What if you got to pick the Civ 6 roster?

[thecrazyscot]

Let's have some fun! We've gone back in time. You've been put in charge of selecting the roster for vanilla Civilization 6. Who would you choose? But there's a twist! Your bosses have given you some requirements you must meet, so it's not just up to your personal preference.

Here are your criteria:

1. You have 18 slots
2. You must represent all four of the below eras

Ancient: before 476 AD
Postclassical: 476-1453 AD
Early Modern: 1453-1800 AD
Late Modern: 1800 AD-present

3. You must represent at least 5 of these 6 regions (to make discussion easier I'll go ahead and define some, I don't pretend these are the best but it will make it easier)

Americas
Europe
Middle East (including North Africa)
Sub-Saharan Africa
Asia
Pacific

4. You must cater to your biggest markets (let's arbitrarily say any country representing over 10% of the customer base MUST be represented which seems reasonable, others are up to your judgment)

Spoiler :

5. Each civilization must be regionally or globally significant (define significant as you wish)

I think these criteria are reasonable and that Firaxis actually takes them into account in some form, and are useful in providing objectives beyond personal taste...which is not how Firaxis chooses all their civs.

I'm sure there are other criteria that could be added, but this seems like enough. I purposefully left out the "core civs" as a requirement.

Can you come up with a roster you find satisfactory under these constraints?

 

[Zaarin]

America - John Adams
Arabia - Al-Mansur
China - Taizong
Egypt - Akhenaten, Hatshepsut
England - Elizabeth I
Ethiopia - Menelik II
France - Louis XIV
Georgia - Tamar
Germany - Frederick Barbarossa (long before we knew the leaders, he was my first pick)
Greece - Pericles
Inca - Huayna Capac
Japan - Hojo Tokimune (I didn't know who he was before the announcement, but he's an inspired choice)
Persia: Artaxerxes
Rome: Trajan
Russia: Catherine the Great
Scythia: Tomyris
Sumer: Ur-Nammu
Tlingit - Shayksh I

 

[thecrazyscot]

America - John Adams
Arabia - Al-Mansur
China - Taizong
Egypt - Akhenaten, Hatshepsut
England - Elizabeth I
Ethiopia - Menelik II
France - Louis XIV
Georgia - Tamar
Germany - Frederick Barbarossa (long before we knew the leaders, he was my first pick)
Greece - Pericles
Inca - Huayna Capac
Japan - Hojo Tokimune (I didn't know who he was before the announcement, but he's an inspired choice)
Persia: Artaxerxes
Rome: Trajan
Russia: Catherine the Great
Scythia: Tomyris
Sumer: Ur-Nammu
Tlingit - Shayksh I

Interesting choices!

I know that the Tlingit were in the Pacific NW, but not much more than that. What makes them regionally or globally significant?

 

[Browd]

Moderator Action: Moved to Ideas & Suggestions.

 

[CaiusDrewart]

It's really tough. My first thought is something like:

Europe
--Rome (Marcus Aurelius)
--Greece (Themistocles)
--France (Robespierre)
--England (Henry VIII)
--Russia (Ivan IV)

Asia
--China (Wu Zetian)
--Maurya (Ashoka)
--Japan (Meiji)
--Siam (Rama I)

Middle East/North Africa
--Egypt (Akhenaten)
--Persia (Khosrow I)
--Arabia (Umar)

Subsaharan Africa
--Mali (Mansa Musa)
--Ethiopia (Menelik II)

North America
--America (Jefferson)
--Iroquois (Jigonhsasee)
--Maya (Pacal II)

South America
--Inca (Pachacuti)

It's just impossible to pick a list of 18 civs that a) includes all the Civ favorites over the years and b) represents the whole world adequately. Germany, the Aztecs, and a Mesopotamian civ of some kind (probably Sumeria) are the three most painful omissions. I also really wanted to get the Cherokee and Haiti in there but I just couldn't figure out a way to do it. This wouldn't really be that exciting of a lineup either, given that only 1 civ hasn't been featured before (Maurya). You could spice things up by including a bunch of never-before-seen leaders though. Almost all 18 of these civs have interesting leaders that have never been chosen.

If I had 6 more Civ slots I'd throw in Germany (Frederick II), the Aztecs (Montezuma), Sumeria (Enkidu), Cherokee (Dragging Canoe), Haiti (Toussaint L'Ouverture), and Mongolia (Genghis). Then I'd feel pretty good about it

 

[Zaarin]

Interesting choices!

I know that the Tlingit were in the Pacific NW, but not much more than that. What makes them regionally or globally significant?

PNW art and culture are second to none, and the Tlingit and Haida are widely regarded as the pinnacle of PNW culture. The Tlingit were first-rate artists (due in part to their access to iron tools even prior to contact, thanks to drift iron from Asian shipwrecks), craftsmen, weavers, traders, hunters, fishers, and warriors. PNW tribes like the Tlingit exhibited the complex societies and settled habits of agriculturalists, despite being hunter-gatherers thanks to the abundant food provided by the Pacific Ocean and the Northwestern temperate rain forests. Tlingit traders traded from their homes in Southeastern Alaska to Haida Gwaii, Coastal British Columbia and Washington, and at times even as far south as California; they also traded along rivers into the interior with the Athapaskans. Their crest poles (aka "totem poles") have become as iconic for Native American culture as Sioux war bonnets. The PNW is way overdue for representation in Civ, and the Tlingit or Haida would be ideal for the task. I chose the Tlingit because a) I'm more familiar with the Tlingit than the Haida and b) I had a better idea of a leader selection for the Tlingit than the Haida. I'd be just as delighted to see the Haida or Tsimshian. (Tlingit is also one of my favorite languages from an aesthetic perspective.)

EDIT: And I just realized I accidentally left out India. I have no regrets. This would create the perfect opportunity for an India DLC that did not include Gandhi and ideally represented a number of Indian civilizations and leaders.

 

[Guandao]

Americas
America (Abraham Lincoln (Late Modern)
Incas (Huayna Capac (Early Modern)
Maya (Lady Xoc (Postclassical)

notes: Aztecs would make an ideal DLC civ , so would Brazil

Europe
Britain (Victoria (Late Modern)
France (Louis XIV (Early Modern)
Greece (Pericles (Ancient)
Rome (Trajan (Ancient)
Russia (Peter the Great (Early Modern)
Spain (Philip II (Early Modern)

notes: Germany and Norway would be saved for DLC or expansion pack

Middle East and North Africa
Arabia (Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (Postclassical)
Babylon (Hammurabi (Ancient)
Egypt (Hatshepsut (Ancient)
Ottomans (Mehmed II (Early Modern)
Persia (Khosrow I (Postclassical)

notes: Sumer would be in an expansion

Subsaharan Africa
Mali (Mansa Musa (Postclassical)

notes: Kongo, and more African civs would be in expansions

Asia
China (Taizong of Tang (Postclassical)
India (Ashoka (Ancient)
Mongolia (Genghis Khan (Postclassical)

notes: Japan got cut, save it for DLC , Scythia would be in an Expansion

Pacific
none

notes: any civs from this region would be in expansions

 

[Lord of War N02]

Americas:
America: Woodrow Wilson
Inca: Manco Capac
Sioux: Gall

Europe:
England: Victoria
France: Louis XIV (With Paris as capital, thought Versailles was his palace and seat)
Greece: Themistocles
Germany: Charlemange(with Aachen as Capital)
Russia: Vladimir of Kiev(with Kiev as Capital)
Rome: Marcus Aurelius

Asia:
China: Taizong of Tang(With Xian as capital)
India: Chandragupta II(With Palitputra as capital)
Japan: Ashikaga Takauji
Mongolia: Ogedei Khan
Siam: Naresuan(With Ayutthaya as capital

Middle East and North Africa:
Arabia: Muawiyah I(With Damascus as capital?)
Egypt: Cleopatra
Persia: Khosrau I(With Ctesiphon as capital?)

Sub Saharan Africa:
Ethiopia: Menelik II

DLC preorder: Turkey: Alp Arslan(This time Represent Seljuk not only Ottoman)

 

[thecrazyscot]

PNW art and culture are second to none, and the Tlingit and Haida are widely regarded as the pinnacle of PNW culture. The Tlingit were first-rate artists (due in part to their access to iron tools even prior to contact, thanks to drift iron from Asian shipwrecks), craftsmen, weavers, traders, hunters, fishers, and warriors. PNW tribes like the Tlingit exhibited the complex societies and settled habits of agriculturalists, despite being hunter-gatherers thanks to the abundant food provided by the Pacific Ocean and the Northwestern temperate rain forests. Tlingit traders traded from their homes in Southeastern Alaska to Haida Gwaii, Coastal British Columbia and Washington, and at times even as far south as California; they also traded along rivers into the interior with the Athapaskans. Their crest poles (aka "totem poles") have become as iconic for Native American culture as Sioux war bonnets. The PNW is way overdue for representation in Civ, and the Tlingit or Haida would be ideal for the task. I chose the Tlingit because a) I'm more familiar with the Tlingit than the Haida and b) I had a better idea of a leader selection for the Tlingit than the Haida. I'd be just as delighted to see the Haida or Tsimshian. (Tlingit is also one of my favorite languages from an aesthetic perspective.)

Very interesting, I decided to look them up after your post (found this website which seems to be a decent overview for the absolute novice). And of course I recognized their artwork...it's all over the place now, I just never realized which culture it came from! Absolutely beautiful. I listened to some of the language as well, and it's quite pleasing to hear.

It's just impossible to pick a list of 18 civs that a) includes all the Civ favorites over the years and b) represents the whole world adequately. Germany, the Aztecs, and a Mesopotamian civ of some kind (probably Sumeria) are the three most painful omissions. I also really wanted to get the Cherokee and Haiti in there but I just couldn't figure out a way to do it.

Yeah, I wanted to see what people would come up with if put under some of the same restrictions as Firaxis. I didn't have an ulterior motive, just wanted to see how they would compare. Overall I think Firaxis does a pretty good job considering all the factors they take into account (I'm sure there are more than I have listed here).

It's interesting to me how all of you still have Europe providing a large percentage of the civilizations. I wonder what some of the posters who complain about eurocentrism would suggest?

Britain (Victoria (Late Modern)

Ooh, Britain instead of England!

Germany: Charlemange(with Aachen as Capital

Huh...Germany with Charlemagne as their leader? That's...unexpected.

 

[Guandao]

Charlemagne is a funny case, since his territory included present day France and Germany.

 

[Uberfrog]

This is an interesting challenge. Mine is quite similar to the list they went for (on the whole I'm quite happy), but I'd go with the Inca instead of Brazil as another pre-colonial empire for the Americas, and have two sub-Saharan civ, Mali and Ethiopia. I'd also pick the Persians over the Scythians (but would see them added as a DLC ). I also prefer dynastic names for the Arabian Caliphates and early Indian Empires, so went with those instead.

In your regions and periods:

Americas
America - Theodore Roosevelt (LM)
Aztecs - Montezuma I (EM)
Inca - Pachacuti (EM)

Europe
Britain - Victoria (LM)
France - Louis XIV (EM)
Germany - Frederick I (PC)
Greece - Pericles (A)
Rome - Trajan (A)
Russia - Peter I (EM)

Middle East/North Africa
Ayyubids - Saladin (PC)
Egypt - Hatshepsut (A)
Persia - Cyrus II (A)

Sub-Saharan Africa
Ethiopia - Menelik II (LM)
Mali - Musa I (PC)

Asia
China - Qin Shi Huangdi (A)
Japan - Hojo Tokimune (PC)
Khmer - Jayavarman VII (PC)
Maurya - Ashoka (A)

 

[Lord Lakely]

My 18 picks would be the following: (I came up with these before Civ 6 was announced ftr)

1. Britain - Victoria
2. France - Clovis
3. Prussia - Frederick
4. Soviet Union - Kruschev
5. Rome - Livia Augusta
6. Greece - Perikles
7. United States - Theodore Roosevelt
8. India - Ashoka
9. China - Qin Shi Huang
10. Japan - Suiko
11. Persia - Abbas I
12. Parthia - Mithridates
13. Turkey - Kemal Ataturk
14. Egypt - Hatchepsut
15. Kongo - Anna Nzinga
16. Lakota - Sitting Bull
17. Carthage - Dido
18. Tehuatinsuyu - Pachacuti

The Abbassids (Harun-Al-Rashid), The Aztecs (Montezuma), Mongolia (Mandukhai), Spain (Isabella) and Brazil (Pedro) would be the first 5 DLC civs in this build.

 

[jsciv69]

Another Civ List thread. I like these. Here's my short list

1. America-Jefferson
2. Mexico-Zapata
3. Canada
4. Inca
5. China
6. Japan
7. India-Ashoka
8. Persia
9. Babylon-Hammurabi
10. Arabia
11. Egypt-Nasser
12. England-Pitt
13. Rome-Constantine
14. France-Robspiere
15. Spain-Isabella
16. Germany-Otto I
17. Russia-Ivan IV
18. South Africa- Mandela

 

[TheSpaceCowboy]

Europe

1. Belgium (Leopold II)
2. England
3. France (Louis IX)
4. Greece (Pericles)
5. Holy Roman
6. Norse (Leif Erikson)
7. Rome (Marcus Aurelius)
8. Russia (Nicholas II)
9. Spain (Charles I)
10. Switzerland
    
    Asia
11. China (Qin Shi Huang)
    
    Middle-east
12. Byzantium (Julian the Apostate)
13. Egypt (Akhenaten)
14. Outremer (Godfrey of Bouillon)
    
    Sub-Saharan
15. Ethiopia (Halie Selassie)
    
    Americas
16. America (Thomas Jefferson)
17. Sioux (Sitting Bull)
18. Tolec (Cē Ācatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl)

 

[Guandao]

Europe

1. Belgium (Leopold II)
2. England
3. France (Louis IX)
4. Greece (Pericles)
5. Holy Roman
6. Norse (Leif Erikson)
7. Rome (Marcus Aurelius)
8. Russia (Nicholas II)
9. Spain (Charles I)
10. Switzerland
    
    Asia
11. China (Qin Shi Huang)
    
    Middle-east
12. Byzantium (Julian the Apostate)
13. Egypt (Akhenaten)
14. Outremer (Godfrey of Bouillon)
    
    Sub-Saharan
15. Ethiopia (Halie Selassie)
    
    Americas
16. America (Thomas Jefferson)
17. Sioux (Sitting Bull)
18. Tolec (Cē Ācatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl)

Looks like the most Euro-centric civ lineup here, no offense intended
Can you justify Outremer's regional signifcance?

 

[TheSpaceCowboy]

Looks like the most Euro-centric civ lineup here, no offense intended
Can you justify Outremer's regional signifcance?

Not at all. But...

1) The Levant has never been included in a Civilization game, apart from City-States; Outremer seems less potentially controversial than an Israelite/Judean/Hasmonean Empire.

2) Outremer would lend itself to interesting Faith-based game play mechanics.

3) The Crusades are one of my favorite periods in history to study. I took a course on them back in grad school, and just yesterday I got my copy of "God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades" in the mail. I can't wait to start reading it!

 

[IgorS]

I would go for the obvious:
Europe:
England
Germany
France
Spain
Greece
Rome
Russia
Asia:
Arabia
Persia
India
Mongolia
China
Japan
Africa:
Egypt
Songhai
North America:
United States
Triple Alliance
South America:
Tawantinsuyu
Pre-order bonus, and free DLC:
Babylonia
Cambodia

 

[IgorS]

1) The Levant has never been included in a Civilization game, apart from City-States; Outremer seems less potentially controversial than an Israelite/Judean/Hasmonean Empire.

Ancient Israel should not be controversial at all. The controversy begins with modern Israel. I think if Israel is to be added to the game, it has to be Ancient Israel only, just like Egypt, Greece, and Rome do not have elements of modern Egypt, Greece, and Italy.

 

[Michaelf7777777]

Americas

USA (John F Kennedy, Late Modern)

Europe

Rome (Augustus Caeser, Postclassical)
Greece (Themistocles, Ancient)
England (Elizabeth I, Early Modern)
France (Louis IX, Postclassical)
Germany (Frederick the Great, Early Modern)
Spain (Isabella, Early Modern)
Russia (Catherine the Great, Early Modern)
Norse (Margaret I, Postclassical)

Middle East and North Africa

Egypt (Hatshepsut, Ancient)
Persia (Cyrus the Great, Ancient)
Arabia (Harun al-Rashid, Postclassical)

Sub-Saharan Africa

Mali (Musa Keita I, Postclassical)

Asia

China (Wu Zeitan, Postclassical)
India (Ashoka, Postclassical)
Mongols (Genghis Khan, Postclassical)
Vietnam (Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, Postclassical)
Korea (Seondeok, Postclassical)

Pre-order DLC

Maya (Lady Xoc, Postclassical)

 

[Zaarin]

Ancient Israel should not be controversial at all. The controversy begins with modern Israel. I think if Israel is to be added to the game, it has to be Ancient Israel only, just like Egypt, Greece, and Rome do not have elements of modern Egypt, Greece, and Italy.

Or, better yet, the Kingdom of Judah, which was arguably more significant than the unified Kingdom of Israel and certainly more significant than the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Josiah and Hezekiah would both be good candidates for rulers.