Design your own Civ VI civ

[Bonyduck Campersang]

AUSTRIA (not that needed)
Unique Bonus: Union of Two Kingdoms - Diplomatic marriages to city-states fully annex them.
Unique Unit: Grezner - Replaces rifleman. 3x strength during crusades.
Unique Infrastructure: Coffee House - Replaces bar. +1 culture and +2 happiness.

MARIA THERESA
Leader Bonus: Courts of Vienna - +2 Great People points and +1 diplomatic favor per district in the capital.

FRANZ JOSEPH
Leader Bonus: Fire of Europe - Units gain +5 Combat Strength after starting a World War.

Music:
Rock Me Amadeus by Falco

There are already mods for both leaders in the Steam Workshop

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

I'm in favor of the strategic bomber as a US unique unit. While it may not be the most unique aspect of the US arsenal, it is by far the most iconic one, with the entire Fortress family (Flying, Super and Strato) as well as the Liberator and to a lesser degree Lancer being the most recognizable emblems of American military power for most of the twentieth century into the twenty first.

(Incidentally the bomber in civ V was the B-17 Flying Fortress, not the B-29 Superfortress).

I remember the B-17 in Civ V, but there was an earlier Civ or Civ-variant that used the Lancaster. Now I'm going to go quite mad until I track down which game it was!

IF America is going to get a Strategic Bomber UU, and I agree on its visibility if not its actual effectiveness in cost to damage inflicted ratio, then the game also has to get strategic bombing, and the air war in general, Right. Fighter interception, the extreme cost of building, manning, and developing the unique technical skills to make strategic bombing even marginally effective (formation flying, navigational aids, bomb sights, specialized bombs and munitions, escort flying and the aircraft to do decent escort work, etc.), close air support as the alternative to the strategic war, the peculiarities of naval air forces and naval aircraft, etc. Note that only two countries in the world ever developed real strategic air forces, and then doing so took an enormous percentage of their manpower and industrial capacity - nobody else even came close. Germany and the USSR's share of 'heavy bombers' (4-engined, long range, 4 tons or better bomb load) were measured in the dozens compared to the USAF and RAF forces measured in the thousands.

Getting the Wild Blue Yonder right in the game would also open up some other potential UUs, like the German Ju-87 Stuka or Soviet IL-2 Sturmovik. Right now, in Civ VI, no air UU is of much use since the AI is apparently oblivious to all air units so that 'air combat' simply does not happen - I've never seen an air battle in over 3000 hours of playing time in Civ VI, which is pretty pathetic.

 

[Evie]

I mean, that's the point of using the bomber, which is *not* focused on air combat as the base for the UU. Focusing on a plane whose job it is to destroy ground unit and infrastructure (which the AI definitely builds), and making it better at *that*, alleviate many of the problems with fighter-based UUs.

 

[Caesar of Bread]

I remember the B-17 in Civ V, but there was an earlier Civ or Civ-variant that used the Lancaster. Now I'm going to go quite mad until I track down which game it was!

IF America is going to get a Strategic Bomber UU, and I agree on its visibility if not its actual effectiveness in cost to damage inflicted ratio, then the game also has to get strategic bombing, and the air war in general, Right. Fighter interception, the extreme cost of building, manning, and developing the unique technical skills to make strategic bombing even marginally effective (formation flying, navigational aids, bomb sights, specialized bombs and munitions, escort flying and the aircraft to do decent escort work, etc.), close air support as the alternative to the strategic war, the peculiarities of naval air forces and naval aircraft, etc. Note that only two countries in the world ever developed real strategic air forces, and then doing so took an enormous percentage of their manpower and industrial capacity - nobody else even came close. Germany and the USSR's share of 'heavy bombers' (4-engined, long range, 4 tons or better bomb load) were measured in the dozens compared to the USAF and RAF forces measured in the thousands.

Getting the Wild Blue Yonder right in the game would also open up some other potential UUs, like the German Ju-87 Stuka or Soviet IL-2 Sturmovik. Right now, in Civ VI, no air UU is of much use since the AI is apparently oblivious to all air units so that 'air combat' simply does not happen - I've never seen an air battle in over 3000 hours of playing time in Civ VI, which is pretty pathetic.

Stukas and Sturmoviks could be cool, maybe a Blackbird would work for a plane UU or something.

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

The B-17 "Flying Fortress" and B-24 "Liberator" were the two US heavy bombers used to pulverize German factories and other targets. However, both were designed around the US Army Air Force doctrine of precision bombing to take out enemy industry and infrastructure - it just turned out to be too expensive in heavy bombers, so they ended up smashing German cities in area bombing instead.

In contrast, the British learned that it was too expensive right at the beginning of the war, so their Lancaster heavy bomber was designed from the start to drop as much tonnage as possible onto German cities to attack the work force rather than the workplaces. It was truly a Terrorist weapon, but ironically was used as the default Bomber graphic in a previous Civ game. Political Correctness has always been a bit of a problem for Historical games . . .

I threw out Redlegs as a nod to the US Army's Fire Direction Center concept developed in the late 1930s, that made the US artillery the most dangerous single weapon other than atomic on any battlefield.

1. Under 1 UPT System, Should Redlegs 'shoots twice per turn'?
2. Under stacking (of any kind). what should Redlegs do to be more special. 'Free Upgrade to Computerized Artillery'? (my idea regarding to 'Endgame Bigguns' unit since it covers every kind of artillery with computerizations, either MLRS or Gun Howitzers)

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

I remember the B-17 in Civ V, but there was an earlier Civ or Civ-variant that used the Lancaster. Now I'm going to go quite mad until I track down which game it was!

IF America is going to get a Strategic Bomber UU, and I agree on its visibility if not its actual effectiveness in cost to damage inflicted ratio, then the game also has to get strategic bombing, and the air war in general, Right. Fighter interception, the extreme cost of building, manning, and developing the unique technical skills to make strategic bombing even marginally effective (formation flying, navigational aids, bomb sights, specialized bombs and munitions, escort flying and the aircraft to do decent escort work, etc.), close air support as the alternative to the strategic war, the peculiarities of naval air forces and naval aircraft, etc. Note that only two countries in the world ever developed real strategic air forces, and then doing so took an enormous percentage of their manpower and industrial capacity - nobody else even came close. Germany and the USSR's share of 'heavy bombers' (4-engined, long range, 4 tons or better bomb load) were measured in the dozens compared to the USAF and RAF forces measured in the thousands.

Getting the Wild Blue Yonder right in the game would also open up some other potential UUs, like the German Ju-87 Stuka or Soviet IL-2 Sturmovik. Right now, in Civ VI, no air UU is of much use since the AI is apparently oblivious to all air units so that 'air combat' simply does not happen - I've never seen an air battle in over 3000 hours of playing time in Civ VI, which is pretty pathetic.

This means Strategic Bomber and Tac Bomber should be different units entirely and has different unit lineage? and when in game should it begins?
Since Strategic Bomber in WW2 (one might say that Zeppelin Staaken R. VI featured prominently in Wonder Woman movie is the first of such) evolved into B-52 (or equivalents of other countries) in Cold War.

 

[reddishrecue]

Or.. why not make US air UU an F-15 fighter jet plane instead of making it the default like it used to be for every civ?
It should give +2 range of interception and sight, starts with dogfighter 1 and intercepts any aircraft within its range, airlifts and space race launches launched from a rival city within its range.
As for the default jet fighter plane should just be a regular jet fighter and not F-15.

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Civilization: Kushan Empire (Silk Road): Incoming foreign traders grant bonus faith, science and Great Person points.
Leader: Kanishka (Divine Conqueror): Military units receive 2 convert charges when capturing a city. Receive a free trader + trade route when a city is converted to your religion for the first time.
Unique Unit: Yuezhi Horse Archer: Receives additional strength for every district in the nearest city.
Unique Building: Stupa: Replaces the Shrine. Costs no maintenance, AND grants +1 gold for every incoming trade route to the city.

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Civilization: Zapotec Empire (Cloud People): Population growth increased by +20% for every city-state you are a suzerain of. Killing enemy units grants Envoy points, double for killing Great Generals and capturing cities.
Leader 1: Cosijoeza (Storm of Obsidian Knives): +50% flanking bonus for friendly units (units belonging to civilizations and city-states you have a friendship with and/or at war with a common foe). Receive a burst of Great General points each time you sign a Declaration of Friendship.
Leader 2: Donají (In The Shade of a Beautiful Flower): Receive culture for every Zapotec unit killed. Great Writer, Artist, Musician points increased for every city in enemy hands or razed.
Unique Unit: Lightning Warrior: Replaces the Swordsman. +1 strength for every unit it has killed.
Unique Building: Ball Court: Provides amenities and random bursts of culture.

 

[Evie]

Or.. why not make US air UU an F-15 fighter jet plane instead of making it the default like it used to be for every civ?
It should give +2 range of interception and sight, starts with dogfighter 1 and intercepts any aircraft within its range, airlifts and space race launches launched from a rival city within its range.
As for the default jet fighter plane should just be a regular jet fighter and not F-15.

1. From a flavor perspective: because fighter power in general, and the F-15 in particular, are not that especially attached to America.
2. From a uniqueness perspective: because multiple other major country/market use the F-15 (Japan, Israel, South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, etc). A number of which are in-game civs.
3. From a game perspective: because fighters have very limited use unless your opponents (the AI) build bombers, meaning that if you'e ahead in techs or the AI is bad at air war, they're useless.

In contrast, the B-2, B-52, B-29 and B-17 are all iconic planes (the B-1 less so) that are inseparable in popular consciousness over the world from American airpower, and most of which were very scarce outside US service, and being bombers are useful no matter what the AI builds.

 

[Patine]

Unique Building: Stupa: Replaces the Shrine. Costs no maintenance, AND grants +1 gold for every incoming trade route to the city.

Were they building stupas as far back as the Kushan Empire? I had thought they had started coming into being with the Malla Dynasty in Kathmadu and Atan Khan granting Tibet to the rule of Llamaite under his military protection after converting to Tibetan Buddhism. I admit, I could be wrong, there, and am just confirming.

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Were they building stupas as far back as the Kushan Empire? I had thought they had started coming into being with the Malla Dynasty in Kathmadu and Atan Khan granting Tibet to the rule of Llamaite under his military protection after converting to Tibetan Buddhism. I admit, I could be wrong, there, and am just confirming.

Seems so from this Wikipedia article. There's also a paper referenced at the end of the page on the Kushan Empire titled 'The Stupa of Kanishka the Great' or something.

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

Seems so from this Wikipedia article. There's also a paper referenced at the end of the page on the Kushan Empire titled 'The Stupa of Kanishka the Great' or something.

Earliest Stupas appear in India in the 3rd century BCE, derived from earlier 'tumulus' - type monuments and burials. That places them a good 400 + years before the Kushan Empire.

On the other hand, one of the characteristics of the Kushans was their extreme multi-religiousity (as well as their Trade focus, being the classic 'middle men' between Rome and the Chinese covering the Silk Road routes). Their coinage shows elements from Hellenistic (Bactrian) Greek religious cults, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Shaivism and existing examples of Kushan coins depict 33 different divinities from Greek, Indian, Persian, and local Central Asian religious beliefs. Since the classic Stupa is associated with Buddhism almost exclusively, that makes it a poor, or at least insufficient, fit for the Kushans, I would think.

One possible alternative, since the Kushan coinage was extremely influential (it was copied from Bengal to Persia) would be the Mint, providing 1 Gold per Trade Route and 2 extra Gold per Silver deposit worked by the city.

 

[reddishrecue]

1. From a flavor perspective: because fighter power in general, and the F-15 in particular, are not that especially attached to America.
2. From a uniqueness perspective: because multiple other major country/market use the F-15 (Japan, Israel, South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, etc). A number of which are in-game civs.
3. From a game perspective: because fighters have very limited use unless your opponents (the AI) build bombers, meaning that if you'e ahead in techs or the AI is bad at air war, they're useless.

In contrast, the B-2, B-52, B-29 and B-17 are all iconic planes (the B-1 less so) that are inseparable in popular consciousness over the world from American airpower, and most of which were very scarce outside US service, and being bombers are useful no matter what the AI builds.

That does make sense. Any attempt to try to change the bombers into fighter jets would be weird because other air forces do specialize in their fighter unit such as Japan. Youre right, keeping a bombers unit for usa would be fine still as a unique unit. However, my suggestion could still be used for any fighter unit that is unique.

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Ideas for alternative Ottoman leaders:

Köprülü Mehmed Pasha: Can have two of each governor type (Can hire twin siblings of each governor type, who have the same promotion trees.)
Governors:
Castellan: Victor, Konrad
Educator: Pingala, Panini
Diplomat: Amani, Rehema
Surveyor: Liang, Ning
Cardinal: Moksha, Nirvana
Steward: Magnus, Brutus
Financier: Reyna, Zyanya

Kösem Sultan: Gain access to the Philanthropy project, which gives amenities at cost of gold. Religious buildings are 50% cheaper to purchase.

Turhan Sultan: Can use gold to purchase Districts. Purchase and construction costs for Districts during Golden Eras are halved.

Bayezid I: Each unit receives +2 strength for each unit it has killed. Units recieve +2 movement and +20% combat strength for 5-10 turns upon declaration of war.

Bayezid II: Gain Great Person points when a foreign city is captured by anyone other than Bayezid.

Osman I: Receive five free military units upon declaring a Holy War, which is unlocked at Divine Right instead of Diplomatic Service.

Mahmud II: Gain access to the Reform and Auspicious Incident projects. Reform increases science and culture but decreases amenities. Auspicious Incident upgrades all units within city for free, but at risk of turning some into barbarians. Defeating such a barbarian grants a upgraded version of that unit.

Mehmed II: Cost to purchase Great Persons reduced for each city not originally founded by Mehmed. Conquering a city preserves unique buildings and improvements. Gain access to the Great Bombard, which is unlocked earlier than the Bombard it replaces. Has extremely powerful ranged attack, but at cost of weak defense and slow movement.

Mehmed IV: Capturing cities grants increased loyalty to all other cities. Districts provide Governor points. Increased loyalty from Governors.

Orhan: Holy Districts increase Great General points and unit production for Military Districts in the same city. Gain access to the Yaya unique unit, a stronger but more expensive version of the Swordsman/Man-at-Arms.

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Revamped abilities for Kösem and Mehmed IV and added Roxalena:

Kösem Sultan: Governor promotions are earned twice as fast. Increased Loyalty from Governors.

Mehmed IV: Capturing cities grants increased loyalty to all other cities and also grants a burst of faith. Units gain +2 strength for every city not originally founded by Mehmed.

Roxalena: Gain access to the Philanthropy project, which gives amenities at cost of gold. Religious buildings are 50% cheaper to purchase.

 

[Caesar of Bread]

Creating designs for leaders that were or possibly were members of the LGBT+ community. Happy Pride Month!

Frederick the Great (Germany- gay): After capturing a city, get a boost in Great Writers and a Eureka.

James (Scotland/England- possibly bi): Great Works give faith bonuses.

William of Orange (Netherlands): Can peacefully annex city-states.

Hatshepsut (Egypt-possibly trans or nonbinary): Scouts are free to manage.

Hadrian (Rome-gay): Walls are built at 2x speed.

Nero (Rome-bisexual): Get Great Musician boost through natural disasters

(I don't know how to do Han Wudi, who may have been gay. @pineappledan created a great Babur design, check it out if you can. Also Christina, Ludwig II, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Abe Lincoln [possibly bi] are already in Civ)

 

[Patine]

William of Orange (Netherlands): Can peacefully annex city-states.

BTW, which William of Orange? There were six of them.

 

[Ryansinbela]

I think the one from 5

BTW, which William of Orange? There were six of them.

 

[Patine]

I think the one from 5

I've often confessed to not having played Civ5 among the franchise iterations.