[GS] Mods that should be in the base game [2020]

[Brutus2]

There you go. COMPLETELY necessary.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1307248778

Hey, this is very nice. I've been wishing for something like this forever. Not sure how I missed it. Thanks!!

 

[CPWimmer]

There you go. COMPLETELY necessary.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1307248778

Looks GREAT! I need to check this out!

 

[tedhebert]

There you go. COMPLETELY necessary.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1307248778

Another one is this one for the great works screen. Being able to filter them is a MUST.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1652106496

I tell you, Firaxis plays the game in very small maps. There's no way someone can play with lots of cities and don't need these.

Wow ! 2 really great mods thanks ! now new active mods for me ;-)

 

[Pure24]

I also generally prefer UI mods over ones that change gameplay, and so I highly recommend the 'better' mods that have already been mentioned (Better trade screen, etc...). Why those features aren't in the main game is puzzling.

Anyways, if I had to pick a couple - one 'major' mod and one minor one - these would be my choice:

- https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1671978687
Concise UI. This mod feels like CQUI's younger brother. There are two main features from this mod which should DEFINITELY be in the base game. I loved Hellblazer's take on it, but since it isn't updated anymore this is the next best thing, and that is the way the UI is cleaned up to reduce on clicks.
Open the production panel and you can choose production, spend gold, faith purchase, buy tiles, assign workers/specialists, and swap city tiles. All on one screen. Why isn't this a thing?! Like... WHY?!!!
Oh, and you can set a city to automatically redo the same project over and over.
Second feature are the 'more lenses'. You can actually get this as a standalone mod. Makes it easier to figure out where to take your builder especially when the screen is cluttered, automatically highlights stuff for the archeologist, and even goodie huts for the Scout. Best part is that these three automatically highlight when you click on the relevant unit. It also UPGRADES the naturalist lens so that you can see where you can place a national park, but if you cannot at the moment will suggest what needs to be done in order to be able to. And if you find some of the features intrusive, you can switch on/off any number of them which you don't want.

- https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=882664162
Unique District Icons. It just looks cool, and isn't in your face about it. That Lavra is really your own, and nobody else can build your Mbanza. It is just a nice touch that geniunely enhances the experience

 

[pokiehl]

Better Civilization Icons - Because some of the icon choices in the base game are just plain bad (I’m looking at you, Spain).

Better Civilization Colours - To complement the above mod, rectify a few odd choices, and overcome the limitations of the existing jersey system.

Sukritact’s Civ Selection Screen - Mainly to enable to player to select their own jersey colour and the AI’s.

FYI you can now select your own Jersey in single player without a mod. They added it in last patch. You just have to go to the advanced setup screen.

 

[conorbebe]

FYI you can now select your own Jersey in single player without a mod. They added it in last patch. You just have to go to the advanced setup screen.

Oh really? I feel silly now... Nevertheless, it's still a terrific mod!

 

[shaglio]

FYI you can now select your own Jersey in single player without a mod. They added it in last patch. You just have to go to the advanced setup screen.

Unfortunately you can only do it when choosing your leader. I tend to use the “random leader” option. Too bad you can’t opt to let it select a random jersey color for you.

 

[Sostratus]

Unfortunately you can only do it when choosing your leader. I tend to use the “random leader” option. Too bad you can’t opt to let it select a random jersey color for you.

It seems silly but I never realized how much the colors of a civ are tied into the gameplay experience. For anyone reading this, if you play a civ a lot, try an alternate color. It’s crazy how fresh it feels!

 

[Bangau]

There are two main features from this mod which should DEFINITELY be in the base game.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who can't do without this mod (have been wondering for a while why I don't see it in everyones screenshots... ;-)). I used CQUI before it stopped working a long time ago, and found this one to be almost as good. The better 'city selection' screen is so good, for me the better trade screen is always an absolute must have. This UI mod saves me so much time and clicking.

 

[Smity2k1]

Finally! A mod discussion that's getting some traction! I always take a look at Steam mods and try to find new ones, but there is so much junk on there it's hard to find the good stuff. Here is where I'm at with recommendations
- Real Strategy (makes the AI much better, I'd say it is *the* AI mod of the moment)
- Tactical Camera (zoom out and in further)
- Concise UI (UI overhaul that makes everything nicer)
- More Lenses (scout and builder lens in particular are invaluable)
- Got Lakes? (my favorite map generation script of the moment)
- Better Report Screen (discussed already)
- Rebalanced Climate (I'm playing my first game with this - I wasn't happy how fast climate change happened and often tons of ice was melted before you could even get flood barriers, I hope this mod paces that better)

There are lots of good looking balance and pacing mods in this thread I'm looking forward to trying out. Combat balance seems off as does production vs. science/culture pacing through the ages.

Keep 'em coming boys!

 

[bengalryan9]

I don't use mods so I have no idea if something like this is out there or not, but it sure would be nice if you could eliminate leaders from the random leader pool when setting up a game. It kind of stinks when you move up to deity for the first time and you've got Korea on the other side of the world teching like crazy, or when you feel like going for a culture victory only to find Peter, Pericles, and Mvemba there.

As much as the difficulty of the game can vary based on who is in it, this would be a very nice feature to have.

 

[rlw33]

I don't use mods most of the time but Better Report Screen is one of the ones where I just can't believe that functionality is still missing in the base game after over three years. I mean, has anyone worked out what the logic is behind the ordering of cities on the base game report screen? As far as I can see, it's just in random order. I can't understand how they thought that would be useful.

Isn't the order of cities based on the order in which they were founded? That's why your capital is always listed first.

As for mods:
Diplomacy Ribbon
Civ 5 skin
Cats for scouts instead of dogs

 

[Tabarnak]

For multiplayer i strongly suggest Better Balanced Game

Work for singlplayer too. It balances a lot of stuff like civs, units strength, pantheons, etc. with some unique features.

Full Changes list

 

[blackcatatonic]

Isn't the order of cities based on the order in which they were founded? That's why your capital is always listed first.

As for mods:
Diplomacy Ribbon
Civ 5 skin
Cats for scouts instead of dogs

If that's the case, it hasn't always been that way so must have been changed in an update. I'm certain I considered that when trying to figure out how it worked.

 

[Disgustipated]

Haven't read the whole thread yet, not sure if it was mentioned. I'm not big on mods, so many cause instability issues or strange bugs. But I have been playing Earth 2020 scenario in huge, one thing I love is how aircraft carriers promote in that mod. Having a fighter on board while at war will continuously gain experience for that carrier. This is the best solution imho for the carrier xp problem.

Also highly recommend colorized historical moments mod, makes a huge difference. Looks so much better. Firaxis should put this in the game.

 

[Sostratus]

Also highly recommend colorized historical moments mod, makes a huge difference.

This is simply blowing my mind right now, wherefore I pronounce this to be the highest sorcery.
The in game difference is bigger than gilgamesh's biceps

 

[MisterBoomBoom]

One turn gov's

 

[Mik1984]

For multiplayer i strongly suggest Better Balanced Game

Work for singlplayer too. It balances a lot of stuff like civs, units strength, pantheons, etc. with some unique features.

Full Changes list

Yes, what "Better Balanced Game" mod did to re-balance the civs is ESSENTIAL as it makes civs balanced. In base game, civs are very unequal, some a supercivs and some are just plain old crap. Furthermore, it has been done in an intelligent way. For example Poland needed a small buff, and getting a relic for free on founding a religion, is how the game is made far more predictable for this civ.