Sneak Peek: Iceland and Ottomans

[Xandinho]

Interesting that Iceland is all about exploration, with nothing mentioned about raiding or plundering. It might show up in their civics or traditions, but I doubt it. I think they’re saving a raiding-style Viking civilization for a future expansion, since they know it’s commercially appealing. Now I’m curious—which Antiquity Age civ will unlock Iceland through historical paths? Rome? That would be a bit odd.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Interesting that Iceland is all about exploration, with nothing mentioned about raiding or plundering. It might show up in their civics or traditions, but I doubt it. I think they’re saving a raiding-style Viking civilization for a future expansion, since they know it’s commercially appealing. Now I’m curious—which Antiquity Age civ will unlock Iceland through historical paths? Rome? That would be a bit odd.

This is just a very sketchy overview of their civ ability. Iceland is could very well have longboats with coastal raiding bonuses.

 

[Krikkit1]

1. I guess discovery of natural wonders works like with Isabella, there already discovered ones just trigger at the beginning of an age. Which means that if you go from Tonga to Iceland, you just receive a big bucket of culture on start.
2. So far the true power of most civilizations was not directly in their ability. I guess Iceland has some cool tricks in their policies and unique infrastructure.

Almost Certain Iceland will get Relics from Exploration/Natural Wonders somehow (like Assyria/Mongols.. standard path nerfed... so alternate path opened)

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

This is just a very sketchy overview of their civ ability. Iceland is could very well have longboats with coastal raiding bonuses.

Well, the graphic does have a longboat. But considering Iceland did not raid and plunder as much as their Scandinavian counterparts, it would make sense to go to another in the future.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Well, the graphic does have a longboat. But considering Iceland did not raid and plunder as much as their Scandinavian counterparts, it would make sense to go to another in the future.

Iceland's exploration feats were done by longboat, so I think they'll be getting one as a UU. And they are Scandinavian, so throw in the raiding too.

 

[Evie]

I'd prefer the raiding mechanisms left to an Ancient Norse civ, for myself.

But for Iceland, pleasepleasplease have Skalds as the unique civilian unit.

 

[Lord Lakely]

I agree that Iceland shouldn't be raiding, and I don't think they will be. The wonder and ability lean into culture, so they're most likely a third Cul/Exp Civ for the Exploration Age.

The Ottoman ability is better used for modern Egypt, but I can accept it. @Andrew Johnson [FXS] Muhammad Ali Pasha would be an interesting future leader to pair with this, no?

 

[Krikkit1]

I agree that Iceland shouldn't be raiding, and I don't think they will be. The wonder and ability lean into culture, so they're most likely a third Cul/Exp Civ for the Exploration Age.

The Ottoman ability is better used for modern Egypt, but I can accept it. @Andrew Johnson [FXS] Muhammad Ali Pasha would be an interesting future leader to pair with this, no?

Please No more Cult / Exp... maybe make them Cult/Milit/Diplomatic/Scientific (the closest thing Google finds to their Wonder name is the name of a town in Iceland that was the site of an important school... so maybe Cult Scientific)

 

[Leucarum]

Modern Ottomans is interesting... Civen that this period covers their decline, but I guess who else would be the modern regional representation

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

But for Iceland, pleasepleasplease have Skalds as the unique civilian unit.

What would they replace? I could see them being a unique Missionary but maybe a new interesting way to produce relics? Or maybe just unique Great People if they are still doing that for DLC civs.

The Ottoman ability is better used for modern Egypt, but I can accept it.

This kind of soft confirms no Modern Egypt, though I wasn't expecting them to have another civ called Egypt anyways.

Modern Ottomans is interesting... Civen that this period covers their decline, but I guess who else would be the modern regional representation

Didn't stop them from having the Mughals during the Modern Age.

 

[_hero_]

I know. I just find it funny that they introduced it when they knew they were going to make the Ottomans Modern. I'm not sure of any other instance where this happens in game? Of course, I guess that's what might happen when you have civilizations that span across different ages.
I don't think anyone is doubting the Hagia Sophia will be assigned to the Byzantines.

This doesn't stop them from eventually adding an exploration age version of the Ottoman empire as well. They can always adjust naming like they did with Persia in this patch.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

This doesn't stop them from eventually adding an exploration age version of the Ottoman empire as well. They can always adjust naming like they did with Persia in this patch.

What would you call it? I'm not sure that's possible, and seems different than the situation with Persia. Most likely they'd go with another Turkish civ like the Seljuks.
The only other possibility is renaming Modern Ottomans to Turkey in the future.

 

[tman2000]

Ottoman ability being related to the god awful modern cultural victory is grim. I don't even understand how this is an advantage for the player. I guess first mover advantage and less need to rely on distant archeology? Maybe their civic tree is cooler.

 

[magicq99]

Archaeology Ruins in the Ottomans; territory generate an additional Artifact for all players.

I am not sure if I understand this correctly. Does this mean that all players who excavate an artifact in Ottoman territory will get an additional artifact (and not only the Ottoman player), or does it mean that all players will get an additional artifact when some excavates an artifact in Ottoman territory?

Or in other words, if you excavate an artifact in Ottoman territory, will only you get a free one extra, or will everyone else get a free one as well? From my point of view, you can read this description both ways.

 

[Siptah]

I am not sure if I understand this correctly. Does this mean that all players who excavate an artifact in Ottoman territory will get an additional artifact (and not only the Ottoman player), or does it mean that all players will get an additional artifact when some excavates an artifact in Ottoman territory?

Or in other words, if you excavate an artifact in Ottoman territory, will you get a free one extra, or will everyone else get a free one as well?

It's probably the former: artifacts in the Ottoman territory are worth 2 artifacts each. It's a very fitting bonus thematically, but I don't consider it neither very interesting nor actually strong for the Ottomans. Hopefully, it interacts with a civic or something similar.

 

[magicq99]

It's probably the former: artifacts in the Ottoman territory are worth 2 artifacts each. It's a very fitting bonus thematically, but I don't consider it neither very interesting nor actually strong for the Ottomans. Hopefully, it interacts with a civic or something similar.

That is what I thought. But after re-reading the description, I am not sure anymore. If this ability means that everyone will get an artifact, this would result in an interesting dilemma between getting ahead two steps in the culture path but at the cost of helping your opponent get ahead by one step as well.

But I actually think that it is a strong bonus for the Ottoman player in any case. To complete the culture path, your explorers have to travel around the map a lot. And with this ability, the ruins in your own territory, which are the fastest to get to, are more valuable. This ability works best if you claim a lot of territory in the earlier ages. And you can plan ahead somewhat. Say you have claimed two natural wonders during exploration age, with this ability they will be worth four artifacts. This ability may by narrowly focused on one legacy path, but I do think the bonus is quite strong. The combination of more artifacts and less distance to travel can give you a nice lead in this culture path and force everyone else to catch up.

EDIT: I just realized that this bonus only applies to "ruins" and therefore not natural wonders, which I think do not count in this case. So the planning ahead part consists of settling/conquering a lot of territory to maximize the potential number of ruins in your territory. But I still think that while this ability may not be the strongest, it will make it difficult for other players to keep up with the Ottomans in the culture victory.

 

[Evolena]

Maybe also a reason to train a settler and found a town near the newly discovered ruin in non-claimed territory?

 

[Lord Lakely]

That is what I thought. But after re-reading the description, I am not sure anymore. If this ability means that everyone will get an artifact, this would result in an interesting dilemma between getting ahead two steps in the culture path but at the cost of helping your opponent get ahead by one step as well.

But I actually think that it is a strong bonus for the Ottoman player in any case. To complete the culture path, your explorers have to travel around the map a lot.

This basically. You can always buy explorers as well, including in settlements. All you need is the money, and that's easy to plan for. Abbasids, which undoubtably is one of the paths into the Ottomans, allows you to save up gold by deploying specialists before the end of the age.

The ability definitely reads as a Culture victory specialist, and one who has no trouble capturing more dig sites in a pinch.

 

[Andrew Johnson [FXS]]

I agree that Iceland shouldn't be raiding, and I don't think they will be. The wonder and ability lean into culture, so they're most likely a third Cul/Exp Civ for the Exploration Age.

The Ottoman ability is better used for modern Egypt, but I can accept it. @Andrew Johnson [FXS] Muhammad Ali Pasha would be an interesting future leader to pair with this, no?

I appreciate the shout-out, and it is always informative to hear what historical figures people are talking about or interested in, but these are the kinds of questions that I don't answer! (And I've moved back to full-time academia, though I'm still working part-time at Firaxis).

 

[Sagax]

I highly doubt that Ottomans won’t be “_____/Militaristic”, so it boils down to whether their military bonuses will synergize with their double artifact ability.

My wild guess is that, somewhere down their civics tree, capturing an enemy settlement (my bet is on a city, capital, or settlement with a wonder) will instantly spawn a dig site within the settlement’s territory. This way you’re both incentivized to conquer and are better positioned to take advantage of the civ ability.