Hi there 
This thing has been brewing in the back of my head for some time and I need to get it out. If anyone from Dev team is looking for things that could fill the next patch notes I’d like to ask to take into consideration updating two buildings from the game.
I was thinking about that for some time but I guess seeing beautiful new models from recent African expansion encouraged me to write about this.
1. Native embassy.
First of all I have to say the artists did a great job and DE version looks so much better than the original one from 2005 release. Just better, prettier, and still faithful to the original. But original always stood out for me in a negative way.
It would be unnecessary and in some ways counterproductive to have multiple versions of the embassy depending on map region or even out civ on top of that, so one universal model is a must. That being said, while very low-tech design is prolly better than a complex building, I have to say the embassy always looked too crude for me.
Both in terms of the design and complexity of the model and overall style.
It’s looking much closer to a normal dwelling or some basic eco building (maybe a poorer version of the trading post?), than an actual embassy, a building of higher prestige and importance. Yes we have to keep in mind simple nomadic tribes as well as highly developed societies we might get in contact with, but these buildings clearly are built by us, while being constructed mostly from basic materials like wood and thatching they could be much fancier.
First of all scale seems to be a bit off, especially when build next to TC, factory or saloon. It should be scaled down 10-15%, to keep the same footprint some props could be added around it to make it look better:
- path made out of cut stones or even simple trodden earthy trail
- some decorative plants and flowers
- simple but distinctive fence
- maybe a couple of guardians near the entrance or a native elder sitting in front of it, near some props like an existing rug and pottery
2. Mosque.
Similar situation as above, but less about style and more about the model itself. Also as above, the new version feels visibly better than OG but OG also never grabbed my heart. So:
a) T1 mosque
- I like all textures but the general shape and complexity of the object are too simple. Compared to churches it looks just less impressive and more amateurish in design, proportions of its elements are off
- the base of the building with this ‘curb’ looks unnatural and makes the whole thing look more like a pawn in a board game like Monopoly than a building that blends well with the terrain like many others in the game
- the main body of the building should be also scaled-down, made more complex and believable/natural looking (for example these windows make it look like a small roadside shrine than a serious mosque) and more area around it should be made like that cobblestone that is blending with the surrounding terrain
- as above with the embassy few props could be added- some imam on top of that minaret or in front of it, some decorative plants, flags waving in the wind
- love the roof. I have a soft spot for an aging copper finish patina.
b) T2
Looks much better, even windows are made in a much better scale. Still I would suggest:
- a lil bit more cobblestone or dirt blending with the terrain around the building
- adding some decorative plants and flags/banners to make it more lively and dynamic looking, maybe a bench or two. The overall geometry is not bad.
And that’s it. Completely irrelevant and cosmetic stuff, but maybe one day it will be revised and these suggestions might come to be helpful.