🎮 Civ Leader Selection Worksheet

Learning Cognitive Regimes Through Play (RTT/vST)#

Part I — Name the Regime Before You Choose#

Before selecting a leader, pause and answer:

What kind of thinking does this leader reward?
(Check all that apply.)

• ☐ Analytical (precision, optimization, rules)
• ☐ Exploratory (novelty, expansion, risk‑taking)
• ☐ Narrative (identity, legitimacy, story coherence)
• ☐ Emotional‑Salience (speed, threat, reward)
• ☐ Integrative (synthesis, balance, long‑term coherence)
• ☐ Defensive (risk minimization, rigidity)
• ☐ Reflective (meta‑thinking, restraint, recalibration)

Part II — Leader Regime Profile#

Leader Chosen: ___________________________

Part III — Predict the Failure Mode#

Complete this sentence before playing:

If this civilization fails, it will most likely fail because…

☐ Overextension
☐ Rigidity
☐ Economic collapse
☐ Infrastructure overload
☐ Cultural stagnation
☐ Inability to pivot regimes
☐ External shock vulnerability

Explain in one sentence:

Part IV — Play & Observe#

During gameplay, note when things start to feel hard:

Part V — Diagnose the Outcome#

After the game (win or lose), answer:

1. Which regime dominated most of the game?
2. Which regime was needed but under‑selected?
3. Which layer collapsed first?
   • ☐ Materials
   • ☐ Devices
   • ☐ Technology
   • ☐ Economy
   • ☐ Infrastructure
   • ☐ Culture / Cognition

Part VI — Regime Mismatch Analysis#

Fill in the table:

Part VII — Redesign the Civilization#

Propose one change that would improve alignment:

• ☐ Different leader
• ☐ Different policy focus
• ☐ Slower expansion
• ☐ Earlier infrastructure investment
• ☐ Cultural pivot
• ☐ Economic reform

Explain which regime your change would strengthen and why.

Core Insight (Write This Last)#

This civilization did not succeed or fail because of intelligence or effort.
It succeeded or failed because…

(Complete the sentence using the word regime.)

Instructor Notes (Optional)#

• Do not correct students’ answers immediately.
• Let multiple interpretations coexist.
• Emphasize that no regime is “best”—only context‑appropriate.

Why This Worksheet Works#

• It teaches regime literacy without ideology
• It reframes failure as structural, not personal
• It turns Civ into a systems thinking lab