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[Calouste]

China: Art of War
spawn rate of Great Generals increased.

That's like half of the Charismatic Trait.

I think you mean the Imperialistic trait, but whatever. Have you actually seen what Great Generals do in Civ5? +25% to all surrounding units is rather more of an effect that +2XP. And China will not only get more Great Generals, they will also have a greater effect.

You're making straightforward comparisons between traits in Civ4 and abilities in Civ5 based on how thing work in Civ4. Civ5 is going to be a different game where things work differently.

 

[bjbrains]

I agree that you can't port bonuses across.
With arabia, the +1 gold per trade route is more of a consolation prize, the real bonus is double oil, which is (apparently) needed for later warfare.
With China, great generals work completely differently, and seem to be much more powerful since they offer a +25% (and probably greater boos for china) str bonus to all adjacent units. Much better than civ 4 (They can build the certainly more relevant forts as well).
With Egypt, remember that there are other bonuses to go to that already decrease wonder production costs. Remember that -% cost is better than +% production. a city that makes 10 hammers that builds a 100 hammer wonder will take 10 turns. With +50% production, it'll take 7 turns with 3 hammers overflow. with -20% cost, it'll take 8 turns. If you go and grab aristocracy (which would only take 2 'buys' in the SP tree), you'll be at -53% costs!

 

[King Jason]

Is the German Ability "Furor Teutonicus" really equal to somethingly like the Egyptian "Monument Builders"? I suppose it boils down to how present the barbarians actually are. I've definately played games of civilization 4 where I'll have to destroy two encampments, ever, and if that remains the case, then the Germans might have just gotten shafted hard.

Think CivRev and the Mongols. A) Barbarian camps were everywhere in that game. B) You could "build" yourself a tiny empire with a single warrior.

Assuming Camps turn into cities, and if they don't, if they just grant you more units... that's still an army you don't need to build for yourself. It turns the German strategy into that of a psuedo-rushing one; Gather your barbarian horde and overwhelm the enemy.

 

[bjbrains]

I'm pretty sure that they don't turn into cities. It would be too swingy/random, not to mention that the way the ability is currently worded, I don't think that can be the case:
Upon defeating a Barbarian unit inside an encampment there is a 50% chance you earn 25 Gold and they join your side
Note the pronoun-antecedent relationship. It would talk about the encampment if that was what 'joined' you (and they would also add 'and it becomes a city' for clarification anyway).

 

[Maniac]

Have you actually seen what Great Generals do in Civ5? +25% to all surrounding units is rather more of an effect that +2XP. And China will not only get more Great Generals, they will also have a greater effect.

But how does this make Chinese gameplay different than that of the other civs? Not much I venture to say.

With Egypt, remember that there are other bonuses to go to that already decrease wonder production costs. Remember that -% cost is better than +% production. a city that makes 10 hammers that builds a 100 hammer wonder will take 10 turns. With +50% production, it'll take 7 turns with 3 hammers overflow. with -20% cost, it'll take 8 turns. If you go and grab aristocracy (which would only take 2 'buys' in the SP tree), you'll be at -53% costs!

Very well then: they got something equivalent to half rather than a quarter of the Industrious trait.

Good for you I guess if that is sufficient for you.

 

[bjbrains]

But how does this make Chinese gameplay different than that of the other civs? Not much I venture to say.



Very well then: they got something equivalent to half rather than a quarter of the Industrious trait.

Good for you I guess if that is sufficient for you.

About China:
It will make them play somewhat differently, as your war strategies (should) center around GGs far more than any other civ. That in combination with their UU/UB should make them play differently.
As to Egypt: I bet they tested greater cost reductions, but found it too powerful with aristocracy/certain wonders.
I'd just suggest that you stop thinking in Civ 4 terms, this game is different in a multitude of ways.