[NFP] Secret Society Speculations

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

A Ninja unit would compliment the Warrior Monk nicely.

 

[Casworon]

The reason i think the district will be a one per empire is that i don't see what could possibly be added by another standard district. Everything i can think of is covered. We have science districts, gold districts, religious districts etc.

If it isn't a one per empire district then the only thing i can think of is a Water version of an already existing district like we have with the Water park being a coastal equivalent of the entertainment complex. But then we have to factor in the fact that it comes with only two new buildings rather than three. Currently all standard districts have three buildings connected to them.

So the only thing that makes sense to me is that it is a district for a game mechanic that originally didn't have a district connected to it, which comes in the mid-game because it only has two building slots.

Espionage makes sense due to it possibly having some connection to secret societies, and apart from one building for the Goverment Plaza, it doesn't yet have a district associated with it. The only reason i say one per empire is that if you could spam an espionage district that seems extremely powerful if it is giving you +1 spy each time. I wasn't imaging the two buildings being mutually exclusive like government plaza buildings, but a mid game building and a late game building improving espionage somehow.

This is all speculation at the moment, but this seems like it makes the most sense to me.

But then you throw in the fact that a later DLC pack also comes with another new district and two new buildings and i am clueless what that could be

 

[Karmah]

S

I don't think they would add another thing that you spread using units. If it's something we need to spread, I expect them to create something more unique. Maybe it will be just passive spread, with certain actions that can give a pressure burst, similar to the one you get when you successfully defend against a religious emergency. If you do whatever a secret society do, you get a pressure burst.

Spread/counterspread through spy missions?

 

[Shibooyeah]

Would love an espionage related district but it would also make the the building in the government plaza obsolete so I'm skeptical it'll happen.

 

[AntSou]

Would love an espionage related district but it would also make the the building in the government plaza obsolete so I'm skeptical it'll happen.

Just remove the building and replace it with something else.

 

[acluewithout]

Would love an espionage related district but it would also make the the building in the government plaza obsolete so I'm skeptical it'll happen.

I don’t think the game needs an espionage district. What would it even do? The Intelligence Agency building pretty much covers the field.

What I would like to see is the option to send Spies as Ambassadors. That would then give Spies three options - Ambassador Mission, Spy Mission and Counterspy - which would be a lot more fun.

I’d also like to see Courts and Police Stations return, but there’s nothing for them to do mechanically in the game at the moment given Loyalty is basically handled by Entertainment Complexes and Governors, and countering spies are handled by (of course) counter spies.

 

[Furycrab]

When I think Secret societies, I think of how in Board games you might have a secret alternate Win condition that might not involve playing the game the same way you normally would. Like acquire all of resource X, or get player Y killed (in a cooperative game). Not sure how that plays out in Civ thought.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I’d also like to see Courts and Police Stations return, but there’s nothing for them to do mechanically in the game at the moment given Loyalty is basically handled by Entertainment Complexes and Governors, and countering spies are handled by (of course) counter spies.

Build the police station in the Neighborhood to stop the partisans from spawning obviously.
Use the counterspies for somewhere else.

 

[Navelgazer]

I picture it working akin to or via spy missions, but that establishing a Secret Society will be much like creating a religion (as Eagle Pursuit suggests.) The Society will grant some benefit based on the tenet(s) you choose, and you use spies to establish it's presence in other cities.

 

[AntSou]

I picture it working akin to or via spy missions, but that establishing a Secret Society will be much like creating a religion (as Eagle Pursuit suggests.) The Society will grant some benefit based on the tenet(s) you choose, and you use spies to establish it's presence in other cities.

I don't think it will involve spies at all. I'm more inclined towards the mode having its own unique unit.

I think the extent of a secret society will be hidden to anyone but the founder. They might spread negative traits to other Civs.

You'd get a notice letting you know you're being negatively affected by one, but not which.

There would also be ways to uncover which societies exist and uncover which negative traits they apply, but you wouldn't be able to know which Civ founded it.

 

[Myomoto]

When I think Secret societies, I think of how in Board games you might have a secret alternate Win condition that might not involve playing the game the same way you normally would. Like acquire all of resource X, or get player Y killed (in a cooperative game). Not sure how that plays out in Civ thought.

Oh wow, that's a good possibility. Although I doubt the AI could really handle everyone having multiple secret secondary win conditions.

 

[IMACIV6PLAYER]

My theory is that it works on the same basis as religions. You found a secret society, select its bonus(es), then use some kind of unit to spread it around the map. You could have beneficial bonuses in your own cities and maluses in rival cities.
Examples:
Free Masons: enhance alliances when spread to allies
Illuminati: trade bonuses when present in both cities
Assassins/Ninja: increased chance of success in espionage
Maquis: reduced loyalty in cities occupied by rivals
Knights Templar: increases benefits from follower beliefs

Free Masons should go for World Domination, only that way will reflect the true mission of the FM

 

[acluewithout]

Free Masons should go for World Domination, only that way will reflect the true mission of the FM

Sure, why not?

Although, to be clear, the real Freemasons mostly just build Hospitals and Libraries for people.

 

[Datian]

Sure, why not?

Although, to be clear, the real Freemasons mostly just build Hospitals and Libraries for people.

Don't dismiss their legacy, they also gave fodder for generations of conspiracy theorists, hence tons of fun !

 

[cosmicmangobear]

I wonder if SS will work similar to ideologies, in that a player chooses one after reaching a certain point in the game, and allying with the other civs that have also chosen that society. Instead of tenets, maybe there could be conspiracies? ("UFOs" give bonus to spaceport production, "Men in Black" prevent spies from stealing tech, "HAARP" can trigger natural disasters in enemy territory, etc.)

 

[bbbt]

If it isn't a one per empire district then the only thing i can think of is a Water version of an already existing district like we have with the Water park being a coastal equivalent of the entertainment complex. But then we have to factor in the fact that it comes with only two new buildings rather than three. Currently all standard districts have three buildings connected to them.

But then you throw in the fact that a later DLC pack also comes with another new district and two new buildings and i am clueless what that could be

While we're assuming they are connected because they come together, there's actually nothing indicating the new buildings are for the new district. They could be new gov plaza buildings, new worship buildings, new alt buildings for existing districts, etc.

For example the district could be the 'headquarters' for your secret society, and then you have 'masonic temple' (or what not) you can build instead of a normal temple in your holy site, and another alt for the theater maybe? If they are bringing in corporations in the later pack (which I am thinking is unlikely but who knows), could be a corporate headquarters district, and say a 'distribution center' and 'manufacturing center' as alts for the stock exchange and factory.

Or they could just disappoint everyone and it will be a bridge district and two new Neighborhood buildings.

 

[AntSou]

While we're assuming they are connected because they come together, there's actually nothing indicating the new buildings are for the new district. They could be new gov plaza buildings, new worship buildings, new alt buildings for existing districts, etc.

For example the district could be the 'headquarters' for your secret society, and then you have 'masonic temple' (or what not) you can build instead of a normal temple in your holy site, and another alt for the theater maybe? If they are bringing in corporations in the later pack (which I am thinking is unlikely but who knows), could be a corporate headquarters district, and say a 'distribution center' and 'manufacturing center' as alts for the stock exchange and factory.

Or they could just disappoint everyone and it will be a bridge district and two new Neighborhood buildings.

The districts/buildings do not seem to be related to the new modes since they do not require R&F or GS, unlike the modes.

 

[TheMarshmallowBear]

I definitely got intrigued with the idea of secret societies when this was announced as a scenario. What do you think it will entail?

When I think secret society, the Carbonari and Young Italy come to mind, as they were the hotbeds of activity for Italian nationalists during the Second Italian War for Independence. The fact Louis "I am now an emperor just like my uncle" Napoleon III was a member could mean that leaders take a direct or indirect hand in influencing these organizations to upend or topple rule, especially if the cities are under occupation.

These modes are NOT scenarios. They are the sprinkles on top of the game, and enhance the normal game.

 

[acluewithout]

I wonder if SS will work similar to ideologies

If we get Secret Societies instead of Ideologies, I’m going to be pretty cheesed off.

I’ve no idea what we’re getting. Could be spy related. Could be religion related. Could be some other thing entirely.

I’m actually not really looking forward to it. I just can’t take secret societies seriously after this and this. But I’m also happy to be pleasantly surprised and find it’s actually something cool.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Or they could just disappoint everyone and it will be a bridge district and two new Neighborhood buildings.

That's not a disappointment to me.