In the grand tapestry of Civilization 6, few leaders offer as unique and rewarding a path to victory as Bull Moose Teddy Roosevelt. While others build empires on the foundations of military might or scientific supremacy, Bull Moose Teddy invites a more nuanced approach, one that celebrates the inherent beauty of the world and transforms it into a source of immense cultural power. This guide will provide a comprehensive analysis of the strategies and tactics required to achieve a peaceful Culture Victory with this remarkable leader, drawing upon the collective wisdom of the player community and professional gamers.
The Bull Moose Philosophy: Understanding Teddy’s Strengths
At the heart of Bull Moose Teddy’s strategy lies his unique leader ability, “Antiquities and Parks.” This ability is the cornerstone of his playstyle, granting +2 Science to tiles with Breathtaking Appeal adjacent to a Mountain or Natural Wonder, and +2 Culture to Breathtaking tiles adjacent to a Wonder or Woods. Furthermore, cities with a National Park gain +1 Appeal to all their tiles. This ability fundamentally alters the value of land, turning high-Appeal tiles into powerhouses of yield generation.
Analysis on forums shows that successful players master the art of “Appeal-stacking,” a strategy focused on creating as many Breathtaking tiles as possible. A tile is considered Breathtaking when its Appeal is +4 or higher. This is where the synergy with America’s civilization ability, “Founding Fathers,” comes into play. It provides +1 Diplomatic Favor per turn for every Wildcard slot in the current government, which, while not directly impacting Culture, facilitates a more peaceful and cooperative game, allowing you to focus on your primary objective.
While the P-51 Mustang unique unit and the Film Studio unique building arrive later in the game, they are potent tools for securing your victory. The Film Studio, replacing the Broadcast Center, provides a staggering +100% Tourism output in the city, a game-changing bonus for a Culture Victory.
The Art of the Start: Early Game Strategy
Your journey to a Culture Victory begins with the very first settler. The starting location is paramount. Many professional gamers suggest re-rolling your start if you don’t have access to at least one of the following: mountains, a significant number of woods, or a nearby Natural Wonder. These features are the initial seeds from which your high-Appeal empire will grow.
Early exploration is not just a recommendation; it’s a necessity. You must uncover the surrounding terrain to identify potential city locations with high intrinsic Appeal. Look for coastlines, rivers, and oases, as these all provide a +1 Appeal bonus to adjacent tiles.
For your Pantheon, the player community overwhelmingly recommends Earth Goddess. This Pantheon provides +1 Faith from all Breathtaking tiles, a bonus that synergizes perfectly with your leader ability and provides a steady stream of Faith for purchasing Naturalists and Rock Bands in the late game.
Your initial build order should focus on establishing a solid foundation. A popular strategy is to build a Slinger, a Warrior, and then a Settler to expand to a high-Appeal location you’ve scouted. Following this, prioritize a Holy Site if you’ve secured the Earth Goddess Pantheon, and then a Theater Square to begin generating Great Writer points. Remember, even in the early game, your Breathtaking tiles adjacent to woods and mountains will be providing bonus Science and Culture, giving you a subtle but significant advantage.
Mastering the Mid-Game: Expansion and Development
The mid-game is where the Bull Moose strategy truly comes alive. This is the phase of strategic expansion and meticulous city planning. When founding new cities, continue to prioritize locations with high natural Appeal. Use the in-game Appeal lens to visualize the potential of the surrounding terrain.
The Preserve district is a non-negotiable component of this strategy. It increases the Appeal of adjacent tiles by +1, and its buildings, the Grove and Sanctuary, provide substantial Food, Faith, Culture, Science, Gold, and Production to adjacent unimproved Breathtaking tiles. A popular strategy is to place Preserves in a way that they boost the Appeal of multiple tiles simultaneously, creating clusters of high-yield, unimproved terrain that will later be ideal for National Parks.
District placement is a delicate art. You must be mindful of the negative Appeal penalties associated with certain districts. Industrial Zones, Encampments, and Aerodromes all inflict a -1 Appeal penalty on adjacent tiles. Plan your cities to place these districts away from your intended high-Appeal areas. Conversely, Holy Sites, Theater Squares, and Entertainment Complexes provide a +1 Appeal bonus, so they should be placed strategically to boost the Appeal of your key tiles.
Several World Wonders are particularly beneficial for Bull Moose Teddy. The Eiffel Tower is considered by many to be a “must-build” for this strategy. It provides +2 Appeal to every tile in your empire, a massive boost that can transform Charming tiles into Breathtaking ones and make good tiles even better. Other valuable wonders include the Oracle, for its Great Person point generation, and any wonder that can be placed on a tile that will benefit from Teddy’s ability.
The Conservation civic is a critical unlock in the mid-game. It allows Builders to plant Woods, a powerful tool for increasing tile Appeal. A common tactic is to use Builders to plant forests on tiles that need an Appeal boost to reach Breathtaking status, preparing them for future National Parks.
The Path to Victory: Late Game Tourism Generation
The late game is all about converting your high Culture and Appeal into overwhelming Tourism. Your primary sources of Tourism will be National Parks, Seaside Resorts, the Film Studio, Great Works, and Rock Bands.
National Parks are the crown jewel of your tourism empire. They require a diamond shape of four unimproved, Breathtaking tiles, all owned by the same city. Careful planning throughout the game will pay off here. Use your Faith, generated by the Earth Goddess Pantheon and your Preserves, to purchase Naturalists to create these parks.
Seaside Resorts are another potent source of Tourism. They can only be built on Breathtaking coastal tiles. The Eiffel Tower and strategic planting of woods can help you create more eligible locations for these improvements.
The Film Studio is your late-game tourism multiplier. Build one in every city with a Theater Square to double its tourism output. This is where your early investment in Theater Squares pays dividends.
Throughout the game, you should be diligently collecting Great Works of Art, Music, and Writing. Fill your Museums and aim for theming bonuses to maximize their tourism output. Theming a museum requires you to fill it with Great Works of the same type from different artists.
Rock Bands are a powerful, if unpredictable, tool for a final tourism push. Use your Faith to purchase them and send them to the civilizations with the highest cultural dominance over you. Choose promotions that increase their effectiveness in specific districts or on certain tile types.
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of trade routes and Open Borders. Each provides a +25% tourism modifier with the target civilization. Maintain friendly relationships with other leaders to maximize these bonuses.
Advanced Tactics and Synergies
For players looking to further optimize their Bull Moose Teddy game, there are several advanced tactics to consider.
Many professional gamers suggest utilizing the Voidsingers Secret Society. The Old God Obelisk, which replaces the Monument, provides additional Faith and Great Work slots. The real power, however, comes from the Cultists, who can generate Relics of the Void. These Relics provide a significant amount of Faith and Tourism, especially when combined with wonders like St. Basil’s Cathedral and Mont St. Michel.
Your choice of Governors can also have a significant impact. Reyna, with her “Forestry Management” promotion, increases the Appeal of unimproved tiles in her city. Pingala, with his “Grants” promotion, increases Science and Culture generation, further amplifying the yields from your high-Appeal tiles.
One of the challenges of this strategy is balancing your focus on Culture and Appeal with the need for Production and Science. Your bonus Science from Breathtaking tiles will help you keep pace with other civilizations, but you will still need to build Industrial Zones and Campuses in some cities. The key is to place them strategically where they won’t interfere with your high-Appeal areas.
While this is a peaceful strategy, you cannot afford to neglect your defenses. Build Walls in your cities, especially those on your borders. The P-51 Mustang, while a late-game unit, is a powerful defensive tool that can protect your skies from enemy aircraft.
Conclusion
The path to a peaceful Culture Victory with Bull Moose Teddy is a testament to the depth and beauty of Civilization 6. It’s a strategy that rewards careful planning, a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics, and an appreciation for the natural world. By mastering the art of Appeal-stacking, strategically placing your districts and wonders, and leveraging the full power of National Parks and Tourism, you can build an empire that is not only culturally dominant but also a work of art in itself. This approach to the game is a refreshing departure from the more common paths to victory, offering a challenging and ultimately satisfying experience for players of all skill levels.