Builders Are a Thing of the Past in Civilization 7

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The moment players initiate Sid Meier’s Civilization VII for the first time, they are bound to spot numerous alterations compared to its predecessors. Firaxis has significantly revamped the gameplay by compressing it into three defined epochs, military strategies have been enhanced with the addition of army commanders, city-states and diplomacy among civilizations have been restructured, and an array of features have been modified for this fresh edition. Although some modifications might be surprising, one of the changes in Sid Meier’s Civilization VII seems to be a belated improvement.

For this new phase, players won’t command builders to erect structures across the game map anymore. Instead, the city itself expands and constructs these improvements as its population increases. Builders have been eliminated from the game entirely. Some players might pine for these units, but it appears Firaxis has been preparing for their removal for quite some time. With them now gone, it seems unlikely that the Civilization franchise will reintroduce builders in the near future.

The Civilization Franchise Never Needed Builders

Civilization Has Been Removing Builders for Years

In earlier versions of Civilization 6, players directed workers to construct various enhancements across the map instead of using builders. These worker units were peaceful and dedicated solely to building tile improvements and roads, which were crucial for cities and civilizations. Initially, players would meticulously manage these workers, but as the game progressed, many players opted to allow their workers to automatically construct tile enhancements without much further input. This often led to the players neglecting them while they focused on improving the land autonomously.

In Civilization 6, Firaxis decided to rename these units as builders and significantly revised their functionalities. The most notable alteration was that they could no longer construct tile enhancements indefinitely, as they were assigned a finite number of uses. Initially, they came with three charges, but additional ones could be earned through various bonuses. Once their charges ran out, they would dissolve, forcing players to construct a new one. Furthermore, the capability to create roads was transferred from them to merchants, reducing their overall utility.

Civilization 7 Finally Removes Them Entirely

In Civilization 6, there were significant changes made to certain aspects and some of their distinctive features were eliminated. As for Civ 7, workers and builders have been entirely taken out, with no apparent substitute in sight at the moment. Instead, cities construct tile improvements as their population grows, and roads are laid when players establish a new city nearby. Previously, builders’ tasks seem to be assumed by these new elements. However, merchants will still construct roads during trade exchanges with other civilizations’ cities. Essentially, it appears that all the duties once performed by builders have been reassigned to something novel.

In some circles, it’s not too unexpected that workers and builders were eliminated, given that Firaxis has been gradually reducing their power in the game. With the introduction of Civilization 7, they aimed to minimize the number of clicks between turns, which suggests that the builders might have been deemed unnecessary. So far, this decision appears to be a positive move.

In Civilization 7, the removal of builders allows players to concentrate solely on enhancing their military and city structures, freeing them from the responsibilities of construction and management. This shift in focus is a refreshing change, as it frees up resources like gold, production, and time. Moreover, this alteration lends an added layer of intrigue to the development of cities, making the game more engaging than ever. As additional DLC continues to expand the game’s features, it remains to be seen if the absence of builders becomes more noticeable. For now, however, the abundance of new content in Civilization 7 may cause players to overlook this change entirely.

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2025-02-16 15:44