What do you think of Social Engineering?
While many would disagree, I feel that social engineering should be a prime part of the Civ experience. This would have the unciv-like consequence of not having preset governments, but think about it: in reality every society is slightly different, not by system of government, but by values and experience. My initial idea is to have the following SMAC categories:
-Political
-Economic
-Values
-???
Political: this is the place where we could have things like democracy or monarchy or totalitarian. There's tonnes of options I'm forgetting, but these are the basics.
Economic: It's by combining economic and political systems that we get the old-style governments. For example, democracy alone has different flavours: the American democratic/free market variety, while (Sweden, I think) would tend towards democratic/socialist. I don't think I have to list off options.
Values: It might just be me, but by classifying the various cultures as "blank and blank" seems kind of racist. You should be able to change your values, not every other turn, but certainly eventually. I can recall German history for anyone who cares, but the fact of the matter is a nation can alter it's system of values.
???: I've seen it suggested that religion be a choice in Civ. That'd be cool. And there's other things I havn't worked in yet.
I don't argue this point in romantic nostagia for SMAC, just for the sake of realism. Realistically, I also know there's no way this could ever come out on Civ3. Combinations of these produce everything, from Fascism to Communism and all the stuff that hasn't been tried out yet. Whatever the case, any thoughts?
|