Preamble: Of course, we gotta let the change to Incas sit for a few weeks or months and can't say definitively whether they're too weak or just fine now with the vill rush nerf.
Rationale: Regardless, I think one reason there's been a lot of backlash to the Inca vill rush nerf (aside from the popularity) is the lack of a replacement bonus; it's a nerf to both the vill rush strat and the Incan civ. I'm not gonna get into whether the civ "lacks an identity now" or "is too weak" here, but I have been comparing the Inca change to previous changes of a similar kind. For example, when Saracens had their archer bonus attack vs buildings bonus removed, they instead also got better castle age camels with more HP. When Mayans had obsidian arrows removed, they got Hul'che Javelineers. For Incas, it's just a complete removal of a part of their bonus with no corresponding minor buff. With Saracens and Mayans, players were appeased and interested enough in the new bonuses that they didn't really mind the removal of the problematic bonuses. Maybe Incas should get the same treatment. What do you guys think?
I understand Incas aren't as weak as many people claim they are. They're the most flexible meso civ, with stronger infantry siege and monks than Mayans and stronger archers than Aztecs. They've got a good in-between for them, have a hard counter to every unit type, and feel very smooth to play conventionally with the free llama and better housing (they save 50 wood and have 100 more food by the time feudal age is up). I play Incas conventionally myself and have a blast. I realize my playstyle might not be affected with the change, but I want others to realize Incas aren't trash and given a minor buff for the minor nerf to their conventional playstyle they've received.
For those of you who do think a compensation bonus is necessary, I'm interested to know your thoughts on the bundle of vague bonuses I propose:
- all buildings (except castles) can be built one age earlier. This means you can build an archery range in dark age, but can't make archers. Why is it useful? You can start making archers as soon as you hit feudal age, effectively saving you however long it takes to build archery ranges when you get to feudal age. The same logic applies to blacksmiths, markets, universities, siege workshops, and monasteries. You can't make the units in the earlier age, but you can instantly start making them when you hit the proper age, saving you its build time. It's a nice flexible bonus that makes the Incan feudal age stronger with either fast archers or fast fletching, and also gives them potential for a fast castle age as well.
- villagers slowly regenerate. This is a minor bonus useful for keeping villagers alive after they've lost a bit of HP. You won't be losing vills that lured boars to scouts from your opponent in feudal age, and can't be whittled down as easily as other civs' villagers. It's also of the same theme as the former villager blacksmith bonus, just much more defensively than offensively.
- unit upgrades x% cheaper. This means the crossbowman upgrade, eagle warrior upgrade, pikeman, elite skirmisher, etc... It's a bonus similar to the Chinese one on all technologies, the bulgarian one on blacksmith technologies, and the Italian one on dock and university technologies. It really drives home the flexibility of the Incan civ without being broken. It makes them even more flexible and adaptive, which is where they distinguish themselves from the other two meso civs.
What other minor bonuses do you guys think would be appropriate?
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