Civilization IV Profile Preview - Civilizations and Their Leaders

Gameplay Footage

Roman and Greek knights battle it out for medieval supremacy.

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Civilization IV is a game about being able to shape history your own way. You'll take charge of one of 18 different civilizations from world history, and, starting in the Stone Age, you must build and expand your empire to survive the passage of time. You'll research new technologies, establish new cities (or conquer someone else's), and flourish. So who are these civilizations? We've been able to go through Civ IV's built-in Civilopedia to get the details regarding the game's civilizations, their unique units, as well as the various leaders to give you a peak of what's in store for you. Just keep in mind that the details are subject to change, as the game is still in the final stages of development. Civilization IV is scheduled to ship late next month.

Alexander leads the Greeks. Just don't let him become great.

Leader Traits:

Each leader has two traits that help define their behavior and strategies in the game. The available traits are listed below.

Aggressive: Free promotion of melee and gunpowder units. Double production speed of barracks and dry dock.

Creative: +2 culture per city. Double production speed of theater, coliseum.

Expansive: +2 health per city. Double production speed of granary and harbor.

Financial: +1 gold on plots with 2 gold. Double production speed of bank.

Industrious: Wonder production increased 50 percent. Double production speed of forge.

Organized: Civic upkeep reduced 50 percent. Double production speed of lighthouse and courthouse.

Philosophical: Birth rate increased 100 percent. Double production speed of university.

Spiritual: No anarchy. Double production speed of the temple.

Factions and Leaders:

Americans: The Americans start with fishing and agriculture. If the Americans can survive to the late stages of the game, they can take advantage of their unique unit, the Navy SEAL, which replaces the Marine unit. Washington and Roosevelt are the two possible American leaders. Washington's traits are financial and organized, while Roosevelt's traits are industrious and organized. Both favor the universal suffrage civic.

Arabians: The Arabians start with mysticism and the wheel. Their unique unit, the camel archer, appears in the Middle Ages and is a replacement for the knight unit. Saladin is the only leader for Arabia, and he is philosophical and spiritual. His favorite civic is theocracy.

Aztecs: The Aztecs start with mysticism and hunting that is already researched. The unique Aztec unit is the jaguar, a replacement for the regular swordsman unit early in the game. Montezuma is the sole Aztec leader, and he is aggressive and spiritual. His favorite civic is police state.

Mansa Musa leads the Malinese. He likes free markets and puppies.

Chinese: The Chinese start with agriculture and mining. Their unique unit is the Cho-Ko-Nu, which replaces the crossbowman. Quin Shi Huang and Mao Zedong are the two possible Chinese leaders. Quin Shi Huang favors the police state civic, and his traits are industrious and financial. Mao Zedong favors the state property civic, and his traits are philosophical and organized.

Egyptians: The Egyptians start with agriculture and the wheel. The Egyptian unique unit is the war chariot, which replaces the regular chariot. Hatshepsut is the sole Egyptian ruler. She favors the hereditary rule civic, and her traits are spiritual and creative.