Civ VII Victory conditions need a rework - a possible approach

[rjkelly2015]

The victory conditions need a rework. There is a false sense of choice in the modern age. You are essentially only going for 4 or 5 routes for any victory at all which is very restrictive.

For me the variety of strategic options for civ 6 culture victory made it by far the best and most replayable. For Civ 7 I would recommend a victory points system and to earn a point you have at least 15 different ways to do it. You might need 10 points to secure victory. This is along the lines of civ 6 culture victory where you could build wonders, national parks, rock bands, sea side resorts, ski resorts, trade routes, relics and great works of art. The flexibility in ways to win would create more of a sandbox feel to the game which most people would enjoy. Replace tourism mechanic with victory points and provide clear ways to achieve points. Mods could go mad with this too to add further depth. I would like this approach for all victory types except domination. Can you imagine how much better a science victory could be for example. Why not call the current science victory a space victory and do a entirely new science victory.

Alternatively if the simplistic approach is to continue per the existing setup then to avoid the victory/game seeming repetitive i think more victory types are also needed (with a tick box at game setup to allow you to select which victory types you want in your game). I am hoping this could be a Game Mode you can turn on or off.

Some victory type suggestions are below with great people or special projects used to meet some of them:

The below could be either specific targets to tick off or could be made into victory points with more options added in for each and you need to hit a certain number of victory points to win each victory type.

Culture (alternative) - have a unique written language, food, music, fashion, artistic style, tv and film influence. Win nobel prize for literature.

Science (alternative) - discover gravity, electricity, periodic table, germ theory, quantum theory, Theory of relativity, big bang theory. Win the nobel prize for Physics. Build the Hadron Collider.

Economic (alternative) establish a unique currency, found 5 different corporations, achieve a monopoly, create a stock exchange, develop theory of supply and demand, win the nobel prize for economics, trade your shares in a bull market environment.

Medical - discover sanitation, survive a disease epidemic, discover anatomy, penicillin, anesthetics, vaccination, DNA. Have one of your doctors conduct the first heart transplant. Win the nobel prize for medicine. (A Health district could be added to include hospitals, labs etc)

Technology - discover printing press, Automobiles, Personal Computers, the Internet, social media, build a submersible and find the deepest part of the ocean, develop AI.

Diplomatic - create alliances with 80% of civs, establish embassies in all civs, establish the UN, liberate a conquered city, use your influence to end a war, win nobel peace prize. Create World Peace.

Zoological - discover evolution, conservation, establish a reserve both land and marine based, setup 8 zoos, discover physiology, photosynthesis, migration patterns of birds, setup a breeding program for a critically endangered animal, Prevent its Extinction.

Environmental - protect a rainforest, establish a solar, wind, wave, geothermal renewable energy plant, found a recycling corporation, develop the electric car, use your influence to clinch an international climate change accord, become Carbon Neutral.

Political - change 70% of the civs government types to the same as yours. Options are Democracy, communism, Republic, monarchy, socialism, theocracy, totalitarianism, oligarchy and military dictatorship. Methods such as elections, military coup, revolution, corruption, riots, protests, anarchy, civil war, propaganda, espionage, puppet states, embargoes could be deployed to achieve this.

History - Create an empire of at least 20 cities, build all 3 civs unique quarters and buildings, build at least 10 wonders including all civ associated wonders, be the first to circumnavigate the world, discover photography, have an explorer climb the world's highest mountain first, create 5 archeological museums, find 10 archeological sites. Start the industrial revolution.

Space (alternative) - discover astronomy, build the hubble telescope, discover flight, satellites, rocketry, launch rocket, land on the moon, build SETI, dock at the ISS.

Human Rights - establish a legal system, end slavery, provide civil rights to your people, give women the vote, establish diverse journalism, sign the Declaration of Human Rights.

Wonder - build 20 specified wonders, split across eras.

Migration - attract 20% of every other civ population to come and live in your civ.

[Rhapsody]

Yankees felt like they have no choice deploying atomic bombs either, or competing in space race with Soviets.

The fourth age will have different legacy paths from modern age. That will be enough.