Well now that all the leaders have been spoiled, what do you guys think are the strongest ones? Here are the ones that caught my eye.


Byzantine
Leader: Justinian I - Imperialistic, Spiritual
Starting Techs: Wheel, Mysticism
Unique Unit: Cataphract (Knight), comes with +2 strength but is not immune to first strike.
Unique Building: Hippodrome (Theatre), grants loads of extra happiness, +1 base, +1 more for having access to horses and +1 for every 5% spent on culture (instead of the Theatre's 10%).

Spiritual is solid as always; Imperialistic less so. His UU might be pretty good, but depending on good the Cuirrassier is, a Military Tradition slingshot might still be better than getting Cataphracts. His UB is great, 10% on the culture slider = 3 happy faces not counting horses.

Ethiopian
Leader: Zara Yaqob - Creative, Organized
Starting Techs: Hunting, Mining
Unique Unit: Oromo Warrior (Musketman), has first-level First Strike and is also immune to First Strikes, begins with Drill I and II promotions.
Unique Building: Stele (Monument), grants an additional +25% culture

His starting techs let him choose an early military technology (BW, AH, archery) off the bat. Augustus' old traits are still as good as ever, and Zara probably can pull off a nice axe rush. Oromo seems pretty good, especially as a "big butt unit" to ward off enemy siege. Stele is meh, but he's creative, so whatever.

Mayan
Leader: Pacal II - Expansive, Financial
Starting Techs: Mysticism, Mining
Unique Unit: Holkan (Spearman), immune to First Strike and can be built without copper or iron.
Unique Building: Ball Court (Colosseum), grants +2 happiness.

His UU is great. It's a resourceless 4 str unit that can get CR. He can also go for the builder game with religion/cottage. Now that I think about it, because his UU comes SO fast, he can still go offensive after getting a religion. Decent UB (I've always thought Colosseum was a bit expensive tho). Love this guy, Firaxis sure loves the Native American leaders :).

Honorable Mention: Khmer (funny UU, too bad the order isn't Mounted/Missile/Melee), Sumeria (6 str Axeman!?!), Pericles (GS abuser extraordinaire). Weakest: Charlemagne.

Could Pericles be the new Ghandi? I can see this guy breaking some serious start->liberalism records with those traits.

Other than that, I'm pretty excited to try the Dutch, who look like they'll be the new coastal kings, and with the shipbuilding capabilities (and the UU) to really pump out some dominance of the seas with the cool new navy stuff.

Could Pericles be the new Ghandi? I can see this guy breaking some serious start->liberalism records with those traits.

Other than that, I'm pretty excited to try the Dutch, who look like they'll be the new coastal kings, and with the shipbuilding capabilities (and the UU) to really pump out some dominance of the seas with the cool new navy stuff.

Concur on both fronts. It will be fun to finally play with the Greeks (Alex was such a stupid musclehead... nowhere near the way the glorious Greeks should be played). The Dutch frighten me-- usually I can wipe the board clean when it comes to dominating in trade/commerce, but with so many financial benefits on their side, along with trade routes and a decent looking UU, I might have some competition. I suppose the Portuguese need to be watched too.

I shrug with Hammurabi-- seems like he will be an annoying warmonger that I will routinely have to put down. Charlemagne, Darius, Abe don't do anything for me. I will be interested to see how Yaqob gets along as the new Augustus (can he dominate without an early game UU like the praet?). I am still in shock that DeGaulle made the game (but I think I kinda like his traits). Enough's been said on Boudicca.

So much info to process, I can't even remember Gilgamesh, Pacal, Sury or Sitting Bull's traits... this is going to be one busy week!

So, what're the three "forbidden" trait combos now? Philosophical/Industrious is still absent, but creative/financial is back, creative/organized is back with Ethiopia, aggressive/charismatic is in obviously, financial/organized is in again with the second Persian leader, creative/philosophical is in...

What am I missing? There's still two absent combos!

I think I'll enjoy playing Darius. Fin/Org is a very powerful combination economic-wise (and as well all know, gold rules Civ4). Especially now I won't have to worry about my immortals taking too many cities :evil:

the other missing traits besides Phi/Ind are Cre/Cha and Org/Pro

The Mayan UU (Holkan), resource-less, 4 str, Immune to first strikes, capable of CR, decent lifespan. I starting to think it's getting overpowered. I can see alot of early rushing with this guy, it's probably more dangerous then the Mali UU, it comes 1 tech earlier, MP with the Mayans...

The Byzantine UU (Cataphract) is pretty decent with quite a long lifespan, their pretty evenly matched against Grenadiers, (makes you wonder if the later game units str have been boosted). Assuming Grenadier are still 12 Str, they'd make good counters against early gunpowder units eg - Grenadiers and possibly Cuirrassier, but we'll have to wait and see.

I think I'll enjoy playing Darius. Fin/Org is a very powerful combination economic-wise (and as well all know, gold rules Civ4). Especially now I won't have to worry about my immortals taking too many cities Becareful of the Mayans, Resourceless Spearmen UU lol!

As always it depends on what types of victories you look and what types of strategies you use and what era you start in. The beauty of the game is that not every leader or civ goes well for everybody. It allows for many different paths to be taken. So to answer the question, each leader is strong in it's own way.

Yeah, agree with most people, especially on Pericles and Willem.

I also think Charlemagne has some potential for greatness, even though his traits (Protective and Imperialistic) do not look so strong on the face value.

Consider this: the guy comes with better Courthouses (extra 25% maintenance reduction) so with Imperialistic he can pull off a decent REX, and with Protective, he will be able to defend those cities with archers much more easily.

Then, comes the mid-game - and his Landknechts (Pikemen with 100% vs. Melee) simply will rule the day.

Not to mention he starts with arguably two best starting Techs: Mysticism (meaning an early religion is almost guaranteed below Monarch) and Hunting (Scouts for early discovery/goodie huts).

I also think Pericles will be a master of SE, and with Odeons, he could easily pull a cultural victory.