Civilization 6 developer Firaxis Games released a quick overview of the Gauls, one of the new civilizations coming to the strategy game, led by Ambiorix.
Together with Byzantium, Gaul is part of the third content pack releasing through Civilization 6's New Frontier Pass. At a retail price of $39.99 USD, the New Frontier Pass is comparable to season passes from other live-service games. The pass includes six content packs set to release every two months until March 2021, and two packs are already available: The Maya & Gran Colombia Pack, and the Ethiopia Pack. Each adds at least one new civilization, as well as a variety of new content such as leaders for existing civilizations and new game modes.
At first glance, longtime Civilization players might compare the Gauls to the previous game's Celts. There is some overlap between the two, as both appear built for early-game dominance, and both fought grueling historical wars against Rome. The similarities end there, however, as the Celts of Civilization 5 largely focused on forest terrain and early faith-based wars, while Gaul's primary strategy hinges on production and culture.
Players interested in taking the Gauls for a spin in Civilization 6 starting September 24 will likely want to focus their early turns on several key areas. Border expansion, clearing barbarian camps, and securing strategic resources will provide Gaul players enough room to construct districts. This will be crucial, as their unique ability prevents constructing specialty districts next to a city center. Further, the Gauls' unique Gaesatae unit replaces the Warrior, and receives combat bonuses against stronger units.
The Gauls' unique district, the Oppidum, gains large bonuses when constructed adjacent to quarries and strategic resources. Additionally, the Oppidum is available earlier than the standard Industrial Zone, and carries its own ranged defense capabilities. As such, it functions as both an Industrial Zone and a modified Encampment. Gaul can also "culture bomb" unclaimed territory, thus claiming those tiles for itself.
Careful use of these mechanics position Gaul as a potential Ancient- and Classical-era powerhouse. With their bonus against stronger units, Gaesatae relieve some pressure from barbarians, even as the game advances through eras. Settlers and the civilization's unique culture bomb allow Gaul to quickly conquer territory, claim strategic resources and hill tiles, as well as fortify its new land with the Oppidum. Overall, Gaul seems poised for a strong start that gives players a solid foundation to carry their empire into the future.
Civilization 6 is available for Mobile, PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One.