The World Congress in Civilization VI is a theater of diplomacy, intrigue, and global policy-making. Resolutions can reshape the world, cripple empires, or pave the way for a new global hegemon. But what if a resolution existed with the power to fundamentally alter the global economy? A resolution to create a unified global currency. While not a feature in the current iteration of the game, analysis of community discussions and strategic forums reveals a deep fascination with this concept. This guide explores the hypothetical implications of such a resolution, offering a strategic framework for its implementation and exploitation.
The World Congress: A Crucible of Global Policy
Before delving into the hypothetical, it’s crucial to understand the existing mechanics of the World Congress. Convening for the first time in the Medieval Era, the World Congress is a forum where civilizations vote on resolutions that have a wide range of effects. These can include banning luxury resources, boosting the production of certain unit types, or even awarding or stripping Diplomatic Victory points.
The currency of the World Congress is Diplomatic Favor. This resource is accrued through various means, including maintaining suzerainty over city-states, forming alliances, and constructing specific buildings and wonders. The more Diplomatic Favor a civilization wields, the more votes it can cast, and the greater its influence over global affairs. Passing a resolution requires a majority of votes, and the AI’s voting patterns are often predictably self-interested. They will vote for what benefits them and against what harms them. Understanding this is key to manipulating the World Congress to your advantage.
The “Unified Global Currency” Resolution: A Theoretical Framework
Let us imagine a new, game-altering resolution appears in the Industrial or Modern Era: the “Unified Global Currency” proposal. The text might read something like this:
Resolution: Establish a Unified Global Currency.
- Option A: All civilizations contribute 10% of their Gold per turn to a global reserve. The civilization with the highest contribution becomes the “Global Economic Hegemon,” gaining significant bonuses to trade and production.
- Option B: All trade routes now generate an additional +5 Gold for both the sender and the recipient. The value of all currencies is pegged to a global standard, removing the ability of individual civilizations to devalue their currency through inflation (i.e., a universal “gold standard”).
The implications of such a resolution would be profound. Option A introduces a competitive element, creating a clear path to economic dominance for the civilization that can afford to contribute the most. Option B, on the other hand, appears more cooperative, boosting global trade for everyone. However, even in this scenario, the civilization with the most extensive trade network would benefit disproportionately.
For the purposes of this guide, we will assume that the more strategically interesting and competitive Option A is the one that has been proposed. The goal is not just to pass the resolution, but to become the Global Economic Hegemon.
Pathways to Passing the Resolution: A Game of Influence
Passing any resolution, let alone one as impactful as this, requires a masterful understanding of diplomatic maneuvering. Here’s how to approach it:
1. Amassing a Diplomatic Favor Hoard
Your first and most crucial task is to accumulate a massive amount of Diplomatic Favor. Analysis on forums shows that players who consistently dominate the World Congress do so by focusing on Diplomatic Favor generation from the early game.
- City-State Diplomacy: Become the suzerain of as many city-states as possible. Each city-state under your control provides a steady stream of Diplomatic Favor. Prioritize city-states that offer additional economic or diplomatic benefits.
- Alliances: Forge and maintain alliances with other civilizations. Alliances are a powerful source of Diplomatic Favor, and the amount you gain increases as the alliance level deepens.
- Wonders and Buildings: Certain wonders, like the Mahabodhi Temple and the Potala Palace, provide a significant boost to your Diplomatic Favor. The Diplomatic Quarter district and its buildings are also essential for any diplomatically-minded civilization.
- Government Policies: As you progress through the civics tree, you will unlock policy cards that increase your Diplomatic Favor generation. Be sure to slot these in whenever possible.
2. Timing and Prediction
The Unified Global Currency resolution, being a high-impact proposal, would likely appear in the later stages of the game. By this point, you should have a clear idea of who your main economic rivals are. Before the World Congress convenes, take stock of the global situation.
- Who benefits? Identify which other civilizations would benefit from this resolution. These are your potential allies in the vote. Civilizations with strong economies and high Gold per turn will likely see the appeal of becoming the Global Economic Hegemon.
- Who is threatened? Conversely, identify the civilizations that would be harmed. These are your opponents. Civilizations with weaker economies or those who are pursuing other victory conditions may see this as a threat to their ambitions.
- AI Behavior: The AI is your most predictable asset. The AI will almost always vote for what gives it an immediate advantage. If an AI civilization has a high Gold per turn, it will likely vote for Option A. If it has a weak economy, it will vote against it. Use this to your advantage.
3. The Art of the Deal
Don’t be afraid to use the trade screen to your advantage. If you need to sway a particular civilization to your side, consider offering them a favorable trade deal in the turns leading up to the World Congress. You can also use the “Request Promise” feature to extract promises from other leaders, which can give you an indication of their intentions.
When the time comes to vote, be prepared to spend your Diplomatic Favor lavishly. The first vote is free, but each subsequent vote costs an increasing amount of favor. If you have a large enough hoard, you can single-handedly force the resolution to pass, even if the majority of other civilizations are against it. This is the ultimate expression of diplomatic power.
Economic Dominance: Strategies in a Globalized Economy
Once the Unified Global Currency resolution has passed, the race to become the Global Economic Hegemon begins. The civilization that contributes the most Gold per turn to the global reserve will reap the rewards. Here’s how to ensure that civilization is you.
1. The Commercial Engine
Your economy must become an unstoppable engine of wealth generation. This requires a dedicated focus on commercial infrastructure.
- Commercial Hubs and Harbors: Every city should have a Commercial Hub or a Harbor. These districts are the foundation of your economic power. Construct all the buildings within them, especially Banks and Stock Exchanges, which provide significant multipliers to your Gold generation.
- Trade Routes: Maximize your number of trade routes. The more trade routes you have, the more Gold you will generate. Prioritize trade routes with other civilizations that have high Gold per turn, as these will be the most lucrative. The “Trade Confederation” policy card is a must-have, boosting the yields of your international trade routes.
- Great Merchants: Actively seek to recruit Great Merchants. These powerful individuals can provide a variety of economic bonuses, from creating unique luxury resources to instantly boosting your treasury.
2. The Power of Corporations
If you are playing with the Monopolies and Corporations game mode, you have an even more powerful tool at your disposal.
- Industries and Corporations: Identify luxury resources that you have a monopoly on and build Industries on them. Once you have researched the Economics technology, you can upgrade these Industries into Corporations. Corporations provide a massive boost to your Gold per turn and allow you to create products that can be sold to other civilizations for even more profit.
- Global Monopolies: A popular strategy is to corner the market on a specific luxury resource. If you control a significant portion of the global supply, you will gain a substantial bonus to your Gold per turn. With the Unified Global Currency in effect, this bonus would be even more impactful.
3. The Hegemon’s Spoils
As the Global Economic Hegemon, you would likely receive a range of powerful bonuses. These could include:
- Enhanced Trade: A significant multiplier on all Gold generated from trade routes.
- Production Boost: A percentage of your Gold per turn could be converted into production in all of your cities, allowing you to outpace your rivals in both economic and industrial might.
- Diplomatic Weight: Your vote in the World Congress could be worth more, further cementing your control over global policy.
The Geopolitical Fallout: Winners and Losers
The establishment of a Unified Global Currency would create a new global order, with clear winners and losers.
- The Winners: Civilizations with strong, established economies would thrive. Their high Gold per turn would allow them to easily become the Global Economic Hegemon, and the bonuses they receive would only widen the gap between them and their rivals. Many professional gamers suggest that civilizations like Portugal, with its focus on trade, or Mali, with its ability to generate vast amounts of Gold, would be prime candidates for economic dominance in this scenario.
- The Losers: Civilizations with weaker economies, or those focused on other victory conditions, would find themselves at a significant disadvantage. The 10% tax on their Gold per turn would be a heavy burden, and they would be unable to compete for the title of Global Economic Hegemon. This could lead to a world where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, creating a great deal of resentment and instability.
Counter-Strategies: Resisting Economic Hegemony
If you find yourself on the losing end of this new economic order, all is not lost. There are several strategies you can employ to resist the dominance of the Global Economic Hegemon.
1. Repeal the Resolution
The most direct approach is to try and repeal the Unified Global Currency resolution in a future session of the World Congress. This will require you to build up your own stockpile of Diplomatic Favor and convince other disadvantaged civilizations to join your cause.
2. Economic Warfare
If a diplomatic solution is not possible, you may need to resort to more direct methods.
- Pillaging: A well-placed army can wreak havoc on the Hegemon’s economy. Pillage their Commercial Hubs and Harbors to disrupt their trade and reduce their Gold per turn.
- Privateers: Use privateers to plunder the Hegemon’s trade routes. This will not only harm their economy but also provide a boost to your own.
3. Pivot to Another Victory Condition
If you cannot compete economically, it may be time to pivot to another victory condition. A civilization that is economically dominant may have neglected its military or its culture, leaving it vulnerable to a different kind of assault. Use the Hegemon’s economic power against them by focusing your efforts on a victory path they are not prepared to defend against.
A New Paradigm of Economic Warfare
The concept of a Unified Global Currency in the World Congress presents a fascinating “what if” scenario that would fundamentally reshape the strategic landscape of Civilization VI. It would transform the game’s economic systems from a means to an end into a battlefield in their own right. The race to become the Global Economic Hegemon would be a game of high-stakes diplomacy, ruthless economic competition, and strategic foresight. While this resolution may not exist in the game, the principles of economic dominance and diplomatic manipulation that it embodies are at the very heart of what makes Civilization VI such a deep and engaging experience. According to the player community, the desire for more intricate economic and diplomatic systems is strong, and a feature like this would be a welcome addition to the game’s already robust mechanics.