Civilization 7 allows players to expand their empires using Settlers to acquire new settlements. However, becoming the Suzerain of a City-State presents a different strategic advantage. By amassing enough Influence, players can effectively integrate these City-States into their own territories, reducing the need for creating additional Settler Units.
Despite its appeal, players must weigh various considerations before proceeding with incorporation. This comprehensive guide outlines the advantages of integrating a City-State as well as circumstances under which remaining a Suzerain might be a wiser choice.
Steps to Incorporate City-States in Civilization 7
To begin the process of incorporating a City-State, players must first locate an Independent Power and invest Influence in the Befriend Independent Project. This undertaking will take approximately 30 turns on Standard speed to complete, after which players can become Suzerain of the newly affiliated City-State. Players can expedite this timeline by dedicating additional Influence.
The baseline Influence costs associated with befriending Independent Powers during a game set on Standard speed are as follows:
- Antiquity Age: Initial cost of 170 Influence; subsequent Support costs start at 100 Influence, increasing by 10 for each additional action.
- Exploration Age: Commencing at 340 Influence, with Support actions costing 200 Influence initially and increasing by 20.
- Modern Age: Starting at 510 Influence, where additional Support actions demand an initial chunk of 300 Influence, rising by 30 thereafter.
Upon securing Suzerain status, players can incorporate the City-State within 10 turns in a Standard speed game, incurring the following costs:
- Antiquity Age: 240 Influence
- Exploration Age: 480 Influence
- Modern Age: 720 Influence
Deciding to maintain Suzerain status enables players to allocate Influence towards other beneficial Projects, such as:
- Promote Growth: 30 Influence per Age to enhance Food production for the City-State.
- Bolster Military: 60 Influence per Age to generate a Military Unit for the City-State.
- Levy Unit: Permanently control a Military Unit from the City-State, with costs varying by unit type.
Promoting Growth is consistently a wise investment if players have the available Influence, while military projects should be evaluated based on the current strategic needs. Notably, once a City-State is incorporated, any active Military Units will disband, making it prudent to Levy remaining units beforehand if integration is planned.
Evaluating the Incorporation of City-States in Civilization 7
Upon completing the Befriend Independent Project, players must immediately select a Suzerain bonus. These unique rewards vary depending on the type of City-State, such as Economic or Scientific, and often enhance the benefits tied to the player’s control over multiple City-States.
It’s important to note that Independent Powers reset after each Age Transition, which means players must rebuild their Suzerain bonuses from scratch when advancing to a new Age.
While integrating a City-State involves a significant Influence cost, it may represent a more efficient use of resources compared to the repeated effort required to befriend several Independent Powers. Players aspiring to gain Suzerain status over multiple City-States should remain aware of the growing Influence demands as their campaign progresses.
Enhancing Influence per turn is attainable through various strategies, but it’s essential to remember that many Civs and Leaders oriented towards diplomacy or espionage will also require Influence for those actions. Some are equipped with abilities that flourish under the Suzerain model with multiple City-State affiliations.
Additionally, players should be cautious about the resource availability around some City-States, as those lacking strategic value may not warrant incorporation. Moreover, integrating a City-State adjacent to another player could strain diplomatic relations.
Incorporating a City-State located in a coastal area abroad, particularly one rich in Treasure Fleet Resources, could yield substantial benefits, especially during the Exploration Age.
Ultimately, each campaign features distinct scenarios, but these insights can guide Civilization 7 players in determining when City-State incorporation might be advantageous. Key considerations for assessing a City-State’s value include:
- Settlement location
- Proximity to other opponents
- Nearby valuable resources
- Available Influence for spending
- Activated bonuses from suzerainty
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