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What are your thoughts regarding the newly-announced Unique Buildings?
I'm refering to the IGN preview at http://pc.ign.com/articles/717/717727p1.html
I'm running out the door to go to work, but I will edit this myself with some commentary when I get the chance. (Probably at work, if nobody's over my shoulder.)
edit: OK, here we go...
Mall (American) - modest, but respectable. Happiness from the late culture wonders is appropriate, but amusing. In spite of Washington's re-attribution to Charismatic from Financial, I'd be skeptical if an American player would be likely to build these for the culture.
Madrassa (Arabian) - The ability to convert priests is going to be of great benefit to Saladin, especially for anyone who's going to slingshot, and possibly take Philosophy instead of CS. +2 culture is ok, but clearly a secondary benefit.
Sacrificial Altar (Aztec) - Not being a huge proponent of whipping, I don't get the same excitement over this as the pop rushers. I'm willing to bet it will be a favorite, though.
Cothon (Carthage) - +1 trade routes is an unbelievable boon for a Carthage played towards it. We're talking strictly oceanic cities, and trade routes are significantly hampered by poor diplomatic conditions, but potentially incredible with the Lighthouse and the Colossus on an archipelago.
Dun (Celtic) - Free Guerilla I from your walls, a structure you aren't likely to build much anyway...am I the only one who thinks this sucks?
Pavilion (Chinese) - The change to both Chinese leaders as protective is going to be quite a shock in strategem for China. The +25% culture bonus on top of that is possibly going to skew their style dramatically.
Obelisk (Egyptian) - Helps get an early GP, and might be nice on an Earth map with all that flood plain, but otherwise not too important.
Stock Exchange (English) - A strong financial bonus for an already-financial civilization. Too bad Financial doesn't halve bank building any more.
Salon (French) - Not an incredibly strong bonus unless you're shooting for culture, and even then, it's a little on the meh side. I suppose Louis is a strong contender for that victory condition, at least.
Assembly Plant (German) - Doesn't do anything other than add Engineer potential...this *could* be incredibly powerful, or incredibly weak, depending on your ability to support specialists. A Mercantile Germany with Statue of Liberty could be productive, indeed, however.
Odeon (Greek) - Culture for colosseum makes it slightly more likely to get built, I guess.
Terrace (Incan) - +2 culture on granaries lets you kill two birds with one stone. A very practical, if not overwhelming bonus.
Masoleum (sic) (India) - lol at bonus from building a jail?
Shale Plant (Japanese) - soso, I suppose. 10% production is never something to complain about, but you're still only looking at a boost to cities that you've built a factory in.
Seowon (Korean) - solid. +10% research is like having another Monastery...including past Scientific Method.
Mint (Mali) - +10% commerce is a fitting bonus for Mali, if a bit surprising on such an essential and early building.
Ger (Mongolian) - I must have missed the memo...what's a Stables? Should that say it's replacing Barracks?
Hammam (Ottoman) - Extremely nice bonus, especially for an expansive civ that could use the extra happiness more than the health from their aqueduct.
Apothecary (Persian) - I'll assume this is in addition to the normal Grocer benefits. Ironic that the Persian UB comes well after the Persian empire itself, historically, but this helps make up for the loss of Cyrus's Expansive trait.
Forum (Roman) - ...25% birth rate? Meaning contribution of extra food, I'm guessing?
Research Institute (Russian) - would be rather overpowering if it didn't come so darn late in the game...kinda like the Internet. Guess all Great Library bonuses are destined to be relegated to late game minor effects.
Citadel (Spanish) - Is that an extra 50% to the defense bonus, (150% total)? The siege weapon bonus is underwhelming, imho.
Trading Post (Viking) - Awesome bonus for a seafaring people.
Ikhanda (Zulu) - 20% to...city maintenance, like a courthouse? That would be most impressive for maintaining large empires, if you can get -70% to all cities' expenditure with a barracks and a courthouse.
And for good measure...
The Great Wall - 2 culture is rather ineffective for a great wonder, however the bonus is very nice for a game with those pesky barbs pestering you, and for protective leaders in general.
Temple of Artemis - Remember what I said about the Carthaginian building? Yeah, have them build this, too.
University of Sankore - unless the numbers get tweaked, a mere 2 research to each city doesn't sound like much in the scope of most of your developed cities having 30+, and a Bureaucracy capital having maybe well over 100.
I'm refering to the IGN preview at http://pc.ign.com/articles/717/717727p1.html
I'm running out the door to go to work, but I will edit this myself with some commentary when I get the chance. (Probably at work, if nobody's over my shoulder.)
edit: OK, here we go...
Mall (American) - modest, but respectable. Happiness from the late culture wonders is appropriate, but amusing. In spite of Washington's re-attribution to Charismatic from Financial, I'd be skeptical if an American player would be likely to build these for the culture.
Madrassa (Arabian) - The ability to convert priests is going to be of great benefit to Saladin, especially for anyone who's going to slingshot, and possibly take Philosophy instead of CS. +2 culture is ok, but clearly a secondary benefit.
Sacrificial Altar (Aztec) - Not being a huge proponent of whipping, I don't get the same excitement over this as the pop rushers. I'm willing to bet it will be a favorite, though.
Cothon (Carthage) - +1 trade routes is an unbelievable boon for a Carthage played towards it. We're talking strictly oceanic cities, and trade routes are significantly hampered by poor diplomatic conditions, but potentially incredible with the Lighthouse and the Colossus on an archipelago.
Dun (Celtic) - Free Guerilla I from your walls, a structure you aren't likely to build much anyway...am I the only one who thinks this sucks?
Pavilion (Chinese) - The change to both Chinese leaders as protective is going to be quite a shock in strategem for China. The +25% culture bonus on top of that is possibly going to skew their style dramatically.
Obelisk (Egyptian) - Helps get an early GP, and might be nice on an Earth map with all that flood plain, but otherwise not too important.
Stock Exchange (English) - A strong financial bonus for an already-financial civilization. Too bad Financial doesn't halve bank building any more.
Salon (French) - Not an incredibly strong bonus unless you're shooting for culture, and even then, it's a little on the meh side. I suppose Louis is a strong contender for that victory condition, at least.
Assembly Plant (German) - Doesn't do anything other than add Engineer potential...this *could* be incredibly powerful, or incredibly weak, depending on your ability to support specialists. A Mercantile Germany with Statue of Liberty could be productive, indeed, however.
Odeon (Greek) - Culture for colosseum makes it slightly more likely to get built, I guess.
Terrace (Incan) - +2 culture on granaries lets you kill two birds with one stone. A very practical, if not overwhelming bonus.
Masoleum (sic) (India) - lol at bonus from building a jail?
Shale Plant (Japanese) - soso, I suppose. 10% production is never something to complain about, but you're still only looking at a boost to cities that you've built a factory in.
Seowon (Korean) - solid. +10% research is like having another Monastery...including past Scientific Method.
Mint (Mali) - +10% commerce is a fitting bonus for Mali, if a bit surprising on such an essential and early building.
Ger (Mongolian) - I must have missed the memo...what's a Stables? Should that say it's replacing Barracks?
Hammam (Ottoman) - Extremely nice bonus, especially for an expansive civ that could use the extra happiness more than the health from their aqueduct.
Apothecary (Persian) - I'll assume this is in addition to the normal Grocer benefits. Ironic that the Persian UB comes well after the Persian empire itself, historically, but this helps make up for the loss of Cyrus's Expansive trait.
Forum (Roman) - ...25% birth rate? Meaning contribution of extra food, I'm guessing?
Research Institute (Russian) - would be rather overpowering if it didn't come so darn late in the game...kinda like the Internet. Guess all Great Library bonuses are destined to be relegated to late game minor effects.
Citadel (Spanish) - Is that an extra 50% to the defense bonus, (150% total)? The siege weapon bonus is underwhelming, imho.
Trading Post (Viking) - Awesome bonus for a seafaring people.
Ikhanda (Zulu) - 20% to...city maintenance, like a courthouse? That would be most impressive for maintaining large empires, if you can get -70% to all cities' expenditure with a barracks and a courthouse.
And for good measure...
The Great Wall - 2 culture is rather ineffective for a great wonder, however the bonus is very nice for a game with those pesky barbs pestering you, and for protective leaders in general.
Temple of Artemis - Remember what I said about the Carthaginian building? Yeah, have them build this, too.
University of Sankore - unless the numbers get tweaked, a mere 2 research to each city doesn't sound like much in the scope of most of your developed cities having 30+, and a Bureaucracy capital having maybe well over 100.
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