Civ Battle Royale Showcase of several upcoming gameplay mods for Season 2, as well as many worthy civs that are up for voting.
Hello everyone and welcome to a hundred turn album of the usual test games I stream on Twitch and Discord. This is for the benefit of everyone who cannot tune into those streams, as well as my own pitch for many of the civs included here for voting. This is also a way to show the sub of what to expect of Endgame, as this game will run on its map, and you'll be able to see the new scale which guarantees there is fighting early and constantly.
Before we begin with the screenshots, I want to give credit to the authors of most of the new gameplay mods included in the tests. First up is whoward, who is the author of the DLL that allows us have 61 battle royales i the first place. Several of his mods are added in these games, including slots for great works in various other buildings to keep the number of active great artists and musicians on the map lower, and a mod that limits a civ's ocean borders to not exceed into deep ocean, thus not having city border extend far into the sea. You can find them them all here: http://www.picknmixmods.com/main/home/home.html
Next is JFD's gameplay mods under the banner Rise to Power (RtP). This was previously known as JFDLC, but has now received a number of new updates and improvements. Not all RtP mods are active here, but chief among them is Cycles of Power and Sovereignty, which takes a civ's innate flavors and biases to direct them towards a series of governments and reforms which gives them added bonuses and match their personalities and in-game situations and choices. They are subtle additions that add a little bit of world-building pieces that the sub can latch onto to launch original content for the sub. One of the mods, Workforces, gives charges to workers (like in Civ VI), and adds a new dynamic for civs wanting to choose between building workers or military throughout the game. It allows greatly reduces the number of workers a civ will build and retain on the map. The most noticeable mod is a UI known as the AI Observer, which displays all the key stats and diplomatic relationships of civs as their turns progress. This is meant more for streams than albums, but you can expect a more compact version of this for next season to add a little more information for those in the audience that do not go head first into the stat sheets all the time. You can find this collection here: https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=1840389923
Iska has released a number of gameplay mods of late, and we are greatly interested in some portions of World at War that help religious founders in the early-game. Our games have shown that founding a religion can be quite a determent for civs, but Holy Wars, a component of World at War, allows religious founders to build stronger versions of some melee units in the first few Eras of the game when at war with other religious founders. Any civ with the same religion can participate, and it leads to some early game 'teams' like how we've seen some groupings with ideologies in the late-game. The other component is Reformations, which allows a civ without a religion that captures a holy city the ability to claim all of the conquered religion's bonuses if they finish the Piety social tree, so some religions will not disappear just because their founder is eliminated. You can find World at War here: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1737956594
A very special thanks goes to Explosive Watermelon, who has made a variety of utility mods that all go to removing many annoyances to previous royales. Most of these mods are simple, but will go a long way to making the viewing experience better. Many of them are private for now, but she has released a mod that allows range units to stack with melee units (sadly I had an older version at the time of recording and it does not appear here). This makes it so we do not have to see a city surrounded with archers and the single melee unit is having to wait to capture a city. It was cute in 2.0 the first time we saw it, but after 2.1 and S1, we can be sure to welcome no deadlocks happening because melee units care blocked by their own comrades. You can find this mod here: https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198135520647/myworkshopfiles/?appid=8930
Now into the game. For those that have not seen Lunarβs Endgame map, here it is, in all its tiny glory.
Letβs go briefly over the starting locations of starting with Osage (Gragg), the Neutrals (Dawkinzz), Powhatan (Mayor S), and Calusa (Sukritact).
Further north we have Dene (Colonialist Legacies), Cheyenne (TopHat), and BCβs own Pomo.
Moving south, there is Hawaiβi (JFD) and the Toltecs (ryanjames).
In upper South America, there is Tairona (Gedemo), Marajoara (Senshi), Paraguay (Millard Fillmore Literature Club), and Aymara (Leugi)
On the lower half, there is Yaghan (Grant) and Mapuche (LastSword).
In the top of the Atlantic we have Kalaallit (Techno) and the return of Scotland (MoreCivs).
Onto the European continent, there is Normandy (JFD), Denmark-Norway (JFD), Norway (Fiona), Liechtenstein (DuskJockey), the Teutonic Order (Uighur_Caesar), and Russia (JFD).
Moving south is the Iberians (TarcisioCM), Sicily (TarcisioCM), North Macedonia (Vivala), and Tuareg ( MoreCivs).
Next is Dahomey (The Specialize), Hyksos (TarcisioCM), Shilluk (Doggo), Zanzibar (Senshi), and United Arab Emirates (Urdnot)
In lower Africa, we have Angola (DMS), Lesotho (Curlysnail), and Libertatia (Porkbean).
Reaching Eurasia is Perm (Curlysnail), Khazaria (JFD), All-Russia (Explosive Watermelon), and Kyrgyz (Delete Brazil).
Below is the Ilkhanate (TarcisioCM) and Bactria (TarcisioCM).
In southern Asia there is Chola (MoreCivs), Pala (TopHat), Vietnam (LastSword), Wuyue (DMS), Philippines (Cardboardmech), and Malacca (Orange).
Above are the Tanguts (DMS), Mongolia (Vivala), Yakutia (Hiram), and Priamurye (Explosive Watermelon).
Next are the Chukchi (Senshi), the Aleuts (TopHat), and Japan (Homusubi).
In Australia we have the Kimberley (Colonialist Legacies), the Anangu (TopHat), and Kulin (Colonialist Legacies).
Further in the Pacfic is the Maori (MoreCivs) and Bora Bora (JakeWalrusWhale).
Finally there is Palau (Vivala), and not pictured (opps) the VOC (Vanadius).
We begin the game proper with the first few settles, with everyone minding their own space, except for Osage which always takes the initiative.
In Patagonia, the Mapuche are already crowded and are late to getting their second city.
Europe really shows the size difference in Endgame, with much of the continent filled after only two cities for each civ. Normandy wisely gets a little piece of Britain.
Everyone here is ignoring the Sahara. Hyskoks moves onto Asia.
Mongolia also boxed in already. Bogd Khan will have to fight early.
We say hello to VOC finally, as they settle onto Borneo.
Bactria and the Ilkhanate might be going to war soon, and we can see in the Observer that Robert the Bruce and his council of Elders are investing in Piety.
Quick look into Eastern Europe, which still has plenty of open land to claim.
The Amazon is also quite empty, but who can blame civs wanting to ignore jungle tiles.
Calusa is a naval centric civ, and they take to the water to settle in Cuba. The Toltecs move north across the Rio Grande.
The Aleuts automatically claim nearby water resources, and so their cities look to be expanding and growing quickly in population. In the Observer, we see Saint Stephen and his faction of Healers also put point into Piety.
Southern Africa is quiet for now, and the Liberi choose a one-tile island instead of making landfall onto the continent.
The Iberians build Sargon's Palace, a new wonder included with Sovereignty that allows them to immediately establish a government and allows them to move production with trade routes. The Osages go to war with Powhatans.
The Maori settle South Island and Bora Bora chooses a modest one-tile island.
Toltecs go to war with Pomo. In the Observer, we can also see that Palau is at war with the Philippines.
The Normans eye the Iberians isolated new city.
The Osage are looking to get an early victory. We can also see Ghazan is gathering his desert worshipping Healers to proclaim a new philosophy. In a society centered around Honor, it might have to do with their concerns with the war with Bactria.
All-Russiaβs second city is the far away Ufa. Not a great start for them.
Also not a great start for Wahunsenacawh, whose capital is already threatened. Youβll notice that City Banners now display the civ icon of the cityβs founder upon capture to help the audience keep track of conquests.
Russia forwards Khazaira, who is more interested in fighting North Macedonia.
Lesotho builds the Temple of Artemis, and Robert the Bruceβs council looks to Mercenaries to help them clear the NOrmans from their turf.
Tairona declares on Calusa, but hardly has any navy to speak of.
North Macedonia repeals khazaria, and the Illkhanate builds a city where All-Russia surely should have instead.
The Aleuts declare on Cheyenne, but they are a little too far away at the moment.
Bora Bora builds the Banaue Rice Terraces, and the Kimberley settle on the opposite end of the continent.
Libertati builds the Great Library as Raja Raja I keeps the classic Indian tradition of developing Mathematics.
A more suitable target for Tairona as they aim to fight Paraguay in the jungles. Bulan aims to develop Redemption in their justice system. (The Observer until about T75 will be displaying more wars because I tried to filter to only show war icons and it had the opposite effect.)
Scotland builds the Abu Simbel, a Sovereignty wonder that establishes the Theocracy government before it is normally available upon founding a religion.
The Anangu build Stonehedge, which with Sovereignty, now provides a free Shrine in the city in which it is built. Expect a religion here soon.
Sicily secures the peninsula and a foothold in North Africa. Ghazan faces a changes in government, probably as a result of founding a religion whilst their society is moving in different directions.
Neutrals get the very nice Statue of Zeus while the Powhatans look to be having an early exit. Agugux gets the title of General with the backing of the populists in his new Republic, whilst taking up horseback riding as a new hobby.
The big void in China is taking up by a variety of civs. Ufa still looks a little out of place but at least has a meager defense.
Kalaallit build the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Something to note about this civ is the unique scout which settles cities after coming across settle tiles. This civ will easily settle far and wide along the Arctic.
The Powhatans are no more, and Osage have a great early lead. In truth, Osage is always very aggressive and one of its neighbors tends to die to them in the early-game. Yaghan below builds the Pyramids, which with Workforces provides their workers with additional charges.
The Amazon is a border mess, but Tairona looks to clean things up.
Magistrate Nicholas the second looks to be looking for new leaders for his republic as they lose their second city to Khazaria. They do have a big military boost with their Holy Warriors, which are available in a Holy War that they have declared against another religious founder. This is an early-game advantage for religious founders to make sure they do not fall too much behind like in most games.
Palua ounces on the Philippines after the latter sent an army to protect San Juan del Monte.
Tairona is able to capture Mapucheβs isolated settlement. They might go on looking for more.
War comes to the Outback, with the Anangu defending against a sizable Kulin army.
Hawaiβi settles on the continent. Not shown, but the Toltecs and the Cheyenne have declared on Osage. In the Observer we see that Weiming Yuanhao has setup a Monarchy as his form of government, with a hierarchy of Nobles to support him. They look to master the ocean waves, far from the coast...
Palau is successful in getting a city, while Puni the Just takes advantage of the distraction to settle another city on Papua.
At the same time, VOC declare on Malacca, who look to be ill-prepared for invasion.
Maori snipes Cavite el Viejo, and peace with Palau means the Philippines can focus on taking the city back with ease.
Calusa blunders and gives their city away to Tairona in a peace deal. Tairona cannot afford the happiness and sets the city ablaze. Reminder though, with EWβs razing mod, the AI can now stop the razing if their happiness is positive again.
The pirate invasion of Zanzibar begins, and Lesotho emulates the old Boer strategy of settling deep into the Congo.
The Anangu lose their capital, and appear to have no defense to prevent their elimination.
As mentioned earlier, Tairona stop the razing of Muspa once their happiness balances out. Caalus can take the city back in the future, but sets his sights on the Neutrals for now with the peopleβs support.
The Osages weather the storm and are left intact after a two-front war. The Neutrals do not seem to like Kalaallit getting more of the coastline and declare war on them before they are overrun with cities.
Scotland does the same, and looks to be getting a few free cities.
Philippines canβt catch a break, and Japan now threatens them from the north. The Neutral Bourgeoise develop markets in anticipation of their growing kingdom.
Perm takes an isolated Teuton city. Tullowakβs Principality loses their a city each to the Neutrals and Scotland.
North Africa heats up, with Tuareg taking a Dahomey city, and Shilluk threatening the Hyksos capital.
A return to China, where border gore still is the status quo.
Japan captures the Philippines capital, and looks to eliminate them from the game altogether.
The Neutrals make quick work of the Kal cities on the continent. The Osages look to sneak in a city while they are focused in the north.
Taironaβs hunger is not satisfied, and they go after the Aymara now. A quick capture of Quillacas and the city is set to the flame. At only one population, it looks like this time this city is set to disappear.
The city indeed is razed. Yaghan leaps across the continent and settles a city in Central America.
The Anangu are no more. The continent is now split between Kimberley and Kulin.
While Tin Hinan has trouble back home, Sicily takes advantage and sends their large army towards an exhausted Hyksos.
Kalaallit has lost four cities due to conquest and gives the Neutrals another in Greenland in a peace deal. A very abnormal performance from them when they tend to spam out and defend most of their cities.
A look to central Asia, where Bactria is hugging any nearby mountains. Pala below has a very horinztal looking dominion.
The Osage settle Newfoundland. Saint Stephen has a new government, and now looks to the peasants for support.
Shilluk captures the Hyksos capital and looks to secure this corner of the continent from his rivals.
It was not long before fighting continues in Australia. Kulin has the military to get at least one city from the Kimberley. Palau sneaks a city in while Kulin is busy making troops rather than settlers.
Scotland gets a tiny military boost with the Terracotta Army while a poor peace deal from Normandy means the Iberians are now their new neighbors.
The tables are turned and the Kimberley are on the offesnive instead. Mutitjulu is taken and they can continue to get more.
Pala builds a city in the Tibetan Plateau, further enhancing the border gore in the region. Wuyue is fighting All-Russia, so perhaps a little spot might be cleaned up.
The Dene have been quiet this game. It is their usual style to build up while no one is looking. They can turtle for a while and attack a distressed neighbor when the time comes.
Central regions of Africa are now filled up. Butha-Buthe explodes with population in the middle of it all.
Kulin are losing this fight. Maori loiters might be what protects their capital.
A look at Japan, which is not building up a dominion with any historical controversy at all.
Ouch, the Osage get a very juicy free city from Cheyenne in a peace deal. In the Observer, we see the pirate republic of Tribune James Mission the Conqueror is doing well.
Angola locks Lesotho down, but they should really build a city in the gap between Luanda and Huambo.
The Mediterrean waters looks like they belongs to Sicily. Qian Liu gains the new title of Podesta, which is a title granted by finishing the Aesthetics tree (plus being a Republic). Some titles are also tied to Wonders, while others are locked behind certain Reforms, Policies, and Governments.
Kazaria hungers for more and attacks Liechtenstein. Tiny Denmark-Norway is all but trapped in, while Norway (solo) owns most of Scandinavia.
Glimpse around the map at the end of the preview. Here just a sight of Kygryz which escaped most attention.
Final look into South America which is all but defined in the first 100 turns. It appears future fighting in this scenario would be outside the jungles.
Map of the location for the 17 religions in the game. Expect there to be more religions next season, so some civs that really need a religion will not miss out like last time (pour one out for Poverty Point). Religious conflict will a constant, and lead to more early wars without necessarily making everyone more aggressive. JFD has also provided a mod that allows civs to choose a backup religion with their primary choice is not found, so we'll have much more variety in terms of religions as well that fight the civ's culture more.
Now for some statscreens. Going over all the religions that were founded. The Dene Holy state leads with eight cities.
On the lower end is the Emirati Kingdom with only twelve followers.
Now the fun stuff, all the governments!
Here is a fun one, Prince-Archbishopric of Scotland lead by Pharoah Robert the Bruce. There is currently a revolt against his cadre of priests, but that is one fancy title.
Few dominant Warrior societies in this batch. Sometimes this can lead to the empire titles changing to Horde.
Governor-General Tanaka Kakuei and his oligarchy of Japanese bourgeois. I like it.
The Dene Holy State lead by High Priestess Thanadelthur. Sure to become a religious powerhouse if the game continued.
At the lower end is us, the rabble tribe of Babylonians. Hope you guys liked this preview for the Endgame map and some of the things weβre preparing for Season 2. Be sure to follow my stream at https://www.twitch.tv/volpe_ and the Discord for occasional streams as I test updates and bug fixes. But most importantly, please do register now on Reddit for the voting of Season 2βs civ roster. Make your choice count, and get the civs voted in you want to follow next season. Subscribe and follow the sub for all updates.