Civ 6 Release and Update Discussion Thread

[Kaiser]

The game is way better than before, but for SP still lacking a challenge due to basically no existing AI.
I would recommend buying it though, as it is easily worth the 20 $

[pindicator]

I haven't played Civ 6 for a while, but saw thatGathering Storm is on sale for $20. I would probably only play single player, or maybe low-key MP games with friends and family. Is the expansion worth that purchase price by now?

Off topic I know,  but how've you been Brick?  I haven't seen you around in a while.

+1.  I need more Brick in my virtual life.

[BRickAstley]

Thanks, all, I think I will pick it up. And thanks for asking how I've been doing, it means a lot. The last couple years have been consistently hard, but I am doing alright. if you have my email/hangouts, feel free to hit me up on there and I'd love to catch up.

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

Quick hits:

New civs 

Byzantium & Gaul

Byzantium is "all about conquest" (pictured is a dromon with Greek fire), militaristic or religious

Gaul gets "bonuses to culture and production" but aren't peace loving hippies.

New world wonders:


Biosphere: Increases appeal from marsh and rainforest, boosts power and tourism. 
Statue of Zeus: Free military units and bonus production for anti-cav units. 

New map script:
Highlands (lots of hills and mountains)

New game mode:
Dramatic ages - no normal ages, only golden and dark ages. Every new age brings new policies instead of dedications. Also removes era score wastage - extra era score instead boosts loyalty. Georgia gets access to Dark Age policies all the time, and an extra wildcard spot.

[Banzailizard]

Byzantium got revealed. Leader is Basil II. A lot of combat strength upgrades contingent on spreading their religion. They get +3 for every holy city they convert, including their own. So after they found a religion they get +3 for the rest of the game basically.

Cav theme for the civ's military. Cav unique unit (Why Basil II gets Tagma and not the Varangian Gaurd I am not sure) that makes other nearby units stronger (+4 CS). Cav does not take penalties for attacking cities of their own religion. Hippodrome (replaces entertainment complex) gives free heavy cav (also +2 amenities but that hardly matters), and those units do not cost maintenance (not sure if its just those units, and when they die you loose that or if it creates a slot for free maintenance. It reads as the former.)

Unlike a lot of religious civs they get some bonuses to help get religion. +1 GP point per holy site. I don't think that they can beat out Russia but they can probably get it reliably second. Also "Byzantium's Religion is spread to nearby cities when an unit from an enemy civilization or city-state is defeated" Not sure what that means exactly, is it like using a charge from a religious unit? Is it dependent on distance? Who know.

Feels like a civ that could snowball quickly if left alone until the classical/medieval era. You could stack that with a GG and their ability pretty easily. +3+4+5 for +13 CS in the mid game?

https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/Byzantine_(Civ6)

[suboptimal]

Based on a video screenshot from CivFanatics it looks like the spread is the equivalent of an apostle's Spread Religion action.  Note the text over Vatican City:

[TheArchduke]

Now those CS boni by Gaul are just silly.

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

Grabbed a screenshot of Gaul from the First Look video. They look really strong:

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

So Byzantium, is, as expected, stupidly good. I stumbled into a religious victory in the midst of my Domination victory. Crusade-fueled Heavy Cavalry printed out of Hippodromes is basically unstoppable by the AI.

Giving Gaul a shot now.

It'd be fun to do an Inland Sea game with Rome, Byzantium, Phoenicia, Athens, Sparta, Gaul, Babylon, and Egypt - the ancient Mediterranean.

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

October update.

I wonder if 3 other players would be interested in giving Pirates mode a go, like we did with the Vikings?