“First, let me clarify that since I think the Oda topic should be focused on the concept of Oda, I transfer my response to this topic, which appropriately talks about the DLC.”
Well, in general I think that new civ, and possibly civ variants, will be for any new DLC.
If we are tentative with the dates, so far every 3 seasons there have been new civs (Season 3: Ottomans+Mali, Season 6: Sultand Ascend 6 civs). Therefore, in theory the new DLC, “Perhaps” will come out in November or October with the theoretical “Season 9” although well, I’m being optimistic.
On the other hand, one might wonder if because it is new DLC, it will have civ variants, I would say “DEPENDS”.
The variant civs so far have been created for 3 reasons:
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1).- New Ideas.- To test new ideas and game forms using “Historical Variants” of civilizations that have already been released (Order of the Dragon is Protoss in AoE IV, Ayuubid Cassino, JoanDArc is Dota )
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2).- Beta Concepts.- To take advantage of ideas of unique units, mechanics and landmarks that could not be used in the final CIV model, but that deserved to be in the game as an extra version of it ( Zhu Xi Legacy is China 2, taking advantage of the Shaolin Monks, Imperial Guard, Yuan Rider and new Landmarks)
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3).- Recycled Content.- Take advantage of the content of extra units from the campaigns, although in theory it could also be used for new non-variant civs (Genoese appear in the campaign, Crusader States or Outremer could also be considered).
Taking that into consideration, the only new civs that I think could come out of the current Sultan Ascend content would be “Genova”, “Outremer” and “Teutonic Order”, but they would not be variants.
The civs that do not yet have a variant are: English, Rus, Mongols, Ottomans, Delhi Sultanate, Mali, Japanese, Byzantines.
If we consider possible variants for them, I would say:
- English → Tudor
- Rus → Cossacs
- Mongols → Golden Horde
- Ottomans → Selyuqs
- Delhi Sultanate → Deccan Sultanates, or even Mughals
- Mali → Songhay
- Japanese → No idea (Issho Ikki? Wukou Pirates? Date Masamune? hehe)
- Byzantines → Romans (I even make a concept of this, but first I’m going to release another, hehe)
I find it difficult for Tudor for now because they would be English+Mercenaries and there are still no Italians or Spain. Cossacks are feasible, Golden Horde too, for Selyuq the “Turkish Horse Archer” already exists, good. Deccan I still don’t have a clear concept of how to make them different from their parent civ. Songay focused on cavalry, Japanese i have no consisten idea for variant civ, except a civ of buffed Ronins and Wukou Pirates as the OftD, hehe. Romans is my most ambitious concept idea so far, but well, “It would be very complex” in fact I will explain that when I release it (it would have like 21 unique units).
Be that as it may, some variant civs, like their counterparts, could still "IMPROVE" as the game progresses:
- Joan DArc could have a third build as Support Healer carryng a Flag.
- Ayyubid could have more Ayyubid elements ( Lets make the Ayyubids more representative of Saladin and his legacy)
- Order of the Dragon could have more elements from the countries that composed it
- Zhu Xi I think is fine, although they could change his battering ram for a flamethrower (like in AoE3) and have flying crows instead of bombards.