New Civilization V Expansion: Brave New World

Firaxis have announced the second expansion to their time-sink of a strategy game: Civilization V: Brave New World. Released this summer, the pack looks to overhaul the areas of culture and diplomacy in the game, as well as make the expected additions of more playable civs, scenarios and wonders to build.

In IGN’s interview with lead desiger Ed Beach, it was revealed the expansion sought to ‘focus on the back half of the game,’ developing the Autocracy, Freedom and Order social policy trees to give the player benefits for focusing on certain ideologies.

Ideology is an important new concept to the game, as Firaxis are implementing the idea of cultural warfare. A player can now achieve cultural victory by having the majority cultural influence over other civs’ cities, achieved through the new ‘tourism points.’ These are gained through having great artists (and the expansion’s new great writers and musicians) generate specific ‘pieces’ for you to display in museums, galleries or opera houses in your cities. You can also use the new archaeology system which, once researched, allows you to visit sites of battles fought earlier on in the game and collect various artifacts to display in your cities. The idea is turn a culture victory into more than just building a few cities and hiding away while you churn out wonders.

In terms of diplomacy, Firaxis are adding a World Congress, established when a civilization has met every other nation in the game and has created a printing press. Each nation (including city-states) has a number of delegates that can be used to vote on polices chosen by the creating nation of the Congress and the nation with the most delegates. The polices can ‘change the rules of the game,’ doing things such as banning luxury items and putting trade embargos on certain nations.

Firaxis are also introducing international trade routes, which allows nations to build caravan ships that automatically go between civilizations to trade gold and other resources. However, science, culture and religion are carried on the ship, opening up the possibility of other leaders getting your technologies or your own cities succumbing to another civ’s religion.

Although vague, it sounds as though there are big ideas for Brave New World. Read the full article here, and make sure to inform your family that they may not see you this Summer.