Unique Wonders for each civ

[White_Knight]

A few days ago I began to play around with trying to create a unique Wonder for each of the game's 31 civilizations. I figured that this would add a bit more flavour to the game, giving each civ a new way to stand out from the others. I came across discussions on the forums about civ-specific Wonders, mostly around the time Conquests was coming out, since people thought it might be in the expansion. It wasn't, and I couldn't find an account of anyone else ever actually doing it, so I decided I would give it a shot and make a Unique Wonders (UW's) mod.

A UW can obviously be only built by one civilization. I will do this by assigning each civ a "Being ..." technology (like in Rise and Rule) that cannot be traded, and creating a new technology for each UW with the appropriate "Being ..." tech as a prerequisite. So, for example, the Great Wall of China requires a technology of the same name, whose prerequisites are Construction and Being Chinese. These new UW techs will be very cheap so the player won't spend too long off the main tech tree.

Each civ's UW will have the traits of that Civ, so it will trigger their GA by itself upon construction. (This makes it possible for America to reliably have a GA, and also guarantees a GA without warfare if you're playing a builder's game.) If at all possible, I will try to make the UW and its effects match at least one of the traits, if not both. For example, this is why I chose the Colossus, a commercial wonder that now also has a science benefit, for the Greeks instead of the Oracle, which is a religious wonder.

Ideally the UW should be built during the period of the game in which the real civilization would have had its most lasting achievements, and should go obsolete during the time when the importance of that civ had begun to wane. For example, the Roman UW, the Great Colosseum, is possible after Construction (late ancient age, when the Romans were rising in power) and goes obsolete during the Middle Ages. The American UW, Statue of Liberty, is available at the start of the Industrial Age. And so forth.

I currently have UW's fully fleshed out for about a dozen civs and I have ideas for a dozen more, but I would like to solicit some help in filling in the gaps, in a couple of areas. First, I need ideas for UW's for some of the civs like the Zulu, who do not have any "obvious" Wonders, at least to somebody who is unfamiliar with their history. For some UW's I also need to figure out what effects they can have which logically match the Wonder and its traits. For example, it would make sense to have Suleyman's Mosque for the Ottomans, but what would it do for them that is either scientific or industrious, and what technology should allow its construction?

I've uploaded a Word doc with my ideas so far, and a list of what I need help with. Any suggestions, comments or corrections would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads9/Civ-Wonders.zip

 

[FinnMcCool]

White_Knight, I looked over your doc file and I'm impressed. I've thought about doing the same thing actually, so I might have a little head start in "thinking time" for some civs especially.

Frinstunce:
Beowulf is actually a Saxon epic, I believe. Wotjan the Saxon Pagan God, and Odin the Norse God are sometimes considered to be synonymous, and it's possible since there was some ancient intermixing. In fact, "Russia" is called so because there were three VIKING kings who were hired on to rule them and they were called "The Rus".

But to create cultures that differentiate, it might be useful to reconsider the Viking specific Wonder. I might suggest this:

I once visited in Sweden the site of antiquity's deepest mine, it happened to harvest TUNGSTEN (which is Norse/Swedish for "heavy stone" since it was heavier than iron ore) and one thing that allowed the Vikings to excel so well at warfare was the fact that they made their swords out of Tungsten-steel. They used an iron-weaving technique whereby two rods were twisted by the smith and hammered together, then twisted again, and hammered together, etc, for many many layers. Similar to the Japanese art of Samurai swordmaking. I might suggest a Viking wonder like Tungsten Mining (or perhaps adding the resource and putting it in Scandia?...)

I especially like Hammurabi's Code; it appeals to the history buff in me.

Persia could use some work, though. Perhaps the Lapis mines? Lapis lazuli was the blue stone used in the mosaics of the entire Icon era, and almost all of it came from Afganistan (once Persia.)

I also like The Great Colosseum. Having seen Gladiator, I also wonder, "I did not know Man could build such things..."

Here's one cryptic addition: as for the Celts, it isn't entirely accurate to attribute Stonehenge to them. That's an Engla creation, or perhaps even a Tuatha practice (pre-Pictish times...) And the typical Celts in central Europe didn't follow the practice. But I like the flavor of your choice...

For Celts I might suggest The Copper Crown. It was a relic in the Temple at Ephesus, later plundered by the Knights Templar, and it was literally "the jewel in the crown" for Celts. Reputed to have magical powers... (eyes glowing emoticon, not invented yet...)

Good work tho. Great work!

 

[Plotinus]

Finn's right about Beowulf. I can't really think of any ideas for the ones you don't have, apart from Carthage - there is a Wonder that someone made for them (the War Harbour/Double Harbour, I think) but I can't seem to find it, annoyingly.

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

Finn's right about Beowulf. I can't really think of any ideas for the ones you don't have, apart from Carthage - there is a Wonder that someone made for them (the War Harbour/Double Harbour, I think) but I can't seem to find it, annoyingly.

The war harbour can be downloaded here.

I've made a Beowulf wonder that will be released as part of Anno Domini - it's a Saxon unique wonder in that mod. Here's a preview:

 

[HolyEmperor]

Very good list. Very good list indeed.
OK, first of all, I'd suggest you change the Persian UW name to Apadana, that is exactly the same thing, but in persian. Or, since it would be hard to depict it in tha game, you might want to consider changing it to the "Good year palace", that was the Imperial Palace of Persepolis. Another effect for it might be "treasure earns 5 %", since in the palace was what probably was the biggest treasure of Ancient times (I don't know haow it would do compared to the roman one, but... )

Byzantines-Hagia Sophia
Yes, this one is a hard one. Hagia Sophia should be Religious and Scientific (as should the byzantines themselves). The effect should then be double effect of cathedrals or put a cathedral in every city AND double scientific research rate in the city. One problem is, this wonder is not exactly "expirable" (how could it be, if the Sistine Chapel isn't...). However, the Byzantines are Scientific and Seafaring, making the game traits incompatible with the wonder. If I were you, I'd simply change the traits, since that is the wrong part. But, if you are not willing to do that, consider making the "Greek fire wonder" or the "Imperial University" wonder both of them would double scientific input and allow spy missons or +1 trade in each tile.

About the East India Company, it should be a Dutch UW not an English one, since it played a much bigger role in Netherland's greatness than in England's.
However I can't think about something for England, but perhaps the Magna Carta?

Now, just a name suggestion: change the turkish one to "Blue Mosque", or, if you wish to really change it, Topkapi Palace.

 

[Plotinus]

Ideally, Unique Wonders, like Unique Units, should presumably come at the time of the civilisation's "greatness" (and preferably from the time that the character in the leaderhead really lived). So you should really have something Elizabethan for the English. Shakespeare's Theatre is already taken, which doesn't help, as that would have been the obvious one. How about something to do with Drake?

 

[White_Knight]

Let me try to address everyone's comments and then toss in a couple of new ideas I've come up with.

In retrospect, I remember reading somewhere that Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic, albeit one which may have been heavily influenced by early Norse mythology. Call it a brain fart. A "Heroic Epic" replacement would have been quite appropriate for them, though. Maybe another famous piece of Norse literature, like the Havamal? (That one is Norse... right?) Though it would be historically accurate, something like the Great Tungsten Mine seems more appropriate for an Industrious civ, despite its use in sword-smithing.

The Carthaginian Double Harbor seems perfect, but I'm still not sure whether it's possible to make a Wonder grant a Harbor to every city, which I would like to be the effect of this one. Would it crash the game when it tries to put Harbors in non-coastal cities? Has anyone tested this?

HolyEmperor, I like both your ideas about the Persian UW; the name gives it more flavour and the "teasury earns 5%" is something special to distinguish it from the FP. Consider it done. You've also got a good point about the East India Company, and it works just as well for the Dutch as for the English, both of them being Seafaring. Somebody's Voyage for the English would be a possibility, but there are already a couple of those kinds of Wonders out there. I agree with Plotinus that it should be something Elizabethan but I am not that familiar with the period, so I don't immediately have any ideas.

For the Spanish I was thinking that The Armada, a Frigate-spawning UW, might be a possibility, but I already have a possible ship-spawner in the form of the East India Company, and two might be overkill. These are supposed to be "unique" wonders, after all!

I would like a "library in every city" Wonder but I can't think of who it should go to. If the Arabs were scientific I'd give it to them, to give them a tech and culture lead over rivals during the Middle Ages (as was historically the case, I believe) but that effect doesn't fit with the Kaaba. Likewise with the Byzantines and Hagia Sophia. Speaking of which, "Cathedral in every city" for Hagia Sophia seems too powerful, though making it a second Sistine's with an additional trade or science bonus might work.

I was thinking Taj Mahal would be a happiness wonder similar to the Hanging Gardens (1 happy face in every city, 2 in city where it's built). And does anyone think that "2 free advances" would be a suitable effect for Pyramids of Chichen Itza, or for one of the other wonders without effects assigned? Or is this too unbalancing?

I still also need ideas for Zululand and Korea. My knowledge of the history of these countries is very limited, so if anyone else knows more about them, please feel free to offer suggestions. Thanks again for all the input that I've gotten so far.

 

[DylanAedui]

Excellent ideas so far.

A "library in every city" Wonder might be just the ticket for Korea, actually.
In the early Koryo dynasty, the Koreans made a woodblock printing of the entire Buddhist canon, the Tripitaka ("Three Baskets"). This was a stunning achievement because it was the product of more than eighty thousand separate woodblocks (currently located at Haein Monastery in South Korea), highly regarded on the basis of its accuracy, calligraphy style , and the quality of the woodblock carving.

The first carving started in 1011 when the Koreans were under Khitan attacks and was completed in 1087. These woodblocks were destroyed, however, in the thirteenth century during the Mongol invasion. The second (and last) carvings took place in the middle of the Mongol invasions, beginning in 1236 and finished in 1251.

These "Woodblock Sutras" could be a wonder for scientific Korea, and be gained with either Theology or Education.

As for Zululand, this is tougher, but perhaps the Valley of the 1000 Hills, or more specifically, the 960- metre 'Table Mountain' - emKhambathini - Place of the Giraffe Acacia Trees, as a "doubled defense" wonder. The Debe clansfolk of this area held out against Shaka's warriors longer than most.

Lastly, in my own personal home mod, the East India Company is a commerical wonder which puts a marketplace (or merchant's guild, in my mod) in every city, allowing you to have that Spanish Armada wonder to produce war galleons.

Anyway, hope this helps.

Cheers.

 

[White_Knight]

A quick update for those who are still paying attention to this thread. I've gone through the graphics archives looking for splashes and building pics that I can use, and I've augmented my plan document accordingly. I've attached the newest version for comments and further suggestions.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads9/Civ-Wonders-2.zip

DylanAedui, as you can see, I've snatched up your Woodblock Tripitaka idea. This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for, and that I might never have come up with alone. I'm still looking for a Zulu UW but I'll definitely keep your ideas in mind. Same with the Celts and England; the ideas that have been suggested above are good, I'm just waiting to see if anythine else strikes me as "just what the doctor ordered", like the Tripitaka did.

I can't believe I completely missed Japan on my first pass through this, but I've tentatively given them Todaiji Temple, which according to some sources is the world's largest wooden building. Of course I am still open to other suggestions, as I am for many of the other UW's (though I am more attached to some than to others, naturally).

Since this is my first go at something like this, maybe one of the more experienced modders can fill me in on the proper etiquette for using another person's images, like the splashes and buildings I've swiped from the forums. Should I contact the artists and ask for their permission to use the pictures, or just put their name alongside them (as I have tried to do so far) and leave it at that?

Once again, input is highly anticipated.

 

[Plotinus]

As a rule, there's no need to ask people for permission to use their work in your mod. That's why they post their work here, after all - to be used. Just credit them when you release the mod.

 

[azzaman333]

japanese UW could be "Code of the Samurai" or similar, and come in with feudalism. Makes a samurai every 5(?) turns, and make a citizen content/happy in every city, as samurai worked in the towns to keep peace, and to fight wars for their lords.

 

[Zurai]

You can have a wonder place a harbor in every town without any ill effects. One of the wonders in a mod I'm working on does it just fine.