The artist

[Krill]

I do notthink so, since in the rules there is no option for culture to be produced by a specialist; only shields, tax, beakers, lux and cooruption.

What a pity.

[alva]

Hmm, I like it GePap

[Mad Bomber]

There would have to be a limit to this otherwise it would make culture bombarding way too easy (cultural Vic's are unsatisfying anyway) Probably a limit of two artists per city and they should cost at least 2 gold to maintain.

Edit:

On a related topic, how about some industrial to modern city improvements to provide culture. Below are some options:

Art Museums
Night Clubs (also provide happiness)
Stadiums (really an upgrade of the Colloseum)
Resort/ Spa
Casinos
Broadway (SW)
Hollywood wonder
Cinemas
Mass Media (SW)

Of course not all of these could or should be in Civ 4 but an addition of 1-2 of these would be a good improvement to the late industrial and modern game

[Aeson]

I like it. The main problem is then that the buildings normally relied on for culture aren't as important. Cultural buildings (happiness) are already rather useless IMO. Maybe that's irrelevent though, as I already don't build them in most cases (research culture is more than enough usually).

[ErikM]

I think it will make it way too easy to expand culture borders in captured cities (and in your own more corrupt cities).

I'm with Aeson on the usefulness of happiness buildings. The only time I would build a temple is to expand cultural borders (or if I have nothing useful to build which happens sometimes). With culture specialists I doubt I'd ever build a single temple.

This can be adressed by making temples etc. more useful, but then it becomes a pretty complicated change.

[Mad Bomber]

That's nice for all of you warmongers that go

Despo>>Monarchy>>Fascism/Communism

Or stay in Republic

But I prefer to have a Republican Democracy as my government and war weariness is much more managable with happiness improvements. Also I might actually play with cultral victory enabled if more cultural options were available after the Midieval age.

I also like to play well into the modern age so I do not see modern age improvements as unnecessary or useless.

[vmxa1]

"Despo>>Monarchy>>Fascism/Communism"

That's a lot of government switching, I hope they are religious.

[Mad Bomber]

2 governments is a lot of switching?

You probably think I'm nuts for going to Republic first before democracy.

[vmxa1]

I only switch once if not religious. With about an avg of 6 turns of anarchy, it is too expensive. I have seen 9 turns even.

As to Dem, I don't use it or even research it.

[Mad Bomber]

And to think that I have actually had a 1 turn transition to democracy. (builder game, bee-lined to it, ended ancient age in 2750BC)

[Fake Boris]

Good idea.

[Spiffor]

It is a good idea. And don't fear it to be overpowered: a specialist costs mucho, in that he doesn't produce the many riches of a worked tile.

Besides, now that specialists have been boosted in Conquests, there are better things to do with your plentiful population than making them artists: an excess population of civil engineers or of scientists (now 3 times more interesting then before) can really make a difference. An artist doesn't produce any immediate benefit, and one culture isn't that much.

[Paddy]

Bring on the artist

[Aqualung71]

It's a great idea!

I like the Free Artistry timing too....in C3C the AI doesn't seem to research it until very late, so it may place more emphasis on that tech (or perhaps that's because of the flavours in the AU Mod I play with).

[Admiral PJ]

Thats a good idea, but 1 culture point is too much each 'Artist' or 'Spy Agent'. Either the first culture limit of 10 should be increased, or each Artist should only produce 0.2 of a point- Then it would take 25 turns to expand with 2 artists.
It would be great for modding, either allowing all laborers to produce a Culture bonus, so culture expands more with a bigger population.. simulating How bigger populations have more democratic and inter-cultural control. Negative culture could be incurred for Police men too, or Scientists or others , depending how you understand culture should work.

A Spy or Diplomat Specialist type would be good too, or maybe it would be similar to Artist. This would defend against espionage attacks and maybe attack enemy targets using espionage. It could reduce spying costs nearby , or even give a chance of sabotaging nearby enemy units. They could also put down Resistance , but decrease luxuries and culture.