Recent reviews by weraptor

git gud

The herd mentality just won't give up hating on this game, giving it negative reviews with well-written flaws, but also neglecting the positive aspects, which, IMO, prevail.

Gathering Storm is the second expansion for CIV VI, focusing on diplomacy, climate and the late-game.


Natural Disasters
Boom. Volcano.

• they add flavor and dynamism to a stagnant tile yield (and not so stagnant population) system - most of them can damage, but also fertilize tiles
  
• they are interconnected with new World Congress and climate change systems
  
• their rate is fully customizable with a slider
  
• floods are completely preventable by a new Wonder or the Dam district
  
  Improved strategic resources
  Resource system has been enhanced:
  
• making resources much common on the map
  
• introducing stockpiles, a fixed maximum amount of resources your civilization can posses; their value is increased mainly by the Encampment district buildings (a nice buff)
  
• making various units as well as unique units resource dependent, forcing you to slow down your conquest
  
• making certain resources vital for maintaining power-generating buildings, units and weapons
  
• the resources are fully tradable with the AI; in the current state, it can be exploited for profit
  
  Grievances
  Grievances are a replacement to the warmonger system, keeping track of interpersonal relations between two civs, as well as affecting opinion of the other ones.
  
• feeling tired of being called a warmonger for capturing one city during a war which you haven't even started? Well, no more!
  
• grievances affect loyalty of conquered cities, making them slightly harder to keep, especially after they were ceded in a peace deal
  
• grievances can accumulate on both sides (e.g. Poland vs Hungary) - the nation who has more grievances towards the other is "favored by the world", making minor aggression justifiable
  
• grievances fade differently depending on your diplomatic states and the world era; during a war, there is no falloff
  
  Diplomatic Favor, World Congress and Diplomatic victory
  
• Diplomatic Favors is essentially a currency usable for trade deals and World Congress resolution
  
• Diplomatic Favors is obtainable by being a suzerain of city-states, having alliances, trading (with the AI to a certain stage only), interacting with the other leaders (such as keeping promises), running Governments, committing to Carbon Recapture project, researching Future Civic or some unique civ abilities
  
• World Congress is founded at the beginning of the Medieval era
  
• contrary to civ 5, the resolutions are generated by the game, but there are also two possible outcomes of a resolution
  
• in the Modern era, a Diplomatic victory resolution becomes available - a civ either gains 2, or loses 1 Diplomatic victory point
  
• other sources of Diplomatic victory points include the Statue of Liberty Wonder, Seasteds Future technology, a Future civic I cannot recall and diplomatic emergencies such as Sending Aid
  
  Power system
  
• Power is a mechanic which powers (duh) most of tier 3 district buildings, enhancing their yields (and giving the much-needed buffs)
  
• Power can be generated mostly by Power Plants which consume resources (propelling you towards global warming) or "green" improvements which come into play later on (Solar Farms, Hydroelectric Dams, Wind Farms etc.)
  
  New ways to interact with the map
  
• yay, railroads are back
  
• you can build Canals(!) and Mountain Tunnels - these add mainly flavor, but they also provide your traders with bonus gold
  
  The Future Era
  I have more of a mixed opinion on this one.
  
• new technologies and civics have been added, although they seem fairly shallow, especially the techs
  
• the technologies mostly contain upgrades for 1 late-game unit (yes, the GDR) and components for getting the scientific victory
  
• the civics are more interesting, but I doubt new policy effects will play a major game this late
  
• new governments are good
  
  New Units and enhanced victory types
  
• the Giant Death Robots have returned to haunt any peaceful player's dreams!
  
• Coursers and Cuirassiers fill out the cavalry gaps
  
• Skirmishers make Scouts slightly less fragile
  
• Rock Bands are in, playing similarly to civ 5 Great Musicians
  
• the Scientific victory has been pushed back a little, you now need to send out an Exoplanet Expedition
  
  New civs, Wonders and scenarios
  
• 8+0.5 civilizations make their mark in GS, they are quite flavorful and a sound improvement from R&F's deck
  
• 7 new World Wonders and 7 new Natural Wonders are included
  
• Black Death scenario
  
• MP only War Machine scenario (hit me up if you wanna try it!)
  
  Various changes here and there
  I won't mention things the came in the free patch, only this DLC's changes
  
• emergencies now give Diplomatic Favor instead of abundant gold
  
• Governors have been plausibly rebalanced
  
• there are new Spy operations to harass your opponents with
  
• Traders get bonus gold for using paths that ease transport, such as water, canals or railroads
  
• new Tribal villages rewards
  
• some minor fluff
  
  
  The cons:
  
  The Climate Change
  All in all, I am fairly disappointed by this flagship mechanic Firaxis has been teasing us right from the start of the campaign. It seems incredibly lackluster. You generate CO2, ice melts, tiles flood and then submerge. Natural disasters occur more often. That's it. No desertification, no other means of pollution and its effect on the world, basically no diplomatic consequences. You can as well burn all coal and oil out as you deem fit, you are ahead in technology and have the Flood Barriers to mitigate rising sea levels, while others struggle. The climate change is happening too fast and has little effect. After reaching certain threshold, it just stops. All ice is gone. But do you actually care (if not trying to please the world and get the Diplomatic victory or if you enjoy swimming way too much)?
  
  More tiles should flood, there should be many more problems accompanying the change (see civ 4 for example). Additionally, I think a Casus Belli or an emergency against the biggest polluter(s) should be introduced. I reckon Firaxis wanted it to feel dynamic, and this would hopefully deliver.
  
  The World Congress and its resolution
  World Congress begins in the Medieval era, even if you haven't met all participants. Weird, right?
  
  You cannot influence the resolution generation at all, rendering this aspect random. I guess you can't manipulate the AI so easily now? At least the Diplomatic victory feels like you are having a discussion and helping the world, as opposed to civ 5's more of an Economic victory.
  I still like the diplomacy bit introduced with this expansion, though.
  
  The price
  I can understand that for some of players, the asking price might be too high. You pay for what I mentioned above. I also gave you my honest opinion about the things I find to be badly done. I have little to no complains about things mentioned in "The Pros:" section. More on that later.
  
  If you happen to be tight on money, wait until sale.
  
  If you haven't got R&F, you can skip it and go straight for this one. All its mechanics (loyalty, emergencies, alliances, eras and governors) are incorporated into Gathering Storm. Just beware that you will miss out on R&F's Wonders and civs.
  
  
  A word on concurrent balance
  
  With the arrival of Gathering storm, new balance changes affect even Vanilla or R&F users.
  
  
• pillaging is too strong; you can pillage your way to victory with incredible ease
  
• Pingala - too strong with his new abilities
  
• production overflow finally fixed
  
• chopping is nerfed as it causes deforestation, speeding up climate change (but I think both you and the AI won't care)
  
• climate change is too fast
  
  Let me know if I missed sth
  
  
  I hit word limit - I recommend the DLC, bye

Fresh-looking new car. You want to have cars. A lot of cars.