Translatio Imperii and the Ages mechanic in Civ VII

TheSpaceCowboy

The Gangster of Love
Joined
Jul 14, 2013
Messages
622
A podcast that I was listing to earlier today made mention of a concept called the Translatio Imperii.
I'd never heard of the term before, but it expressed well a sentiment with which I've long been familiar.
More relevantly, it seems to capture the thinking behind the Ages mechanic perfectly.
To quote the Wikipedia entry:

In this concept the process of decline and fall of an empire is theoretically being replaced by a natural succession from one empire to another. Translatio implies that an empire metahistorically can be transferred from hand to hand and place to place...

As an American, I can confirm this is core to our understanding of our national identity.
We see ourselves as the ultimate heirs and successors of the Greeks, Romans, and British (and even the Israelites, to a certain extent).
I'm excited that this concept and sentiment will be mechanically expressible in playing each game of Civ VII!
 
Not just mechanically, from some of the previews when choosing the next civ have flavor text explaining why that culture is the one stepping up and being the one you control

Edit: Here's a reddit post with some of them
These are a really nice touch. I was worried for a while that gameplay unlocks wouldn't be a thing, so I'm very happy to have them confirmed for every civ and thrilled to see them being accompanied by these lovely bits of narrative.
 
There is also a little sentence for each civ that is a "recommended choice" for a Leader.
Some examples:
"Benjamin Franklin drew influence from Greek ideas." [Strategic]
"Benjamin Franklin drew influence from Roman ideas." [Strategic]
"Benjamin Franklin shares a cultural link with the Normans." [?]
"Spain strategically complements Benjamin Franklin." [Strategic]
Though it's not always very imaginative:
"Pachacuti was an indigenous person in the Americas." -> Maya [Geographic]
"Pachacuti was an indigenous person in the Americas." -> Mississippian [Strategic]
"Pachacuti was an indigenous person in the Americas." -> Hawai'i [?]
"Pachacuti ruled the Inca." [Historic]
"Historic Choice" seems to be mainly used for Leaders who really ruled over the Civ.
 
As an American the most powerful connection I felt with Rome was going in the Colosseum. I've been in early 1900's brick stadiums and it felt very similar.

I could see a version of Civ where you have to decided if you are keeping your old traditions, develop a new tradition based on the old one, import a tradition from a conquered or trade partner, or replace the old one with a entirely new traditions. That would be a little much for 7 which is already jammed with choices.
 
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