American Minutemen?

[Siggy_23]

Does anyone else think its historically wrong to give the US a special unit for the colonial era? Yes America did have minutemen but that is not the defining characteristic of America.

In 10,000 years people are not going to look back at America and say "oh remember the American Minutemen who won them the revolutionary war" the same way we look back at Rome and say "remember the Roman legion, they used roads to conquer the whole world"

I propose that America drop the Minutemen and gain the NASDAQ, this is a unique American replacement for the stock exchange
+33%
+10% if the civilization is in the black (monetarily)
+1 if the civilization is in the black (monetarily)
-1 if the civilization is in the red (monetarily)

This makes America firmly the latest blooming society and I think is incredibly accurate, it also makes the Americans rely on a strong economy or they can fall into a recession . . .

I posted this on the Civ 5 forums but I wanted to see what you all think

Thoughts?

 

[bruntfca]

How do you know what people will look back on as relevant in history?

As for NASDAQ!? omg that's a terrible idea. You DO realize that most of Wall Street is a money sucking Ponzi scheme. Do you know the ex-head of NASDAQ was none other than Mr Bernie Madoff!...I kid you not.

At least the Minuteman were men who were prepared to lay down their lives for something they believed in, not a bunch of financial terrorists.

 

[Demartus]

Ever hear of Francis "The Swamp Fox" Marion, during the Revolutionary war?

 

[Siggy_23]

Its just interesting to me, the american stock market has strongly effected life in this country for the past 100 years or so, the minuteman effected america for like five?

Which would you say has effected the american civilization more?

 

[Becephalus]

I think this is a good idea.

Not sure the building is perfect, but there are already a ton of special units in that era.

 

[Terrance888]

Its just interesting to me, the american stock market has strongly effected life in this country for the past 100 years or so, the minuteman effected america for like five?

Which would you say has effected the american civilization more?

The IDEA they represented lasted from the early 1600s to the early1800s. Of the settlement that defends itself, of independent american militias that defend their homes with their own blood. Those who hold off an enemy until the government can send a stronger responce. That was what they represented, and I feel it was represented rather well.

 

[ElephantRider]

Its just interesting to me, the american stock market has strongly effected life in this country for the past 100 years or so, the minuteman effected america for like five?

Which would you say has effected the american civilization more?

Hands down, it was the Minutemen. There would not be an America without them.

And I tend to think every Leader's special units should be from the time period that Leader was in power. And if they added a second Leader for some of the civs, that leader should have different special units that are from that time period.

 

[Siggy_23]

Hands down, it was the Minutemen. There would not be an America without them.

You guys do realize that, with the exception of Francis Marion, the militia had next to zero positive effect on the revolution until the last few battles after the tide had already turned?

Additionally why do these militia cost the same upkeep as a regular army?

And I tend to think every Leader's special units should be from the time period that Leader was in power. And if they added a second Leader for some of the civs, that leader should have different special units that are from that time period.

In principle I agree with you, but as a practical matter, both the B17 and the idea of manifest destiny are far after Washington's time, the latter first occurring officially in 1839

 

[ElephantRider]

You guys do realize that, with the exception of Francis Marion, the militia had next to zero positive effect on the revolution until the last few battles after the tide had already turned?

Additionally why do these militia cost the same upkeep as a regular army?

Good point about the upkeep cost.

And I would argue that the Minutmen's contribution to our society goes way deeper than just the few battles you're talking about. In all reality the Minutemen are still around, it's just now their called National Guard.

In principle I agree with you, but as a practical matter, both the B17 and the idea of manifest destiny are far after Washington's time, the latter first occurring officially in 1839

You know, after thinking about it, it really wouldn't be very practical to have the special units coincide with the time frame of the Leader. I might be neat, but not real practical. A good example that comes to mind is the Aztec special unit, the Jaguar. I mean really, it replaces the warrior. You get a warrior when you start. They become obsolete so quickly it sucks.

 

[Mrdarklight]

The problem with America in a game like this is that we did a lot of great things, and it's hard to pick just one or two. That said, our minutemen weren't known for being fantastic troops, more that they were just cheap to enlist. UU-wise, the B-17 is a fine choice, but something having to do with nuclear bombs probably would be better. Also I would think we might have an advantage in building either the Apollo program or spaceship parts.

 

[steveg700]

Minutemen are very iconic. Those fiver years (or so) were pretty important to the country's history.

But I do miss the shopping mall from Civ IV.

 

[Matthew.]

Yes America did have minutemen but that is not the defining characteristic of America.

Civ is a game, not a world history simulation. I don't see the point in trying to define the "best" characteristic of a nation, as I doubt you will ever get a widely accepted answer.

For example you think Nasdaq should be in. I say McDonald's is far more symbolic. There should be little golden arches all across the map.

 

[DemonicAppleGuY]

I say McDonald's is far more symbolic. There should be little golden arches all across the map.

I'd construct that building.

 

[Loucypher]

I'd construct that building.

It'd be a UI. Adds food, but removes all hammers, science and gold from the tile.

 

[DudewiththeFood]

I'd refuse to buy the game if it was Mcdonalds. They put gherkins on burgers!

On-topic, I'm guessing a NASDAQ is some type of bank. I know that minutemen were cheaply enlisted/volunteers whose irregular tactics helped turn the revolution and keep momentum. Those mere 5 years were 5 of the most important years in American history. And going by that pretext, how long were B-17s used for? And Panzers? And Zeros? Should they be changed too?

 

[mdl5000]

The problem I have with Minutemen is that they're neither representative nor were they influential. American militia were mostly private individuals: anyone of adult age living in a rural town was considered to be "militia". In battle, they were fairly unreliable unless they were incorporated into larger Continental Army units (e.g. the Battle of Cowpens).

If anything, a better unit would be the US Marine circa World War II, but we now already have a Marine unit for every civilization (why I don't know) and that would bunch up too close with the B-17 too late in the game.

 

[Louis XXIV]

Two UU over buildings is the preference for Firaxis whenever practicable. Two later UUs would weaken an already below-average Civ. The Musket replacement makes a lot of sense.

Personally, I would suggest replacing Minutemen with Frontiersman or Pioneer. The faster movement in terrain already fits that and it's there where Americans set themselves apart (not from a Boston militia with a record of 1-1). They were early users of Rifles. They would look distinctive (think Daniel Boone). And they represent more of America than a narrow sliver of geography and history. Plus, they demonstrate the idea of Manifest Destiny and "taming the American wilderness," which I think are big parts of American heritage.

 

[awesome]

I'd refuse to buy the game if it was Mcdonalds. They put gherkins on burgers!

On-topic, I'm guessing a NASDAQ is some type of bank. I know that minutemen were cheaply enlisted/volunteers whose irregular tactics helped turn the revolution and keep momentum. Those mere 5 years were 5 of the most important years in American history. And going by that pretext, how long were B-17s used for? And Panzers? And Zeros? Should they be changed too?

Pickles are delicious on burgers; this is not an opinion, but an objective fact.

Anyway, the NASDAQ is the second largest stock market in the US and the world, second to the New York Stock Exchange. So it doesn't really make sense to replace a bank. It would make more sense as a project or wonder, if anything.

 

[DudewiththeFood]

And that objective fact is your opinion.

So you agree that Minutemen can be kept in?

 

[awesome]

Indubitably