2nd UU

[Nightstar]

Hm, here are a few 'economic' UU ideas that probably wouldn't cause too many problems:

A Scout replacement that starts with a free Guerilla, Nomad, or Woodsman promotion;
A Scout replacement that can hunt animals like the Warrior;
A Worker or Settler replacement that can defend itself against animals or barbarians;
A more expensive Settler replacement that starts the new city with a Monument (would need to be a civ that starts with Carving and doesn't have a Monument-based UB or Expansive leader).

All but the last one would have a limited 'shelf-life' before becoming essentially irrelevant. The last one would probably be balanced in the same way that the Colonist currently is: You aren't actually saving any hammers, just spending them in an established city instead of a newly founded one. Though it would actually be a *disadvantage* if they got Stonehenge...

 

[Howard Mahler]

I Like the last one.
I previously suggested the same thing with Granary rather than monument, but monument may be better.

Not keen on the middle two.

The first one is OK. Woodsman is good, but probably needs an additional good promotion to make the UU at all worthwhile.

I think a few economic UUs would add variety, making the game more interesting.

Hm, here are a few 'economic' UU ideas that probably wouldn't cause too many problems:

A Scout replacement that starts with a free Guerilla, Nomad, or Woodsman promotion;
A Scout replacement that can hunt animals like the Warrior;
A Worker or Settler replacement that can defend itself against animals or barbarians;
A more expensive Settler replacement that starts the new city with a Monument (would need to be a civ that starts with Carving and doesn't have a Monument-based UB or Expansive leader).

All but the last one would have a limited 'shelf-life' before becoming essentially irrelevant. The last one would probably be balanced in the same way that the Colonist currently is: You aren't actually saving any hammers, just spending them in an established city instead of a newly founded one. Though it would actually be a *disadvantage* if they got Stonehenge...

 

[Xyth]

Although I've not finalized every civ yet, feel free to start giving suggestions for stat bonuses for the new units. If there's any existing UUs that you feel are under/overpowered or uninspired, let me know that too. I'll post a list of UUs and stats when I've got it fleshed a bit better.

Also, Brazil will be the new civilization in 1.20, I've assembled a great set of unit art for them. Their UUs will be the Tamoyo (Archer replacement) and the Bandeirante (Cuirassier replacement).

 

[tchristensen]

Noticed that some great new artwork has been posted in the Downloads area for the Mexica civilizations -- could very well fit with any of the MesoAmerican cultures.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=cat&id=47

 

[Howard Mahler]

No specific suggestions.
However, I kind of like those cases where the unique unit gets a promotion that lasts for the rest of the game. (Has to be balanced.) A few more like that would be a nice touch.

Although I've not finalized every civ yet, feel free to start giving suggestions for stat bonuses for the new units. If there's any existing UUs that you feel are under/overpowered or uninspired, let me know that too. I'll post a list of UUs and stats when I've got it fleshed a bit better.

Also, Brazil will be the new civilization in 1.20, I've assembled a great set of unit art for them. Their UUs will be the Tamoyo (Archer replacement) and the Bandeirante (Cuirassier replacement).

 

[Xyth]

Finding or making buttons is by far the slowest and most frustrating part of adding new units.

/end rant

 

[tchristensen]

Finding or making buttons is by far the slowest and most frustrating part of adding new units.

/end rant

After doing a couple of mods, I got the buttons down pat. With the correct photoshop filter its actually quite easy and fast to bang them out.

My biggest problem in modding is all the work going into making each unit look different per culture -- that drives me nuts.

 

[Xyth]

After doing a couple of mods, I got the buttons down pat. With the correct photoshop filter its actually quite easy and fast to bang them out.

Getting the correct frame and alpha is easy, it's finding the actual image to frame that's tough. It's surprisingly difficult to find a suitable, accurate image of a Celtic Swordsman for example. So far I've avoided making buttons from in-game graphics. Too time-consuming and the results are usually pretty poor.

My biggest problem in modding is all the work going into making each unit look different per culture -- that drives me nuts.

Yeah I haven't bothered even trying that. In some ways I'd prefer unit buttons to be symbolic, somewhat like the promotion buttons, with graphical depictions for UUs only. Would make things much easier.

 

[Xyth]

I can't decide what the Berber's Corsair UU should replace. Thoughts?

Edit: it's a naval unit by the way.

 

[ales_]

I can't decide what the Berber's Corsair UU should replace. Thoughts?

The Barbary pirates , sometimes called Barbary corsairs or Ottoman corsairs, were pirates and privateers who operated from North Africa, based primarily in the ports of Tunis, Tripoli and Algiers.

So, a pirate or a privateer, depending on the era you wish to unlock it.

 

[Xyth]

Privateer seems the obvious choice, but since the Corsair will have different art to regular Privateers that annuls hidden nationality somewhat. That's why I'm hesitant. I'm not sure how much of a penalty what would be.

 

[ales_]

Privateer seems the obvious choice, but since the Corsair will have different art to regular Privateers that annuls hidden nationality somewhat.

I think this doesn't matter because often you can know the nationality of a Pirate/Privateer because it is on the same tile as a unit without hidden nationality.

 

[Xyth]

Apologies for being so quiet in recent days, new baby is keeping me rather busy. I am still chipping away at this though (and the rest of 1.20 as well), slow but steady. Adding and balancing 53 new units is a deceptively large task but I'm very pleased with the results so far.

 

[tchristensen]

Take your time sir, we can wait. Family comes first. When you are done, your fans will be eager to download it.

 

[Nightstar]

Take your time sir, we can wait. Family comes first. When you are done, your fans will be eager to download it.

Seconded in all respects!

 

[lindsay40k]

Looking forward to seeing Brazil and cracking on with a Terra map.

What's the plan with the Corsair? If it has a unique advantage over a Privateer affecting combat odds, then it definitely needs to be identifiable. But if it just gets a couple of free promos, or if it's got some kind of 'free gold when you attack and win' ability, then I'd say anonymity is absolutely vital for it in a MP context. Attack with no DOW loses a lot of its usefulness when your victim can always tell exactly against whom to aim reprisals. Unless it's possible to make the game display different unit art to a unit's owner to what it displays for everyone else (spies do something like this, don't they? Kinda?), I'd say that a Privateer UU with unique art will be almost impossible to balance.

Congratulations on the new arrival!

 

[Xyth]

What's the plan with the Corsair? If it has a unique advantage over a Privateer affecting combat odds, then it definitely needs to be identifiable. But if it just gets a couple of free promos, or if it's got some kind of 'free gold when you attack and win' ability, then I'd say anonymity is absolutely vital for it in a MP context. Attack with no DOW loses a lot of its usefulness when your victim can always tell exactly against whom to aim reprisals. Unless it's possible to make the game display different unit art to a unit's owner to what it displays for everyone else (spies do something like this, don't they? Kinda?), I'd say that a Privateer UU with unique art will be almost impossible to balance.

I haven't determined its stats yet but I will definitely base them around the unit being identifiable.

 

[Skidizzle]

What if we went a different direction with the Corsair and made it where it had the chance to capture a defeated naval unit and also had the ability to gain gold from blockades during war?

 

[Xyth]

Not made much progress over the last week as my littlest boy has been in hospital with suspected (but thankfully not) meningitis. Home again now and fully recovered, but quite the scare as he's only 5 weeks old.

Only 9 civilizations left that I haven't implemented a 2nd UU for yet: Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Israel, Arabia, Tamil, Vietnam, China, Anasazi. Some of those I have ideas for, it's just a matter of more research, reskinning, and/or reshuffling. Others I'm still stuck for ideas on. If you have any thoughts on any of those civs' UUs, now would be a good time to share them.

Also, any further thoughts on replacing America's Navy SEAL with a vehicle unit? The Minuteman is already in as the second UU.

What if we went a different direction with the Corsair and made it where it had the chance to capture a defeated naval unit and also had the ability to gain gold from blockades during war?

In order to keep the amount of testing time required at a minimum, I've decided not to code any custom abilities or stats for any of the 2nd UUs in 1.20. We can always revisit them later.

 

[ripple01]

Glad to hear your little boy is OK. I have a 5-month old girl, so I know how it is.

For Netherlands, have you considered the Blue Guards? They were an elite fighting force c. 1700, and this link seems to suggest that at least a portion of them were grenadiers, which could make it usable as a Grenadier replacement, although Musketman would work too.

http://bobrowen.com/nymas/boyne.html

Also, for Arabia, an Assassin (Hashashin) unit replacing the Spy would be awesome.

For China, the Junk is a viable option, IMO. I think Chinese sailing accomplishments are understated , typically, and this could put a different spin on playing with China.


Oh, and I like the B-17 for America, ala Civ5.