Civilization VI: Rise and Fall is the first expansion pack for the popular 4X strategy game. It adds a number of new features and mechanics to the game, including Golden Ages and Dark Ages, a Loyalty system, Governors, Emergencies, and new Civilizations and Leaders. The lead designer for the expansion pack is Anton Strenger and the game was released on February 8, 2018.
Golden Ages and Dark Ages
Civilizations in Rise and Fall can now experience Golden Ages and Dark Ages. Golden Ages are triggered by having a high Era Score, which is earned by completing Historic Moments, building certain buildings and wonders, and founding a religion. Dark Ages are triggered by having a low Era Score.
Golden Ages provide significant bonuses, such as increased yields, production, science, and culture, as well as decreased unit maintenance costs. Dark Ages, on the other hand, impose penalties, such as decreased yields, production, science, and culture, as well as increased unit maintenance costs.
Golden Ages and Dark Ages can last for several turns, and civilizations can experience multiple Golden Ages and Dark Ages throughout the game. This adds a new layer of strategy to the game, as players must try to maximize their Era Score in order to enter Golden Ages and avoid Dark Ages.
Loyalty
Loyalty is a new mechanic in Rise and Fall that measures how loyal a city’s citizens are to its ruling civilization. Loyalty is affected by a number of factors, including the distance between the city and the capital, the presence of foreign units and cities nearby, the city’s amenities, and the city’s governor.
If a city’s loyalty falls too low, it can rebel and become a free city. Free cities can then be captured by any civilization, or they can be brought back under control by the original civilization if they can increase the city’s loyalty.
The Loyalty system adds a new element of challenge to the game, as players must now manage their cities’ loyalty in addition to their other resources. Players must carefully consider the placement of their cities, the units they garrison in their cities, and the governors they assign to their cities in order to maintain high loyalty.
Governors
Governors are powerful new characters that can be assigned to cities to provide various benefits. Governors are unlocked through the civics tree, and each governor has a unique ability and a set of promotions that can be unlocked as they gain experience.
Governors can provide a variety of benefits to cities, such as increased yields from specific tiles, increased production, increased science and culture, increased loyalty, reduced unit maintenance costs, and increased combat strength for units garrisoned in the city.
Governors add a new level of depth and strategy to the game, as players must now decide which governors to assign to which cities in order to maximize their benefits. Players must also carefully consider the promotions they choose for their governors in order to tailor them to the specific needs of their cities.
Emergencies
Emergencies are new events in Rise and Fall that can trigger a global response from civilizations. Emergencies are triggered by certain events, such as a civilization using a nuclear weapon or starting a holy war. When an emergency is triggered, all civilizations are given the opportunity to join in the response.
Civilizations that participate in emergencies can receive rewards, such as increased Era Score or Great People points. However, they can also face penalties if they fail to complete the emergency objectives.
Emergencies add a new element of excitement and unpredictability to the game, as players must now be prepared to respond to sudden events that can have a significant impact on their civilization. Players must carefully consider whether to participate in emergencies and, if they do participate, how to best allocate their resources to complete the emergency objectives.
New Civilizations and Leaders
Rise and Fall adds eight new civilizations and nine new leaders to the game. The new civilizations are Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia, Korea, Mongolia, Netherlands, and Scotland. The new leaders are Chandragupta Maurya (India), Eleanor of Aquitaine (England), Harald Hardrada (Norway), Hypatia (Egypt), Jayavarman VII (Khmer), John Curtin (Australia), Laurier (Canada), Pedro de Valdivia (Chile), and Tamar (Georgia).
The new civilizations and leaders add even more variety and replayability to the game. Players can now choose to play as a new civilization with its own unique abilities and playstyle.
Conclusion
Civilization VI: Rise and Fall is a major expansion pack that adds a number of new features and mechanics to the game. Golden Ages and Dark Ages, the Loyalty system, Governors, Emergencies, and the new Civilizations and Leaders all add new layers of depth, strategy, and excitement to the game. If you are a fan of Civilization VI, then Rise and Fall is a must-have expansion.
For the full list of features and details, please visit this thread on the forums.