What is the reward for playing the first two Ages well?

[Planktonic]

Forgive me if this has already been addressed, but given that all Civs are going to be reset to a baseline tech/Civic level with a change of Ages, and given that there appear to be settlement limits and a limited map for any given Age, then what exactly is the reward/impetus for playing well in the first two Ages?

Apparently you can accumulate unspecified future techs or civics in the first Ages; does this mean you start off the next Age with some of those techs/civics already in hand?

I'm just wondering if, in their desire to introduce a rubber banding mechanism, they won't in the process disincentivize optimized play, since there's going to be a reset / catch-up anyway.

 

[Leyrann]

Having a larger foundation to play the next age off of, I imagine.

You'll have more cities, bigger cities, technological mastery may provide lasting benefits, and so on.

As I understand it, tech masteries are meant as a way to translate your scientific advantage (and presumably the same with civics) into gameplay advantages. Rather than progressing through the tech tree faster, you instead unlock more. You won't be fighting with guns against swords, but your swords will be superior to your enemy's swords and you can make more of them.

 

[Krikkit1]

1. any territory you don’t lose in the crisis is still yours with all the Wonders

2. there seem to be “mastery techs” in an age that probably not every civ gets on the new age (they all get metal working, but you are better because you have a tech they can’t even get now)

3. There are also “civ unique civics” that probably work in a similar way…can’t get it after the age

4. progress on the “victory conditions” of the age gives you
-points that you spend for one-time bonuses in the next age (tech, units, gold, city)
-bonuses to your leader (ongoing)
-better ability to carry over bonuses from now

5. for the human player, progress in the game may open up more civ options (you probably won’t get 3 horses for Mongolia without expanding)

 

[Trav'ling Canuck]

The satisfaction of a job well-done, I would imagine.

I'm quite confident that Civ 7 will be tuned to be "win your way", so victory when playing single player will be all but assured at normal difficulty levels, regardless of how you play. The entertainment will be in the journey.

 

[Kaan Boztepe]

i think the devs want to target the short attention span audience or i have less time to game audience with the ages , 3 mini games instead of 1 huge time consuming game. easier to schedule a MP too if you dont need 6 hours

 

[Leyrann]

i think the devs want to target the short attention span audience or i have less time to game audience with the ages , 3 mini games instead of 1 huge time consuming game. easier to schedule a MP too if you dont need 6 hours

I think they're trying to do both.

On one hand, a single age will be shorter than a game in an earlier instalment, and thus appeal to people with a shorter attention span.

On the other hand, a full playthrough of all ages will likely last longer than a game in an earlier instalment, appealing to people with longer attention spans.

 

[Mr Jon of Cheam]

Yeh, I mean they're saying an Age lasts 200 turns; that's longer than most of my games in VI last!

Regarding the rewards for doing well in an Age; it's still not entirely clear to me. I'd like to hear more about how victory paths work in each Age.