Architectural graphics Barbarians after Civilized

[Don Wing]

The issue is a mere "feeling" thing, mere cosmetic, but for me important

This game is a Civilization builder, wich is doing a great job.

There is a minor thing that upsets me, after become a Republic ( or monarchy ) and have more than 50% civilization value, my cities still looks like barbarian villages. I understand that before become "civilized" the barbarian architecture should be quite basic, rustic and overall unadorned.

But after having been civilized, had more than 50% civilization value and been a Metropolis it looks pretty akward to see one of the most important imperial capitals in the world to be a collection of shacks and wooden cabins.

Suggestion:

- Make OPTIONAL to change the graphical architecture of cities after certain milestone, perhaps an event or mission, after adopting a more advance form of goverment could be great.

- Also it could be tied to some inventions, or technology.

Any suggestions?

 

[DukeLeto42]

I think this is an excellent idea. I think of what Augustus said of his rule, according to Suetonius:

“I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble”

The idea that Rome's architecture was, prior to its ascendance to being a dominant power in the Mediterranean, quite different is backed up by the incredible ceramic sculpture work and brick architecture remaining from other Italic societies of the period. I think it's very safe to say that there is, therefore, precedent for the face of a society's urban architecture to change as it became wealthier and more "civilized."

 

[Nostalgium]

Yeah, I'd be down for all cultural graphics to have "tiers" based on the civ value in the region. So Rome, for example at <25% 25-65% >65%, could go from brick > fancier brick > marble, Gauls could go from all wood > stone with thatched roofs > stone with tiled roofs etc depending on the civ value of the region. This is particularly bothersome as anything Scythian, who will turn the fine cities of Anatolia which they conquer into yurts.

 

[Don Wing]

For now a single one time change would suffice. The ideal Age of Empires with 3 ages building styles graphics ( plus imperial ) would be amazing, but for now a mere one change from a mud village to a brick city is more than OK

 

[MagisterMundi]

I just made a similar post, but was pointed your way by a helpful @IsaacCAT, so here, have an upvote and my contributions!

Problem: No matter how civilized your Barbarian city is, it's gonna consist of nothing but huts. Civilization 100 Metropolis that imports precious metals, ivory, marble, copper, iron, and other exotic trade goods by the literal boatload? Well... how about MORE huts?

Easy solution: after a certain Civilization percentage, have the buildings in a territory start to resemble the nearest, largest (by Pops) non-Barbarian culture. That mirrors what actually happened historically, such as Gallic tribes slowly integrating Greek and Roman architecture into their own settlements. Alternatively (or in addition), you could also have Barbarian cities start to resemble the architecture used by the largest non-Barbarian Pop segment living in the area. Celt-Iberian with a city just full of Emporion slaves building all your stuff? Well, then it makes perfect sense that they would build Greek-style architecture.

 

[Don Wing]

One of my first games with friends, we all played barbarians, and get to advance quite well, but get quite of dissaponted that our metropolitan capitals still looks like shanty towns, regardless of our advance in goverment, science and wealth... all of my friends agree with this, and all expected that the game allows an architectural improvement... sadly it was´t the case at all, feel like we were barbarizong the world, rather than to civilize it, an example was massillia, it had greek architecture, but after the culture chage it become a bunch of woooden shovels, and change the Acropolis style Fortresss to a Bronze-age one... nedless to say... dissapointment...