What a great episode, wow. Thanks.
Last things first - I would love an RTK episode so much. Any and all of them.
And really it's completely appropriate to bring it up in a discussion about a strategy game that would properly address the issues between ruled and ruler. I thought the mechanics in Victoria II were really fascinating and maybe the only (??) approach I've ever seen to this that actually makes you wrestle with the complexities of interweaving cultures. If I were magically blessed with the ability to put together my dream game it would probably be something like Victoria II POPs with some blend of EU, Civ, CK and citybuilding on top. But better than POPs, something even more than that. We'll get it some day, I'm sure. I think (I hope?) you guys aren't the only ones who are thinking along these lines, and definitely some of the weirder more experimental games you guys mentioned are pushing in that direction.
Even in a recent Designer Notes, Soren mentioned that he's always been uncomfortable with the conceptual implications of Civ 4, that history is this railroad of murder and technology.
I'm looking forward to future games that really look at how history unfolds in more complex ways.
And, man, Alpha Centauri was so good. Everything you guys said about it. You can't say those things about .. any? other game?
(P.S. Where's the Patreon - I'm going to keep asking this every episode until you make one)
