I'm late as usual, but here's my take:
Leader Ability - Raven King
Well, dang. This is potentially very powerful, as it means you can temporarily gain a very large, very strong, very mobile army, and even gain some envoys to offset the cost and protect your investment.
- Levied units gain +2 movement and +5 combat strength
- Levied units can be upgraded for free (no gold or resources needed)
- Levying units earns 2 envoys with the city state
- (Black army unit, discussed below)
Civilization Ability - Pearl of the Danube
I love this. There are a few civs which have ways to speed up district production, and many which can build a single district, quickly, but this is definitely among the more flexible and powerful bonuses of that type. What sets it apart, though, is the fact that it also applies to buildings. I believe this will be both very interesting, and very powerful.
- +50% production to districts and buildings constructed across a river from a city center
Unique Infrastructure - Thermal Bath
This is a bit of an odd one, but it seems good. I do not think it will be a big factor, as it arrives fairly late in the game, but it is quite interesting. It has the potential to provide a lot of amenities, so I can see the usefulness if you have a somewhat wide empire.
- Replaces Zoos
- Provides +2 amenities to each city center within 6 tiles (vs +1 for the Zoo) (does not stack)
- Provides +2 production to each city center within 6 tiles
- Provides +2 additional amenities and +3 tourism if the city has a Geothermal Fissure
- Unlike the Zoo, does not provide +1 science for each rainforest and marsh tile
Unique Unit (Leader) - Black Army
This is probably going to be pretty good. For one thing, it replaces an existing unit (a new one which bridges a gap in the Light cavalry line), so you can upgrade into it. On top of that, it then upgrades into the other unique unit. The bonus for levied units is interesting as well, and synergizes with the other parts of the Leader Ability. I imagine medieval Hungary can build a very efficient strategy around a medium sized standing army of Black Army cavalry assisted by levied units from city states. Both the cavalry and the levied units will have great strength and mobility.
- Light cavalry
- Replaces Courser (new unit for Gathering Storm)
- Probably Medieval Era
- Strength bonus for adjacent levied units
Unique Unit (Civilization) - Huszar
Again, the fact that we get a replacement unit, which even upgrades from another unique unit, is awesome. The ability is also very nice, and completely different from everything else. Combat strength from alliances is very cool.
- Light cavalry
- Replaces Cavalry
- +3 strength for every alliance
Overall, I'm impressed! I'm usually not into conquest oriented civs, but there's just a lot to like here. The abilities are distinct, interesting and seemingly quite powerful. It's also a nice mix of abilities, with some being good for warfare, and others for peaceful development.
I also like the music and overall flavour.
This was a good start.
Yep, while certainly not everything will be useful, they're set up well to go on a conquest spree once the Black Army starts coming online, especially if they get a Levied army to go along with it. I have a strong feeling that Pearls of the Danube will be nerfed to be only a +25% upgrade, but even that would be very strong in getting a city up and running, as noted being one of the rare bonuses that apply to buildings and not just districts.
The baths will help in late game with amenities for sure, and the small production boost is nice. And if you can get them in a city with a fissure, they're a crazy strong amenity producer at that stage.
The Huszar isn't great, given that I seem to rarely have alliances, and less likely if I have used the Black Army to its full power. But the fact that it's a unique on the same line as a previous unique means that it should always come into play, and you can stay relevant for longer. And if you are lucky enough to have fostered some alliances, all the better.
To me, the civ should play well. Basically, find rivers and pop your cities at the bends in the rivers for max production, not worrying too much about max adjacencies for districts knowing that you can build them up quicker. And then use the levy ability to suzerain the best city-states, using their army instead of yours.
