[DLL] (8-NS) 4UC China

[pineappledan]

This is a thread for discussing the addition of 2 more unique components to the Chinese civilization.

Spoiler Full kit with 4UC changes :

Spoiler Description of new components and changes to existing kit, differences from base component are underlined: :

UM - Baochuan (replaces Frigate)

available at Astronomy​

375 Production cost​

28 CS​

37 RCS​

4 Movement​

"Hull III"​

"Kowtow" (+2 City-State Influence every turn if unit is within its borders)​

Requires Iron​

UB - Examination Hall (replaces Chancery)

Unlocked at Education​

300 Production cost​

+1 Gold for every City-State Friend and +2 Production for every Ally​

+10% Production to Diplomatic Units​

15 GPP toward Great Person with most points on Citizen Birth, scaling with Era​

1 Civil Servant Specialists Slots​

"Royal Signet" promotion to Diplomatic Units trained in the City​

+2 Gold for Great Works in the city​

 

[pineappledan]

Overall grade: B+
China’s components were designed in a time when the civ was a juggernaut. The civ has been been largely brought back under control over the years but is still very strong. The power of the base kit doesn’t leave much room for designing something too useful or synergistic, because it would just push China back over the edge. Instead, we opted to add diplomatic bonuses which adds a new dimension from China’s more generalist/cultural civ package. I think it works well enough.

Baochuan
Theme - B. Maybe not the most emblematic historical artifact from all of China’s vast history, but the Red Junk is certainly iconic. Zheng He’s voyages are legendary historical mythmaking.
Mechanics – C. The Kowtow ability generates influence with the CS that owns the tile it occupies. This is fine enough for a unique mechanic or a human player but would require bespoke AI for the computer player to grasp. It’s also passive to just park a unit somewhere and get a reward. It would be better if it were some sort of 1-time action like the Nau’s exotic cargo, except it gave influence instead of XP.
Uniqueness - A. Bonus points for a unique boat. Those are rare. Unique enough idea of a diplomatic frigate. Tilts China into a new diplomacy direction which is interesting.

Examination Hall
Theme – S. A depiction of the Chinese imperial examination system is such a major part of the history of China and the wider region, it is utterly bizarre it was left on the cutting room floor in favor of “paper maker”
Mechanics - B. The UB gives GPPs on birth. This combines with China’s large growth bonuses and helps convert that back into Great works for more WLTED triggers in guild cities. A neat little bridge component.
Uniqueness - B. No other Chanceries in the game. GPP on birth are familiar to players because of other yield on birth mechanics, but with a little twist.

 

[Stalker0]

I agree with your report card that I think kowtow as an instant ability would be far better than this ongoing on, its too passive.

 

[pineappledan]

I agree with your report card that I think kowtow as an instant ability would be far better than this ongoing on, its too passive.

You should counterpropose it.

 

[hokath]

MAGI:
The exam hall needs this Building column HighestGPPOnBirth
The Bauchuan needs its promotion with some column InfluencePerTurn

 

[pineappledan]

The baochuan would need some AI support in order to use the influence per turn ability.
The alternative is to change the ability to a 1-time action that gives influence. That way the baochuan could use the Nau’s exotic cargo function for the AI.

If something like that is not in the cards then we can just scrap the influence ability entirely, and keep the unit as a stronger frigate.

 

[axatin]

15 GPP toward Great Person with most points on Citizen Birth, scaling with Era

what if there's a tie?

 

[pineappledan]

Tie breaker is whatever GP is first in the list.

 

[azum4roll]

That way the baochuan could use the Nau’s exotic cargo function for the AI.

Not possible without adding UNITAI_EXPLORE_SEA to the unit in Unit_AITypes. And even then the ship needs to be assigned as an explore unit by the AI (limited amount).

There's a reason why I made it use the Diplo Unit AI instead.

 

[Recursive]

Timestamp post to arrange all the threads in a neat order.