Civilization 7’s City-States: The Game-Changer You Didn’t See Coming!

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In the spirit of every previous game from the Civilization series, the primary rivalry in Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 is with other civilizations striving for victory. Players must strategically use their available resources to either ally or confront these rivals, compete for scarce resources, and ultimately aim to outdo them through one of the game’s various victory conditions. However, it’s important to note that players aren’t the only influential entity in this world; city-states have returned in Sid Meier’s Civilization 7. This time, though, these independent nations function differently compared to earlier iterations of the game.

City-states have been a significant aspect of civilizations for quite some time, frequently proving useful as extra allies during a player’s quest to dominate the world. Similar to many game mechanics, Firaxis has revamped them in every new edition. In Civilization 7, city-states might be better than ever. They continue to be valuable allies, but the process of recruiting them has been made significantly easier, and each era introduces additional changes.

Civilization 7 Has Changed City-States For the Better

City-States in the Past Have Been Rather Cumbersome

City-states initially emerged in the game “Civilization 5”, modeled after actual small countries that didn’t aim for global conquest. These independent, one-city entities appeared randomly across the game map, leaving it to the player to choose their strategy towards them. They could be subjugated, dispersed, or collaborated with by increasing control over them. When partnered, they offered various benefits contingent upon their city-state type. Such alliances were crucial for achieving a Diplomacy victory, as they granted extra UN votes to the players.

In Civilization 6, Firaxis revamped the functioning of city-states. They continue to offer benefits and additional delegates, but the way to interact with them has been altered. To form alliances, players now need to dispatch Envoys to these city-states. The civilization with the most Envoys is recognized as their Overlord, but beware, this position can switch quickly. This new ally can be called upon in war and units from this city-state can be conscripted whenever necessary. However, beyond these actions, there’s not much more to interact with them.

Civilization 7’s Iteration Feels Like a Breath of Fresh Air

In Civilization 7, city-states resurface, and this time they’re brimming with activities! Scattered across the game map at random, there are autonomous powers that can potentially align with a civilization. Some may initially be hostile, while others are merely going about their usual business. Players must expend influence over several turns to win them over. Once persuaded, city-states can choose a unique upgrade and transform into fully-fledged city-states.

The enhancements may vary from complimentary tech options to distinct architectural structures, and as players expand their teams, they unlock additional abilities. Furthermore, when they reach city-state status, they become even more versatile. Not only can they mobilize their troops, but they can also strengthen their military, stimulate growth, and even incorporate them into their civilization forever. This significantly expands their capabilities, and with additional content or updates following the launch, this versatility is expected to expand, similar to how it has in previous titles.

In this rendition of city-states, Civilization might have reached its peak iteration. These aren’t just single-city nations; rather, they offer a wealth of opportunities for players. Moreover, the need to maintain superior influence or envoys compared to others is eliminated, as an allied city-state remains steadfast in their allegiance. This frees up resources to concentrate on significant matters, such as world domination. With enough bonuses from city-states, they could become invincible.

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2025-02-17 01:26