Latest IGN preview (July 11)

[Pep]

Oh btw, I think the +2 scientists means that the city can have an additional 2 scientists on top of what the library already grants (which I think is 2). I don't think it means literally 2 free scientists - it just lets you allocate 2 more scientists.
Watiggi

Maybe there's another posibility: Perhaps the +2 scientists for the russian UB means "Generates +2 Great Scientists points per turn". It makes more sense to me. It is not underpowered or overpowered, and the interesting thing is that permits the generation of GP without building a great Wonder or turn a citizen into specialist (by the time you get Literature it's best put a citizen to work a tile instead of turning him into a specialist).

 

[ChrTh]

Mansa and England's UB are killer ... +10/+15% commerce ... I mean, it's good because I never see England or Mansa win a Space Race, they totally need a science boost like that

 

[MiKa523]

It was stated by a beta tester that russian ub replaced laboratory and it's a typo in the preview.

 

[turquoiseninja]

Eureka! Now I think I know what this means, and its not that overpowered anymore: Russian Research Institute, replaces Library
+2 free Scientists.

I think they mean the building adds 2 more to the Great Person growth, towards Great Scientist. That would make sense, and dont make it too good, compared to the other UB......

Agree?

Mayhaps you are right. That seems more reasonable than 2 free scientists. The ways they changed Mao and Napoleon makes no sense. And I'm so mad that they changed Catherine! I am insane with rage Everything else looks good though, Genghis sounds much improved. Imperialistic is a way better choice for him than expansive.

 

[ChrTh]

I'm thinking that it is for every state religion building in your empire (like temples, monastaries, etc). That would be - I think - a total of 6 per city...possibly 8 beakers per city. Plus it would accumulate in the city with the University. Combine that with the Oxford University and what not and I think you'll have a research super city. I think it will become the "Shrine of Research" personally.

Watiggi

Is the from Spiral Minaret modified by banks, etc.? I thought it was just a straight amount? If the from the University is modifiable by other buildings, then yeah, it's overpowered.

 

[AndreasS]

It was stated by a beta tester that russian ub replaced laboratory and it's a typo in the preview.

Still it seems to overpowered if every observatory should operate as Great libraries..... if you consentrate on getting astronomy, you can get them rather early and its still much left of the game......

I still hope its the libraries giving two extra scientist GP points, that would be reasonble.

 

[Desert-Fox]

Mao Zedong - Expansive, Protective ... seems to be humor?
Their improved theatre too... Perhaps it is a cultural revolution

 

[Rowain deWolf]

Still it seems to overpowered if every observatory should operate as Great libraries..... if you consentrate on getting astronomy, you can get them rather early and its still much left of the game......

I still hope its the libraries giving two extra scientist GP points, that would be reasonble.

The great Library give 2 Superscientists (= what you get when you tell a GS to settle in the city) the Russian Lib would give 2 specialists (the normal once) so the Great Lib is still more powerful as the Russian center.

Of course the Russian Center would still be overpowered if it replaces the library. If it just replaces the observatory it is strong but not so overpowered as it sounds. After all with Mercantilism and Statue of Lib you can have 2 free specialists even now.

 

[ChrTh]

Er guys, MiKa523 said laboratories, not observatories. That means they only come into play in the Modern Age.

 

[AndreasS]

The great Library give 2 Superscientists (= what you get when you tell a GS to settle in the city) the Russian Lib would give 2 specialists (the normal once) so the Great Lib is still more powerful as the Russian center.

Of course the Russian Center would still be overpowered if it replaces the library. If it just replaces the observatory it is strong but not so overpowered as it sounds. After all with Mercantilism and Statue of Lib you can have 2 free specialists even now.

Yep, but the problem is that russians will get 3 with mercantilism, and 4 with the Statue of Lib..... that sounds pretty heavy! Of course its later in the game then many of the other UBs, but if you compare it to the other late buildings, this one is awesome....

But Im sure Firaxis has balanced it out in one or another way, certainly hopes so.....

 

[AndreasS]

Er guys, MiKa523 said laboratories, not observatories. That means they only come into play in the Modern Age.

Hehe, OK, then its terrible weak......

 

[ChrTh]

Hehe, OK, then its terrible weak......

Not necessarily, it gives a nice little science boost for the Space Race. While I doubt the AI would take full advantage of it, I bet a human player could use it to catch up and surpass the AI.

Except for Mansa and the British, of course, with their new UBs

 

[Thyrwyn]

The Great Library gives 2 normal, specialist Scientists, not Super Specialists. You can tell because the two bonus Scientists from the Great Library each add +3 Great People Points, while Super Specialists do not.

If the beta tester is correct and the Russian UB replaces the LABORATORY (available with Computers) then the 2 free Scientists is big, but not overwhelming, since it comes so very late. It also fits better.

The whole article is filled with typos and inconsistencies. So very much of the information in it is at odds with what we have been given before. The Protective trait is decidedly different (free city garrison I, sign me up!).

It will be interesting to see what the actual product looks like when we get our grubby little hands on it. . . .

 

[zx1111]

I think the koreans will be one of my new favorits. Im a really good defender, If you have played online, I am LuckyStrike77, impossible to conquer, and catapults are the best defence. With their special unit, their free promotions, financial trait and awesome University, I can sit on my back, and outresearch all other players easely, while killing of any army they send towards me with minimum losses....

Korean
Wang Kon - Financial, Protective
Korean Seowon, replaces University
+35% research

Special unit: Hwacha (?): Catapults with 50% bonus vs mellee... (sigh)

I agree. It is awesome combination. It is not so good for offensive war mongering. But awesome for defensive and non-military victory. starting tech (Mining, mythsticism) is also not bad.
Individual features are not so great but they are well paired traits, UB and UU combination with good synergetic effects, I think.

 

[Ben Music]

A little concerned over some of the changes that have been made to the existing leaders.

Mao goes from Philosophical/Organized to Expansive/Protective?!? OK, I can live with the Protective part but Mao was FAR more philosophical than Expansive!! Jeez, it is somewhat incredible that none of the 5 English and French leaders, who remember have or had empires that expanded the entire globe and numerous continents don't have the "Expansive" trait but a modern Chinese leader, whose country traditionally has not been nearly as expansive or war-mongering, at least compared with Euro civs, gets the trait.

I find this change to be very bizarre, does anyone have any other changes they find dubious??

EDIT: Just saw Napoleon; how in the world do you not give a guy who conquered virtually all of continental Europe a Aggressive, Expansive, or Imperialistic trait?? How can someone who is known primarily for being a great general not be given any militaristic traits??? I don't get it. Does Firaxis seriously argue that Mao was MORE expansive than Napoleon?!?

I agree with everything you said. Also, how can Augustus not have the Imperialistic trait?

 

[Louis XXIV]

I will also say that I think Napoleon will be under-estimated and I can't believe Cyrus getting Charismatic/Imperialistic. Man that is one combo

It was the traits I thought they'd have given to Napoleon (they fit him really well). But when I keep thinking of traits to give Cyrus, they're already taken. I was thinking Imperialistic, Organized, but that makes me wonder what Caeser gets (I thought about Charismatic, Organized to just switch them, but I think they wanted to avoid giving him Charismatic because it would make a great uu even greater). Also, if I thought Imperialistic, Creative for Cyrus, he comes into conflict with Catherine.

I guess the traits will stay how they are (Napoleon's traits fit fine, I suppose, and are halfway decent).

 

[jkp1187]

A little concerned over some of the changes that have been made to the existing leaders.

Mao goes from Philosophical/Organized to Expansive/Protective?!? OK, I can live with the Protective part but Mao was FAR more philosophical than Expansive!! Jeez, it is somewhat incredible that none of the 5 English and French leaders, who remember have or had empires that expanded the entire globe and numerous continents don't have the "Expansive" trait but a modern Chinese leader, whose country traditionally has not been nearly as expansive or war-mongering, at least compared with Euro civs, gets the trait.

I find this change to be very bizarre, does anyone have any other changes they find dubious??

EDIT: Just saw Napoleon; how in the world do you not give a guy who conquered virtually all of continental Europe a Aggressive, Expansive, or Imperialistic trait?? How can someone who is known primarily for being a great general not be given any militaristic traits??? I don't get it. Does Firaxis seriously argue that Mao was MORE expansive than Napoleon?!?

Not at all. Expansive gives +3 health, and includes population expansion, not just land area.

Sure are a lot of Chinese nowadays. They're doing far better in that category than all of Europe combined!

 

[idle]

A little concerned over some of the changes that have been made to the existing leaders.

Mao goes from Philosophical/Organized to Expansive/Protective?!? OK, I can live with the Protective part but Mao was FAR more philosophical than Expansive!! Jeez, it is somewhat incredible that none of the 5 English and French leaders, who remember have or had empires that expanded the entire globe and numerous continents don't have the "Expansive" trait but a modern Chinese leader, whose country traditionally has not been nearly as expansive or war-mongering, at least compared with Euro civs, gets the trait.

I find this change to be very bizarre, does anyone have any other changes they find dubious??

EDIT: Just saw Napoleon; how in the world do you not give a guy who conquered virtually all of continental Europe a Aggressive, Expansive, or Imperialistic trait?? How can someone who is known primarily for being a great general not be given any militaristic traits??? I don't get it. Does Firaxis seriously argue that Mao was MORE expansive than Napoleon?!?

First of all, Victoria got the Imperialistic trait. Expansive is, as someone said, for bigger cities, not larger empires.

As for Napoleon; Charismatic is good for the military (easier XP) and organized is good for keeping large empires. I would have preferred Aggressive/Charismatic, but I think the combo is good.

 

[Louis XXIV]

Aggressive, Charismatic would have been way overpowered (they just seem to fit too well, just like Phil, Ind).

 

[Soulless]

They should have given each civ 3 traits instead of just 2.

Its a bit limiting just to have 2 traits... like the chinese... I think they should of kept either organised or philisophical. Altho protective fits very well with this civ.