AU mod: The Chasqui Scout

[alexman]

Originally posted by nbarclay
By the way, for this round, should B be interpreted as, "Keep the Chasqui as it is but also let the Incas build regular scouts"?

Yes. It's a minimum change that makes sure that the Incas are at least not worse off than if they didn't have a UU at all.

[Dominae]

A) No change.
B) Allow Incas to build regular Scouts.
C) Reduce cost to 15 shields and remove movement bonus on hills/mountains.
D) Reduce cost to 15 shields.
E) Increase movement by 1.

Whatever happened to my original proposal?! alexman gets to prune the options he dislikes?


Dominae

[alexman]

I happen to think your proposal was pretty good, otherwise I would not have made a case for it in the initial post.

It didn't get support by anyone else (mainly because of the lack of a GA trigger and because the AI would not build their UU), so I didn't include it. I'm just trying to formulate proposals by getting a sense for the public opinion, since nobody else from the panel does it. Maybe you can defend your proposals instead of blaming me?

[Dominae]

It's so much more fun to blame you, though!

Sorry. The reason I did not defend my proposal much in this thread is that I've defended at nauseum in other places (including the thread you linked to in your original post).

So if anyone is in doubt, please revisit this thread for arguments why I think the 0/0/1 ATAR is better than any of the options we have here (no offense).


Dominae

[alexman]

OK, I added proposal F.

Originally posted by alexman
Under consideration:

A) No change.
B) Allow Incas to build regular Scouts.
C) Reduce cost to 15 shields and remove movement bonus on hills/mountains.
D) Reduce cost to 15 shields.
E) Increase movement by 1.
F) 0.0.1 ATAR. Scout upgrades to Chasqui.

If proposals C, D, or E win. We may have another vote later to decide whether the Incas should also build regular Scouts.

[nbarclay]

Originally posted by Dominae
Sorry. The reason I did not defend my proposal much in this thread is that I've defended at nauseum in other places (including the thread you linked to in your original post).

I'd hardly call the discussion in that thread "ad nauseum" or even anything close to it. I regard 0/0/1 ATAR as a vastly bigger change from the stock rules than is needed to make the unit worthwhile; it preserves the unit's cost but makes it an entirely different unit otherwise. (That's especially true going through dense forests or jungles, where ATAR triples its movement rate.) Changing the cost but keeping the unit's nature the same seems a lot more conservative to me.

[donZappo]

I'd like to preserve the original intent of Breakaway/Firaxis in the design of this unit. While making it 0.0.1 ATAR might make it a better unit overall, that wasn't they type of unit that they were shooting for. If I had a say, I'd like to see D passed, and maybe B as well. Maybe make it 0.1.2 just so they could start with the unit, but this isn't even an option under consideration. I think Dominae actually tried this, so I'll go back and look over that thread to see if it was thrown out for some reason. Hmm...

-donZappo

[nbarclay]

Why remove the attack value? As I showed in my thread on the Jaguar Warrior, a cost-15 2-move unit with an attack value of 1 is not a cost-effective combatant. And forcing Chasquis to trigger GAs only defensively would tend to make triggering a GA with them a good bit more difficult and expensive.

[alexman]

I think donZappo's point is that the civ that starts with a 2-move unit capable of attack can conceivably reach a neighboring capital before it has a chance to build its first defender.

[Zero]

A&B could work together, but it doesnt sound like the best option.

C isnt good. You're effectively giving them JWs. Aztecs have 2 trait PLUS incan scout? It wont be balanced.

D sounds good to me. As long as JWs shoulnt be 15shield and 10 instead...

E would sound good too, only if they didnt have stats. 1/1/3 mountain/hill for 20 shield is a bargain IMO.

Or just scout +1 move UU would be fine. either of the 3.

[Dominae]

Originally posted by alexman
OK, I added proposal F.

F. 0.0.1 ATAR. Scout upgrades to Chasqui.

It needs to cost 20 Shields, too. Edit: But it already costs 20, so silly me.


Dominae

[donZappo]

Originally posted by alexman
I think donZappo's point is that the civ that starts with a 2-move unit capable of attack can conceivably reach a neighboring capital before it has a chance to build its first defender.

Thanks for elaborating on that Alexman since that is what I meant to say.

As a side note, I've never been a big supporter of the idea that every UU has to be able to trigger a GA since I think it makes some civs a little bit less interesting, but I'm willing to accept that the designers want it that way. Therefore, I want to see the final version of the Chasqui Scout at least have one point of attack or defense.

-donZappo

[alexman]

Time to vote.

My order of preference:
D) Reduce cost to 15 shields.
B) Allow Incas to build regular Scouts.
F) 0.0.1 ATAR. Scout upgrades to Chasqui.
A) No change.
C) Reduce cost to 15 shields and remove movement bonus on hills/mountains.
E) Increase movement by 1.

I don't like the increased movement after all, because it will allow the Incas to have a combat unit with 3 moves at a time where many cities have not expanded their borders, so they will not be able to see the unit and get a warning before an attack.

[lockstep]

(best)

D) Reduce cost to 15 shields
B) Allow Incas to build regular Scouts
A) No change
C) Reduce cost to 15 shields and remove movement bonus on hills/mountains
E) Increase movement by 1
F) 0.0.1 ATAR. Scout upgrades to Chasqui

(worst)

Regarding F): IMO, UU's should be able to trigger a GA.

[Dominae]

Here's what I think:

1. F, 0.0.1 ATAR. Scout upgrades to Chasqui
2. E, Increase movement by 1.
3. A, No change.

.
.
.
.

4. B, Allow Incas to build regular Scouts.
5. D, Reduce cost to 15 shields.
6. C, Reduce cost to 15 shields and remove movement bonus on hills/mountains.


Dominae


P.S: lockstep, the "UUs must trigger GAs" rule is a straightjacket.