, not gustav adolph. Anyways, were all looking for major figures or leaders from past games, might not be that leader.

 

[Kahless26]

Tragedy and Madness?

The feather matches.