Now that BOP is over, first off, thank you to Carlos Ferdinand, John Mendl, and all the Voobly staff for making this tournament possible and doing such a wonderful job with the patch and tournament coverage. I hope to see further tournaments in the future. That being said, I believe that further improvements can be made to the Balance Patch, and would like to promote further discussion. Aztecs, Mayans, Huns, Celts, Britons, on land, and Vikings on water, were the predominant civ choices with some contribution of a few other civs (Chinese, Goths, Mongols...), and little contribution from a few (Teutons, Spanish, Byzantines, Turks...). Below are a few changes I think would be a good idea to promote balance (and therefore more variation in strategy and fun). It is my hope that a few of these earn consideration and possibly make it to the new patch for the next tournament. I encourage anyone that has their own ideas please post below...
GENERAL CHANGES:
- Camels & Heavy Camel +1 attack
- Pikeman +5hp
- Reduced camel/spear-line attack bonus from fortifications (tc, castle, tower)
- Longswordman & up +5hp (65), Two-handed (70), Champ (75)
- Tracking now available in Dark Age
- Cartography automatically researched for free with market
- Capped & Siege Rams garrison 5 units (from 4)
- Chemistry affects Castles, Town Centers, and Towers
- Transport ship available in Dark Age (would favor every civ that doesn't have a water bonus)
AZTECS:
- Jaguar Warrior & elite +1 PA.
BRITONS:
- Longbowman & Elite +1 attack
BYZANTINES:
- Get Town Patrol free
- Non elite Cataphract +1 attack +10hp
- Reduce cost of Elite Cataphract technology or Logistica
CELTS:
-None
CHINESE:
-None
FRANKS:
- Free tracking (now available in dark age)
- Elite Throwing Axeman upgrade -200 gold
GOTHS:
-None
HUNS:
- None.
JAPANESE:
- Samurai & Elite +5% movement speed. Non-elite + 1 attack
KOREANS:
- Walls and Castles built 25% faster
MAYANS:
- Plumed Archer and Elite -5hp
MONGOLS:
- None
PERSIANS:
- None
SARACENS:
- Reduce gold cost of Zealotry
SPANISH:
- Restore original Conquistador fire rate
TEUTONS:
- Town Center garrison +10 units, maximum arrows +5
- Crenelations stone cost reduced by 200
TURKS:
- Restore original fire rate of Janissaries
- Artillery stone cost reduced by 200
VIKINGS:
- Warships cost -8%/-13%/-17% in feudal/castle/imperial (instead of -10%/-15%/-20%).
- Berserks/Elite base HP becomes 60/70 (instead of 55/65).
GENERAL CHANGES:
- Camels & Heavy Camel +1 attack
- Pikeman +5hp
- Reduced camel/spear-line attack bonus from fortifications (tc, castle, tower)
- Longswordman & up +5hp (65), Two-handed (70), Champ (75)
- Tracking now available in Dark Age
- Cartography automatically researched for free with market
- Capped & Siege Rams garrison 5 units (from 4)
- Chemistry affects Castles, Town Centers, and Towers
- Transport ship available in Dark Age (would favor every civ that doesn't have a water bonus)
AZTECS:
- Jaguar Warrior & elite +1 PA.
BRITONS:
- Longbowman & Elite +1 attack
BYZANTINES:
- Get Town Patrol free
- Non elite Cataphract +1 attack +10hp
- Reduce cost of Elite Cataphract technology or Logistica
CELTS:
-None
CHINESE:
-None
FRANKS:
- Free tracking (now available in dark age)
- Elite Throwing Axeman upgrade -200 gold
GOTHS:
-None
HUNS:
- None.
JAPANESE:
- Samurai & Elite +5% movement speed. Non-elite + 1 attack
KOREANS:
- Walls and Castles built 25% faster
MAYANS:
- Plumed Archer and Elite -5hp
MONGOLS:
- None
PERSIANS:
- None
SARACENS:
- Reduce gold cost of Zealotry
SPANISH:
- Restore original Conquistador fire rate
TEUTONS:
- Town Center garrison +10 units, maximum arrows +5
- Crenelations stone cost reduced by 200
TURKS:
- Restore original fire rate of Janissaries
- Artillery stone cost reduced by 200
VIKINGS:
- Warships cost -8%/-13%/-17% in feudal/castle/imperial (instead of -10%/-15%/-20%).
- Berserks/Elite base HP becomes 60/70 (instead of 55/65).