Unique Abilities discussion

[Montov]

Yeah, increase the movement penalty to 3 to make sure almost every unit will have to end the turn in the mountains, but with a fair amount of damage like 20%. That will give interesting gameplay. The 50hp damage, even when movement crossing mountains is low, will be useful in unique situations, but when those rare situations occur, it is powerful but historically weird.

 

[Tubbilicious]

On Deity at the moment I nearly always go with Inca (I just like hill people)! But both the Huns and the Netherlands look powerful.

I rarely war since it's so costly in time and effort, but the Huns get additional production right from the start with access to a pasture almost immediately, which means they're going to be great for early wonders. Likewise, the Netherlands will allow you to sell every luxury resource you have, meaning you'll be swimming in gold. Gold allows you to skip production, and just outright buy, which again will be awesome.

Though I would miss my terraces!

 

[Rex_Mundi]

If Carthage places a ranged unit with march on a mountain, then it could stay there and fire for a long time without having to worry about being attacked.
at least by non-ranged enemies.

If it is possible to build on mountains, then a road would definately be my first build.

 

[Glassmage]

The new Nobel Prize sound fun but a little bit weird. Soooo would Sweden have an easy time winning diplomatic victory?

 

[tofofnts]

If Carthage places a ranged unit with march on a mountain, then it could stay there and fire for a long time without having to worry about being attacked.
at least by non-ranged enemies.

If it is possible to build on mountains, then a road would definately be my first build.

But they take 50 damage if they end there turn on a mountain

 

[MadDjinn]

The new Nobel Prize sound fun but a little bit weird. Soooo would Sweden have an easy time winning diplomatic victory?

It sounds like 'diplomacy' will be a big part of it, so maybe?

 

[PhilBowles]

If the damage is lowered it seems only fair that the movement penalty for rough terrain is applied.

I think this may miss the point. Carthage's mountain-walking ability isn't being introduced as an effective part of their UA (and how often do you run across cities bordered by enough mountains to make it useful offensively)? It's being introduced specifically for the thematic effect of letting Carthaginian elephants (a moderately fast unit, I believe) cross mountains (and in reality most of those were killed in the process - I really like the acknowledgment of that in the game mechanic). In short, the ability is meant to be weak and only useable by mounted units.

 

[CYZ]

I think this may miss the point. Carthage's mountain-walking ability isn't being introduced as an effective part of their UA (and how often do you run across cities bordered by enough mountains to make it useful offensively)? It's being introduced specifically for the thematic effect of letting Carthaginian elephants (a moderately fast unit, I believe) cross mountains (and in reality most of those were killed in the process - I really like the acknowledgment of that in the game mechanic). In short, the ability is meant to be weak and only useable by mounted units.

I agree, so if the damage isn't being lowered than it should stay as it is.

 

[Buccaneer]

It sounds like 'diplomacy' will be a big part of it, so maybe?

I hope, regardless of the specifics, that Sweden and other diplomatic-centric civs will do better at gaining a diplomatic victory. That would mean keeping the focus and pressure on city-state influence the closer the UN comes into play.

 

[HardRocker]

Austria - Diplomatic Marriage - absorb CS's

Could be interesting to assimilate CS's, depending on if you keep the Diplo vote afterwards, it could be a game-changer.

Byzantium - get a 6th belief for religion

I always loved the religion aspect in CIV, and with a nice boost (whether in early game or late game, I'm not sure) it could just leave me craving a religious victory.

Carthage - Phoenician Heritage - units can cross over mountains after 1st Great General spawn, but lose 50hp if end turn on mountain. Free harbors in coastal cities.

This is the one that drew my eye the most. Obviously reminiscent of Hannibal's Invasion of Rome, this could make "impregnable" land features almost useless.

Celtic - More faith near forest

With the random Great Prophet feature, this could make them more likely to have the first religion. Although I would say this combined with Pictish faith-on-kill could be OP, this is probably one of many reasons there is no Religious Victory.

Ethiopia - units get more strength if enemies have more cities.

Perfect for stronghold/defense strategies, and since I usually play more culture/science focused, I may find this is my favorite in G&K.

Huns - Scourge of God - raze cities 2x faster. Immediate access to Animal Husbandry, +1 production for Pasture.

Seems kinda useless after the Ancient and Classical eras. Historical, but very under-powered in my opinion.

Maya - time/calendar related

Depending on how they make this "work", this could be very cool or very disappointing. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Netherlands - East India Company - luxuries can be traded but you still have access to its happiness.

Could just become the new Arabia, but oh well. No complaints!

Sweden - Nobel Prize - something diplomacy related involve major civs, city states, and great people.

Aah. I am much looking forward to finding out the UA for this one. I supported adding Sweden (when it was cool, of course, but still), and am very amped up to play as ol' Gustav kickin' some Ruskie @$$ in the Great War.

 

[Mango Elephant]

I'll talk about thoughts.

Sweden - an idea I have is that once every so many turns (maybe a hundred?) Sweden will get the ability to give a Nobel Prize to a city-state or another civ, and the Nobel Prize comes along with a great person and a big diplomatic modifier as well. So if you have a problematic civ on your border who you know is going to DoW on you, send him a NP, and then he likes you. Let me know what you guys think!

Carthage - As someone else said, I'm really looking forward to building cities on little islands with lots of sea resources. And of course, the gold bonus via trade routes will be really nice. On Archipelago, I'd send my Quins early on to conquer another civilization (preferably one that built TGL or something similar), heal and benefit from insta-trade routes, and repeat.

Ethiopia - Although at first I didn't care for it (not to mention I don't like the color dark green), it seems to be really nice for a OCC. The only civ I really played a OCC challenge before was Egypt, so I'm really excited about this civ, too. It's second only to Carthage.

Byzantium - I don't know too much about religion yet, but it seems like it could be well enough if you get the extra belief in the beginning rather than the end, which I doubt it wouldn't be, otherwise it seems underpowered.

 

[Rex_Mundi]

But they take 50 damage if they end there turn on a mountain

If the ranged unit has march, it will heal every turn even if attacking. If it has a medic or even better the healing religion thing, or fountain of youth, then it can heal up to 80 pr round.
However that is a very thought up example.

 

[Montov]

There is a Belief where you can heal 30HP when adjacent to a friendly city. So you need a city next to a mountain (also enabling the Observatory), and then it can be a viable tactic. Maybe.

 

[MadDjinn]

If the ranged unit has march, it will heal every turn even if attacking. If it has a medic or even better the healing religion thing, or fountain of youth, then it can heal up to 80 pr round.
However that is a very thought up example.

That seem rather silly to hope for a FoY to be able to use this.

Well normally you can heal 20 per round in friendly territory, maybe another 10 if a medic is nearby by. Still losing 20hp per round, plus others firing at you. Doesn't seem like a valid tactic in most cases.

Anyway, I suspect healing will be proportionately slower in G&K, or it will be very hard to ever actually kill units.

There is a Belief where you can heal 30HP when adjacent to a friendly city. So you need a city next to a mountain (also enabling the Observatory), and then it can be a viable tactic. Maybe.

I doubt it'll be a viable tactic. Sure, with some healing you could stay on the mountain for a turn or two, but not much longer than that, if you're trying to attack.

Very niche moments in a game, but nothing solid to base a strategy around.

 

[Louis XXIV]

I know you can attack and heal with March. Can you do this with Fountain of Youth? Healing 80 HP per turn seems relatively useless if your only reason to do this is to stand on a mountain.

 

[SammyKhalifa]

Do you think GLs will be able to build their tile improvements on mountains?

 

[CYZ]

Do you think GLs will be able to build their tile improvements on mountains?

You mean GP? I highly doubt anything will be buildable on a mountain.

 

[SammyKhalifa]

You mean GP? I highly doubt anything will be buildable on a mountain.

Haha, yeah GP.

I don't think they're actually workable (you can't make a worker go onto a mountain tile), so in most instances it'd be a waste anyhow (except for citadels). But I kind of want to send my GP off to be a guru on a mountaintop . . .

 

[Louis XXIV]

Mountain Citadels would actually be very powerful because you wouldn't have to guard them.

 

[MadDjinn]

Mountain Citadels would actually be very powerful because you wouldn't have to guard them.

though, as a counter point, if a Carthage AI has thoughts of jumping over the mountains at you, then you could drop citadels on your side of the mountains and give them 50+Citadel damage if you can prevent them from leaving the mountain tiles.