Bibor
Doomsday Machine
Let me preface by saying that I've been introducing game modes very slowly into my games. Currently I'm at Barbarians, Corporations and Heroes & Legends. So no sinergies for other modes yet, sorry. :-/ I also play excusively on non-deity, however I do think most of these strategies apply to any difficulty. After all, getting a hero means you successfully got him or her, regardless of difficulty.
Hopefully this will turn into a series of posts in a single thread, but for now let me focus on Maui.
Maui
Maui is a melee hero with 4 charges of a unique ability to spawn a resource on a tile.
Being a melee unit, it can come in very handy at clearing barbarian camps or assisting an early neighbor rush, before or after you used his 4 charges. As such, monument/Maui is a solid substitute for a slinger in the production queue, since he can clear a camp by himself, and fast, thanks to additional hero movement. He's also perfect for sniping AI settlers, since he can actually kill the guard unit and live to tell the tale. Other than that, there's nothing special about his combat ability, but it's a nice bonus.
Maui's special ability and how to use it
Maui can spawn any luxury or bonus resource on a tile (hex) provided two conditions are met:
1. the target hex is not within cultural borders
2. the target hex doesn't already have a resource. Hidden strategic resources like iron or aluminum also count. You'll get a notification if a strategic resource is blocking using Maui's ability on the hex.
Some resources are better than others, notably an ivory camp definitely beats a grassland corn. Since Maui can't spawn strategic resources, you'll notice that all the "undewhelming" bonus resources like corn, cattle or copper can only spawn on clear terrain. Thus, the best use for maui is to drop his charges on jungle hills, flat jungle, forest hills or flat forest. This limits the "bad" resources to deer (camp/forest) and bananas (plantation/jungle), resources that can utilize their pantheons to greater effect. This will almost guarantee you 4 luxury resources, most of them plantations, with the exception of mentioned camps.
Maui is best used in one of the first 3 cities you plan to settle, since, unlike Hercules, these benefits are best acquired very early in the game. Additional hammers or food, especially pantheon-powered can really propel your game.
Before you do all this, though, it would be best to plan out your districts and wonders, so the new resources don't interfere. This is especially true if you are playing with a legendary start and/or with abundant resources.
Maui's synergy with corporations, wonders, pantheons & Caguana
Either by adding copies of existing luxuries, or possibly granting you 3 of a type you didn't already have, Maui can truly change the pace of your game. It can spawn resources not present on your continent, which is especially beneficial with culture & science monopolies & corporations that your continent might otherwise lack.
With legendary starts & abunant resources, if you are willing to reroll to get lots of deer, Maui can truly turn your capital into a crazy production & food powerhouse. Prerequisites? Temple of Artemis and Goddess of the Hunt Pantheon (Inidentally, that goddess would be Artemis). A similar case can be made for Goddess of Festivals, if you happen to select that pantheon.
If you have a "guaranteed Caguana", you could also ditch the "no Maui use on clear terrain" logic and create some truly outrageous Bateys. If you are willing to reload, you might even test the surrounding tiles for hidden strategic resources like niter, that might block a batey in the future.
Maui is truly wonderful, provided circumstances & your playstyle support his ability. Hope this helps. See you soon!
Hopefully this will turn into a series of posts in a single thread, but for now let me focus on Maui.
Maui
Maui is a melee hero with 4 charges of a unique ability to spawn a resource on a tile.
Being a melee unit, it can come in very handy at clearing barbarian camps or assisting an early neighbor rush, before or after you used his 4 charges. As such, monument/Maui is a solid substitute for a slinger in the production queue, since he can clear a camp by himself, and fast, thanks to additional hero movement. He's also perfect for sniping AI settlers, since he can actually kill the guard unit and live to tell the tale. Other than that, there's nothing special about his combat ability, but it's a nice bonus.
Maui's special ability and how to use it
Maui can spawn any luxury or bonus resource on a tile (hex) provided two conditions are met:
1. the target hex is not within cultural borders
2. the target hex doesn't already have a resource. Hidden strategic resources like iron or aluminum also count. You'll get a notification if a strategic resource is blocking using Maui's ability on the hex.
Some resources are better than others, notably an ivory camp definitely beats a grassland corn. Since Maui can't spawn strategic resources, you'll notice that all the "undewhelming" bonus resources like corn, cattle or copper can only spawn on clear terrain. Thus, the best use for maui is to drop his charges on jungle hills, flat jungle, forest hills or flat forest. This limits the "bad" resources to deer (camp/forest) and bananas (plantation/jungle), resources that can utilize their pantheons to greater effect. This will almost guarantee you 4 luxury resources, most of them plantations, with the exception of mentioned camps.
Maui is best used in one of the first 3 cities you plan to settle, since, unlike Hercules, these benefits are best acquired very early in the game. Additional hammers or food, especially pantheon-powered can really propel your game.
Before you do all this, though, it would be best to plan out your districts and wonders, so the new resources don't interfere. This is especially true if you are playing with a legendary start and/or with abundant resources.
Maui's synergy with corporations, wonders, pantheons & Caguana
Either by adding copies of existing luxuries, or possibly granting you 3 of a type you didn't already have, Maui can truly change the pace of your game. It can spawn resources not present on your continent, which is especially beneficial with culture & science monopolies & corporations that your continent might otherwise lack.
With legendary starts & abunant resources, if you are willing to reroll to get lots of deer, Maui can truly turn your capital into a crazy production & food powerhouse. Prerequisites? Temple of Artemis and Goddess of the Hunt Pantheon (Inidentally, that goddess would be Artemis). A similar case can be made for Goddess of Festivals, if you happen to select that pantheon.
If you have a "guaranteed Caguana", you could also ditch the "no Maui use on clear terrain" logic and create some truly outrageous Bateys. If you are willing to reload, you might even test the surrounding tiles for hidden strategic resources like niter, that might block a batey in the future.
Maui is truly wonderful, provided circumstances & your playstyle support his ability. Hope this helps. See you soon!