Henry VIII: a Second Leader for England

[The Kingmaker]

When considering a second leader for England, I'm sure some people immediately jump to Elizabeth I. After all, she's a very significant leader and has been in every other version of Civ to date.

But what if this time, her boisterous, blustering father was featured instead? After all, Henry VIII is one of the most iconic English monarchs ever.

His loud, larger-than-life personality might make a nice contrast with Victoria's prim and proper attitude. We are going for "big" personalities in Civ VI.

Now I know Gorgo shares Pericles' music, but I don't think it would be too challenging to put together a version of Greensleeves for Henry to have a unique theme. There's already a version in game.

His unique agenda could be called "A Man for All Seasons" (tongue-in-cheek, of course). Or it could be "Renaissance Man." I suggest that he favor leaders who align with him in emphasizing one particular interest, and then have that interest change at random throughout the game to represent Henry's own constantly shifting interests. He might start out obsessed with culture, then be fanatical about religion, then become a hardcore militarist. This would fit with how he jumped around in his pet projects, from composing music to jousting and wrestling to defending the faith to fighting the church to invading Calais.

Yes, I am suggesting that King Henry channel Mr. Toad from The Wind in the Willows ever so slightly, at least in terms of shifting interests.

Finally, he needs to be voiced by BRIAN BLESSED. If you don't know why I wrote his name in all caps, then you probably haven't heard of him.

Google Henry 8.0 to see his portrayal of a modern day Henry's exploits in various BBC comedy sketches.

Seriously, this needs to happen.

 

[The Kingmaker]

Also, where Victoria uses her fan as a prop, Henry should have a half-eaten haunch of meat.

He should use it gesture at the player while talking and casually eat from it while awaiting a player's response.

I know it's something of a caricature, but let's face it; so are all the CivVI leaders.

 

[Haig]

Man that would be an awesome looking leader! Sadly he is one of the British monarchs I don't know much about - apart for decapitating the wives, of course..

England could have so many colorful leaders, Churchill puffing his cigar, Henry V, etc..

 

[Cliomancer]

Off the top of my head, Henry VIII's exploits which could be translated into game terms:

-When the Catholic Church wouldn't annul his first marriage, he renounced papal authority and declared himself head of the Church of England. Perhaps when he spreads his state religion it's better able to reduce foreign religions in his cities. Alternatively perhaps beliefs which produce benefits which accrue to the founder of religions (Like Tithe) accrue to England instead when the followers are in England.
-Was fond of entertainments ranging from composing music to hunting, to eating, to cock fighting. Perhaps he could build entertainment complexes in half the time.
-Was something of a spendthrift in comparison to his frugal dad. Maybe this influences his choices in spending decisions.

 

[The Kingmaker]

I think it would also make a nice contrast with Vickie because Henry would be speaking Early Modern English, pre-Shakespeare no less.

I can just see him denouncing the player: "Thou errant knave!"

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

I'd like to see Alfred, William I, and Henry V (with Longbowmen!) as leaders of England also.

 

[The Kingmaker]

Yay for Alfred and Henry V!

Boo to mean old French-speaking William the Conqueror.

 

[The Kingmaker]

Some examples of Brian Blessed so you can see why he'd be perfect for the part. His epic voice is perfect for Henry's over-the-top personality.

Henry 8.0: Brian Blessed plays Henry as he acclimates to the modern world. Viewer discretion is advised, as Henry has a habit of saying rude things.

Mr. Blessed is also no stranger to doing game voice-overs. Here he is as Warwick the Kingmaker in Wars of the Roses. He also played the Narrator (Philip II of Macedon) in Total War: Alexander.

Get Brian Blessed, Firaxis. He's done it before, he can do it again. This needs to happen!

 

[SlySlySly]

I have a great agenda idea.

Maiden Slayer

Likes civilizations that backstab each other with surprise wars. Dislikes civilizations in longterm relationships.

 

[The Kingmaker]

Leader design idea. Got to love the chicken leg.

 

[SlySlySly]

Leader design idea. Got to love the chicken leg.

lol, he would be quite the entertaining leader.

 

[ComradeDavo]

I have a sneaky feeling their will be a World War 2 scenario, so Winston Churchill will be added as an England leader, with Roosevelt for the USA. Perhaps even with Charles de Gaulle for France. A can kind of package deal...allied leaders and the scenario kind of thing.

As for who i'd want for England, well Alfred would be cool.

 

[The Kingmaker]

I don't doubt that they'll eventually do a WWII scenario, however I don't know that that would necessarily translate into new leader animations.

They've been going for consistency this time, like the wood carvings in the Viking scenario, the flags for the Poland one and the claim stakes for the Australian one.

I doubt they'd devote so much effort to leaderheads for such a scenario when they can't do them for half of the civs involved due to various restrictions.

I certainly don't see them cobbling together a crummy knock-off Franz Von Papen for Germany again like in Civ4.

It'll probably be symbols (like those on Air Force planes), since even certain flags from that era are banned in various countries.

That's not to say we won't see Churchill, but I'm not really expecting a second Roosevelt.

Besides, modern leaders in business suits are as a general rule nowhere near as flavorful or fun as earlier historical leaders in traditional garb.

 

[Hrothbern]

When considering a second leader for England, I'm sure some people immediately jump to Elizabeth I. After all, she's a very significant leader and has been in every other version of Civ to date.

But what if this time, her boisterous, blustering father was featured instead? After all, Henry VIII is one of the most iconic English monarchs ever.

His loud, larger-than-life personality might make a nice contrast with Victoria's prim and proper attitude. We are going for "big" personalities in Civ VI.

Now I know Gorgo shares Pericles' music, but I don't think it would be too challenging to put together a version of Greensleeves for Henry to have a unique theme. There's already a version in game.

His unique agenda could be called "A Man for All Seasons" (tongue-in-cheek, of course). Or it could be "Renaissance Man." I suggest that he favor leaders who align with him in emphasizing one particular interest, and then have that interest change at random throughout the game to represent Henry's own constantly shifting interests. He might start out obsessed with culture, then be fanatical about religion, then become a hardcore militarist. This would fit with how he jumped around in his pet projects, from composing music to jousting and wrestling to defending the faith to fighting the church to invading Calais.

Yes, I am suggesting that King Henry channel Mr. Toad from The Wind in the Willows ever so slightly, at least in terms of shifting interests.

Finally, he needs to be voiced by BRIAN BLESSED. If you don't know why I wrote his name in all caps, then you probably haven't heard of him.

Google Henry 8.0 to see his portrayal of a modern day Henry's exploits in various BBC comedy sketches.

Seriously, this needs to happen.

Smile
For the game ? I like the idea.

But
Purely from real life history....
Where the rest of Europe prospered tremendously, Henry VIII brought England to near bankruptcy.
Just like that other famous King, Richard the Lion-Hearted, did with the treasury, not only by raising his crusading army but again after being captured on his journey back from the Holy Land, because of his ransom that was paid by his mother being 150.000 Marks or roughly 2-3 times the yearly state income.
Henry VIII managed the near bankruptcy not by heroic acts, but by stupidities and extravagancies.
Queen I, succeeding Henry VIII, restored the state treasury AND brought England to be the nr1 power in Europe

 

[SlySlySly]

Queen I, succeeding Henry VIII, restored the state treasury AND brought England to be the nr1 power in Europe

Actually, it was him, then Edward VI, then Mary I (Bloody Mary), then Elizabeth I.

 

[Hrothbern]

Actually, it was him, then Edward VI, then Mary I (Bloody Mary), then Elizabeth I.

yeah, you are right
there was an interim of 10 years or so
but nothing really good happened to the empire, just dragged on

 

[The Kingmaker]

Yeah, no one ever said Henry was a good king or a good person.

He's just a (really) big personality that might be a lot of fun to interact with.

 

[Hrothbern]

Yeah, no one ever said Henry was a good king or a good person.

He's just a (really) big personality that might be a lot of fun to interact with.

agree
and for me Henry is the most colourful leader England ever had

 

[SlySlySly]

agree
and for me Henry is the most colourful leader England ever had

I liked Mary I. I'm sure you've heard of her in some urban legends

 

[The Kingmaker]

I liked Mary I. I'm sure you've heard of her in some urban legends

Might get interesting having her alongside her hubby Philip...