The beloved franchise of Civilization has retained many of its foundational elements since its inception, particularly the victory conditions that challenge players. The very first installment in 1991 introduced two primary victory paths: the “Conquest”approach, which required players to eliminate all rival civilizations, and the “Space Race, ”where players endeavored to build a spaceship to journey to Alpha Centauri. These pathways, now referred to as Domination and Science victories, have evolved but largely maintain their core structure across the series. However, the latest release, Civilization 7, brings some fresh dynamics to this familiar gameplay.
While Civilization 7 still features four enduring victory types—Science, Economy, Culture, and Military—the strategies to achieve these victories present new twists. Notably, the Military victory in Civilization 7 is significantly different from the Domination victory seen in its predecessor, Civilization 6.
A Comparison of Military Victory in Civilization 7 and Domination Victory in Civilization 6
Understanding the Complexity of Military Victory in Civilization 7
In Civilization 6, achieving a Domination victory was straightforward; players merely needed to capture the capital cities of their foes. Contrary to this simplicity, Civilization 7 introduces a more intricate Military victory pathway. Players must now navigate a series of Legacy objectives relevant to three distinct Ages throughout the game: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern.
To embark on a Military victory in the Antiquity Age, players must secure a total of 12 Towns or Cities, with each conquered enemy Settlement counting for double. Progressing to the Exploration Age requires capturing Settlements in faraway lands, accumulating another 12 points—with the same conversion benefit applying. As players reach the Modern Age, they are tasked with conquering Settlements worth a total of 20 points, ideally from opposing ideologies, where doing so grants bonus points. Successfully completing this pathway unlocks significant projects like the Manhattan Project Wonder and the Operation Ivy initiative, both vital for securing a Military victory.
The Shift in Strategy: Keeping Civilizations Alive
Unlike Civilization 6, where the focus was on swiftly obliterating opponents, Civilization 7 encourages a more strategic approach—often favoring the preservation of rival civilizations. The Military victory mechanics do not mandate the capture of capital cities, nor do they offer substantial rewards for doing so. Instead, allowing opponents to remain in the game enables players to engage them diplomatically to secure Settlements during peace talks, thus enriching their gameplay experience.
The Role of Commanders in Civilization 7
The traditional strategy for achieving a Domination victory has relied heavily on overwhelming opponents with a sheer number of high-strength military units. Civilization 7 innovates this formula by introducing Commanders—unique military units capable of uniting up to six allied units into a single army. This organizational element not only enhances strategic planning but also allows allied units to concentrate their attacks on enemies, thus granting experience points to the Commander.
This gained experience can be employed to unlock various bonuses and unique abilities, bolstering the overall effectiveness of the player’s military troops in combat. It’s important to note that this leveling system for Commanders has replaced the prior ability to enhance individual military units directly, adding a new layer of tactical depth to the gameplay.
Leave a Reply