Empires Spawning Empires

[ejafus]

Another discussion out there is whether to include a smaller, modern Civilization like Canada. During that discussion, some of us voiced their preferences over Ancient Civilizations.

Well what about including them both, but in a way that more closely represents true history?

Empires that can spawn Empires

For example, Rome has a chance of spawning Italy, Germany, or England.
For arguments sake, let's say it spawned England.
Then England has a chance of spawning Canada, Australia, or the U.S.

So what do you think?
...and, How would it be best to implement this?

Should empire become the spawned civilization? Should an empire have a 'chance' to spawn a smaller empire and how would it be triggered (time, technology achievement, etc.)?

[ejafus]

Here's one way it could go:

What about adding something like a policy tree that would function throughout the game and where you could choose to voluntarily spawn a civilization as a fully functional vassal: Where the spawned civilization would be controlled as an extension of your own empire but unlike in Civ4, you'd be able to micro-manage it.

To help it preserve some of its identity visually, you could have it represented by the same colour as your main empire, but there would be something to indicate it was a spawned civ.

To help it preserve its identity gameplay-wise, the spawned civ would have different bonuses from the main empire, and could be used to help strengthen your empire based on those bonuses.

And then at some point, the spawned civ could leave yours, perhaps through 3 ways: 1) on its own accord due to massive unrest in the empire as a whole, general unrest regionally, some kind of economic strain (ie. too many taxes), or some type of political reason, 2) YOU could choose to let your spawned civ separate. In exchange, your civ would gain several bonuses that align with that choice: permanent allegiance and support internationally (and other related bonuses -- perhaps economic or something), and 3) You could choose to let your spawned civ and BECOME your spawned civ! Similar bonuses to #2 would occur for your newly independent civ.

[Jacsó Benjámin]

I really like the thought pattern you suggested. Here's what I would add to it:

I think giving you a new, settler type unit as the final commerce finisher would be great. This unit, whatever the name, could spawn you vassal cities, colonies, basically. You could build three of these units, spawn 3 colonies, and then they could, and will, if possible, expand further by themselves. They would also be gold-biased civs, and would start out with the technologies you own, besides getting an X% research bonus on all techs you have researched for the first Y turns, until they have some infrastructure developed. This along with a vassal mechanic where you could make other civs your vassals too would be great.

Of Vassals, 50% of their score would also count towards your's, and they vote for you in the diplomatic victory by default. You could also demand GPT (up to 50% of their total), resources, and anything else in the diplomacy tab, and they would give it to you, unless they feel they have become strong enough to claim independence--however, this should rarely happen, but in this case they would declare war on the mother country, this way, you would lose the default diplo vote from them. You could also grant them independence if you feel they are growing too strong, in which case they would still be allied to you, and perhaps smaller sum requests could still be made; this way, you would also retain the default vote. However, you would also be their 'protector', thus they would require you to stand up for them in war, and you will be locked ina permanent alliance, also, each city they lose due to war with others would mean increased chances of revolution.

I think all civs could then have three civs that could spawn from them, but the names for these might be a little hard to find. An alternate idea would be to just have 30 or so standard colony names that any civ could spawn. Amongst these: Australia, Canada, Brazil, French Indochina, South Africa, etc. I also don't imagine they would have their own leaderheads, but should certainly have a set of cities.

I think this could be a great new mechanic and could finally make commerce worthwhile! Great thinking OP. This would make great DLC or expansion content.

[civvy]

very interesting idea!

how about a variation of your idea... if your empire experiences a prolonged period of unhappiness or lack of money, there would be a risk that a portion (a number of your cities) could break away and form their own AI-controlled nation!

Then while the game would proceed naturally - you'd have the option to trade/ ally / go to war / etc., just as you would with any other civ - there could be a permanent bonus to trade and diplomacy, or something like that to signify the history between the two empires.

how crazy would that be?

[ejafus]

very interesting idea!

how about a variation of your idea... if your empire experiences a prolonged period of unhappiness or lack of money, there would be a risk that a portion (a number of your cities) could break away and form their own AI-controlled nation!

Civ2 (and I think some other versions of Civ) had nations that would break off, though I don't remember if they broke off because of the criteria you mentioned.

This could work, however it defeats the purpose of being able to play the break-off nation.