Pineappledan Tweaks for VP

Hello,

This mod is a general tweaks mod to test ideas and balance changes that I think would improve base Vox Populi. It contains all sorts of changes to civilizations and units

Download Here

Spoiler Unit Changes :

Swordsman Line Changes:
I reduced the base CS of swordsmen to 16. This gives a little more space to vary the strength of unique swordsmen:

• Legion remains at 18CS
• Mohawk remains at 17CS
• Kris is lowered to 16CS, same as base swordsman

Swordsmen and Longswords no longer start with the Cover I promotion. Enough other units get Cover I for free; it felt repetitive.
I have replaced free Cover I with a new free promotion for the Sword line.
Professionalism

+10 HP
+10% Ranged Defense
lost on upgrade​

Tercio units also get this promotion. All Tercio units have had their CS reduced by 1 across the board to compensate.
This promotions creates a continuation of the Field Works/Entrenchment/DFPs promotion line. Now, beginning in Classical, there is a unit with this anti-ranged niche promotion line in every era.

Skirmisher Line Changes:
Chariot units:

Chariot Archer-Class units have 4 moves
Chariot Movement Penalty is back, but with a twist: Chariots lose 1 extra movement in rough terrain
Chariots have high CS and RCS for their unit line, more like front-line tanks​

Post -Chariot Skirmishers:

All Non-Chariot Skirmishers have 5 base movement
All Skirmishers RCS has been reduced
Skirmisher doctrine (+/- strength in Open/Rough terrain) has been replaced with a new Skirmisher promotion:

Hit & Run
+50% when defending against ranged attacks​

Repetitive with Cover I, yes. But it is necessary to give the skirmishers some defense because their abysmal RCS means they die too easily against ranged units.​

Spoiler Slinger Unit :

Adds a new ancient era unit to the Archer line: the Slinger, available from the start of the game
Archer and Composite bowman are both made 1 tech later, stronger, and more expensive
Old Archer:

Trapping Tech / 55cost
2moves / 2Range
6RCS / 4CS​

Old Composite Bowman:

Mathematics Tech / 90cost
2moves / 2Range
11RCS / 11CS​

New Slinger:

Agriculture Tech / 45cost
2moves / 1Range
6RCS / 6CS​

New Archer:

Calendar Tech / 70cost (same as Spearman)
2moves / 2Range
9RCS / 7CS​

New Composite Bowman:

Currency Tech / 110cost (10 more than Sword, 25 less than Pike)
2moves / 2Range
14RCS / 12CS​

Also changes some techs, reshuffles some things without changing the actual component:
Jungle Chop moved forward to Trapping (1 tech earlier, occupies slot of old Archer)
Catapult moved to Mathematics (same tech level, occupies slot of old Composite Bowman)

This change affects several civilizations with unique Archer and CBows:
Incan Slinger:

Now a Slinger replacement. Renamed to Waraq'ak
Unlocked at game start / 45
7/7 (+1/+1)
2 Moves / 2 Range
Dazed promotion (-15% CS to units hit by Waraq'ak)
​

Babylonian Bowman:

Now and Archer replacement
Unlocks at Calendar / 70
10/9 (+1/+2)
2 Moves / 2 Range
Indirect Fire​

Atlatlist:

Stays a Composite Bowman replacement
Unlocked at Mathematics (1 tech earlier) / 110cost
2moves / 2Range
14RCS / 12CS
Atlatl Strike (+33% vs wounded)​

Compatibility for 4UC's Indian Dhanurgraha and for Nubia's Pitati is also included

Spoiler Ancient-Medieval CS changes :

• Scout: 10CS
• Maori Warrior: 21 => 22 (to match longsword)
• Berserker: 20=> 22 (to match longsword)

Spoiler New Zeppelin Line :

The Zeppelin is re-added and expanded into a whole unit line:

Airship line traits:

• High CS and high Production cost for their era
• Unique unit combat type - Land unit Domain
• 4 base sight
• Starts its turn with unobstructed vision in a 4-tile radius
• Hover
• Ignores Terrain Defense
• Can enter all tile types, including ice and deep ocean (Does not embark)
• Can only attack Cities
• Gains XP from spotting in enemy terrain
• Has Amphibious (no penalties attacking cities over rivers or from coast)
• Can detect Submarines (note: immune to subs, because they are technically land units)
• +33% Defense
• All Interception promotions -- AA guns' Anti-Air and Fighters' Ace Pilot -- give +33% vs Airships for each level

Dirigible (previously "Zeppelin", which was an anachronistic misnomer)

unlocks at Steam Power
700
40CS
2 Moves
Base Land Air Defense 2​

Zeppelin

unlocks at Radio
1400
65CS
2 Moves
Base Land Air Defense 3​

UAV

unlocks at Telecommunications
1700
75CS
4 Moves
Base Land Air Defense 5​

Promotion lines:
Night Raid I => Night Raid II => Night Raid III
+50% vs cities per level

Surveillance I => Surveillance II => Surveillance III
Double Movement in Coast & Ocean => +1 Moves and Sight => +33% Defense and ZOC

Leaf promotions:
Land Air Defense I / II / III / IV
Medic I / II
Night Terror: +100% vs Cities and heals +5HP
Air Repair: Heals every turn regardless of action
High Altitude: Reduces all incoming damage by 10

Spoiler Civilization Tweaks :

Spoiler China :

UA: Mandate of Heaven
+1 and and a 'We Love the Empress Day' in All Cities whenever a city gains 8 Citizens. Bonus yields are halved on Era Change. +10% and in Cities during 'We Love the Empress Day'.

UB: Paper Maker (Library)

+2 +1
No Maintenance
1 Scientist slot
-1 Illiteracy
1 Specialist does not generate Urbanization
+2 and +2 in this City whenever you create a Great Work. Bonus yields are halved on Era Change.​

Moves all the WLTED bonuses onto the UA, and moves the GW trigger onto the Paper Maker, allowing China to diversify its yields. This solves the turn 1 Culture problem, while still letting china get a culture boost. It also solves the problem of the Paper Maker being a really boring building that doesn't feel like it adds any new tools or incentives to the civ.

This also gives China more incentive to grow tall/thick, and puts less emphasis on conquest. The WLTED has been increased to 10 turns, since it is harder to trigger.

Mongols

• Skirmisher line units have +1 Attack (loses +2 moves and ZOC bonus)
• Tribute bonus reduced from +100% to +50%

Germany

• New UA: Blood and Iron
  • +3 Culture in the Capital for each City-State Ally and +3Science for each Friend, scaling with Era
  • Military units gifted to City-States generate 1 Influence for Germany each turn

England

• Ship of the Line loses Breacher and Indomitable. Gains Logistics promotion.

India

• Harappan Reservoir no longer gives +1 to Floodplains

Spain

• Conquistador now replaces Explorer and unlocks at Compass instead of Chivalry
• Has 23CS and 3Moves.
• Still considered mounted unit, but has all Explorer and Scout-line promotions
• Gains Overrun and Vanguard promotions for free
• Cities settled by Conquistadors have access to the Mission
  • Missions can be purchased with Faith
  • Missions give +2Faith, +3Defense, +100 HP, and +1Faith to nearby Haciendas
  • Purchasing a Mission in the city triggers a spread action, converting the city to your Capital's majority religion

Songhai

• Removed Road movement along Rivers
• Removed +2 Visibility for embarked land units
• Reduced Embarked defense bonus from +100% to +50%

Brazil

• Brazilwood Camp no longer requires an adjacent luxury; it requires no Fresh Water access instead

Carthage

• Free Lighthouse replaced with free Harbor (still gives City Connection)
• Cothon yields changed from 2 on lighthouse and 3 on harbor to 2 on harbor and 2 on lighthouse

Korea

• UA gives +20%Science during Golden Ages instead of +30%Great Person Rate
• Hwach'a changes:
  • Now replaces Cannon (32, 16)
  • No longer has Logistics
  • Has Field I and unique 'Singijeon' promotions:
    • 5 splash damage
    • inflicts -1Movement plague on attack. Lasts 2 turns
• Seowon changes:
  • No longer gives +15%Science during Golden Ages
  • moved back to Education
  • Base yields changed to 32
  • Gives +1 to all GPTIs near the city (to match the +1 from GWs)

Spoiler Power Plants Rework :

Reworks the 4 existing power plant buildings, and adds a 5th: the Tidal plant.

• All power plants now require Factory (previously, only Solar and Nuclear did)
• All Power plants now give +10% to Yield processes
• Nuclear plant stays as an option with no terrain augmentation, offering greater GP generation and a higher base production instead. Great for a city focused on specialists
• Solar plant re-focused to production on landlocked and desert cities.
• Hydroelectric Plant split with Tidal Plant into Freshwater and saltwater focuses. Hydro gives more yields than wind if you have lots of freshwater access. Tidal gives very high yields for island and ocean-focused cities.

Power Plant details. Changes in Bold

• Hydro Plant (Requires 1 Aluminum, City must be on a River):
  • +10 , +15%
  • +333 to River and Lake tiles
  • +10% to all Yields Processes in City
• Wind Plant (Requires 1 Aluminum):
  • +10 , +15%
  • +1 11 to All Tiles
  • +10% to all Yields Processes in City
• Nuclear Plant (Requires 1 Uranium):
  • +20 , +33%
  • +25% Great Person Rate in city
  • +1111 to all Specialists in City
  • +10% to all Yields Processes in City
• Solar Plant (Requires 1 Aluminum, City must be on or next to Desert):
  • +10 , +15%
  • +11 to Non-Desert Land tiles
  • +33 to Desert tiles
  • +10% to all Yields Processes in City

• Tidal Plant (Requires 1 Aluminum, City must be on Coast)
  • Unlocked at Alternative Energy
    
  • +10 , +15%
  • +2222 to Coast and Ocean tiles
  • +10% to all Yields Processes in City

Spoiler Late Game Building Tweaks :

Refinery
Moved back 1 tech to Plastics
Increased cost to 2000 (up from 1800)
Now gives 1 Coal, Iron and Oil

Airport:
Loses: +25% Great Work boost, +25% terrain, wonders, natural wonders culture to tourism

Stadium:
Moved to Atomic Theory
Removed Boredom reduction,
Removed +25% terrain, wonders, natural wonders culture to tourism
Gains +50% to Great Works (up from +25%)
Gains +20 influence to all City States
Instant GAP and GAP per Pop are unchanged
Building requirements, instant GAP, WLTKD, and GAP per Population unchanged

National Visitor Centre (National Wonder): Removed and replaced with Interpretive Centre

Interpretive Centre (New Building)
2250
Available at: Telecommunications (same as Visitor Centre)
Requires: Hotel (same as Visitor Centre)
+50% of culture from terrain, wonders, natural wonders-> Tourism
+2 happiness
+1 and to all Landmarks on Empire

Tech Changes:
Remove +2 to Landmarks on Telecommunications
Move +2 to Musicians from Satellites to Telecommunications

CN Tower:
CN Tower 50% to local GWs and Tile conversion reduced to 25%
Added 25% global GW and Tile conversion (total of 50% local GW and tile bonus still)

Spoiler National Parks :

Allows Workers to construct National Park improvements.

National Park
Unlocked at Biology
Can be built on any Forest, Jungle, or Marsh
111
222 at Alternative Energy
22 for every adjacent Natural Wonder
11 for every adjacent National Park
2 If worked by a city with a Zoo

Building changes:
Zoos only give +1 to Forest and Jungle (down from 21)
+2 to nearby National Parks

I made this mod to mainly to consolidate and replace my old unit and civ tweaks mods, and to move any non-relevant balance changes out of the 4UC mod.

If you only want to try 1 or 2 parts of this mod (eg. you're only interested in the zeppelin line) then you can just delete the folders or rename the files of things you aren't interested in.

Credits:

• Zeppelin Model: snafusmith
• Predator Drone model and unit flag: SMAN
• Tidal Turbine icon - Scottish Energy Industries Council
• Songhai and Korean Hwacha changes: Hinin
• Watchtower half-built art: Ekmek
• Watchtower model conversion: Hawkwood & Hufgar
• All other code and art assets: pineappledan

 

Table UNITS do not have an UnitClassType column.
----------------------------------------------------------------
CREATE TRIGGER VP_ExplorerCommandoClassUpgrade_Replace
AFTER INSERT ON Unit_ClassUpgrades
WHEN NEW.UnitClassType = 'UNITCLASS_ZEPPELIN'
BEGIN
UPDATE Units SET UnitClassType = 'UNITCLASS_COMMANDO' WHERE UnitType = NEW.UnitType;
END

 

@pineappledan
I believe there are numerous ways to add a AA unit. Many beautiful models are available.
And you should take care of EEVP...

 

Maybe an invisible drone?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
INSERT INTO InvisibleInfos
(Type, Description)
SELECT 'INVISIBLE_UAV', 'TXT_KEY_INVISIBLE_UAV';

INSERT INTO Language_en_US (Tag, Text)
VALUES ('TXT_KEY_INVISIBLE_UAV', 'UAV');

UPDATE UnitPromotions SET Invisible = 'INVISIBLE_UAV' WHERE Type = 'PROMOTION_RECON_DRONE';
UPDATE UnitPromotions SET SeeInvisible = 'INVISIBLE_UAV' WHERE Type = 'PROMOTION_INTERCEPTION_II';
UPDATE Language_en_US SET Text = Text||'[NEWLINE]Can see UAV.' WHERE Tag IN ('TXT_KEY_PROMOTION_INTERCEPTION_II_HELP');

 

Thank you good catch.
I have updated OP with a new version that fixes upgrade bugs on the Commando and the Zeppelin

Thank you for reminding me, this mod is not compatible with EE right now because of the Adventurer.

I do not personally use EE -- I see no reason to make my games even longer when I can barely finish them now -- so I wouldn't be a good person to take on EE

 

UNITCLASS_GADRAUHT still have Cover I
------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MODINFO file
<EntryPoint type="InGameUIAddin" file="ThiccChina.lua">
should be
<EntryPoint type="InGameUIAddin" file="Civilizations/ThiccChina.lua">

 

Caught a bug with the Songhai Mandekalu. CS changes removed for all horseman line units (never changed horses from base VP; I just had unitcombat placeholders in the code). The Placeholders were interacting with CSs for custom civs and other mods that changed the horsemen, and reverted them. Specifically, 4UC moves the Songhai Mandekalu Cavalry back to be a Knight replacement. If this mod loaded after 4UC, it would set its CS back to 14

fixed and reuploaded.

 

Why lower the Kris?

 

My quick and dirty on these changes. Obviously this is a modmod so if people like the shift in balance with this changes, go for it. These are just my general thoughts.

1) I like the sidearm idea, I've noted before that I am good with a swordsman CS nerf if its replaced by a proper promotion. Now I don't think this promotion does the job, so I still don't agree with the swords nerf (but no reason to rehash that argument), but conceptually I like the bonuses the sidearm gives.

The name is a bit odd, perhaps just call it "Heavy Infantry". After all, realistically thats what swordsman are, they aren't just guys with swords, its infantry in strong armor wielding professional weapons, as compared to the guys with sticks and sharp language

2) Skirmisher Change: I tried out your mod a bunch when you first floated this concept. Ultimately to me it had the same issue as most of the skirmisher changes I've tried, I still don't think it carves out a real niche for the unit. Now for the actual skirmisher itself, 5 movement can do a lot, lets you cover a lot of ground, and does give it some purpose.

Past that, I generally rely on the scouting line if I need to cross open country without roads, and for attacks I would rather send a heavy horse that gets there a little slower but actually can do the job when it gets there. So in the past I always had trouble justifying the horses for the unit when I tried this last time.

So far, I think the logistic skirmisher concept remains my favorite alternative (which I know you have tried before as well). I do think it makes skirmishers a little OP, but its close, probably close enough as an alternative.

3) Archer: A little more CS makes sense, I do think they are a tad squishy, especially when that first barb horsemen comes sniffing around. But I really don't think they need more RCS, I don't want to see the old archer city rush come back.

4) C Bow: Already do really good damage, they are to me the staple unit of the classical era, moreso than spears and swords.

5) Atlatist: Already does +50% against wounded, they are already murder machines with proper use. A unit with base 21 RCS in early classical seems way too good.

6) Hoplite: Having played Greece a lot recently, 14 CS hoplite is already really good when you use its promotions. The trick of course is you need to rush very fast to them with Greece, as spears start to obsolete as offensive units as C bows come online. But a strong hoplite rush already murders the competition. I could see some changes to Greece UA or UB to give them some staying power past the initial phase, but they don't need more power in ancient.

7) I like the commando concept a lot, and I like conceptually the change in Trailblazer to allow mountain crossing. I agree that at some point in the game units should be able to cross mountains.

8) The drone line is interesting, I definitely think it could be just split back out its own thing, as its decidedly different from the other changes which are just tweaks, not entire no concepts.

 

I hope to spark a debate about what a decent Sword line promotion might look like. I wanted to stress flexibility and get away from the repeptitive cover bonuses

With the latest pass, taking a cue from logistics skirmishers and adding the +50% ranged defense, I think I'm pretty content with my version. I feel they have as good a niche as they can hope to have provided you get a certain start. I guess we shall agree to disagree on this point.

The XP penalty is a bit funny to play around; It's not comfortable to me.

I also don't like skirmishers' main role being as another damage-dealer. It doesn't feel true to the history and tactics of skirmishing, where the main point is to harass and disrupt while avoiding damage.

I was disappointed when CS dipped below 6 again. Barbarian Horsemen can 1 shot archers from fog if you are unlucky at that level.

Maybe 6/6 is more reasonable, I'm not sure. It could stand to be tested more.

CBows go from 1111 to 1012 with these changes, so they trade some survivability for more offense. Once again, it could stand to be tested a bit more.

I prefer the archer line to have more RCS than CS up until gatling/machine guns. The comp bows are a bit too hardy at the moment -- bowmen with good survivability was supposed to be Babylon's thing exclusively.
Perhaps nerfing the CBows to 1011 would be best; you and GrazyG are adamant that they are already the most dangerous Classical units.

I nerfed Atlatl strike to 33% vs wounded and let it stay on upgrade. Check my Civs change spoiler

The current state of the atlatl in VP is atrocious. Same base CS/RCS as the comp bow and 1 unique promotion that doesn't stay on upgrade. Very bland.

The Hoplite's unique promotions are comparatively weak, so bumping the CS to 15 felt fair. I can lower it back down if people think the 14CS is preferable.

Any thoughts on the mongol change?

 

Thanks for yash great efforts first of all.

Just wanted to comment about mongol changes. According to historical data, their skirmish tactics were based on quick hit-run tactic. Thus, mongol deserves an extra movement ,+1 movement at least , reflecting the tactic mongols used.

 

Cbow at 10 CS 11 RCS might be good. The issue for the unit is it is basically your ranged unit for a loooong time. It has to carry you through classical and a good part of medieval, and while its super strong in classical, knights trounce them already at 11 CS, let along 10. But I feel we are already in the state where if the enemy pulls out knights your cbows have to run for the hills, so whether its 11 or 10 probably doesn't make much difference.

Ah I missed the Atlatl change, ok I'm less concerned, its still pretty strong but doesn't quite have the same punch. I personally don't have as much issue with UUs that don't upgrade their promotions for civs that aren't generally warmongers in their kit. For example, Siam's elephant doesn't upgrade, which is fine by me, they are super strong when they come out, but Siam has plenty of other bonuses. Maya is similar, the cbow lasts a long time in the game, they have a really nice UU, but honestly their UI is probably their best part, so I've never thought have a limited UU was really an issue.

On Hoplite, at 15 CS with two of them, you start out with a 18 CS before other promotions, stronger than the "overpowered" 17 CS Swordsman And the sword comes out much much MUCH later.

On Mongol, I want to make sure I understand the changes:

1) Skirmishers +1 attack, so they all have logistics effectively? Or is this +1 CS?

2) For the ordo, so I get the +1 movement any time I move into the square? Aka I have 4 moves, I move 2 to get to the ordo, I now have 3 moves remaining? If I chain ordo's does the bonus keep stacking? (hehe almost like a railgun!)

I think its a cool concept, honestly you might try removing the adjacent to other ordo restriction as well, I think that reasonable since your not getting near the same defense or attack penalty.

I'm not keen on the Khan getting "pilum" effectively, takes something away from Rome, but I am up for some kind of extra Khan bonus.

 

Lowering Cbow CS is a good idea. They take hits quite well currently, pure Cbow with no melee is actually viable.

I would bump the hoplite promotion a little bit rather than a raw buff to it's CS. This would have less immediate benefit (hoplites are already amazing at first) but more long term impact (Greece fades quite a bit over time).

I'd support either of those changes being added to regular VP btw.

 

Effectively logistics, but with no RCS penalty

I have tested it, and it works like a +1 move promotion for that turn.
if you move over the Ordo, your 2 movement unit instantly becomes a 3 movement unit, but the new move cap doesn’t come filled with a move point. So you have to start your turn on an ordo in order to use the +1 move.
edit: the extra move is applied as soon as the unit steps on the tile, so if you had a unit with 2/2 moves, and you use 1 move to move onto the ordo, your unit will show 2/3 moves. I still need to test 2 interactions though:

• I don’t know if multiple Ordos can stack their movement on 1 unit in 1 turn, railgunning a unit as you put it
• I don’t know when the movement is applied. If you use you last movement to enter an ordo on a hill, does it still give 1 move? ie. can you use the move to ignore rough penalties?

The synergy with roads to create a Yam system of Ordos that refill your movement on roads means you can create a very mobile army of road warriors.

I debated increasing the bonus to +2 moves, but i fear once railroads hit, Mongols would just have a system that makes it so their units can teleport inside their own borders.

Can’t do that, because you could chain them for the culture bomb

It works off different code. The khan can move and cause damage in the same turn. Taking the citadel effect off the ordo and making it mobile appeals to the nomadism of the civ. I also like that it gives an adjacency effect for both friendly and enemy units, so the AI should be able to use khans more effectively since placement is looser now

 

So obviously I would need to see your current skirmishers with new RCS values to know for sure (can you tell me a few RCS numbers to give me a feel), but an extra attack with no penalty is generally the strongest combat bonus you could bestow in the game. Just to throw some quick context for you. Let me assume your skirmisher does archer damage (so 6 RCS). Against a cbow (with your new 12 RCS) at base it does ~35 damage (roughly 17.5 a shot x2). To do that with one attack, which is an effective CS of 16, a 266% RCS buff. Now it takes an extra movement, but your skimishers have plenty of move, and of course there's the double xp to consider. So it is incredibly, amazingly strong....and I really don't think you want to throw more bonuses like your new khan on top of that.

I will say its a neat idea that Mongolia has a UA that basically turns all of its skirmisher line into UUs

On the Ordo and culture bombs, while technically the human can drop its citadels to plant new ones and push boundaries, I do respect since the AI doesn't do that its a bit of an exploit, and not worth pushing into Mongolia's core kit.

 

Railgunning confirmed.

A single unit and cross multiple Ordos in a single turn and will gain the movement from each of them.

Movement is applied after movement has been expended to enter the tile. This means that if a unit uses its last movement point to enter an Ordo on a hill, you still get +1 movement.

In light of the Improvement MovesChange ability being everything I hoped and feared it could be, maybe the mobile citadel ability is too much...

Code:

Combat = 8 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_CHARIOT_ARCHER';
Combat = 12 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_MONGOLIAN_KESHIK';
Combat = 18 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_MOUNTED_BOWMAN';
Combat = 27 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_CUIRASSIER';
Combat = 40 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_CAVALRY';
Combat = 58 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_ANTI_TANK_GUN';
Combat = 70 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_HELICOPTER_GUNSHIP';

RangedCombat = 8 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_CHARIOT_ARCHER';
RangedCombat = 7 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_MONGOLIAN_KESHIK';
RangedCombat = 14 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_MOUNTED_BOWMAN';
RangedCombat = 22 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_CUIRASSIER';
RangedCombat = 31 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_CAVALRY';
RangedCombat = 58 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_ANTI_TANK_GUN';
RangedCombat = 70 WHERE Type = 'UNIT_HELICOPTER_GUNSHIP';

I debated removing logistics from the promotion line because of Mongolia, but the -30% penalty almost makes logistics a damage-neutral promotion, so it seems like a bad choice anyways (2x1=2 vs 0.7x3=2.1).

In the current version, Mongol skirmishers get +2 move and ZOC on a 4 move unit. So the comparison is similar to Range vs Logistics. Being able to put damage on a target more consistently vs being able to put more damage on a target. They are situationally incomparable, and I didn't want Mongolia zipping around with 7 movement skirmishers, so I opted for a side-grade

 

The trick is that the damage math is not linear. Aka 30% less CS does not mean 30% less damage. Here are the actual formulas if you ever want to use them (this assumes healthy units).

If the attacker has the higher CS (or RCS): = 30 * ((((((R)+3)/4)^4)+1)/2)
If the attacker has the lower CS (or RCS in ranged wars): = 30 * ((((((25/21)+3)/4)^4)+1)/2)^-1

R = the CS of the stronger unit / the CS of the weaker unit. Use RCS instead as appropriate. Note that you always put the higher number on top for R, no matter which one is attacking.



So if we go back to your example. Lets use the Chariot Archer (8 RCS) vs your new Cbow (12).

Normal Logistics
Normally damage: 23 damage.
With normal logistics (2 shots at -30%, aka 5.6 RCS): its 32 damage.

To get that equivalent damage normally, you would need an RCS of 14 (aka a 75% RCS buff).

So even with a -30% penalty, logistics does WAY more damage than other promotions, plus the double xp.

Normal Logistics + Mongolian Bonus
So what would happen if you stacked them? Aka you combined the normal double attack from mongolia with a third attack, and all attacks are at -30% RCS?

Normally damage: ~23 damage.
Damage (3 shots at -30%): 48

Now there are ratios where the RCS penalty does start to matter more. Lets take your new swordsman (16 CS +10% for the new promotion, so 17.6 CS).

Damage (2 shots no penalty): 31
Damage (3 shots -30%): 27

So its a mixed bag here, if the skirmisher gets into a favorable scenario it can do incredible damage, but against tough nuts it will do less with the logistics promotion.

 

I just booted up a game with Mongolia and I'm currently in medieval. I had 3(!) natural wonders spawn close to me, and my nearest neighbour is Venice, so no competition for space there. So this is a pretty easy game to coast with and play around.

Last time I played a Mongolia game before this was Jan 2019, when the heavy tribute yields were still +250%. I am still finding the heavy tribute is the strongest part of the kit. So many instant yields, I can complete wonders or settlers in 1 turn if I tribute a merchant. I had a religious CS spawn closest to me, so I bullied it for a free enhancer as soon as I founded.

No surprises on the skirmisher front. I had a lot of trouble sieging, because skirmishers are basically useless for that, but Venice couldn't even put up a fight in the field. This game is going to be a cakewalk. I'm pretty sure Mongolia is still broken OP, but it's not my skirmisher changes that are the problem. I would say my changes are a nerf, since I took out the alliance ignoring.

 

Oh one more number, since once I start I just can't start

A common question about logistics is, with the -30% penalty, is there ever a normal time in the game where logistics is actually a drawback? Aka I would do less damage with 2 attacks than the 1 at no penalty?

This does happen when the ratio is less than 1/3. So against a CS 15, the unit (before the -30%) had a CS 5. So it normally has to be a pretty extremely difference, I most commonly see it on siege units in the later game, as there attacks against infantry can get pretty dinky.

 

removed the changes to Hoplite
Added Sidearm promotion to Nubian Medjay (oversight on my part; they are a unique unit class so they got missed)
Siam's Naresuan's Elephant now has +15% CS when stacked with a Great General (gives them a promotion that stays on upgrade). Increased the unit's cost by 10%.
India's Naga Malla now has free Accuracy I
With these changes to Impi, Atlatlist, Naresuan's Elephant, and Naga Malla, I believe all unique units have at least 1 promotion that stays on upgrade now. Let me know if I have missed any.
Lowered the RCS of all composite bows by 1 (CBows are now 10/11)

Coming soon:
I'm planning on making changes to the White Tower, making it an Ironworks replacement.
If the new America UA is implemented, I will begin work on implementing the unique American National wonders (independence hall, Smithsonian, west point, sun records)