A quick round up of the Offworld Goods/Unique Resources we have currently, with comments. I think I've got them all...
Palace Resources
Fremen Water Debt - from Fremen Palace
Allows Crysknife Fighter, Naib's Chosen, Fedaykin units
+1 happy with Temple of the Maker
Comment: Seems odd that this doesn't enable Razzia Raiders, but does Naib's Chosen and Fedaykin.
Sisterhood Covenant - from Bene Gesserit Palace
Allows Reverend Mother unit
Landing Stage Resources - Controlled by
Ixian Weaponry
Allows Mech units - controlled by Ix
Sardaukar Cooperation
Allows Sardaukar Legionary - controlled by Corrino
Comment: Should remove the bonus requirement from Noukker and make it unique to Corrino.
Semuta
+2 happy, +1 happy with CHOAM Directorate - controlled by Ecaz
Slig
+2 health, +1 happy with Great Banqueting Hall - controlled by Ecaz (yes, this is weird and high on the list to change...)
Landing Stage Resources - Other
Caladanian Wine
+1 happy, +1 happy with Great Banqueting Hall
Pundi Rice
+1 health
Comment: Why did the Atreides end up with nothing?
Ginaz School Training
Allows Ginaz Swordmaster unit, Ginaz Training I and II promotions
Comment: I reckon we scrap the unit, it's cleaner.
Soostone
+1 happy, +1 happy with CHOAM Directorate
Opafire
+ 1 happy, +1 happy with CHOAM Directorate
Comment: These two are identical = boring.
Sapho Juice
Strengthens Mentat Abilities
Labor Contract
+25% Worker Speed
My number one gripe is that I still really don't like the fact that civs have freedom to not pick their own unique resource.
The unique resource was meant to be a way to add flavour to civs. I think the current first-refusal mechanism is too weak to do this, and the original concept has got a bit lost in the current implementation. The fact that I can pick up some other bonus resource knowing that my own controlled UR is safe from others picking it just feels wrong to me. I think we have lost flavour by allowing this. I would almost rather go back to the original idea of simply having buildings that provide 3 units of your unique resource become available at Offworld Trade. The only advantage of the pop-up pick system, in my view, is that it allows the URs of civs not in the game to be selected. The pop-up picker shouldn't undermine the whole idea of civ-specific resources that ought to be adding flavour to the civs.
I would like to change things like this:
1. If a Civ controls one or more unique resources then their first Landing Stage will yield their UR (or offers a choice if they have more than one).
2. After that the second Landing Stage can be used to pick whatever you like as present.
As now the URs of Civs not in the game, will be available for selection.
Semuta Concept
I also have got the necessary SDK work for a new Semuta implementation done for Ecaz. I've created the ability for Buildings to get commerce types based on the number of global instances of a given building. This is broadly similar to the way Religion Shrines or Corporation HQs collect gold based on the number of temples/branches respectively.
The design I'm thinking of is roughly:
Semuta Supplier - provides +1 gold per Semuta Den globally - provides 3 units Semuta
Semuta Den - requires Semuta, +2 happy, -1 gold, National Limit perhaps 5 or 6, possibly -10% hammers too?
So Semuta Supplier takes the place of the Semuta Contract in effect. There are various options for balancing or limiting this if needs be.
I'm also interested in possibly making the establishment of Semuta Dens an espionage mission. Ecaz could have a Semuta Dealer unit, that founds Semuta Dens in a similar way to missionaries or corporate execs spreading religions/corporations. You can also have some units be capable of busting Semuta Dens and removing the building from cities. Or more simply have a chance of the Den being discover based on the espionage output of the city. For an initial version, it would be simpler just to let anyone with Semuta build them and then try to balance the cost/benefit.
Feedback welcome...
I also quite like Ecaz's second UR being Krimskell Fibre which enables a Strangler Vine promotion, probably anti-melee/first strike chances fits.
KRIMSKELL FIBER or KRIMSKELL ROPE: the "claw fiber" woven from strands of the hufuf vine of Ecaz. Knots tied in krimskell will claw tighter and tighter to preset limits when the knot-lines are pulled. (For a more detailed study, see Holjance Vohnbrook's "The Strangler Vines of Ecaz.")
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I would like some uses for Offworld Goods that feel more special/interesting so we can replace some of the health/happy ones. Resources can already be prerequisites for Buildings, Units and Promotions and now that I'm into the SDK, it would be pretty easy to make them prereqs for Improvements too if we have a good idea. If people have new ideas for offworld goods/unique resources it would be good to hear them. Even if you are uncertain whether it can be implemented there may be a way...