Dragonfabri
Chieftain
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2014
- Messages
- 61
Hi all! I have recently commissioned to the very talented @iskaandismet two VP compatible mods (will post their threads soon), and now i'll commission my very own custom civ mod!
However, before letting the work begin, i'd like the help of the VP modders to make it balanced.
I kinda hate the feeling of winning but "having cheated with a custom civ", so i'd like to make a civ that is indeed unique, but also universally recognized as "fair and balanced"
Balanced means: On par or even weaker than a VP vanilla civ, not stronger.
At the same time, i'd like to keep as many of the unique mechanics that will follow, balancing them numbers-wise rather than just removing them all together, unless absolutely necessary for balance.
Once we have reached a sort of consensus i'll let the work begin!
ALL PICTURES ARE PLACEHOLDERS SHAMELESSLY TAKEN FROM OTHER MODS FOR NOW, ALL CREDIT WHERE IS DUE
Feel free to contribute if you have anything that would fit!
STILL WORK IN PROGRESS AND SUBJECT TO RADICAL CHANGES .
Without further ado, here is my project:
CIVILIZATION: MALI
COLORS: Orange main, gold or ruby maybe is better than black as secondary.
STARTING BIAS: DESERT
LEADER: MANSA MUSA
Unique Ability: Golden Hajj
-) Receive a free Royal Pilgrim at Sailing
Lore: Mansa Musa was coronated once his predecessor left on a great sailing voyage, but never returned.
-)50% of
from 
Trade routes and 
City connection is converted to 
Lore: The hajj was a celebration of wealth and generosity towards everyone met on the pilgrimage.
-) Cost of buildings doubled, but Investing
pays for 90% of their 
costs
To account for the policy that gives the other 10%, after which you buy them instantly!
Lore: "A mosque every Friday was built", but the Hajj also caused massive inflation, which means double costs.
Unique Great Prophet: Royal Pilgrim
-) Each spread action gives 100 to the city owner
Lore: The Hajj is sharing wealth with those less fortunate in your journey. Yes, even your opponents!
-)10% towards a Great Merchant when spreading in an unowned city.
-)5% towards a random Great Person when spreading in your own city.
Lore: The hajj brought international prestige to Mali, and attracted the finest minds to its entourage.
-) Once expended in any way, +1max trade route slot.
Lore: The Hajj literally put Mali on the map of venetian and european traders.
Unique Improvement: Suguba
-) Can be built by Great Merchants
-) Replaces Town
It still counts as a Town for things like franchise bonus from Freedom, more yelds if a road is put on them, a trade route passes on them etc.
-) +1
for every 3 Bonus Resources in your reserves, duplicates included.
-) +1 for every 2 Strategic Resources in your reserves, duplicates included
-) +1 for every Luxury Resource in your reserves, duplicates included.
Lore: The sheer quantity of Gold, Salt and other goodies made Malian Markets much sought after.
Unique unit: Mandekalu Poison Archer
-) Replaces Crossbowmen
-) Obsoletes at Metallurgy
CHANGES COMPARED TO THE REPLACED UNIT:
-) Only 16 Ranged combat strenght compared to 19 of the crossbowman
Lore: The majority of infantry were bowmen who used Soninke knowledge of poisons to make up for their arrow's lack of force
-) Soninke Knowledge promotion: Applies "Soninke Poison", which works exactly like Greek fire. Lost on promotion.
4-UC ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS
Unique National Wonder: Masjid Djinguereber
-)Replaces Oxford University
CHANGES COMPARED TO THE BUILDING IT REPLACES
-) Can only be built in the Capital
Palace + university as prerequisites.
-)No
population requirements, but double cost
Lore: al-Sahili was given 12,000 mithkals of gold dust for his designing and building of the djinguereber in Timbuktu
-) +3
-) 1 slot for Great Work of Writing, 1 slot for Great Work of Art, 1 slot for Great Work of Music
(+6
if themed)
-) Spawns a Royal Pilgrim instead of Great Scientist
Lore: The journey home of mansa musa that brought back the architect of this wonder and other fine minds!
-) +50
and every time you research a technology, scaling with era.
-) Removes trade route target restrictions on Empire
Like Venice UA
-) For every +100 income, +1 to every Great Person per turn. (1% of income converted to all GP points per turn in capital)
Great Generals and Admirals included!
Lore: Obviously part of the Sankore University, but this one piece of it in particular historically attracted every kind of scholar, from artists to engineers to scientists.
Unique Unit: Farima
-)Replaces the Great General
-) Mansa's Will promotion: When garrisoned, all units around the city (himself included) in the Leadership aura radius gain +1xp each turn.
XP bonus stacks if more than one Farima is garrisoned in the same city.
Lore: historically they were basically governors who oversaw the vassal lords, and always kept small trained armies in the garrison to "correct" any deviation from the Mansa's will.
Huge thanks in advance for any help!
However, before letting the work begin, i'd like the help of the VP modders to make it balanced.
I kinda hate the feeling of winning but "having cheated with a custom civ", so i'd like to make a civ that is indeed unique, but also universally recognized as "fair and balanced"
Balanced means: On par or even weaker than a VP vanilla civ, not stronger.
At the same time, i'd like to keep as many of the unique mechanics that will follow, balancing them numbers-wise rather than just removing them all together, unless absolutely necessary for balance.
Once we have reached a sort of consensus i'll let the work begin!
ALL PICTURES ARE PLACEHOLDERS SHAMELESSLY TAKEN FROM OTHER MODS FOR NOW, ALL CREDIT WHERE IS DUE
Feel free to contribute if you have anything that would fit!
STILL WORK IN PROGRESS AND SUBJECT TO RADICAL CHANGES .
Without further ado, here is my project:
CIVILIZATION: MALI
COLORS: Orange main, gold or ruby maybe is better than black as secondary.
STARTING BIAS: DESERT
LEADER: MANSA MUSA
Unique Ability: Golden Hajj
-) Receive a free Royal Pilgrim at Sailing
Lore: Mansa Musa was coronated once his predecessor left on a great sailing voyage, but never returned.
-)50% of
from Trade routes and City connection is converted to Lore: The hajj was a celebration of wealth and generosity towards everyone met on the pilgrimage.
-) Cost of buildings doubled, but Investing
pays for 90% of their costsTo account for the policy that gives the other 10%, after which you buy them instantly!
Lore: "A mosque every Friday was built", but the Hajj also caused massive inflation, which means double costs.
Unique Great Prophet: Royal Pilgrim
-) Each spread action gives 100
to the city ownerLore: The Hajj is sharing wealth with those less fortunate in your journey. Yes, even your opponents!
-)10% towards a Great Merchant when spreading in an unowned city.
-)5% towards a random Great Person when spreading in your own city.
Lore: The hajj brought international prestige to Mali, and attracted the finest minds to its entourage.
-) Once expended in any way, +1
max trade route slot.Lore: The Hajj literally put Mali on the map of venetian and european traders.
Unique Improvement: Suguba
-) Can be built by Great Merchants
-) Replaces Town
It still counts as a Town for things like franchise bonus from Freedom, more yelds if a road is put on them, a trade route passes on them etc.
-) +1
for every 3 Bonus Resources in your reserves, duplicates included.-) +1
for every 2 Strategic Resources in your reserves, duplicates included-) +1
for every Luxury Resource in your reserves, duplicates included.Lore: The sheer quantity of Gold, Salt and other goodies made Malian Markets much sought after.
Unique unit: Mandekalu Poison Archer
-) Replaces Crossbowmen
-) Obsoletes at Metallurgy
CHANGES COMPARED TO THE REPLACED UNIT:
-) Only 16 Ranged combat strenght compared to 19 of the crossbowman
Lore: The majority of infantry were bowmen who used Soninke knowledge of poisons to make up for their arrow's lack of force
-) Soninke Knowledge promotion: Applies "Soninke Poison", which works exactly like Greek fire. Lost on promotion.
4-UC ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS
Unique National Wonder: Masjid Djinguereber
-)Replaces Oxford University
CHANGES COMPARED TO THE BUILDING IT REPLACES
-) Can only be built in the Capital
Palace + university as prerequisites.
-)No
population requirements, but double costLore: al-Sahili was given 12,000 mithkals of gold dust for his designing and building of the djinguereber in Timbuktu
-) +3
-) 1 slot for Great Work of Writing, 1 slot for Great Work of Art, 1 slot for Great Work of Music
(+6
if themed)-) Spawns a Royal Pilgrim instead of Great Scientist
Lore: The journey home of mansa musa that brought back the architect of this wonder and other fine minds!
-) +50
and every time you research a technology, scaling with era.-) Removes trade route target restrictions on Empire
Like Venice UA
-) For every +100
income, +1 to every Great Person per turn. (1% of income converted to all GP points per turn in capital)Great Generals and Admirals included!
Lore: Obviously part of the Sankore University, but this one piece of it in particular historically attracted every kind of scholar, from artists to engineers to scientists.
Unique Unit: Farima
-)Replaces the Great General
-) Mansa's Will promotion: When garrisoned, all units around the city (himself included) in the Leadership aura radius gain +1xp each turn.
XP bonus stacks if more than one Farima is garrisoned in the same city.
Lore: historically they were basically governors who oversaw the vassal lords, and always kept small trained armies in the garrison to "correct" any deviation from the Mansa's will.
Huge thanks in advance for any help!
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