Civilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide

Civilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide is the first expansion pack for Civilization: Beyond Earth.

Summary

After the first wave of great colony ships departed Earth, the jubilation of humanity was short-lived. Those left behind fell into a violent struggle over the quickly-diminishing resources on their barren home world. From this tumultuous time, four new factions arose. These newcomers were grounded not in the idealism of their predecessors, but on opportunism, resilience, ruthlessness, and above all a commitment to their own survival.

Now, many decades after their first landfall on a new planet, the proud survivors of the first expeditions beyond Earth look up to see the skies darkened by a new breed of pioneers.

Beyond Earth extended the Civilization franchise from its historical setting into the possible futures of science fiction. Rising Tide extends Beyond Earth to new frontiers on the planet’s surface and beneath its seas, adding even more choices and diplomatic options as you continue to build “just one more turn” toward a new vision for the future of humanity.

Features Overview

Rising Tide adds a bevvy of new features

• Colonize the Ocean: Build floating settlements and access natural resources hidden beneath the seas of the alien planet. Alien beasts with unique abilities inhabit the water and challenge the player in new ways. The ocean provides a fully replayable map, new gameplay mechanics and strategic possibilities for players to reign supreme on their new world.
• Dynamic Leader Traits: Players and AI Leaders alike unlock new Traits through gameplay and activate different combinations to respond to the changing world. These dynamic sets of Traits also provide benefits and add to the new Diplomacy system, governed by the new Fear and Respect attributes.
• New, Enhanced Diplomatic Options: Shape the diplomatic landscape by using political capital to upgrade your traits, change diplomatic relationships, and leverage the benefits of your allies’ traits.
• New Sponsors: Four new factions have been added to the game including Al Falah, nomad explorers descended from wealthy and resilient Middle Eastern states that possess a rich cultural and commercial heritage.
• New Artifact System: Collect and combine powerful relics to unlock new perks, unit upgrades, and buildings for your faction on the new world.
• New Hybrid Units: Affinities are competing visions for the future of humanity. By investing in multiple Affinities, rather than specializing in just one, players can unlock special hybrid Affinity units and upgrades.
• New Biomes: Two new world types have been added. Primordial worlds are rife in volcanic activity and the chaotic landscape of a world still forming. Frigid worlds have cooled in their great age, their surfaces covered with icy oceans and frozen tundra.

Hybrid Affinities

Affinities are now dealt with in a hybrid approach. When different affinity points are earned, they have an amplifying effect, and certain units now require points from multiple affinities. Standard units now also have affinity variations that make them more powerful.

Diplomacy

The diplomacy system in Rising Tide has been completely rebuilt, and is more geared towards effective trade. Players can now trade for traits that improve their civilization, and the new diplomatic capital system is designed specifically to facilitate this trade. AI will establish deals that benefit them with greater transparency, and the near fear and respect system will make these relationships more clear than they have been thus far. A new war score system finishes the diplomacy overhaul by establishing the current progress of conflicts with other civilizations.

Naval Gameplay

The naval system has been overhauled for Rising Tide. New submarine units have been added, and a new floating city concept has been implemented. Land-based resources like Firaxite can now be found in the waters, and resource pods can be found throughout the oceans. Expeditions have also been added to the game, allowing for enhanced exploration.

New Naval Units

• Patrol Boat - basic naval unit designed for close-ranged patrolling and security.
• Submarine - deep water stealth ship.