Mixing and matching leaders and civs?

[Rolaran]

So, the pattern has been noticed that revealed civs have traits associated with the civ itself, and traits associated specifically with the leader of that civ. A lot of people have brought up the possibility of bringing back multiple playable leaders for civs, whether as base game content, an later expansion feature, or mods.

I have a different idea- how cool would it be to be able to play any civ with any leader?

Since the "civ traits" and the "leader traits" are pretty clearly delineated, this seems like it would be relatively easy to implement. And it could make for some interesting hypothetical setups- Egypt as lead by Teddy Roosevelt! France under Qin Shi Huang! Victorian Japan!

Would it be balanced? Probably not. But it could add a lot of interesting options.

 

[unpossible251]

Winner idea. Not as a default, but as an option.

 

[Ezumiyr]

I really don't buy the "hypothetical setups" idea, it doesn't seem fun at all. It's a gameplay-only idea that ignores the consistency of the general design.

I would not use it, but why not as a setting option.

 

[Zaarin]

Save it for mods.

 

[SMcM]

Civ 4 let us give civs the wrong leaders. Don't remember how that worked though (did Charlenagne leading China still have Charlemagne's bonuses, for example?).