Xanthippus
Warlord
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2004
- Messages
- 101
I'm not just talking flavour buildings and units here. I think there should be specific improvements, wonders and units for each of the culture groups. For example, one of the things I really don't like is the Pyramids being built in, say, France, or England. It's dumb, the Pyramids should be restricted to Egypt, Aztecs, Mayans, Incans and any SE Asian Civs that may be included (they all had pyramids in one form or another). Similarly, a wonder like the Eiffel Tower should be restricted to European cultures.
A lot of the fun of Civ is giving the player control, and the chance to rewrite history, that's why I don't think it should go as far as only allowing the Civ that really did build it access to that wonder. However, some restrictions should be necessary as they are just ludicrous. As I have already mentioned, the Pyramids is one example, but an even more ridiculous one is Sun Tzu's Art of War being built in non-Asian countries.
As for improvements, the same goes for wonders, some just don't fit with other groups. A cathedral in Arabic cultures? Sure, the icon has changed to reflect a Mosque, but it wouldn't be that hard to change the name to fit as well. That's a flavour, but I thought I should put that in anyway. Some culture specific improvements that could be put in would be like:
Concert Hall (European): Makes one unhappy citizen content; justification - Europe was the first to create specific buildings for concerts, during the Renaissance.
Opium House (Asian): Increases base tax revenue and entertainment in city by 50%; justification - Opium was a big trade in Asia.
I won't go into any more detail, these are some examples, I'm sure there are many more people can think of. I know that I have quite a few in my head. As for units, the exact same reason. Spearmen just don't belong in the American cultures; sure they had men outfirred with spears, but they used different tactics, they weren't the European definition of a spearman. Also, the Chu'ko'nu (repeating crossbowman) is something that should be available to Asian cultures, but it wouldn't make sense anywhere else. Similarly, the Arbalester (very heavy crossbowman) should be available to European cultures, but again, wouldn't make sense anywhere else. I also would like to see plenty of flavour units for each culture.
On the point of uniqueness, I don't have much to say. Simply, I would like to see multiple UUs, and also to have Unique Wonders and Unique Improvements.
Why all this? Simple: variety is the spice of life! Add strengths and weaknesses, tangible reasons to pick one civ over another, and I think you're adding a lot of fun. They should be balanced, certainly, but as it is, each civ is pretty much like every other. Civ III improved it a lot, because in Civ I and Civ II there was NO variation what so ever, but I think Civ IV should take it even further.
A lot of the fun of Civ is giving the player control, and the chance to rewrite history, that's why I don't think it should go as far as only allowing the Civ that really did build it access to that wonder. However, some restrictions should be necessary as they are just ludicrous. As I have already mentioned, the Pyramids is one example, but an even more ridiculous one is Sun Tzu's Art of War being built in non-Asian countries.
As for improvements, the same goes for wonders, some just don't fit with other groups. A cathedral in Arabic cultures? Sure, the icon has changed to reflect a Mosque, but it wouldn't be that hard to change the name to fit as well. That's a flavour, but I thought I should put that in anyway. Some culture specific improvements that could be put in would be like:
Concert Hall (European): Makes one unhappy citizen content; justification - Europe was the first to create specific buildings for concerts, during the Renaissance.
Opium House (Asian): Increases base tax revenue and entertainment in city by 50%; justification - Opium was a big trade in Asia.
I won't go into any more detail, these are some examples, I'm sure there are many more people can think of. I know that I have quite a few in my head. As for units, the exact same reason. Spearmen just don't belong in the American cultures; sure they had men outfirred with spears, but they used different tactics, they weren't the European definition of a spearman. Also, the Chu'ko'nu (repeating crossbowman) is something that should be available to Asian cultures, but it wouldn't make sense anywhere else. Similarly, the Arbalester (very heavy crossbowman) should be available to European cultures, but again, wouldn't make sense anywhere else. I also would like to see plenty of flavour units for each culture.
On the point of uniqueness, I don't have much to say. Simply, I would like to see multiple UUs, and also to have Unique Wonders and Unique Improvements.
Why all this? Simple: variety is the spice of life! Add strengths and weaknesses, tangible reasons to pick one civ over another, and I think you're adding a lot of fun. They should be balanced, certainly, but as it is, each civ is pretty much like every other. Civ III improved it a lot, because in Civ I and Civ II there was NO variation what so ever, but I think Civ IV should take it even further.
