8 new civs to appear in expansion pack

[ixnay]

The expansion, which will be shown at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles later this month, will include eight new civilizations and leaders along with a number of new single- and multiplayer scenarios and features

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2863506,00.html

So, it's time to start speculating! What do you think the 8 new civs will be? Spanish and Mongols will probably be in there...

[monkspider]

Oh man oh man, you beat me to it ixnay. I'm so pumped for this XP. I could care less about the MP features..but new single player features and 8 new civs! *drool*
Alright, we have to remember Firaxis is going to try to keep sort of a balance in terms of cultural regions (mediterranean, Asian, Middle East, American, european)
Here's who they will be *ahem*
1. Spain (Europe)
2. Mongols(Asia)
3. Vikings (Europe)
4. Carthage (Mediterranean)
5. Inca (America)
6. Arabs (middle East)
These ones I feel are shoe-ins, based on the Civ 2 Precedent (including Civ 2 text files). There also can't be any more Euro civs, due to their being more than any other culture region in the game already. There won't be more than 2 in the XP.
The last two slots are open to a number of possibilities
Turks (Mediterranean)
Hebrews (middle east)
Ethiopians/Aksumites (Middle east)
Mayans (america)
Koreans (asia)

Now which 2 out of those 5 are chosen is very difficult to say. Your guess is as good as mine.

[Locutus]

I think they're gonna put in the top 8 civs of the Expansion Pack Civs poll:

Spanish, Mongol, Arab, Inca, Viking, Turks, Phoenicians/Carthaginians, Maya.

*/daydreaming*

[Ribannah]

And everyone who voted gets the XP for FREE!

[Spiffor]

Even if I'm a diehard fan of the Arabs, I'm not sure they'll implement them. It has never been in Civ (1 nor 2), and as opposite to the Turks, it wasn't even in project in Civ1. Plus, it could possibly sound "politcally incorrect" to the hears of some sensible customers, and Firaxis doesn't want to lose any.

[siredgar]

What do I think will be in the expansion pack? Well, if I'm optimistic, but not expecting exactly what's on my wish list I would say:

1. Spanish
2. Vikings
3. Mongols
4. Inca
5. Turks
6. Koreans
7. Ethiopians
8. Phoenicians

I will be very upset if they do not include the Spanish, Vikings, and Mongols. Those are just givens in my opinion. If they don't add those in, they're arrogant (for not listening to players) idiots (for being just plain stupid). Also, I would hope they add at least one other Asian civ besides the Mongols and it be the Koreans, rather than the Khmer or whatnot. I mean c'mon let's compare the level of civilization here. I hope they don't go into "space filler" mode with it either. Most likely, they will add one civ in the Americas and another in Africa at the very least. I'm just glad they've decided to add eight civs, not just four.

[monkspider]

You could be right on with that list sir edgar
let's see here you have
1. Spain
2. mongols
3. Inca
4. Vikings
5. Phonecia/Carthage
You have 5 of the 6 civs I considered shoe-ins. i'm curious why you left the Arabs out. Is it due to their being in the news and such? There is somewhat of a historical precedent for the arabs appearing, due to their city names and leader names appearing in Civ 2 text files.
6. Turks
7. Ethiopia
8. Korea
Your remaining three are very possibly right on the money.
We are more or less looking at several possible duels for Civ spots amongst the cultural regions right now.
1. We have Vikings vs. Celts vs. Dutch (europe, and you know spain is a shoe-in)
I believe Vikings will win because in a recent chat a firaxian commented that he thought the vikings were the one civ that wasn't in the game right now that he thought deserved to be in, so that's gotta help their chances.
2. Korea vs. Khmer (asia)
I agree that they would be foolish to pick Khmer over Korea.
3. Arabs vs. Hebrews vs. Ethiopians
It is likely that two out of these three will appear in the game...but which two? This is probably the toughest decision. I would favor the Arabs and Ethiopians myself. It is possible the turks could fall under this category too. But if that is the case, I don't think that firaxis would add both the Turks and the Arabs.

[monkspider]

I've done a little more thinking, and i've decieded that I may have been a little rash in giving the Arabs shoe-in status. I have also come to the realization that the civ picture can be broken down in to three brackets

Shoe-Ins
-------------------------------
1. Mongols
2. Spain
3. Inca
4. Carthage
5. Vikings

From here on out, three further civs will appear in the game

Contenders
-------------------------------
Arabs
Hebrews
Ethiopians
Turks
Koreans

On the outside, looking in
-------------------------------
Polynesians
Nubians
Celts
Dutch
Maya
Cherokee/Sioux

I think the Turks are the most interesting wildcard in all of this. In that, they are very unlikely to be included if the Arabs are included, since I think it is more likely Firaxis will group the turks under the Arab umbrella than the Arabs under the Turkish umbrella. However, they are the once civ that can justifiably considered part of two different culture groups. But in any scenario that they do get in the game, it would almost have to be one where the Arabs are out.
An interesting dark horse in all of this could be Nubia. All it would take is for Firaxis to deciede to that they would be a better African civ to add than Ethiopia/Axum and they are very likely to make it in. Interestingly, Nubia did make it in to the recent Rise of Nations roster. Darkhorse civs Khmer and Polynesia are in a similar situation, however I think Korea is on more stable ground than it's Ethiopian couterpart.

With that said, I'm going to go on the record with an 8 civ prediction for the first time in this thread. I say it will be the 5 shoe-ins, plus
6. Arabs
7. Korea
8. Ethiopians/Aksumites

[Mankind]

he he hey, i'm back :>

hi,
mongols is a MUST



ok, goto go (work, school.. ;/ end of the school-year..)
I've been waching you here (but not logging..)
OT :: i don't have time to play CIV3 - never ended the game realy ;/ ::

bye.


BTW: and don't forget about .pl

[siredgar]

Yes, I agree with your shoe-ins and the Ethiopians are really the dark horse in this all. A strong contender, indeed, I think. But no, I wasn't thinking about political or media factors re: the Arabs. I just think there's a bit of overlap with the Babylonians and the Egyptians. Anyhow, the Turks may have a stronger case.

Of course, the Koreans achieved more during their height than any of these other civs on the list with the exception of the Spanish and Phoenicians. However, I have a feeling they may have been left out entirely.

In my opinion, the Inca and Ethiopians are somewhat like "space fillers". But if they add the Khmer, the Polynesians, or whatnot, those are REAL space fillers and I will be very upset, too. Not as upset if they don't include the Spanish, Vikings, and Mongols though.

Personally, I'd like to see the Dutch and Portuguese added in there instead of the Inca or Ethiopians. But that's because I like playing modern civs and colonization games a lot. Also, I'd replace the Phoenicians with something else like the Khmer because I want to play more Asian civs, too. After all, there are really only TWO (the Chinese and the Japanese) because I consider the Indians more like Middle Easterners than Asians.

[siredgar]

I don't think the Israelites (Hebrews) have a chance at all, if they don't include the Arabs. After all, I am suspecting the reason why most people want to include the Israelites is to pit them against the Arabs. It will be difficult to imagine them including both, so I'm not expecting either. But I definitely think the Arabs have a 10 times stronger chance of being in the game than the Israelites. I'd put the Israelites in as a long-shot. Anyhow, all of the other possible contenders are far more deserving and have more "space" reserved for them.

[Drake Tungsten]

What I think it will be...

1. Mongols
2. Vikings
3. Inca
4. Spain
5. Carthage
6. Arabs
7. Celts
8. Ethiopians

What I would like it to be...

1. Mongols
2. Inca
3. Mali
4. Khmer
5. Polynesians
6. Vikings
7. Maya
8. Arabs

That is all.

[Coracle]

Originally posted by siredgar
I don't think the Israelites (Hebrews) have a chance at all, if they don't include the Arabs. After all, I am suspecting the reason why most people want to include the Israelites is to pit them against the Arabs. It will be difficult to imagine them including both, so I'm not expecting either. But I definitely think the Arabs have a 10 times stronger chance of being in the game than the Israelites. I'd put the Israelites in as a long-shot. Anyhow, all of the other possible contenders are far more deserving and have more "space" reserved for them.

Actually, having an Arab civ makes a great deal of sense. Starting in the Seventh Century, the Arabs had a glorious and huge civilization; much of it was conquered by the Mongols in the 13th Century (but not to Egypt, or beyond).

[nato]

I think the Arabians will be in, for a couple of reasons.

First, as has been argued elsewhere, they are a major civilization that merits inclusion.

Second, the "political and media" factors should actually help them compared to other potential civs. I think this is true whether the political concerns are for or against Arabians!

If political correctness is a concern ... then they should be in. They will be in so Firaxis can prove they aren't "mad at Arabs" or some such. Being PC REQUIRES you to do stuff like that, just so you can prove you aren't not PC.

If political correctness is not a concern, and you are taking the stance that they are too connected with terroism or something ... then they should be in! If people really think the entire civilization is so bad then they should be included as a great opposing civ choice.

I guess my point is, both love and hate have one thing in common ... strong emotions. Whether you love or hate the civ, you have strong emotions towards it, which makes it a compelling choice to include.

It makes more sense to include a civ with strong feelings towards it than one which no one gives a care about. It is certainly more interesting.

So I am saying I think political and media factors should help include the Arabians, not exclude them.

Really, who is going to get really excited over Phoenicians or someone? Who is going to REFUSE to buy Civ3 just because Arabs are in?

BTW, I do not go for either being PC or blaming the entire civ for recent events ... I just want them in because they are such a big, important, and unique part of history!

Thanks for reading, hope it makes sense and is not offensive somehow.

[monkspider]

Man that's a good point Nato. There are several strong factors that point to the addition of the Arabs. The Civ 2 precedent (cities and leader names in text files), and the reasons you just mentioned. However, if the Arabs are added, then the Turks are out. With limited open slots, it is very likely they will be grouped under the Arab umbrella, for better or ill. If the Arabs are in then, there will also be a strong push for the Hebrews to be added as well. But if the Arabs and Hebrews are in, then there is no space for another African civ...aarrrgghhh....why must Firaxis make it so difficult to decipher their actions?