Sweden in G&K has so many lol-inducing features..

[Baleur]

As for my personal observations, regarding the Swedish civ...
First off, his voice actor is very good, uses some oldey-timey noble polite words and his voice conveys enough authority and authenticity. But the animations (of all the leaders tbh) are just ridiculous.
He moves like a disney cartoon villain. BIIG arm movement, sudden leaps in animation like a cartoon character. Ridiculous, nobody moves like that apart from Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck..

The unique unit Hakkapeliitta is a very strange choice, to some very patriotic Swedes it might even be laughable. Seeing as they are Finnish, a Finnish cavalry regiment that happened to be used in the 30-year-war. That's it. Why not use the actual Swedish developed stealth cruiser instead as a modern UU? Anything but the Hakkapeliitta would have been better, and made more sense.
I guess this is sad news for Finnish players as there now is definitive proof that there can never be a Finnish civ in civ 5, because then it would make even less sense.
It's like if they gave the American civ the Spitfire.

In regards to the national power, "Nobel Prize", i try hard not to laugh.
It is not a national power, or a cause we rally behind, it is not a thing Swedes unite about, it is not a national celebration or something from hundreds of years of culture, it is not a national achievement and it is not a part of national history, or anything!! It is one man's foundation for human advancement. It is not really anything that has anything what so ever to do with the Swedish identity, culture or history. It makes no sense. Historically it might as well have happened to be a Norwegian, Danish or Estonian person founding this foundation. There is nothing specifically Swedish about it.
It's like if they gave the American civ a national power of "Microsoft".

Ridiculous. Anything else would have been better. Call it "Neutrality via Cooperation", that would be far more in line with reality and history, something that actually has ANYTHING to do with Sweden as a whole, as a national identity both in diplomacy and seen from the outside world via international relations. Or why not some sort of "Medical Innovation" trait, giving extra health to a few cities?
Seriously there is so much to choose from that makes more sense than "Nobel Prize"..

 

[DemonMaster]

Now, I must try not to laugh.

Finland was part of Sweden from the 12th century to the 19th century. Sweden lost the Finnish six counties 1809 to the Russians.
This mean that the Finnish history is just as much Swedish history for that time.
Regarding the UU, it is a perfect choice, one unit from each part. None of the unit types was used for a particular long time. And to have Sweden with nothing from Finland would have been strange with so much history together.

That stealth cruiser is hardly unique today, other countries have been researching the same.

The Nobel Prize, well, it is the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences that from all the nominees chooses the Nobel Prize Laureates for Chemistry and Physics (and other Swedish academies for the other laureates). It is to them the research is presented, it is here they come to get the prize and also discuss the prize. Edit (except for the Peace Prize, I can tell you the background for that if you wish)

Sure, Nobel could have been Danish, English, Russian, whatever, but now he was Swedish and Sweden was neutral (since 1853). He wanted to leave something to unite around in peace. Would he have written such a will if he would have been Russian, American?

Other UA and UU and U? for other civs are also just concepts under a small part of that civs history.

And btw, it is a game.

 

[hest]

Bryzgalov says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzpndHtdl9A&feature=related

 

[Tantor]

I think the Hakkapelliita should be substituted for the Swedish Bikiniteam as the swedish UU.

 

[smallfish]

Nobel Prize should have been related to Dynamite, which means Better Artillery, which means faster modern wars.

 

[The QC]

A stealth cruiser UU would be pointless, as it would appear at the very end of the game, when it couldn't possibly have any impact.

About the rest... As usual, Firaxis based their decisions on an outside perspective, not on what a local feels. The Nobel Award is maybe the most well known thing that the Swedish gave to the world, so they picked that. No big surprises and I for one think it's ok, but of course I'm not Swedish.

 

[Heinage]

I think the Hakkapelliita should be substituted for the Swedish Bikiniteam as the swedish UU.

hahaha, now THAT I could get on board with.

 

[Haig]

Your rant about hakkapeliittas is wrong, back then people from Finnish areas didnt
even consider themselves as finnish.

After the Swedish empire collapsed Sweden has been known from
their peaceful life and being a model nation, I think their unique
ability in the game reflects that well..

Actually I think its one of the coolest UAs in the game.

 

[skyclad]

I'm swedish and I don't mind either the Finnish unit or the nobel prize award.

Firstly, it is more fair than an alternative, considering both international and local diversity. The reason being:
Two Scandinavian civs is more than I dared hope for, considering all the diverse cultures around the world. The Swedish and the Danes respectively held Finland and Norway for parts of our history, and thus the two Scandinavian civs are Sweden and Denmark, with Finnish and Norwegian culture represented somewhat. (To people who don't know about scandinavia, there are no mountains and less snow in Denmark, so the ski-infantry (lol) being norwegian actually represents something diverse.)

Of course I can understand a Finnish or Norwegian person to prefer a civ of their own instead of just a unit, but as a scandinavian I think this solution is much more fair than either just a 'viking' civ or just one single country.

Secondly the Nobel prize is something unique that has stayed relevant for more than a hundred years or in civ terms, more than a hundred turns, which is longer than most unique traits to be honest. I don't know the details of it in the game but considering real life I think it's an excellent trait.

Serious discussion over, crackpot beginning

I think instead of whatever effect the train nobel prize has in the game, it should be that whenever another civ gets a great person (perhaps with some kind of cap), you get the corresponding specialist for free for one turn in your capital, as he is invited to accept the prize. However, if there is more than one specialist you have to give one of them away to another civ (peace prize in Norway).

 

[SalemSage]

Gameplay wise, Sweden is literally the only civilization rewarded for playing peacefully. Every other civ has either a UA that helps them in war or something which can help them with EITHER playing warmongers or peacemongers. With Sweden, if you go to war all the time you won't get friends so you'll miss out.

So I don't mind if the UA description is 'laughable' or anything because it appeals to the peaceful players like me

 

[Shurdus]

As for my personal observations, regarding the Swedish civ...
First off, his voice actor is very good, uses some oldey-timey noble polite words and his voice conveys enough authority and authenticity. But the animations (of all the leaders tbh) are just ridiculous.
He moves like a disney cartoon villain. BIIG arm movement, sudden leaps in animation like a cartoon character. Ridiculous, nobody moves like that apart from Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck..

The unique unit Hakkapeliitta is a very strange choice, to some very patriotic Swedes it might even be laughable. Seeing as they are Finnish, a Finnish cavalry regiment that happened to be used in the 30-year-war. That's it. Why not use the actual Swedish developed stealth cruiser instead as a modern UU? Anything but the Hakkapeliitta would have been better, and made more sense.
I guess this is sad news for Finnish players as there now is definitive proof that there can never be a Finnish civ in civ 5, because then it would make even less sense.
It's like if they gave the American civ the Spitfire.

In regards to the national power, "Nobel Prize", i try hard not to laugh.
It is not a national power, or a cause we rally behind, it is not a thing Swedes unite about, it is not a national celebration or something from hundreds of years of culture, it is not a national achievement and it is not a part of national history, or anything!! It is one man's foundation for human advancement. It is not really anything that has anything what so ever to do with the Swedish identity, culture or history. It makes no sense. Historically it might as well have happened to be a Norwegian, Danish or Estonian person founding this foundation. There is nothing specifically Swedish about it.
It's like if they gave the American civ a national power of "Microsoft".

Ridiculous. Anything else would have been better. Call it "Neutrality via Cooperation", that would be far more in line with reality and history, something that actually has ANYTHING to do with Sweden as a whole, as a national identity both in diplomacy and seen from the outside world via international relations. Or why not some sort of "Medical Innovation" trait, giving extra health to a few cities?
Seriously there is so much to choose from that makes more sense than "Nobel Prize"..

You think other UA's are chosen because they are "a national power (whatever that means), or a cause that is rallied behind, a thing a nation unites about (?), a national celebration or something from hundreds of years of culture, a national achievement or a part of national history?

You really think the UA's are not chosen after a brainstorm session where the only question is 'What comes to mind when you think of nation X?' and they just roll any good idea that may pop up?

 

[elprofesor]

The opposite is true too: which civ would look well with this gameplay-wise sound UA?

 

[aziantuntija]

Your rant about hakkapeliittas is wrong, back then people from Finnish areas didnt
even consider themselves as finnish.

Well they propably did not consider themselves literally as "Finnish". But since there is a huge difference between Swedish and Finnish languages and Finnish language is actually very old, I would say that the Finnish people in 17th century did certainly know that they are not Swedish (nor Russians) either.

 

[jjkrause84]

When I saw 'Nobel Prize' my reaction was: well, of course. The civ 5 UAs and UUs reek of laziness....wikipedia seems to have been a major source for them (it would seem). Were there any actual historical consultants on hand?

Can I be one for Civ6!?

 

[True_Candyman]

They need something that differentiates them from other Northern European and Scandinavian civs, and though cliched, stereotyped or whatever else you want to call it, it is something that makes them stand out amongst what is a region of remarkably similar culture (Northern Europe).

At the end of the day people are all identical (more or less) and at the same time completely different so any differences pointed out will be shouted down by those who disagree on their similarities or complain about their differences.

I say it'll do, and i think i'll enjoy playing Sweden as something different.

 

[Lyoncet]

When I saw 'Nobel Prize' my reaction was: well, of course. The civ 5 UAs and UUs reek of laziness....wikipedia seems to have been a major source for them (it would seem). Were there any actual historical consultants on hand?

Can I be one for Civ6!?

We know based on a recent interview that Ed Beach was responsible for concept work on all the UUs in CiVanilla. I don't think we know if that's the same in G&K. But I agree.

On the subject of Phoenician Heritage, I think everyone agrees that they need to move unimpeded through mountains or the units should all die. I may be wrong, but I assume the implied argument is that they should also move unimpeded over hills for the sake of consistency and common sense. Although that would encroach on Great Andean Road, but honestly, Inca's focus on hills and mountains already means that Carthage as designed is encroaching on them. One of many reasons that was a poorly designed/implemented UU.

 

[GenjiKhan]

Well,look at the bright side . Europe is more represented than it should be and yet there are 2 Civilizations from Scandinavia . There are many people who wouldn't mind with only 1 civilization from that region . Even with that,I actually enjoy Sweden . Such kind of UA is very unexpected and it'll be very interesting to play with a Civ who is directly benefited by Friendships .

 

[drubell]

I think the Hakkapelliita should be substituted for the Swedish Bikiniteam as the swedish UU.

Their promotion would be a 50% chance to convert your units to their army.

I mean that's just overpowered. No wonder they're going for the Hakkapelliita instead. Pure balance issues.

 

[Sharku]

Europe is more represented than it should be

No it isn't. Europe's representation is just fine.

 

[Guandao]

I hope not every modern European country gets a civ (ex: Serbia,Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, etc.. ) That would be overrepresentation.

Asia's representation is fine, though Central Asia and Southeast Asia (especially the Maritime parts) need more love

Africa and South America are underepresented.

North America and Oceania are fine, I guess.