[NFP] Secret Societies Speculation

[Hawke9]

This month we will finally discover what the new Secret Societies gamemode will contain. I am very curious to how the devs will interpret the societies. Will they be like religions? Can you form your own societies or are they third party opponents that influence your civ? Will they give you bonuses, penalties or both?

My personal guess would be that you can form your own secret societies, much like religions. And only a number of civs can form them. I think they can give you some nice bonuses focused on hindering your opponents, but if not handled well, can also give you some loyalty penalties.

What do you think the new gamemode will provide?

 

[acluewithout]

My guess is that SS will leverage the World Congress more than Religion or Spies, perhaps giving players access to “hidden” resolutions or even an entirely new WC.

I’m a bit more interested in what content we might get for the base game along with the game mode. Cross fingers for some more Religious Units and or being able to send out Spies as “Ambassadors” again. But I doubt we’ll get either...

 

[Haig]

My bet is different units you purchase with faith/gold, and use them to influence citystates or other civs, and do kinds of mischief.

I am also interested if the whole content of that dlc is sort of themed together, like how in the first dlc we got stuff related to America and surroundings. (Maize, natural wonders, some of the city-states).

 

[Republic of San Montuoso]

I really think betting or speculating on Secret Societies is really avec very long shot.

At least, with Apocalypse Mod, we could speculate about new disasters and a new endgame because it's in the continuity of GS.

But here, we already had at least three major completely different propositions, each completely unprovable but equally possible:

• A system akin to the religious system, with tenets, or at least very tied with religion
• A system revolving around spies
• A system tied to the World Congress

And we have absolutely no proof of whatever. Which is exciting. We have something that could be brand new and with fun mechanics to toy with... But until further notice, all our speculations (without any leak, any tweat, nothing apart the name of Secret Societies) will just be wind in the mist.

 

[Victoria]

There is possible crossover with espionage and it would make sense to leverage an already existing mechanic that many have suggested be enhanced.
It is easy just to throw in some new espionage abilities as call it secret societies or you could make it quite refreshing down the lines of ideological groups with the possibility to flip governments and even further.
So many secret societies with such varied agendas we can only guess. I prefer the latter but expect the former.

 

[SammyKhalifa]

This probably isn't going to be how it works (there would be too much involved) but I think a very cool alternative game would be that you are not playing a civ at all. You are one of the secret societies trying to manipulate the AI civs into performing certain goals.

 

[Republic of San Montuoso]

This probably isn't going to be how it works (there would be too much involved) but I think a very cool alternative game would be that you are not playing a civ at all. You are one of the secret societies trying to manipulate the AI civs into performing certain goals.

Not playing a civilization in a game called Civilization would be odd, to say the least.

 

[SammyKhalifa]

Not playing a civilization in a game called Civilization would be odd, to say the least.

There was a "barbarians" scenario, though

 

[Kupe Navigator]

welllllll.... Apocalypse Mod got "something" to do with Maya... ( with the whole doomsday theme and 2012 thing...) so could it somewhat got to do with Ethiopia? ( although I don't know Ethiopia got anything to do with a secret society... unless Rastafarianism counts...)

 

[Republic of San Montuoso]

welllllll.... Apocalypse Mod got "something" to do with Maya... ( with the whole doomsday theme and 2012 thing...) so could it somewhat got to do with Ethiopia? ( although I don't know Ethiopia got anything to do with a secret society... unless Rastafarianism counts...)

The only thing I could relate between Ethiopia and "Secret Societies" is how the church Our Laid Mary of Zion is supposedly the church where the Ark of the Covenant is kept secret. And it will be tied to secret societies because only the priest of the church really knows if the Ark is here or not, nobody else in the world knows. But besides that... maybe rock churches being kind of "underground" would be the link?

 

[Leucarum]

If it ties in to the other mechanics in the expansion then a lot of people have suggested an espionage themed district. Secret societies being spy related could add some extra options on top of what would already be going in there.

This probably isn't going to be how it works (there would be too much involved) but I think a very cool alternative game would be that you are not playing a civ at all. You are one of the secret societies trying to manipulate the AI civs into performing certain goals.

I saw a game in early access on steam which seems like they are trying to do this. Secret Government. I didn't buy into it but I like the concept.

 

[Kupe Navigator]

If it ties in to the other mechanics in the expansion then a lot of people have suggested an espionage themed district. Secret societies being spy related could add some extra options on top of what would already be going in there.

could spy building from civ 5 like Constabulary and Police station make a return?

 

[Nerevatar]

Maybe Firaxis will use SS as a way to implement a way to let players choose the resolutions of the WC? Could be a way to have "the Illuminati are steering the world politics"-angle. It is an often requested feature, and by adding it as a mode, they give people the choice if they want the change or not.

 

[wesplaysciv]

My only speculation, and this is a bit out there, is that it must have something to do with stealing great works i.e. espionage. This is because the ability to steal great works was broken in the Maya DLC and remains broken. So either it's a reflection of a change they are making, or just another illustration of the difficulty of managing / fixing bugs as (presumably) resources are diverted and the number of game versions out there increases. Occam's razor would certainly point to the latter especially given the large number of other bugs that have persisted. Still, I'd be embarrassed that this major gameplay feature has been out of commission for so long.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

There was a "barbarians" scenario, though

We're talking about a game mode though added on to the main game. Secret Societies won't be a scenario. It would be weird not playing a civilization in the main game.

The only thing I could relate between Ethiopia and "Secret Societies" is how the church Our Laid Mary of Zion is supposedly the church where the Ark of the Covenant is kept secret. And it will be tied to secret societies because only the priest of the church really knows if the Ark is here or not, nobody else in the world knows. But besides that... maybe rock churches being kind of "underground" would be the link?

I think that is the connection. Secret Societies=Underground Church=Ethiopia's unique infrastructure.

As for the game mode I feel like it will be more religious oriented than espionage because it's releasing with Ethiopia. Here's hoping that whatever Secrets Societies that you can form could eventually turn into a whole new religion if you were converted by another.

I also think the new district and buildings won't necessarily have anything to do with the new game mode because I would think they wouldn't be listed separately. Sort of how the soothsayers weren't listed but came in the Apocalypse mode at the start.

 

[Republic of San Montuoso]

As for the game mode I feel like it will be more religious oriented than espionage because it's releasing with Ethiopia. Here's hoping that whatever Secrets Societies that you can form could eventually turn into a whole new religion if you were converted by another.

I also think the new district and buildings won't necessarily have anything to do with the new game mode because I would think they wouldn't be listed separately. Sort of how the soothsayers weren't listed but came in the Apocalypse mode at the start.

You just gave me a crazy idea: what if we already had the same limit of religions per game (7 on huge maps), but every civilization that failed to have a Great Prophet could then found a Secret Society?

And Secret Societies have similar bonuses, weaker of course, and similar mechanics?

And when a religion is completely eradicated, if the last city/religious unit has been converted/killed by a player controlling a Secret Society, this Secret Society became a fully fleshed Religion, giving them a shot at Religious Victory?

Crazy idea, but since we know nothing of SS, it's as valuable as any theory

 

[acluewithout]

I agree speculation is kind pointless for this one. What’s nice though is that so far I pretty much like all the main suggestions. Religion, Spies, World Congress. I’d be happy with any mechanics that tweak those.

I’m kinda hoping FXS might also tweak Apocalypse Mode a little in the next patch too. A few tweaks, and I actually think it’d be pretty awesome.

 

[Deadly Dog]

Given the Apocalypse mode, I'm guessing we're going to get a system based on random events, a unit that we can purchase/build and use to establish "chapters" in other cities and launch events, and have a scored competition that rewards players with unit promotions and buffs.

This mode might also tie into the new district, if its a generic one and not civ-specific.

Would be really cool if establishing chapters in of "your" secret society gave you intel on things like the WC, or a buff to religious conversion, ability to heal apostles at foreign Holy Sites, heal troops faster in foreign lands, what have you.

Just trying to imagine what might be possible within existing mechanics, as clearly between Red Death and Apocalypse mode there's a lot of potential as it is.

 

[Kouvb593kdnuewnd]

It could be based around missions that you are given by the secrete societies in order to advance and get various bonuses.

 

[Hawke9]

The new frontier announcement mentions that the gamemode in the Ethiopia pack requires either Rise and Fall or Gathering storm to play. This would mean it depends on mechanics from Rise and Fall.
My guess would be that Secret Societies mode has something to do with loyalty, but ties with governors or the era system could also be possible.