Firaxis and 2K Games bring us the latest addition to the Sid Meier’s Civilization series: Rise and Fall. The most recent Civilization Expansion adds eight new civilizations and introduces us to multiple new features and mechanics. Among these are loyalty, golden and dark ages, and governors. There are also new forms of alliances that you can engage in with your friends. Emergencies can also be declared when an event of global concern occurs. However, do these new game elements make Civilization VI rise or fall?

Loyalty

Loyalty is a measure of how much citizens want to be a part of your civilization. This is indicated by the loyalty meter, which ranges from 0 to 100. Loyalty increases through pressure from citizens, governors (which we’ll discuss later), happiness, and other mechanics. Loyalty may also decrease through pressure from other civilizations and the unhappiness of your citizens. When the loyalty meter of a city reaches zero, the city becomes a free city. Free cities are essentially cities up for grabs. Anyone can acquire a free city through loyalty or force.

Golden/Dark Ages

Golden and dark ages are brought about by acquiring a high enough era score (or not, in the case of dark ages) as the world transitions through the ages. If you don’t meet the base era score threshold, you will enter a dark age. If you exceed it, you will enter a normal age. Surpassing the next era score threshold will allow you to enter a golden age.

Each type of age carries with it their own bonuses and penalties. For example, while in a dark age your loyalty provided by each citizen decreases, the era score requirement to enter a golden age is lessened. In fact, exceeding the maximum threshold for a golden age while in a dark age is the only way to enter a heroic age. As you enter a new age, you may make dedications.

Dedications allow you to focus your civilization’s acquisition of era points in various aspects of the game. They may also give you bonuses that help you to reach your next goal. For example, one dedication called Monumentality gives you additional era score for building specialty districts. Additionally, if you’re in a golden age, Monumentality grants cost reduction and speed bonuses to certain civilian units. Dark and normal ages provide one dedication, golden ages offer two, and heroic ages grant three.

Governors

Governors are leaders who grant bonuses to the cities they inhabit. You may obtain seven governors throughout the course of the game. Each has their own unique strengths. Governors may be assigned and reassigned to your cities over time and may receive promotions to grant further benefits to their assigned city. Assignment and reassignment of Governors can be a powerful tool in strengthening and expanding your civilization.

Alliances

Alliances have also been expanded in Rise and Fall. There are several different kinds of alliances, including cultural, economic, military, religious, and research. Each has three levels that grant various benefits to their members. You may only have one of each type of alliance at a given time, meaning you may only have up to five alliances at once.

Emergencies

Finally, emergencies may be declared if someone makes an action that is of global concern. Capturing a city-state, converting a holy city, or launching a nuclear weapon at a foreign city are examples of such emergencies. When an emergency is declared, many civilizations are invited to aid in correcting the action that was taken. If the civilizations involved are able to reach their goal within a specified time limit, they receive a bonus and a share of a pot of gold. However, if they fail to take the correct action within the time limit, they receive a penalty and the offending civilization receive a lump sum of gold instead.

Civilization Expansion: The Rise and Fall effect 

Global conquest dominates the Civilization series. This has been true of every Civilization expansion, and Civ VI was no exception… until now. The introduction of the loyalty mechanic brings a much-needed non-combat manner of city acquisition from weaker civilizations.

The new alliance types also bring more strength to the other aspects of the strategy series making it easier to influence, build, and research your way to victory. The new Emergency element also provides for a way to bring the weaker civilizations together to stymie the more powerful.

Governors bring with them the ability to aid your cities, be they your newest town or your most bustling metropolis, in promoting a stronger civilization. This makes it easier to win with smaller, solid nations, as well as promoting growth for the largest of empires.

Overall, the additions brought by this new expansion helps Civilization VI rise to new heights as one of the best strategy games in years. I enjoyed playing it through again and again. What are your thoughts of Rise and Fall? As always, post your questions or comments in the section below.