Unique Abilities discussion

[MadDjinn]

Austria - Diplomatic Marriage - absorb CS's

The question is: Does "absorb" mean, that the former CS will be one of your own cities, just as if it was conquered/built by yourself? I read it like this.

But then, you will loose all special benefits granted by this CS. Is THIS is worth it? Isn't an allied CS way more profitable than a additional city in your empire (with increasing happiness drain and resources you might own already)?

I'm not so convinced about this UA, to be honest (if it works like this)!

A CS is rarely more profitable than a city, though, that depends on the type of CS and what is defined as profitable (from a science/gold perspective, owning the city is better) - and ofc, do you have Patronage completed.

hmm, you have a good question there.

Do the Austrians 'absorb' the City State, thereby removing it entirely from being a CS, and it 'effectively' becoming like a city you founded yourself?

Or is it more like the choice of Annex/Puppet, but someone else founded it, so it could be liberated later (and of course require a courthouse if annexed)?

Very different potential in those two questions.

You forget that the peacefully annexed CS can't be allied by one of the AI's either, so absorbing it keeps it from helping your competition. Austria will be especially infuriating for Siam and Greece.

that's the very least of the problems for those two. Siam too big? buy their cultural/etc CSs and then sell them back to them for a huge price

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

You can always refrain from annexing the ones that are most beneficial to your victory goal.

 

[shaglio]

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.

I'm still unclear as to exactly what this means. My initial thought was: newly built cities automatically start with a Harbor. But what happens if you haven't yet reasearched the appropriate tech? So does it mean: Harbors have 0 maintenance cost?

 

[Dogmouth]

The Carthiginian and Ethiopian UAs seem to be the most interesting of this group (North Africa, FTW). Free harbors (no upkeep?) is quite awesome on any map with a reasonable amount of water. Crossing mountains could actually be more interesting than it seems. Carthiginian tanks will be the ultimate guerillas in certain maps. Even chariot archers could be deadly. The utility of the Ethiopian UA will depend upon the exact bonus, but it's likely to be a big hit for players in high difficulties, where enemy city spamming almost always outpaces player city spamming.

 

[Buccaneer]

I like all of them except Celts. UA should not solely be map dependant. Playing as Celts or Iroquois restricts me on the type of map I must choose. All of the others listed apply to any map except Celts.

 

[shaglio]

I believe it means that once the appropriate technology has been discovered, all existing and future catharganian cities get an automatic harbour added for no maintenance cost. A very good UB if you ask me - worth close to 3x the Arabian one.

So I guess it's a combination of my two interpretations. You automatically get the building and there is no maintenance cost. That's even better than I thought!

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

So I guess it's a combination of my two interpretations. You automatically get the building and there is no maintenance cost. That's even better than I thought!

I don't think we have confirmation of which one it is or both.

 

[headcase]

I like all of them except Celts. UA should not solely be map dependant. Playing as Celts or Iroquois restricts me on the type of map I must choose. All of the others listed apply to any map except Celts.

Great point, and it also makes them too good on highly forested maps. Would be awesome if their UA (and Iroquois, naval UAs, etc) were adjusted depending on map type chosen, but that's highly doubtful.

As it is, well, bring on the Celts vs. Iroquois forest duel! That'd be fun

Edit: Also no City States means no Austria UA, for example.

 

[Louis XXIV]

The most logical explanation is both automatic harbor and no maintenance. If it's just the latter, it would be fairly weak. If it's just the former, it could have disastrous consequences any time you build a coastal city because you couldn't afford the maintenance yet.

I do think it requires the appropriate tech first, though.

 

[SammyKhalifa]

The most logical explanation is both automatic harbor and no maintenance. If it's just the latter, it would be fairly weak. If it's just the former, it could have disastrous consequences any time you build a coastal city because you couldn't afford the maintenance yet.

I do think it requires the appropriate tech first, though.

That's what I assumed when I first heard the power described. Could that be too strong though? Maybe they'll make me finally use commerce!

 

[Optional]

Where was the Dutch UA confirmed? Afaik it's only speculation?

It's never been speculation. It was an early article. The problem is it's a translated article so it's difficult to tell exactly what they meant by it.

It was a German article - GamersGlobal. Our only doubts should be around whether the German journalist understood Dennis Shirk correctly. The same paragraph also talks about a 'Sea Dagger', which probably should have been 'Sea Beggar', and it talks about 'Polders' the Dutch can put up for gaining new land and for protection against high water. That sounds like a strange concept within the game. The German language of the article is no problem for us, many of us have a good grasp of that. Here is the paragraph in the original German version:

Wir wechseln jetzt zu den Holländern und ihrem Anführer König Wilhelm von Oranien. Ihre Spezialfähigkeit setzt auf die Ostindien-Kompanie – eine Handelsgesellschaft, mit deren Hilfe die Holländer eigene Luxusgüter im Handelsgeschäfte einbringen können, ohne an Zufriedenheit zu verlieren. Außerdem besitzen sie den "Sea Dagger", eine Einheit, die küstennahe Städte plündern kann, und errichten Polder, mit dem sie Neuland gewinnen und das Land vor Hochwasser schützen.

This is also the only article that mentions these details. A lot of other info has several sources, and then it's easier to accept.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

It seems to me that Austria is going to benefit a great deal from Espionage against City-States.

 

[apocalypse105]

Is anybody concerned about the 50 HP damage for units that stay on a mountain?

Actualy removes the ability to move over mountains especially with units with only 1 move their like infantry.

 

[Glassmage]

I think the ability is meant only for mounted and tank units.

 

[Louis XXIV]

I actually think they'll be able to cross mountains freely instead of as rough terrain. Otherwise, it would not make much sense.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

I actually think they'll be able to cross mountains freely instead of as rough terrain. Otherwise, it would not make much sense.

I agree. The 50hp hit keeps you from taking ultra-defensible high ground positions in combat. Now that they have this price to pay for stopping on mountains, do Carthaginian Helicopter Gunships take the hit too?

 

[MadDjinn]

I agree. The 50hp hit keeps you from taking ultra-defensible high ground positions in combat. Now that they have this price to pay for stopping on mountains, do Carthaginian Helicopter Gunships take the hit too?

unlikely, since helicopters have a special promotion that allows them to be on mountains.

 

[chazzycat]

I am skeptical about the Dutch UA, it just seems overpowered for the early game.

Carthage should be fun, free harbors is nice. About the mountains...well that kind of sucks about the 50%. I thought it would be useful for cities surrounded by mountains, and maybe it will be, but you'd really want to take it out in one turn.

I look forward to the Huns a lot just because they are so different...if they get a few horse tiles around they will be pretty nasty

I really like Austria's UA as well, it should be quite interesting, and I'm also glad they added some competition for Greece/Siam.

Somewhat underhwhelmed by the Byzantines...not that it's not powerful, just a little boring, and doesn't that last belief come pretty late?

Celts will be nice to test out the religion system, especially with warfare.

Hopefully the Mayans UA is not related to 2012, but I guess we'll see...

 

[godofsteele]

I like Ausrias UA it sounds very different from any other civ and will be very interesting to play.

But i just thought, what will happen to the city states army. Diplomatic marriage sounds like the joining of two nations so if the city becomes yours wont there army also become yours. it would be a very nice boost in a game were your fighting a very long war against another civ and you suddenly have 6 or 7 new units.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

That is a good point. Do they join your forces, promotions and all? Do they just disappear?