At launch Civilization VI provided players on Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch the opportunity to embark on wonderful new adventures, with a host of options already open from the get-go. But with the arrival of the New Frontier Pass in May 2020 those adventures have got a ton bigger and a whole load more exciting with the chance to work your dominating talents with no less than 8 new civs, 9 new leaders and 6 new game modes. And now the new Byzantium and Gaul Pack is in place, it’s time to head back in once more.
Available to purchase and download into your Civilization game right this minute – either as the third pack in the New Frontier Pass or via an individual purchase – comes the Byzantium and Gaul Pack.
Priced at £7.39, it is this which drops a couple of new leaders and civilizations – unsurprisingly the Byzantium and Gauls, both working the military might route in order to discover domination. Details of each as follows:
Byzantium:
- • Civ Unique Ability: The “Taxis” ability gives units additional Combat Strength or Religious Strength for each Holy City converted to Byzantium’s Religion. Byzantium’s Religion spreads when an enemy unit is defeated. Cities with Holy Sites earn bonus Great Prophet points.
- • Leader Unique Ability: Basil’s “Porphyrogénnētos” ability allows Heavy and Light Cavalry units to do full damage against cities following the same religion as Byzantium. Basil gains the Tagma unique unit when the Divine Right civic is discovered.
- • Unique Units: Byzantium features two unique units – The Dromon replaces the Quadrireme, has additional range, and receives additional Combat Strength against units; The Tagma replaces the Knight and grants nearby land units additional Combat Strength or Religious Strength.
- • Unique District: The Hippodrome replaces the Entertainment Complex district, is cheaper to build, and provides additional Amenities. Grants a Heavy Cavalry unit when the Hippodrome and its buildings are constructed.
Gaul:
- • Civ Unique Ability: The “Hallstatt Culture” ability allows Mines to provide a minor adjacency bonus for all districts, Culture Bomb unowned territory, and grant additional Culture. Specialty districts cannot be built next to the City Center and do not receive adjacency from other districts.
- • Leader Unique Ability: With the “King of the Eburones” ability, Ambiorix’s civilization gains additional Culture based on unit cost when a non-civilian is trained. Melee, anti-cavalry, and ranged units receive bonus Combat Strength for every adjacent combat unit.
- • Unique Unit: The Gaesatae replaces the Warrior. It is more expensive to train, but receives additional Combat Strength when fighting stronger units and district defenses.
- • Unique District: The Oppidum is cheaper and available earlier than the Industrial Zone and unlocks the Apprenticeship technology when constructed. It is defensible, offering its own ranged attack, and receives a major adjacency bonus from Quarries and strategic resources.
There are also a couple of brand new World Wonders. The first of these is the Biosphere which increases appeal from all Marsh and Rainforest tiles, with the Gathering Storm expansion in particular also seeing boosts to Power and Tourism. In other rulesets, it grants bonus Science for every Marsh, Rainforest, or Woods in the city that built it. Further to that is the Statue of Zeus, giving free military units to the city that controls it, whilst also providing increases to Production towards anti-cavalry units.
That’s not all though and accompanying the pack is a spanking glorious Highlands map; a map in which hills and mountain ranges come to the fore.
Further to that though, the Byzantium and Gaul Pack also includes a new optional game mode – the Dramatic Ages – in which civilizations always enter Golden or Dark Ages every era that feature more potent bonuses and penalties. And then, instead of Dedications, players will gain access to powerful new Social Policies like Golden Policies and updated Dark Policies that offer more flexibility and power. It is apparently the Dark Ages in particular which are more dangerous than ever; a portion of your empire immediately falls into Free Cities, and Free Cities can exert pressure on other cities.
Should you be looking for more Civ VI action, then this latest pack should well provide it. Get over to your favoured digital store right now.
