I made a proposal for an Australian revolution option for the British, Dutch, and French to replace the US revolution in those civs:
I think doing this makes more sense than having a full civ; from a timeline perspective it fits in perfectly with South Africa and Canada, who are already revolution civs.
I’m still a fan of an Australian civ myself though just because I am Australian so here’s my feedback on your proposal:
- Melbourne as capital makes sense, good idea! Lachlan Macquarie is a good choice too, though a little late in the time period perhaps. I would be tempted to go John Macarthur, though obviously he’s a bit controversial and perhaps not as memorable.
- I agree Australia NEEDS convicts as a core feature of the economy. In my proposal I have them as free and numerous settlers that can be shipped from the homecity to boom, but who join the enemy when killed. Having them as settlers that start with a sheep is interesting, but doesn’t feel right for the idea of forced labour to me. Instead, perhaps Australian settlers are more expensive and train slower, but come with a free sheep each? That might be more thematic. Maybe then Australia uniquely gets two options for settlers from the TC with convicts being the other option. They would be are cheap and arrive in blocks like Russian settlers but have low HP?
- Bushrangers as a core infantry doesn’t make any sense imo, it would be like giving the US the gunsligner as their core musketeer. Bushrangers are much better suited as outlaw units.
- Both the Pom-Pom and the Rum Corpsman are to me a little too 19th century and might feel off fighting against the earlier themed units of other civs, though there are the US regulars and gatling guns as well.
- I like the Waler Horse, I think Australia should get quick high attack cavalry units but perhaps with low hitpoints. Sort of a light cavalry specialist civ.
- Not a fan of an Australian General, an explorer makes more sense. There aren’t really any famous Australian generals or battles of the period, but there are famous explorers.
- US style ships are “ok” but european ships would probably be better. There were no Ironclads and few paddlesteamers in Australia.
- Saloon has to be renamed to pub (public house) 100%. Might even be preferrable to use the european tavern
- Love the Station idea!
- Not sure what the idea behind the Native Estate is, seems a bit out of the blue. It sounds interesting but I don’t really understand why it’s included.
- Huge map list, I think it would be better to simplify the Australian maps down to a few that represent interesting regions rather than entire states. E.g. Tropical Queensland, Murry River Basin, Nullabor, Van Dieman’s Land, etc. Many of the pacific islands would be very similar too so it would be best to find a few interesting options or archetypes. One I suggested was the archipelago style map they ended up adding in the KoTM DLC.
Something else not mentioned would be the architecture set. Though obvs the DE team has proven reluctant to add custom architecture sets I would love to see an Australian set that starts with rough log cabins and tents that progresses to whitewashed stone house architecture in the middle ages and finally to federation style in the late ages.
e.g.
Discovery age log cabins and tents
Commerce/Fortress period white stone architecture
Industrial/Imperial federation architecture