The Great Wall

[Stile]

What was the best use you've seen of the Great Wall. I think it's a very interesting wonder, but perhaps a tad over-powered. Whoever gets it dominates the early game, because it eliminates the barbarian check on their power.

I've seen China get it and block a score of Barbarian Swordsman in Tibet. Egypt did very well once walling in 5 cities along the Nile. Of course this enabled them to dominate the Med. But my all time favorite AI use was when I was playing as India (on Emperor). I was a few turns short of Constuction and my War Elephants (my army was super small, a couple catapults and warriors) when Persia built it leaving a one tile path for hordes of horse archers to funnel into my homeland. Arrgh!!!

 

[Elhoim]

In my roman game the chinese also built it. It was really cool!

 

[sdLeo]

I used to build it as Greece/Rome to try and hold back the camel barbs, but usually managed to get it completed right before Arabian spawn - useless after a few turns

 

[Mercenary82]

I really hate how overpowering it is, I always make sure to build it now regardless of who I'm playing just so I can deny it to the AI, especially China.

 

[soccerrules]

Whichever nation builds it tends to be ALOT more powerful than they would be if they didn't. In other words, I think the effects are too great compared to other wonders but I doubt there is anything that we could really change about it other than possibly removing the bonus towards great generals spawning from combat in your borders to balance it out a bit.

 

[SadoMacho]

I think the Great wall effect was a misstake of Firaxis. Now the barbarians can't enter the cultural borders of the builder. It should be that the barbarians can't pass the wall that is visible on the map. That would make some difference. Cities build later on outside the wall could be attacked by the barbarians again. That would be the real effect of the wall too.

 

[Elhoim]

I think the Great wall effect was a misstake of Firaxis. Now the barbarians can't enter the cultural borders of the builder. It should be that the barbarians can't pass the wall that is visible on the map. That would make some difference. Cities build later on outside the wall could be attacked by the barbarians again. That would be the real effect of the wall too.

It shouldn´t be working like that!

Whichever nation builds it tends to be ALOT more powerful than they would be if they didn't. In other words, I think the effects are too great compared to other wonders but I doubt there is anything that we could really change about it other than possibly removing the bonus towards great generals spawning from combat in your borders to balance it out a bit.

That bonus is removed in the mod, IIRC.

 

[CyberChrist]

Perhaps you could give the Great Wall -1 Trade Route in all cities as a negative side effect (simulating isolationism) - or is that too harsh?

 

[Eddiit]

The great wall is balanced as is. It has a very limited timeframe its useful in so it winds up being balanced.

 

[Abegweit]

I don't see anything unbalanced in the Great Wall. The Colosseum... now that's unbalanced!

 

[Mercenary82]

Yeah the Colosseum is a little too powerful (but fun). Unfortunately it is also destroyed upon capture. The Great Wall helps Persia get ridiculously overpowered if they build it though.

 

[Abegweit]

I never have much problem keeping the barbs under control. The Wall certainly helps but it's not essential. I find Impis to be waaay more annoying than Camel Archers. While they are easy to kill, the 2 movement and the ability to hide in the jungles and marshes makes it nearly inevitable that you are going to get pillaged.

 

[Garashta]

This wonder is fine tunned for the chinese! Rhye's made a great job on the realism setting here! No civ profits more from this wonder than the chinese!

 

[Elhoim]

Yep, it´s a must have for them. A great way to stop the himalayan swordmen and the northern horse archers.

 

[Garashta]

I would go even far and say its virtually a prerequisite for the chinese, either for scoring a historical victory point, or just for survival/development (you cant really develop your nation when its invaded on a daily basis for marauding barbs)