Pick a leader who isn't in the game yet and give them an ability!

[Hellenism Salesman]

I'll start.

Alexander the Great (Cultural, Militaristic)
Hellenization

• +1 Culture per Age in Settlements for each City-State you are Suzerain of.
  • (representing Macedonian hegemony of the Greek city-states)
• +20% Culture in Settlements you didn’t found, and +1 War Support for each player you have a Settlement from.
  • (Representing the Hellenization process from Alexander's conquest and his unstoppable pace)
• Army Commanders receive double XP from Cavalry Units and start with a free Cavalry Unit packed, once unlocked.
  • (Representing the Companion Cavalry and Alexander's trusted generals, the Diadochi)

Alexander inherited his father's position as hegemon of the Greek world and expanded that world to the borders of former empires. He was pharaoh, shahanshah, and conqueror- the Great.

Spoken Lines

• Quote: "All around us are aimless sheep. Come, let us lead them as lions."
• Greeting: "Better to meet here than on the battlefield, no?"
• Attacked: "Time to see which of my companions seeks your lands for his own."
• Declares War: "Saddle up, my friends! There are worlds left to conquer."
• Accepting Offer: "Of course. I've made my mark."
• Rejecting Offer: "I would accept these terms if I were someone else. But I am Alexander."
• Defeated: "It is as I told my generals- to the strongest."

 

[GeneralZift]

+2 Culture for each City-State you are Suzerain of.

• (representing Macedonian hegemony of the Greek city-states)

Wouldn't it be better to have extra influence instead? After all, he should be able to befriend them easier.
(Or maybe free Influence towards befriending, or reduced required threshold to befriend, or some other mechanic to help keep CSs.)

I like the idea all around of course, big Alexander fan.

 

[Hellenism Salesman]

You're probably right, but my goal when designing him was to avoid spreading his strengths across too many areas and I really wanted to keep the other bonuses as they were.

You could absolutely give him Influence abilities, and I even briefly considered making him Diplomatic/Militaristic... and then I remembered Alex couldn't really be described as Diplomatic

That pairing (and that Influence ability) would absolutely work for his father Philip, though! I could see something like this:

Philip II (Diplomatic, Militaristic)
Hegemon and Basileus

• It costs half as much Influence to Befriend Independents. +1 Influence from each City-State you are Suzerain of.
• Infantry and Siege Units gain +2 Combat Strength for being adjacent to each other.
• Gain a Commander with a free Commendation after each Age transition

 

[GeneralZift]

Gandhi (Cultural, Diplomatic)

+1 War Support for Defensive Wars
(In defending against aggressors, his superior diplomacy gives him war support)

+2 gold from Salt resources.
(Salt March; reference I suppose)

+15% growth when not at war.
(Peace-loving)

+5 Influence towards Endeavours with Civilisations with more Cities than Gandhi.
(Exemplifies India tall gameplay and supports how Gandhi stood for his people diplomatically against colonial power)

I would have more religious mechanics here, but religion seems barebones in this game, and there's no religious attribute tree, which is presumably why he and Saladin and other religious leaders are missing.

 

[GeneralZift]

You're probably right, but my goal when designing him was to avoid spreading his strengths across too many areas and I really wanted to keep the other bonuses as they were.

You could absolutely give him Influence abilities, and I even briefly considered making him Diplomatic/Militaristic... and then I remembered Alex couldn't really be described as Diplomatic

That pairing (and that Influence ability) would absolutely work for his father Philip, though! I could see something like this:

Philip II (Diplomatic, Militaristic)
Hegemon and Basileus

• It costs half as much Influence to Befriend Independents. +1 Influence from each City-State you are Suzerain of.
• Infantry and Siege Units gain +2 Combat Strength for being adjacent to each other.
• Gain a Commander with a free Commendation after each Age transition

I suppose, they could have abilities separate to their attributes. The attributes don't help a lot because some leaders aren't well described by any of the existing attributes. I imagine they may add more in the future

 

[ConspicuousFlower]

Let me give this a try, seems fun.

Margaret I (Diplomatic, Expansionist)
Kalmar Union

• +100% Influence towards the Incorporate City State Action.
• Incorporating a City State grants +1 settlement limit and, if it's the first incorporated City State of the Era, a Wildcard Attribute Point.
• +1 Influence per Age on the Palace and City Halls.

Semiramis of the North

• Decrease Relationship by a Large Amount when a player incorporates a City State.
• Increase Relationship by a Small Amount if player has not incorporated a City State.

The idea was a leader that, like Tecumseh, also focuses on City State relations, but one that wants to absorb them into her empire, rather than keep them around as Suzerain.

 

[Hellenism Salesman]

I'm really hoping Margaret makes it into the game (if my signature wasn't evidence enough), since she's such a perfect fit for the new model of detached leaders.

 

[Lord Lakely]

SHAKA
(Militaristic, Scientific)
Ability: Edge of the Assegai:

• Immediately upgrade your Infantry units for free as soon as the upgrade is researched.
• Infantry units have +1 Combat Strength for every Technology the enemy has researched and you don't have (including Masteries)
• Retain your Infantry units between ages.
• -10% Science per Era in Cities, +10% Production towards Military units per Era in Cities.

Agenda: Amabutho

• Decreased relationship by a large amount with the player with the highest amounts of researched Technologies
• Increased relationship by a medium amount with players that have no obselete units

Starting Bias: Plains.

 

[Hellenism Salesman]

I never thought I’d see the day where someone found out how to make a Science malus a benefit, but here we are

Very clever and very fitting! That instant upgrading would be an awesome quality-of-life bonus to have. I know the intention was likely to create a leader geared toward conquest, but the result seems like a dream defensive leader. Build up your army fast, modernize it at no cost, and keep it for the entire game. That oughta dissuade any invaders.

 

[Lord Lakely]

The Scientific trait is mainly to ensure Shaka sees Scientific Narrative events, which also fits him, I think. He needs to get his techs from somewhere, after all.

 

[Memyselfishness]

I have an idea for one.

Joshua Abraham Norton I​

(Diplomatic, Wildcard)
Ability: Self-proclaimed Emperor
+50% influence towards initiating and supporting endeavors.
Gain 50 happiness per Age when supporting wars, double if you are not a participant.
Unique Proclamation endeavor. Provides +1 science, culture, gold happiness to Norton and +1 influence to other civ if accepted. +2 to both is supported.

Agenda: Imperial Decrees
Likes leaders who support his endeavors. Dislikes leaders who reject his endeavors.

Unlocks: Hawaii in Exploration, America and Mexico in Modern

It would be great to include some narrative events. Things about newspapers making false imperial decrees or buying rice on the cheap. Overall, he could be a very fun and interesting leader.

 

[GeneralZift]

Gain 50 happiness per Age when supporting wars, double if you are not a participant.

Fifty happiness per age when you support a war and 100 happiness when you're not a participant? So you support a far away war in the modern age and get 300 happiness? Sounds a little broken

 

[Henri Christophe]

Toussaint L'Ouverture from HAITI

The black jacobin
Make insatisfaction grow in the foe's who are slavery empires

Malaria Lord
At warfare, enemy in jungle or swamp field lost 1/16 of HP due to Malaria.

 

[Memyselfishness]

Fifty happiness per age when you support a war and 100 happiness when you're not a participant? So you support a far away war in the modern age and get 300 happiness? Sounds a little broken

Admittedly, I haven't played any of the modern age. Are those numbers too high? Either way, the basic idea is support wars that your country isn't a part of. It's what Emperor Norton I would do.

 

[K9GM3]

Oh, this sounds fun! With the expanded definitions of what a leader is, I'm kinda hoping they include one of history's great architects—like the 16th-century royal architect of the Ottoman Empire.

Mimar Sinan
(Cultural, Expansionist)

Ability: Grand Architect

• +5% Production towards Wonders for each adjacent Quarter.
• Quarters adjacent to Wonders can hold 1 more Specialist. This bonus is doubled in Cities with a Wonder from every Age.

Agenda: Tezkiretü'l-Bünyan

• Increase relationship by a small amount for each Wonder from a previous Age.
• Decrease relationship by a medium amount with the player who has the most Wonders from the current Age. If there is a tie, decrease relationship by a small amount with each of the tieholders.

Mementos:

• Level 2: Gain Culture each time you complete a Quarter in a City.
• Level 5: Specialists adjacent to Wonders cost no Happiness to maintain.
• Level 9: Each time you complete a Wonder, receive a free Migrant unit for each adjacent Quarter.

 

[Lord Lakely]

SPINOZA

Traits: Cultural, Scientific

Bharuch Spinoza (also known as Benedictus de Spinoza) was a Dutch Golden Age philosopher of Portugese Jewish descent. Raised Jewish, Spinoza advocated critical thought, religious tolerance and freedom of expression. This led to his excommunication when he was 23 years old, and several assassination attempts on his life. His ideas revolutionized philosophical thought, and lay at the basis for liberalism and the separation of Church and State. Spinoza was a prolific writer and critic, penning several treatises during his life, including Ethica and Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. He passed away from a lung disease in 1641, leaving behind a legacy that would pave the way towards Enlightenment.

Ability: In Pursuit of Ethics

• +50% Culture and Science towards researching Masteries
• Every Mastery researched gives +1 Happiness in all Settlements
• Specialists consume twice the Happiness, and half theFood.

Agenda: Nieuwsgierigheid

• +1 Relation for every Tech and Civic researched while being above average in Science or Culture.
• +5 Relations for every Mastery Spinoza doesn't have, but you do.
• -1 Relation for every Tech and Civi Spinoza has, and you do not.
• -3 relations for every Mastery Spinoza has, and you do not.
• (Hidden) +10 Relations if you're Confucius, Machiavelli, Ben Franklin or Ada Lovelace
• (Hidden) -10 Relations if you're Xerxes, Tecumseh, Harriet Tubman or Himiko

(Agenda name is the Dutch word for curiosity, which can also be translated as "information-greedy")

Language: Spinoza should predominantly speak formal Dutch, with a few exclamations in Portuguese and Hebrew sprinkled in when he's flustered.

Mementos

• Treatise on Theology and Politics - +1 Influence on Happiness buildings
• Glass Lens - +1 Happiness per era on Gold buildings
• Torn Cloak - +50% Influence towards Counterintelligence

 

[Memyselfishness]

Ability: In Pursuit of Ethics

• +50% Culture and Science towards researching Masteries
• Every Mastery researched gives +1 Happiness in all Settlements
• Specialists consume twice the Happiness, and half the Food.

Mementos

• Treatise on Theology and Politics - +1 Influence on Happiness buildings
• Glass Lens - +1 Happiness per era on Gold buildings
• Torn Cloak - +50% Influence towards Counterintelligence

I feel like +1 Influence on Happiness buildings is extremely powerful. Like, more powerful than all of his abilities combined. Also, the trade off of -2H/-2F to -4H/-1F seems wrong to me. Food is not that important, whereas happiness is.
Have to say, love the idea of Spinoza. Great ideas overall.

 

[Lord Lakely]

I feel like +1 Influence on Happiness buildings is extremely powerful. Like, more powerful than all of his abilities combined. Also, the trade off of -2H/-2F to -4H/-1F seems wrong to me. Food is not that important, whereas happiness is.
Have to say, love the idea of Spinoza. Great ideas overall.

It may not be the most balanced idea, but I think it suits the idea thematically. With radical new thought comes controversy and it takes time to adjust and accept the new order. Not to mention that the standards for satisfaction and what we deem acceptable shift over time, often faster than the pace at which society itself can follow.

Minus Happiness in exchange for better tech progression suits Spinoza and his ideas, and the general notion of an "ethical researcher". Besides, a renaissance philosopher definitely wants to employ as many specialists as he can, and I didn't want to give him a flat bonus per specialist like Confucius. Lower food maintenance increases the growth rate of Spinoza's cities indirectly, which allows him to gain them slightly faster while not stepping too much into Kong's niche.

Memento tokens effects themselves matter less to me. (I personally don't plan on ever playing with them). The most important part for me is that they can be tied to the leader. A treatise, the cloak the stopped the first assassination attempt made against him and a glass bauble nodding to his side job as a lensmaker all fit him.

The other thing I didn't mention is that I envision Spinoza's narrative events as trading Happiness for flat Culture and Science, and then getting the Happiness back via quests as he acculumates Masteries

 

[Ryansinbela]

SPINOZA
View attachment 720923
Traits: Cultural, Scientific

Bharuch Spinoza (also known as Benedictus de Spinoza) was a Dutch Golden Age philosopher of Portugese Jewish descent. Raised Jewish, Spinoza advocated critical thought, religious tolerance and freedom of expression. This led to his excommunication when he was 23 years old, and several assassination attempts on his life. His ideas revolutionized philosophical thought, and lay at the basis for liberalism and the separation of Church and State. Spinoza was a prolific writer and critic, penning several treatises during his life, including Ethica and Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. He passed away from a lung disease in 1641, leaving behind a legacy that would pave the way towards Enlightenment.

Ability: In Pursuit of Ethics

• +50% Culture and Science towards researching Masteries
• Every Mastery researched gives +1 Happiness in all Settlements
• Specialists consume twice the Happiness, and half theFood.

Agenda: Nieuwsgierigheid

• +1 Relation for every Tech and Civic researched while being above average in Science or Culture.
• +5 Relations for every Mastery Spinoza doesn't have, but you do.
• -1 Relation for every Tech and Civi Spinoza has, and you do not.
• -3 relations for every Mastery Spinoza has, and you do not.
• (Hidden) +10 Relations if you're Confucius, Machiavelli, Ben Franklin or Ada Lovelace
• (Hidden) -10 Relations if you're Xerxes, Tecumseh, Harriet Tubman or Himiko

(Agenda name is the Dutch word for curiosity, which can also be translated as "information-greedy")

Language: Spinoza should predominantly speak formal Dutch, with a few exclamations in Portuguese and Hebrew sprinkled in when he's flustered.

Mementos

• Treatise on Theology and Politics - +1 Influence on Happiness buildings
• Glass Lens - +1 Happiness per era on Gold buildings
• Torn Cloak - +50% Influence towards Counterintelligence

Where did the idea for the hidden agenda come from

 

[The_goggles_do_nothing]

Theophanu
Her power as queen, empress and regent was based on the basis of Saxon tradition (which assigned the women an equal role in the family), as well as introducing Byzantine protocol, "which influenced dress, crowns and jewelry, eating habits and utensils, even furniture".

Agenda:
Imperatrix of the Romans: Decrease Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the fewest Endeavors. If tied, Decrease Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders. Increase Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the greatest amount of Endevors. If tied, Increase Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders.

Starting Biases:
None

Attributes:
Diplomatic
Cultural

Unique Ability:
Family of kings: May initiate Endeavors for any Attribute. Half priced Endeavors for her Attributes.

Unlocks:
Holy Roman Empire

John I Tzimiskes
An intuitive and successful general who married into the influential Skleros family, he strengthened and expanded the Byzantine Empire.

Agenda:
Christ of the Chalke: Decrease Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the most settlements. If tied, Decrease Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders. Increase Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the fewest settlements. If tied, Increase Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders.

Starting Biases:
Plains

Attributes:
Economic
Expansionist

Unique Ability:
Triumph of Constantinople: All units have increased combat strength against civ who have the same or more settlements than John. Increased gold from trade routes to civs who have fewer settlements then John.

Unlocks:
Byzantine Empire

Sviatoslav 1
Was the grand prince of Kyiv and the greatest of the Varangian princes of early Russo-Ukrainian history. He is known for his persistent campaigns and Rapid expansion.

Agenda:
Primary Chronical: Decrease Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the greatest amount of Commanders. If tied, Decrease Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders. Increase Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the fewest number of commanders. If tied, Increase Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders.

Starting Biases:
Navigable Rivers

Attributes:
Militaristic
Cultural

Unique Ability:
Prince of Kiev: Increased Production in the capitol for each Commander and Commander Commendation. Receive a commander with the Zeal promotion when founding a Pantheon.

Unlocks:
Kivean Rus