TyrannusRex
Warlord
Whereas the First Look posts endeavor to emulate an official reveal akin to Firaxis' own videos, (or at least what their videos used to be like) these Deep Dives will explore the concepts and mechanics of the civ on a deeper level as well as providing some nice 'flavor' text and some insight into my design process.
For a quick refresher:
Irish Empire
Éirinn go Brách
Irish cities that keep their original Pantheon/Religion as well as those that remain undiscovered by other civilizations generate +20% bonus Culture. If an Irish city is captured by another civilization, it yields -10% Culture than normal until freed.
Hobelar
Unique light cavalry unit that replaces the Courser. Costs less to create or upgrade and has increased movement that is not affected by Hills or Rivers.
Ringfort
Unique tile improvement that unlocks with Masonry. Can be constructed around Farms, Plantations, Camps, Pastures, and any completed, non-defensible District to add protection against pillaging. The Ringfort on a given tile must be destroyed before the tile can be pillaged.
Brian Boru
King of Tributes
All Trade Routes connecting Irish cities with those of friendly or allied civilizations yield +3 Gold. All tribal villages met or any barbarian outposts pillaged within 10 tiles of an Irish city yield +20 Gold in addition to their normal yield. All city-states grant a bonus of 25 Gold the first time Ireland becomes their suzerain.
Great Liberator
Likes civilizations who defy the will of stronger civilizations. Dislikes those who actively or unfairly target other civilizations or who conquer many city-states.
Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, you lead an indomitable and proud people. The verdant hills of the Emerald Isle will remain safe and free from invaders under your watchful and steady hand. Build ringforts to protect your subjects, send hobelars to harass your enemies, but most of all, look inward - for there, you will find Éirinn's greatest strength. It is with this strength of spirit and determination that you will guide your people forward, and forevermore will history say that you carried with you the luck of the Irish.
Brian's Details
Religion: Catholicism
General personality: Initially untrusting but hides a warm and amicable disposition.
(This general description I thought would be helpful to get across what it would feel like to play against and interact with the leaders, since you can't see them animated.)
Dialogue:
Brian would speak Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) ideally, as it was the form of the language active during his lifetime, though if a lack of scholarship, translation, or other issues conspired to make its usage unfeasible, I'd recommend using the modern Irish language (preferably a form from Munster, where Brian was born) with some archaisms thrown in, such as his name being Brian Bóruma instead of the modern Brian Bóramha.
Ireland's Details
Start bias: Tier 2 towards Marsh, Grassland Hills; Tier 3 towards Coast, River; Tier 5 towards resources improved by Farms and Pastures
Ideal victory types: Culture, Religion
Jerseys:
The Celtic harp has long been a national symbol for Ireland and her people.
The first three jerseys take inspiration from Ireland's association with green. Numbers 2 and 4 take inspiration from the flag of the Republic of Ireland.
City list:
(In case you can't tell, I like to include Easter egg or humorous-sounding location names in the final slot.) : P
Citizen list:
River names: River Shannon, River Barrow, River Blackwater, River Glyde, Dargle River, Roogagh River...
Lake names: Lough Neagh, Lough Leane, Lough Corrib, Lough Derravaragh, Lough Ramor, Glencar Lough, Muckross Lake...
Sea/Ocean names: Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, St. George's Channel
Mountain Range names: Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Mourne Mountains, Wicklow Mountains, Sperrins, Twelve Bens, Slieveardagh Hills, Boggeragh Mountains, Maumturks...
Volcano names: Slieve Gullion, Croghan Hill, Mount Slemish, Loch na Fooey
Civilization theme: Óró 'sé do bheatha 'bhaile
An Irish folk song of obscure origin that eventually came to be associated with the Jacobite Uprising, and later, with adaptation, Irish independence. It tells of Grace O'Malley, or Gráinne Mhaol in her native tongue, a formidable pirate who sailed the western coast of Ireland and eventually became an icon of the country itself.
Examples for Inspiration: "Medieval Era"
"Industrial Era"
Ideally, I would keep the lyrics in each era's composition, since I think they really add something to the musical accompaniment, and it would be a nice change of pace from the music of most European civs. (Ultimately, I trust Phill, Geoff, and Roland's capable hands.) 
I probably won't normally provide ambient track suggestions, since I don't consider myself very well versed in various cultures' music, but here, I do think an excellent choice for an instrumental track would be Siúil a Rún, a song with frankly a very lovely melody that would fit well within a game like Civ VI.
My personal favorite rendition of the song, albeit with lyrics:
Edit: Found an instrumental version I like!
Ultimately, when I set out to design an Irish civ, I wanted to design one that focused on the Irish people's strong will and rich history. To me, what came to mind was Irish independence, as embodied by figures like Brian Boru and Gráinne Mhaol, and eventually won after terrible strife and conflict. The Irish aren't a people I see as being kept down easily. I apologize if my representation feels hollow or incomplete compared to other civs - Ireland actually was my first attempt at making one, I've been working on this project a long time - but I ultimately feel happy with it. That's not to say I may not tweak things after some more thought, however. I admit there are probably things that could be improved.
Hobelar's Details
Era: Medieval
Promotion Tree: Light Cavalry
Upgrades from: Horseman
Upgrades to: Cavalry
Unlocks with: Castles
Obsolete with: Synthetic Materials
(Is it just me that thinks that should be Military Science because that's when the Cavalry unlocks? No?)
Cost:
•10 Horses
•120 Production
•650 Gold
•3 Gold maintenance cost
Stats:
•Movement: 6 (unaffected by Hills or Rivers)
•Melee: 48
•Sight: 2
Ringfort's Details
Unlocked by: Masonry
Built by: Builder, Military Engineer
Pillage award: Nothing
Terrain: Existing Farm, Plantation, Camp, Pasture, or completed, non-defensible District
Effects:
•Protects tile beneath from pillaging until it is pillaged itself. Can only be pillaged, never destroyed.
For a quick refresher:
Irish Empire
Éirinn go Brách
Irish cities that keep their original Pantheon/Religion as well as those that remain undiscovered by other civilizations generate +20% bonus Culture. If an Irish city is captured by another civilization, it yields -10% Culture than normal until freed.
Hobelar
Unique light cavalry unit that replaces the Courser. Costs less to create or upgrade and has increased movement that is not affected by Hills or Rivers.
Ringfort
Unique tile improvement that unlocks with Masonry. Can be constructed around Farms, Plantations, Camps, Pastures, and any completed, non-defensible District to add protection against pillaging. The Ringfort on a given tile must be destroyed before the tile can be pillaged.
Brian Boru
King of Tributes
All Trade Routes connecting Irish cities with those of friendly or allied civilizations yield +3 Gold. All tribal villages met or any barbarian outposts pillaged within 10 tiles of an Irish city yield +20 Gold in addition to their normal yield. All city-states grant a bonus of 25 Gold the first time Ireland becomes their suzerain.
Great Liberator
Likes civilizations who defy the will of stronger civilizations. Dislikes those who actively or unfairly target other civilizations or who conquer many city-states.
Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, you lead an indomitable and proud people. The verdant hills of the Emerald Isle will remain safe and free from invaders under your watchful and steady hand. Build ringforts to protect your subjects, send hobelars to harass your enemies, but most of all, look inward - for there, you will find Éirinn's greatest strength. It is with this strength of spirit and determination that you will guide your people forward, and forevermore will history say that you carried with you the luck of the Irish.
Brian's Details
Religion: Catholicism
General personality: Initially untrusting but hides a warm and amicable disposition.
(This general description I thought would be helpful to get across what it would feel like to play against and interact with the leaders, since you can't see them animated.)
Dialogue:
Brian would speak Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) ideally, as it was the form of the language active during his lifetime, though if a lack of scholarship, translation, or other issues conspired to make its usage unfeasible, I'd recommend using the modern Irish language (preferably a form from Munster, where Brian was born) with some archaisms thrown in, such as his name being Brian Bóruma instead of the modern Brian Bóramha.
Spoiler Dialogue :
Ireland's Details
Start bias: Tier 2 towards Marsh, Grassland Hills; Tier 3 towards Coast, River; Tier 5 towards resources improved by Farms and Pastures
Ideal victory types: Culture, Religion
Jerseys:
The Celtic harp has long been a national symbol for Ireland and her people.
The first three jerseys take inspiration from Ireland's association with green. Numbers 2 and 4 take inspiration from the flag of the Republic of Ireland.
City list:
Spoiler Irish Cities :
Cashel(In case you can't tell, I like to include Easter egg or humorous-sounding location names in the final slot.) : P
Citizen list:
Spoiler Irish Citizens :
River names: River Shannon, River Barrow, River Blackwater, River Glyde, Dargle River, Roogagh River...
Lake names: Lough Neagh, Lough Leane, Lough Corrib, Lough Derravaragh, Lough Ramor, Glencar Lough, Muckross Lake...
Sea/Ocean names: Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, St. George's Channel
Mountain Range names: Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Mourne Mountains, Wicklow Mountains, Sperrins, Twelve Bens, Slieveardagh Hills, Boggeragh Mountains, Maumturks...
Volcano names: Slieve Gullion, Croghan Hill, Mount Slemish, Loch na Fooey
Civilization theme: Óró 'sé do bheatha 'bhaile
An Irish folk song of obscure origin that eventually came to be associated with the Jacobite Uprising, and later, with adaptation, Irish independence. It tells of Grace O'Malley, or Gráinne Mhaol in her native tongue, a formidable pirate who sailed the western coast of Ireland and eventually became an icon of the country itself.
Examples for Inspiration: "Medieval Era"
I probably won't normally provide ambient track suggestions, since I don't consider myself very well versed in various cultures' music, but here, I do think an excellent choice for an instrumental track would be Siúil a Rún, a song with frankly a very lovely melody that would fit well within a game like Civ VI.
My personal favorite rendition of the song, albeit with lyrics:
Ultimately, when I set out to design an Irish civ, I wanted to design one that focused on the Irish people's strong will and rich history. To me, what came to mind was Irish independence, as embodied by figures like Brian Boru and Gráinne Mhaol, and eventually won after terrible strife and conflict. The Irish aren't a people I see as being kept down easily. I apologize if my representation feels hollow or incomplete compared to other civs - Ireland actually was my first attempt at making one, I've been working on this project a long time - but I ultimately feel happy with it. That's not to say I may not tweak things after some more thought, however. I admit there are probably things that could be improved.
Hobelar's Details
Era: Medieval
Promotion Tree: Light Cavalry
Upgrades from: Horseman
Upgrades to: Cavalry
Unlocks with: Castles
Obsolete with: Synthetic Materials
(Is it just me that thinks that should be Military Science because that's when the Cavalry unlocks? No?)
Cost:
•10 Horses
•120 Production
•650 Gold
•3 Gold maintenance cost
Stats:
•Movement: 6 (unaffected by Hills or Rivers)
•Melee: 48
•Sight: 2
Ringfort's Details
Unlocked by: Masonry
Built by: Builder, Military Engineer
Pillage award: Nothing
Terrain: Existing Farm, Plantation, Camp, Pasture, or completed, non-defensible District
Effects:
•Protects tile beneath from pillaging until it is pillaged itself. Can only be pillaged, never destroyed.
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