The Civs in Civ5.

[Elok]

I think you may have a point Albert...perhaps traits can be acquired randomly through the first two or three ages and perhaps even change depending on the nature of that civilisation in the game...

I think traits (of the old, broad kind) should stay, because they let you set a style of play ahead of time and then riff on it as circumstances allow. But I would like to see the ability to "tweak" as well. In "MyCiv," there would be such a thing as minor technologies. They cost something like a fifth as much as the major ones, and don't lead anywhere, but provide straight bonuses. So, for example, any civ that has researched horseback riding can research the stirrup minor tech, which gives horsemen/knights a bonus to attack. After you research navigation, or some such, you can research the compass for a movement bonus at sea, or something. Crop rotation, +1 food. Pasteurization, +1 health. And so on. The little bonuses add up to shape what your civ is good at.

I think of them as taking the tech tree 3-D: go long by moving forward, go wide by switching to another thread, or go deep by improving what you have. There's way too much for you to research all of it in one game, so you have to choose.

[Brael]

I'm not a fan of this unique bonus per civ. I much preferred the old method of a pool of bonuses, mixed into unique combinations. It allowed for some civs to have more broad bonuses while others were more specific, and each ended up being unique.

Well, atleast there will be a demo of the game so I won't feel ripped off if I dislike it.

[Dinner]

I think you may have a point Albert...perhaps traits can be acquired randomly through the first two or three ages and perhaps even change depending on the nature of that civilisation in the game...

That's a pretty good idea.

[Al B. Sure!]

No. They shouldn't be completely random, at least not more so than the situation of the civilization is random...

I think the ideas I brought up are a great way to do it. As is Elok's 3D technology idea.

Empire Earth had it set-up where as you reached through the ages, you could set bonuses in a wide-variety of areas and you could also upgrade your units in specific ways (so you could have your units have higher armor or higher attack, etc.)

These are all good ideas. The point is that pre-set civilization bonuses are silly. What is the point of England's sea bonus if they are completely a land-based civ? What's the point of the Arabs being good with oil if they don't have any oil in their territory?

Civ's developed strengths in real life because of the circumstances of their conditions.

[Nikolai]

In this video we get to see all civ bonuses/traits 12 seconds in.

[Mr Justice]

i wonder whats the story with the pre order bonus civ

Steam Pre-Purchase Civilization V - Deluxe Edition
- Plus also get the bonus Babylon Civilization with leader "Nebuchadnezzar II"

aint he Babylonian?

[dregor]

Yes? That's why it says Babylon civilization leader...

[campm@jor]

Hm, isn't this blackmail? Getting a free civ if your pre-order on Steam?

[thyrwyn]

Yes and no: you only get the bonus civ if you order the Deluxe edition (pre-order or not), this deal is also available through Direct2Drive. Each distributer is offering a different map-pack as their pre-order bonus. Steam's is Mesopotamia; others are offering the Americas, Asia, and the Mediterranean.

[Wernazuma III]

I hope these bonuses will be easily moddable.

[campm@jor]

Hm, still, it doesn't seem sight. Plus they will have to make different content for each distribution channel. I wonder if it is worth the effort for them.

[campm@jor]

Euh, sight must be right ofcourse...

[ColdPhoenix]

I'm sure they held back other old time favorites like the Vikings, the Dutch, the Zulu, and the Celts just to give us a reason to buy the expansion packs.

And don't forget the Mongols.

[ScrotusMaximus]

Most of my clocked hours in Civ 4 were 2-3 player MP matches vs. friends on shuffled maps. Wonder production and naval superiority are key for us. I already have my eye on England and Egypt :-)

[Robert]

Naval warfare is much more interesting in MP games then in SP games.
The idea that all land armies can transfer into ships is very interesting! It'll definitely increase naval combat and intercontinental battles!