In the grand strategy of Civilization 6, victory can be achieved through might, faith, science, or influence. For those who choose the path of cultural dominance, few leaders can match the late-game tourism potential of Teddy Roosevelt. His unique abilities, particularly with the Bull Moose persona, create a powerful engine for generating tourism through National Parks, turning breathtaking landscapes into a source of immense cultural pressure. This guide will provide a comprehensive, in-depth analysis of how to leverage Teddy Roosevelt’s strengths to achieve a decisive tourism victory, drawing on strategies honed by the player community.
The Roosevelt Corollary and the Power of Appeal
Teddy Roosevelt’s leader ability, the Roosevelt Corollary, is the cornerstone of his tourism strategy. It provides +1 Appeal to all tiles in a city that contains a National Park. This seemingly small bonus has a cascading effect, significantly boosting the tourism output of not only the National Park itself but also Seaside Resorts, which thrive on high-Appeal coastal tiles. Analysis on forums shows that this ability is what makes Teddy a late-game tourism powerhouse, turning already attractive landscapes into irresistible tourist destinations.
Understanding Appeal: The Engine of Tourism
Appeal is a numerical value assigned to each tile, representing its scenic beauty. It is the primary driver of tourism from National Parks and Seaside Resorts. The higher the Appeal, the more tourism these features generate. Appeal is categorized into levels:
- Breathtaking: +4 or higher
- Charming: +2 to +3
- Average: -1 to +1
- Uninviting: -3 to -2
- Disgusting: -4 or less
To maximize tourism, the goal is to create as many Breathtaking tiles as possible. This is where strategic planning and a deep understanding of Appeal mechanics come into play.
Bull Moose Teddy: A Symphony of Science, Culture, and Nature
The Bull Moose persona of Teddy Roosevelt, introduced in the New Frontier Pass, takes the concept of a nature-focused tourism game to a new level. His “Antiquities and Parks” ability provides:
- +2 Science for Breathtaking tiles adjacent to a Natural Wonder or Mountain.
- +2 Culture for Breathtaking tiles adjacent to a Wonder or Woods.
This ability transforms high-Appeal tiles into a source of not just tourism but also significant yields of Science and Culture, accelerating your progress throughout the game. Many professional gamers suggest that Bull Moose Teddy is one of the most powerful leaders for a Culture Victory, provided you can secure a good starting location with plenty of mountains, woods, and potential for high Appeal.
The Art of the National Park: A Practical Guide
National Parks are the heart of Teddy’s tourism strategy. They are created by a Naturalist unit, which can be purchased with Faith after researching the Conservation civic. A National Park must be placed on a vertical diamond of four contiguous land tiles that meet the following criteria:
- All four tiles must be owned by the same city.
- All four tiles must have an Appeal of “Charming” or higher.
- All four tiles must be unimproved (no farms, mines, districts, etc.).
The tourism generated by a National Park is equal to the combined Appeal of its four tiles. With Teddy’s Roosevelt Corollary, the Appeal of every tile in a city with a National Park increases by +1, further boosting the park’s tourism output.
Finding the Perfect Spot: National Park Placement Strategies
According to the player community, successful National Park placement requires careful planning from the very beginning of the game. Here are some key strategies:
- Use the Appeal Lens: The Appeal lens (hotkey ‘3’) is your best friend. Use it frequently to identify potential National Park locations. Look for areas with naturally high Appeal, such as those near mountains, coasts, and Natural Wonders.
- Plan Your Cities Around Parks: When settling new cities, consider potential National Park locations. A city’s primary purpose might be to support a future National Park.
- The Vertical Diamond: Always be on the lookout for the vertical diamond shape. It can be tricky to find, so it’s important to train your eye to spot it.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Remove Improvements: Builders can remove existing improvements. Don’t hesitate to chop down a farm or a mine to make way for a lucrative National Park.
Manipulating Appeal: A Guide to Landscape Engineering
Creating Breathtaking tiles is an art form. It involves a combination of careful district placement, strategic use of improvements, and a little bit of landscape engineering. Here’s how to boost Appeal:
Positive Appeal Modifiers:
- Woods: Planting woods with a Builder (after researching Conservation) is one of the most effective ways to increase Appeal. Each adjacent woods tile provides +1 Appeal.
- Holy Sites, Theater Squares, Entertainment Complexes, and Water Parks: These districts all provide +1 Appeal to adjacent tiles.
- Wonders: Many Wonders provide Appeal. The Eiffel Tower is a must-build for any tourism-focused game, as it provides +2 Appeal to every tile in your empire. The Golden Gate Bridge provides +4 Appeal to the tiles in its city.
- Preserves: The Preserve district is a powerful tool for boosting Appeal. It provides +1 Appeal to adjacent tiles, and its buildings, the Grove and Sanctuary, provide bonus yields to unimproved tiles with high Appeal.
Negative Appeal Modifiers:
- Industrial Zones, Encampments, and Aerodromes: These districts all provide -1 Appeal to adjacent tiles. Be very careful where you place them.
- Mines and Quarries: These improvements also reduce adjacent Appeal.
- Rainforests and Marshes: These features have a base Appeal of -1. It’s often a good idea to clear them to improve the Appeal of surrounding tiles.
A popular strategy is to create “Appeal corridors” by planting long rows of woods and carefully placing positive-Appeal districts. This can turn a mediocre landscape into a Breathtaking paradise.
The Path to Victory: A Step-by-Step Strategy
Achieving a tourism victory with Teddy Roosevelt requires a focused strategy that begins in the Ancient Era and culminates in a late-game tourism explosion.
Early Game (Ancient to Classical Era)
- Starting Location: Your starting location is critical, especially as Bull Moose Teddy. Look for a spot with mountains, woods, and a nearby Natural Wonder if possible.
- Early Exploration: Send your scouts out to explore the map and identify potential high-Appeal locations for future cities.
- Pantheon: The Earth Goddess pantheon is an excellent choice, providing +1 Faith from tiles with Breathtaking Appeal. This will help you generate the Faith needed to purchase Naturalists later in the game.
- Early Wonders: If you have a good production base, consider building early Wonders like the Temple of Artemis, which provides amenities and can help your cities grow.
Mid Game (Medieval to Industrial Era)
- The Conservation Civic: Rushing the Conservation civic is a top priority. It unlocks National Parks and the ability to plant woods.
- Faith Generation: Build Holy Sites in your cities and choose beliefs that boost Faith generation. You will need a lot of Faith to purchase Naturalists and, later, Rock Bands.
- The Eiffel Tower: As soon as it becomes available, make building the Eiffel Tower your top priority. The +2 Appeal bonus it provides is a game-changer.
- District Placement: Plan your districts carefully to maximize Appeal. Create neighborhoods of Holy Sites, Theater Squares, and Entertainment Complexes to create high-Appeal zones.
Late Game (Modern to Information Era)
- The Film Studio: America’s unique building, the Film Studio, replaces the Broadcast Center and provides +100% tourism pressure from its city. Build these in your highest-tourism cities to double their output.
- The Computers Technology: Researching the Computers technology doubles your overall tourism output. This is a massive boost and should be a high priority.
- Cristo Redentor: This Wonder allows you to build Seaside Resorts on tiles with Rainforests and Marshes and doubles the tourism from all Seaside Resorts. It is a powerful late-game addition to your tourism engine.
- Rock Bands: Rock Bands are a powerful tool for closing out a tourism victory. They can be purchased with Faith and can be sent to other civilizations to perform concerts, generating a large amount of tourism.
The Final Push: Maximizing Tourism Output
In the final stages of the game, your focus should be on maximizing your tourism output and overcoming the cultural defenses of your opponents.
- Trade Routes: Establish trade routes with every civilization you meet. A trade route to another civilization increases your tourism pressure on them.
- Open Borders: Always try to have Open Borders agreements with other civilizations. This also increases your tourism pressure.
- Policy Cards: Use policy cards that boost tourism, such as “Satellite Broadcasts” (doubles tourism from Great Works of Music) and “Online Communities” (+50% tourism to civilizations you have a trade route to).
By carefully planning your cities, manipulating Appeal, and leveraging Teddy Roosevelt’s unique abilities, you can create a tourism engine that is second to none. The key is to think ahead, be patient, and never underestimate the power of a beautiful landscape.
Conclusion
Winning a Culture Victory with Teddy Roosevelt is a deeply rewarding experience. It requires a different mindset than other victory types, one that values preservation, beauty, and the power of nature. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can turn the pristine wilderness of your empire into a global tourist destination, overwhelming your rivals with the sheer force of your cultural influence. Analysis on forums shows that a well-executed Teddy Roosevelt tourism game is one of the most satisfying victories to achieve in Civilization 6, a testament to the enduring power of a walk in the park.