My Wishlist for The Civilization 7 Roster

The civilization and leader roster for base-game Civ 7 is the biggest and most diverse it has ever been in the franchise history, and is expected to be even more so by the end of the game's support cycle. As for now, here are some of my wishlists for who should be in Civ 7. 

Leaders:

Returning leaders

Mahatma Gandhi

It's truly not a Civ game without Gandhi, the beloved pacifist and nuclear maniac is a pillar of the Civ series. With Civ 7 now including non-heads of states as leaders, Gandhi would have been a no brainer to return to the series. Mahatma Gandhi is probably the only historical leader whose Civ depiction has taken off an entirely new identity, now it's both Gandhi (the Indian independence figure) and Gandhi (The Civ Leader). I hope that he returns, one way or another. 

Gilgamesh

In Civ 6, Gilgamesh was the ultimate ally, an AI leader that you can befriend instantly and will support you no matter what. In Civ 7, his role has been somewhat replaced by Himiko, but it just doesn't feel the same. I want him to return. 

Tomyris

The archetype of the rules-based leader who fights for fairness is occupied by Lafayette, but I consider Tomyris an exemplary leader that perfectly fits this archetype, and she should return again. From all the leaders from Civ 6, she is one of the most dynamic leaders, one who fights to ensure that everyone plays by the rules, and will go through great lenghts to play by those rules. The ultimate lawful neutral.

Mansa Musa

The richest man in human history, with an AI personality from past Civ games that is very easygoing, generous, and charitable (only if he likes you), I think Mansa Musa would be a great choice for an economic-oriented leader with a desert spawn bias, with or without Mali. 

Yongle

A very recent addition to the Civ series, Yongle has proven himself to be a fan favourite despite his short stay in Civ 6's support cycle, For his unique take on Civ 6's mechanics, being the most played leader at launch ever, and meme-like reception from Civ fans, so beloved that it's referenced in Civ 6's Steam achievements for when you win as him. His prospects for Civ 7 seem really low, given that his historical contributions and name are now relegated to Ming China's abilities in Civ 7, which would make it hard to justify his appearance. 

Dido

The treacherous, backstabbing Dido is yet another Civ staple in the series, and across all her appearances, she has been voiced by the same voice actress, Julie Fainer. With Carthage expected to return it the first wave of DLC, It's a no brainer that Dido should return. 

Kamehameha

Now that Hawaii is now a civilzation in Civ, I think it is fitting that we bring back the first king of Hawaii into the Civ series. A primarily seafaring ruler, I think Kamehameha would play great as an island conquerer, but also a leader who deals with the government gameplay of Civ 7, referencing his role in the transformation of Hawaiian society. 

Eleanor Roosevelt

A leader from Civ 2, I think Eleanor Roosevelt would make a great candidate as a non-head of state leader for Civ 7, given her legacy as a diplomat and her role in many rules and laws that govern the international order, such as human rights and the United Nation. 

Shaka Zulu

I really hope that Shaka Zulu will return to Civ 7, as he and the Zulu empire are an iconic Civ staple since the very first game. Unlike the other typical "antagonistic" AI leaders of the series (which included leaders, Montezuma I, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Stalin, and Napoleon), Shaka is always a menace, and somehow even more so towards you the player. It also helps that his dialogue across every game is really intimidating. 

New Leaders:

Chulalongkorn

Now that Siam's entire identity in Civ 7 is now relegated to the modern era, in contrast to it's depiction on Civ 5, I want to include a leader that is the most emblematic of that new identity, and I think King Chulalongkorn, the king responsible to the modernization of Thailand, as an excellent fit. There's much to say about his contributions, but If I were to narrow it down to fit Civ 7's gameplay, it would definitly be abilities that reference his diplomatic prowess and reforms to Thai society. 

Zenobia

A long-requested leader as far back as Civ 4, The queen of Palmyra has long been regarded by historians dating as far back to her contemporaries as a heroic queen similar to the likes of Boudica, celebrated as an icon of Syrian nationalismm and even Catherine the great of Russia was cited to have idolized her. Her role in transforming Palmyra into a empire that rivaled Rome through conquest and culture is enough to warrant her inclusion. 

John III Sobieski

Another leader chosen because of his greatness, there's so much to say about his contributions to Poland and Polish history. Best known for repelling Ottoman forces in the Battle of Vienna and permanantly halted Ottoman expansion into Europe. That and his many other achievements should earn him a spot. 

Toussaint Louverture

The Age of Revolutions was marked by three revolutions: American, French, and Haitian. We already have three leaders that had direct involvement in the first two: Benjamin Franklin, Lafayette, and Napoleon, adding Toussaint Louverture of Haiti would complete that trifecta, and fulfillthe most requested Civ from the Carribeans. 

Non-heads of state:

Plato

When Civ 7 announced that non-heads of states would be fair game for the leader roster, I honestly expected a Greek Philosopher to make the cut. Out of all of them, I think Plato would be the most fitting. 

Roald Amundsen

In a similar vein to Ibn Battuta, I think Roald Amundsen would be another great choice for an explorer in the roster, while also having Scandanavian representation. 

William Levitt

Civ 7's base roster already features leaders from different backgrounds already, from philosophers, to writers, to generals, I think it would be nice to have an urban planner in the roster, and I think the father of American Suburbia would be a great candidate for this role. 

Henri Dunant

The founder of the Red Cross would making a fitting leader that dabbles diplomatic endeavors, or just at the surface level, healing units. He would also be our first Swiss leader. 

Copernicus

In contrast with Poland's usual militaristic archetype across multiple strategy games (not just Civ), I want to highlight Poland's contribution to the sciences, initially, I thought of Marie Curie, but Copernicus would be a better fit. 

Chuon Nath

I'd love for Civ 7 to have a Khmer-speaking leader in it's roster, and a fitting choice would be the creator of the Khmer dictionary himself. Beyond the Khmer Dictionary, Chuon Nath is a poet, writer, and religious leader who contributed to the creation of a unique Khmer identity, and whose actions have played a role in Cambodian Nationalism. As part of the age system, he would play well in drawing knowledge of influence from past traditions. 

Rasputin

We need more "villains" on the roster, and Machiavelli cannot be the only schemer archetype in Civ 7. Rasputin would also be a great gameplay mix of both Machiavelli and Ibn Battuta, with a wildcard attribute. 

Juana Inez de la Cruz

I'm actually surprised that Mexico does not have a leader yet, despite it's first appearance as a civ. Mexican politicans are somewhat controversial, and Frida Kahlo is very much overated and stereotypical, so I went with Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz, whose contributions of literature and philosophy became influential beyond just Mexican culture. 

Civilizations:

Burma

In previous Civ games, mainland Southeast Asia has only been occupied by two civilizations: The growth-oriented Khmer and the Diplomatic Siam, with both appearing in Civ 7. An exploration age Burma, represented under the Toungoo Dynasty, would serve as a bridge between the two civs and be a great military and population powerhouse, reflecting it's status as the largest land empire in Southeast Asia. 

The Philippines

With Jose Rizal being our first Filipino representation in the Civ series, but without a Phillipines civ to represent, fans have joked that the recommended civilization path for Rizal being Han China > Spain > America (those being the nations that either vassalized or colonized the Phillipines). Having the Phillipines is definitely a necessity, and should continue the island-based playstyle from Hawaii into the modern era (or the rumored 4th age). 

Poland

It's an inevitability that Poland will get in. Some Americans refer to Poland as the "Texas of Europe", with a proud military tradition and resilience, since it's inception. As mentioned in the Copernicus' snippet, Poland would likelybe a militant culture, with their winged hussars being an iconic must-have. With a large number of militaristic exploration age civs, Poland could offer a defensive counterpart. 

Austria-Hungary

A great contender for the Modern Age, I think the Austro-Hungarians, with their control over diverse populations and cultural contributions, should be in the game. It's a similar theme of Siam, but I think what should distinguish them gameplay-wise should be a focus on urban centers, similar to how much of the Empire's power in concentrated in cities such as Vienna, Budapest, and Zagreb. 

Zulu

See my point with Shaka Zulu above. A hyper-militant culture that is about swarming and overwhelming your enemies has been a classic trait of the Zulu civ since either Civ 3 or Civ 4. I think this design philosophy is should set the Zulu apart from the what is currently the only modern age African Civ in Civ 7, Buganda.

Haudenosaunee

In terms of gameplay, different Native American tribes in the Civ series have always catered to different gameplay aspects: expansive land acquisitions and swft movement for the Shoshone in Civ 5, trade and alliances for the Cree in Civ 6, building large urban centers for the Mississipians in Civ 7, and city-state diplomacy for the Shawnee in Civ 7. In all it's depictions across the Civ series, the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) have always had the consistent depiction of agrarians that thrive in wooded regions of the map, something we're currently missing in Civ 7. As one of the most influential Native American tribes in history, I think the Haudenosaunee should have a spot. 

Byzantines

The Byzantines are my favourite European medieval empire in history, with a multifacted history that references it's early military prowess, religious, cultural and scientific contributions, dominance in the silk road, and so much more. It's gameplay can go in any direction, It really doesn't matter to me. The Byzantines have always been a fun favorite of mine in terms of gameplay, and I want to play as them again. I just want the Byzantines in the game, and they must also come with a Byzantine leader too. 

Aztecs

The Aztecs have always been a Civ that specializes in both war and city-building, and I like the direction that Civs 5 and 6 have for their kit, after all, Tenochtitlan was the largest city of the Americas. Should they be an in Civ 7's exploration age, I want the Aztecs have a playstyle where they actively engage in war in order to fuel the growth of their cities, a reference to their conquest, subjugation and sacrifices of neighboring tribes and city-states.

Italy (Renaissance and Unified)

There needs to be a separate civ pathway just for the Italian peninsula. Starting from Rome in antiquity, the exploration age could lead to playing as an Italian city-state, with likely candidates being Venice or Genoa. Next, we have to end with a unified Italy for the modern age, forming a pseudo-axis powers with Prussia and Meiji Japan for the modern age. 

The Swahili States

Probably thematically similar to the Chola in Civ 7, the Swahili would probably play similarly, focusing on naval trade, and building coastal cities, beyond that, perhaps City-state diplomacy could set them apart. 

Brazil 

Arguably the most dominant politcal entity in South America, Brazil's inclusion in the Civ series has always been contemporaneous with current events, with the developers of Civ explicitly mentioning that Brazil's inclusion in Civ 5's Brave New World expansion was due to the 2014 Fifa World Cup, and their inclusion in Civ 6's base game is due to the 2016 Olympics. In both of these games, the Rio carnival was the main component of Brazil's ability kit, I want to stray away from that. Civ 6 and Humankind did have Brazil's interconnectedness to the Amazon rainforest as it's ability, and maybe that's a direction I want to go as well. 

The Huns

The Mongols need a counterpart in the antiquity age, and the Huns would be a good candidate. I want a playstyle similar to the Huns in Civ 5, being an early powerhouse and a force of terror. 

Scythians

In contrast to the Hun's militant focus, the Scythians can provide a more economic alternative to the steppe nomad archetype in the antiquity era, due to their connections to the silk road. 

Switzerland

I feel like Switzerland's depiction should extend beyond it's stereotype of neutrality, and instead opt for a more comprehensive kit for the modern age. I mean, sure, keep the neutrality, but owing to it's manufacturing, banking and diplomatic prestiege, all of these factors would make an economic and diplomatic switzerland a no-brainer. 

Mali

A predecessor to the militaristic Songhai, Mali could be an antiquity era civ that specializes in acquiring wealth in deserts, mines and trade routes. This wouldn't be the first time a medieval society has been relegated to the anitquity (Khmer, Mississipians). Whereas Songhai are more suited for the rivers, Mali can be suited for deserts. 

Ethiopia

Past civ games have always used the fact that Ethiopia being the only African nation to never be colonized as it's main gameplay identity, and I think that trend should continue in Civ 7. We already have Aksum in the game, so Ethiopia would make sense as evolved modern age civ that specializes in defense against outsiders and high elevations.

Argentina

The Spanish-speaking side of South America needs more representation beyond pre-columbian civs and Gran Colombia, and Argentina is the perfect candidate for than. They would probably have a similar gameplay tangent as America, with one that focuses on trade and building cities. 

The Lakota

Sometimes referred to as the "Lakota Empire", the Lakota people dominated the great plains on horseback. With a gameplay kit that is likely similiar to the Shoshone in Civ 5, combined with Lakota history and Civ 7 mechanics, I think the Lakota would be a great modern age civ whose abilities help them deter expansionist movement from other civs, either militarily or diplomatically. 

The Norse 

With navigable rivers, and seafaring taking on a revamped role, the Norse (or a specific scandanavian culture like Denmark in Civ 5 or Norway in Civ 6), would play greatly into the militaristic aspects of these features. Cases can be made on whether they can be in antiquity or exploration, though I'm leaning towards the latter but seeing that Iceland is found in the game's files, antiquity makes sense. A gameplay based on raid and plunder as well as trade and infusing local cultures are parts of what make the norse a civ staple. 

Kongo

The Kongolese in Civ 6 had a knack for gameplay surrounding relics, and with the way culture victories work in Civ 7's exploration age, I think the Kongo would be a great fit. One of the largest African beneficiaries of the Trans-Atlantic trade (unfortunately due to the Kongolese involvement in the slave trade), I think Africa deserves another culture in the exploration age. 

The Ashanti

A natural evolution from Songhai in the exploration age, The Ashanti empire from what is now modern-day Ghana, can build up the economic and militaristic momentum from the previous ages, but with a slight cultural lean. 

Gustavian Sweden

When we think of Sweden's depiction in the Civ series, the Gustavian era of Sweden has always been it's depiction (plus the Nobel Prize). In past games, through the military acumen of Gustavius Adolphus and the scientific/cultural contributions of Kristina, I'd want to combine these two aspects for this iteration of Sweden, with it's diplomatic aspects relegated to Sweden at a later age, or into Alfred Nobel as a leader.