(NOT A BUG) Ziggurat Clarification

[macrobot]

I am playing as Sumeria and I researched Priesthood on my way to researching COL in order to build courthouses only to find out that I could build my UB with only priesthood. Is this correct? It seems way overpowered especially since the Ziggurat is a big improvement over the courthouse and priesthood comes WAY earlier. I am still building Vultures and have conquered 2 other civs and have 9 cities and my maintenance costs are still reasonable. Being able to build these now without COL is going to improve my game by probably 50 turns once you figure in the fact that I don't have to research COL and I can build courthouses 30 turns before I otherwise would. Add on to that that I get the espionage points and you can see that an early rush won't tank your economy and will really boost your espionage.

If anyone else finds this is overpowered or a bug please let me know

 

[KrikkitTwo]

I'm sure it is intentional, because the Ziggurat is NOT a huge improvement over courthouses Its only real benefits are the cost of 100 (and the earlier Forbidden Palace)

the Aztec unique Courthouse costs 90 and gives a Slavery benefit

It might be somewhat Overpowered with the early spy benefits, but it is defnitely intentional. (especially as Ziggurats were sort of Temples)

 

[LedHead]

I find it odd that they set something that allows for early expansion, +esp on a fairly early tech for just one Civ. It's a little different then Zulu as its really makes Col rather a "I'll pick it up later" Tech like HBR without Horses.

You get temples and a cheaper courthouse from a 3rd tier tech. rather then needing 3 additional techs (writing) to get. If they are a "temple" they should replace temples with different benefits. Add to this an axeman UU +25% melee and this just screams sustainable axe rush...

 

[ainwood]

Yes - this is a design change. Not a bug.

 

[namliaM]

It does say in the Pedia "requires Priesthood", this makes courthouses 1 tech earlier, presuming you research Writing prior to Priesthood... Tho CoL is pretty expensive tech at 539 beakers at normal speed while Priesthood is just 92.

I think tho in the pedia entry for the Zugurat it should be a little more explicitly mentioned so that this really jumps out at people, instead of expecting it to be at CoL. i.e. Listed as a special ability in the pedia??

With this early and cheaper courthouse/Zuggurat/UB with the fulture too) is one that can expand early tho to balance rushing and building with courthouses... is going to be tough...