I am actually rather a little disapointed overall about it. Is it my imagination or do the new features seem to not be 'complete'? It feels like it gives you bonuses but only in dribs and drabs and when it does, it doesn't seem like it is worth it. Maybe it's just the limited information that has come out about the new features.
First of all, I don't want people to think that I am complaining or what not. I am interested in the Warlords expansion (alot). I am just rather suprised by their decisions, based on what I have read.
Being a big Mongols fan (Genghis Kahn in particular) I'm looking forward to the Warlord unit, the unique building (what it is/what it does) and the scenario for Genghis Khan. I noticed that the scenario has the 'special scenario feature' called the 'Settler Camp unit' which I think goes well with the Mongols (especially Genghis Khan). They needed something that allows them to incorporate their nomadic lifestyle with their warfare strategies that also allows them to raze cities instead of having to hold onto them (for the increased production). I love the 'Settler Camp' unit idea - *absolutely* love it. But it appears to only be in the scenario. What about the normal game? I had it predicted that the unique building for the Mongols would be the Yurt and that it could have been a portable barracks or something performing a function that is exactly the way the settler camp unit seems to work. Maybe it still is, I don't know. Off course I never expected it to happen as it wasn't typical of the civ theme/style so I am rather impressed that it is in there. But now that this settler camp unit exists, who knows? I think the 'Settler Camp unit' idea should be apart of the normal game for the Mongols (assuming it was made to be balanced that is - which wouldn't be hard). This just means that I will end up playing the scenario over and over again instead of playing the Mongols on a normal map. If it is based on reality, I would imagine you could build catapults from this Settler Camp unit. It's going to be interesting whatever it turns out to be.
Vassal States. What is the point of letting the civ survive if all you really get is gold in tribute and war support? The war support wont be worth it if the AI is still the same as the AI attacks in its own time and with generally poor strategy anyway. What worth is a gold tribute to a warmonger when military units, research and production is what matters. Especially in civ4, gold is really worth nothing unless you have Universal Suffrage. The only value a gold tribute is to a warmonger is to fund expansion (ie, deficit spending) and / or a larger military - the former of which you wont need if you make them a Vassal State anyway. Based on what I have read, if this is all the Vassal State option is, I would rather take over the extra cities myself. Hmm, maybe the gold tribute is a gold per turn rather than a lump sum every so many turns. That would be better. One could expand and/or build a larger army with that
Don't get me wrong, I am not having a gripe - I can't wait for the Warlords expansion. I am just quite surprised about it. I would have made the Mongols have that settler camp unit function as part of the normal game rather than only in the scenario and then allow the master nation to actually rule through the Vassal State, essentially letting you guide/control the direction of the Vassal nations research, having them be able to build/gift units, etc. Again, maybe this is the case and that information hasn't been released yet. Having said that, what has been stated in the expansion is what I have come to expect from the Civ series (except for the Settler Camp unit).
No matter how it turns out however, I will be looking forward to the Warlords expansion.
EDIT: One thing I love about civ4 is how fantasic the screenshots are. I love just looking at the screenshots of the upcomming expansion.
Watiggi