World Wonders – Suggestions / Requests

[is tin poli]

i would like to see
1) Acropolis, not just Parthenon.
2) Petra.
3) Sydney Opera House
4) Alhambra.
5) Neuschwanstein Castle.
6) and also i would like to see the Statue of Zeus at Olympia (the wonder of the wonders of ancient world) to be related with the olympic games.

Anyway i cant wait any longer...!!!...i want civ5 right now...!!

 

[Snake Eyes]

Here's My Short List....

Giant Olmec Head (Ancient Age)
The Daibutsu of Kamakura (Medieval Age)
The Mausoleum of Mausolios (Classical Age)
The Mines of Bolivia (Renaissance Age)

 

[DroopyTofu]

A little off topic, but I'll go ahead and say it. I think that Manhattan Project is definitly off. I think it might work better if there was a "Nuclear Weapon" technology. You could trade it or keep it to yourself.

I think that Sydney Opera House would be good. I also think they should add a few Asian/African/Australian/South American/Antartican wonders to reduce the Euro/American-Centrism.

 

[frekk]

Temple of the Moon, Teotihuacan (rather this than Chichen Itza, but both would be cool)

Ironbridge, Shropshire (First iron bridge in the world. Bit of bias! Was the first place I lived)

Suez Canal

I liked the old Leonardo's Workshop, which makes upgrades cheaper, but would see it replaced with Zhuge Liang's workshop - just for a bit of variety and somewhat less Euro-centrism. Also Zhuge Liang was a strategist and his inventions were designed specifically for, and actually had some impact on, contemporary military affairs; Leonardo conceptualized some inventions far ahead of his time, but none were ever built, and only a portion of them were military in nature. Since the workshop has an immediate impact which is mostly military in nature, I think Zhuge Liang is more appropriate.

Westminster Abbey. It's not the most incredible, architecturally - certainly notable but not the most notable. But historically, it's quite something. The King James Bible was composed there, it was the site of coronation and burial for many kings of England or Britain, and even Cromwell (briefly ... before they dug him up and hung him). Chaucer lived there, and was buried there, along with a number of other literary greats (including Tennyson and Kipling). For a long time it was an important school, rivalling Cambridge and Oxfordshire. Not the most important building of its type continentally, but its national importance is unique; I don't think any other country has this much of its history and identity wrapped up in one single abbey/cathedral.

 

[SJSerio]

OK, I don't have time to read the whole thread right now, but one thing I would like to see is the Colosseum as a wonder. The "standard" building could be the Arena (to replace the regular Colosseum from past games). After all, there is only one Colosseum which the building was based on.

 

[civ_king]

D'oh, we need the Golden Gate Bridge!

ACtually IIRC it is the Flavian Amphitheatre

PS no thread is complete without Zheng He

 

[Louis XXIV]

Only two big things I can think of at the moment concerning wonders.

1. No wonders like Leonardo's Workshop or JS Bach's Cathedral. I know they were a big part of the old series, but after the introduction of Great People in Civ4, I think it's proper that they aren't necessary. Some may disagree on this with me, of course...

I agree whole-heartedly there. Especially because they don't really represent anything substantive. I'm iffy about things like Rock and Roll as well. I realize it was an effort to expand luxuries, but it doesn't really make sense as something built.

I'd argue that the goals should be two fold. One is increased world diversity, the second is increased age balance. I realize that the bulk of wonders in popular mindset are ancient, but there needs to be things to be built throughout the game.

Ironically, I'd still argue for including the 7 Ancient Wonders even if this seems to directly contradict what I just said (they're all Greek with the exception of two Middle Eastern ones and they're all ancient). But, after that, things can be reevaluated (like replacing the Hoover Dam with the 3 Gorges Dam was a good idea).

Anyway, I'll echo people who said the Large Hadron Collider. It fits perfectly with the goals above.

Less fitting would be the Terra Cotta Army. I've been pushing to have it replace Leonardo's Workshop for a long time and I think it would make sense. Plus, it brings world culture instead of simply western. The Grand Canal from China is another that comes to mind, but I don't think it should be the Greece and China show either (plus, you don't want too many ancient).

One thing that is truly a wonder would be the Petra in Jordan. Sure there are other Middle Eastern wonders and it's also ancient, but it is simply amazing and deserves consideration. As for the Colosseum: If they keep small wonders, I think it would be an appropriate one (with amphitheaters replacing the generic Colosseum). It certainly is awesome, but, compared to some other ancient ones, falls a tad bit short.

As far as removing wonders. Definitely 86 Rock and Roll, Broadway, and Hollywood. Aside from that, everything seems cool unless it interferes with balance by being too top heavy.

Entirely different, but I'd love a completely revamped space race that would start with satellites and advance to manned missions, moon missions, space stations, and a trip to alpha centauri. I'm not sure if anyone would be willing to play that, but if it gave bonuses along the way to science, technology, and/or culture, people might be willing to try it. Plus, the space race would be more real than a parts race on one ship (with announced progress made by other civs when they hit a certain milestone).

 

[JordanN]

The Second Temple/Western Wall.
Bonus:Free maintenance for temples.

 

[damnrunner]

This is not really wonder related but it is somewhat similar.

I was thinking of the idea of certain units being able to perform various "hero quests." These could vary by type of unit, time period, and avaible terrain/resources, or be civ/leader specific.

Examples:
Quest for the golden fleece
Something with Gilgamesh
The Odyssey
Search for holy grail


They would not be game changers but would spice up the game a bit like the random events in BTS.

 

[boredatwork]

I'd like to see some natural wonders included in the game.

Obviously not "built" but just being on the map like sticking Niagara falls on some random river or Mt. Everest in a mountain chain, or whatever.

Some could give production bonuses with an appropriate technology (Niagara Falls, hydro), others could give cultural improvements (Grand Canyon, tourism).

 

[MrBanana]

I'd like to see some natural wonders included in the game.

Obviously not "built" but just being on the map like sticking Niagara falls on some random river or Mt. Everest in a mountain chain, or whatever.

Some could give production bonuses with an appropriate technology (Niagara Falls, hydro), others could give cultural improvements (Grand Canyon, tourism).

That's actually a pretty good idea. Though there has never been waterfalls in Civ, a taller then normal mountain as a natural wonder would be cool.

 

[Arkangelus]

I have to say I love some of these ideas and hope that the devs are listening!

Natural wonders are a brilliant idea. Could just be a bank in the database of a certain amount of things that can occasionally happen - a Niagra Falls tile when mountains/hills and river meet, an Everest in a mountain range, even going back to one of the Civ 3 ones with the Cedars of Lebanon, there could be a range of various unique tiles that just add a little flavour to the game.

For the same flavour reasons, I like the idea of the 'anti-wonders' that you get stuck with. Things like refugee camps and slums appearing or the Chernobyl dead zone due to some of your choices would essentially work like the random events "your forge has burned down!", but leave a little scar, just a mark that adds a bit more flavour to the world.

Suez/Panama Canal are excellent calls as well, and I think I read something somewhere about there being some sort of canal wonder. To be fair it could well have been speculation but I vaguely associate it with something professional and official, so maybe we'll see more of that in time.

In terms of civ-specific wonders... I like the idea, but at the same time I can see the drawbacks. We've yet to get any info on the unique abilities of the civilzations, but going from the Civ 4 model it'd be pretty cool if for example, Chichen Itza when built by the Aztecs gave a further movement bonus in forests, or if the Great Wall gave an extra defensive bonus to the Chinese crossbowmen. Even in modern times, if America got the Pentagon it could power up the Marine UU. Some of the replayability for me comes with trying different tactics, particularly those that the unique units give, so if for example I dont usually use Crossbowmen but an oppertunity arises where they'd gain a sizable edge via a wonder, it might be quite fun. Civ can be full of things like that where tactics adapt on the fly.

 

[Ahriman]

One of the interviews seemed to imply some possibility of buildable canals.

I like the idea of the 'anti-wonders'

I'm not sure that permanent penalties you can't get rid of are much fun.

 

[Arkangelus]

How I imagined them was not that you 'cant get rid of them' as such, more in line with the "your forge has burned down" or mine explosion events from BTS. Plus if they're linked to clearly 'bad' actions that you've taken the consequence can still be pretty fun - and fun seeing a slum developing or your neighbours poor management leading to refugee camps and so on

 

[CHEESE!]

Gimme Big Ben/London Eye/Houses of Parliament/Notting Hill Carnival!!!/Globe Theatre and I'm happy.

 

[Dragonxander PR]

In that case, my lacteous buddy, you would do better with a British Isles mod, encompassing all of its local History.

 

[StittsvilleJame]

I'd like to see some natural wonders included in the game.

Obviously not "built" but just being on the map like sticking Niagara falls on some random river or Mt. Everest in a mountain chain, or whatever.

Some could give production bonuses with an appropriate technology (Niagara Falls, hydro), others could give cultural improvements (Grand Canyon, tourism).

I love this idea too. They could be sort of a holy mountain type deal, where you don't know where they are until you find them.

I also like the idea of civ specific wonders. I would be happy if it was required to build the unique unit, and maybe also add another little bonus (like +2 or something). That way it adds flavour, but isn't overpowering. And of course full length feature film wonder movie...delivered in IMAX 3D...

 

[Impaler[WrG]]

My overarching standard for Wonders are.

1) Physical location - something like 'Human Genome project' is a global research effort and completely inappropriate for wonders, likewise the Manhattan project, though they make good projects, a concept that I hope Civ5 retains.

2) Unique appearance - players need to be able to identify a wonder by its appearance in the city, so a wonder must be a structure that can be recognized easily.

2) Familiar to a people around the world - players shouldn't be completely baffled by ridicules 'wonders' that no ones ever heard of, if people here on CFC (generally very knowledgeable) need to goggle to even know what your talking about its not a good wonder.

3) Cultural/Temporal diversity - really only a concern when deciding what dose/doesn't make the cut, cultural diversity is the distribution of wonders around the world and with respect to various cultures and good diversity helps satisfy requirements 2 and 3. Temporal diversity is key to game play as wonders need to be spaced evenly through the tech tree.

4) Historical Context - a back-story behind a wonder helps to support a logical game play effect, people expect the Great Wall to do something defensive, the Great Library to give more science. If a proposed wonder dose not present any kind of obvious gameplay effect then it's a bit weaker, though this can make them flexible if theirs a needed effect that not fitting some ware else.


Given all that I tend to like Arab/middle-eastern wonders because the Arabs have without a doubt the boldest most creative architectural tradition in the world. I like the Library of Wisdom idea a few pages back as it's back-story (translation of Greek writing to arabic) suggests a interesting effect, when built you get a one event which gives you all technologies know to any civs you have contact with. I'd also give a thumbs up to Alhambra as it can be considered both Arab/Moorish and Spanish. Also I think we strongly need a Germanic wonder such as Neuschwanstein Castle or Brandenburg Gate. Lastly the Crystal Palace would be a nice Victorian era wonder and be a nice unique visual.

 

[Thyrwyn]

Ooh, I like Neuschwanstein Castle - while most people will not recognize the name, I am willing to bet that everyone in the western world has seen a picture of it. Not sure what the effects should be. . . Maybe: your Leader declares bankruptcy and is replaced - change civics with no revolution

 

[Impaler[WrG]]

Actually more people in America are probably familiar with THIS castle in Anaheim, California, which is said to be inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle.

In any event people are familiar with castles and Neuschwanstein Castle is widely considered to be the most picturesque one in all of Europe so it makes a good wonder on the grounds of cultural diversity and visual uniqueness. It's very flexible on game-play effect too, being a castle an obvious defensive military effect could work, while the fact it was more a piece of art and a vacation spot means a culture or happiness effect would also work.