The University of Sankore. For many seasoned Civilization VI players, the name evokes a sense of missed potential. A wonder of the world historically synonymous with immense knowledge and scholarship, its in-game incarnation is often relegated to the B-tier, a situational asset rather than a cornerstone of a dominant science victory. Its reliance on trade routes, while thematically interesting, presents a strategic conundrum: to maximize its science output, you must often empower your rivals, a risky proposition on higher difficulties. But what if the University of Sankore was reimagined? What if its bonus was untethered from the whims of commerce and instead grounded in the very foundation of city planning: adjacency? This is not merely a question of a minor tweak; it is a paradigm shift that would ripple through every stage of the game, from the moment you place your first Campus to the final push for a science victory. Analysis on forums shows that the current University of Sankore is often a “win-more” wonder, only truly effective when you are already ahead. A change to an adjacency-based bonus would transform it into a strategic linchpin, a tool for turning a good city into a great one, and a great city into a scientific powerhouse.
The University of Sankore Reimagined: A New Foundation for Science
Let us first establish the parameters of this hypothetical change. The current University of Sankore provides +3 Science, +1 Faith, and +2 Great Scientist points per turn. Its primary bonus, however, is +2 Science for every trade route sent to its city. Our reimagined University of Sankore would retain its base yields and its Great Scientist points. The crucial difference would be the replacement of the trade route bonus with a new, powerful adjacency bonus. A popular strategy is to build the University of Sankore in a city with a high number of domestic trade routes to avoid boosting rivals. Our new model would eliminate this dilemma entirely.
Here is the proposed change:
The University of Sankore now provides a +2 Science bonus to all adjacent Campuses. Furthermore, it grants a +1 Science bonus to every tile adjacent to those Campuses that already provides an adjacency bonus.
This two-tiered approach is designed to create a cascading effect of scientific output, rewarding thoughtful city planning and creating a true epicenter of knowledge. The first part of the bonus is a direct and substantial boost to adjacent Campuses. The second part is where the true strategic depth emerges, amplifying the existing adjacency bonuses of those Campuses.
The Ripple Effect: How Adjacency-Based Sankore Rewrites the Rules
The implications of this change are far-reaching, impacting everything from city placement to policy card choices. According to the player community, the most powerful wonders are those that provide a consistent and reliable bonus throughout the game. An adjacency-based University of Sankore would fit this description perfectly.
The Golden Age of the Campus Triangle
The most immediate and obvious strategy to emerge from this change would be the “Campus Triangle.” This would involve placing the University of Sankore adjacent to two, or even three, Campuses. Each of those Campuses would instantly receive a +2 Science bonus from the wonder. But the true power of the Campus Triangle lies in the second part of our new bonus.
Consider a scenario where you have a mountain range. You place a Campus adjacent to three mountain tiles, giving it a +3 Science adjacency bonus. Now, you build the University of Sankore adjacent to that Campus. The Campus would receive the +2 Science bonus from the wonder, bringing its total adjacency bonus to +5. But the second part of the bonus then kicks in. The three mountain tiles adjacent to the Campus would each have their adjacency bonus amplified by +1 Science. This means the Campus would now receive an additional +3 Science, for a total adjacency bonus of +8. With the “Natural Philosophy” policy card, which doubles Campus adjacency bonuses, this would become a staggering +16 Science per turn from a single Campus, before any buildings are even constructed.
The Rise of the “Mega-Campus” City
This new University of Sankore would encourage the creation of “Mega-Campus” cities, urban centers dedicated to maximizing scientific output. Players would actively seek out locations with multiple mountain ranges or geothermal fissures, not just for a single high-adjacency Campus, but for a network of interconnected Campuses, all amplified by the University of Sankore.
Many professional gamers suggest that the key to a successful science victory is to specialize your cities. An adjacency-based Sankore would make this specialization even more potent. A city with a Mega-Campus layout could single-handedly propel a civilization through the tech tree, unlocking key technologies far ahead of its rivals.
A New Era for Civs with Adjacency Bonuses
Certain civilizations, already predisposed to powerful adjacency bonuses, would find their potential amplified to an unprecedented degree.
- Japan: Hidetada’s “Meiji Restoration” ability, which grants a +1 adjacency bonus for districts placed next to each other, would become even more powerful. A Campus Triangle in a Japanese city would not only benefit from the University of Sankore’s bonus but also from the inherent synergy of its own districts.
- Australia: John Curtin’s “Citadel of Civilization” ability, which grants bonus yields to districts based on appeal, would create some truly explosive combinations. A Campus placed on a Breathtaking tile (+3 Science) next to the University of Sankore would see its output skyrocket.
- The Inca: Pachacuti’s ability to work mountain tiles and build Terrace Farms would create unique opportunities for high-yield Campus placements, which would then be further enhanced by the University of Sankore.
Strategic Considerations and Counter-Play
Of course, such a powerful wonder would not be without its strategic considerations. The high production cost of the University of Sankore would remain, meaning that players would need to carefully weigh the investment against the potential rewards. The wonder’s placement requirements (on a desert or desert hills tile adjacent to a Campus with a University) would also remain, adding a layer of geographical constraint.
Furthermore, the existence of an adjacency-based University of Sankore would create new avenues for counter-play. A rival civilization, seeing you construct a Mega-Campus city, could launch a targeted military campaign to disrupt your scientific progress. Spies would become even more crucial, with the “Sabotage Production” and “Disrupt Rocketry” missions becoming top priorities.
The University of Sankore and the Path to Victory
An adjacency-based University of Sankore would not just be a powerful tool for science victories; it would also have a significant impact on other victory conditions.
- Domination Victory: The rapid acquisition of advanced military technologies would give a player with a Mega-Campus city a significant edge on the battlefield. Imagine fielding GDRs while your opponents are still struggling with tanks.
- Cultural Victory: The University of Sankore’s inherent +1 Faith and the potential for high adjacency bonuses with Holy Sites (if placed strategically) could provide a significant boost to a cultural game.
- Diplomatic Victory: The ability to quickly research key technologies like “Seasteads” and “Global Warming Mitigation” would give a player a significant advantage in the World Congress.
A More Engaging and Strategic Wonder
The current University of Sankore is a passive wonder, its effectiveness largely determined by the actions of other civilizations. An adjacency-based University of Sankore would be an active wonder, its power directly proportional to the player’s own strategic planning and foresight. It would create a new and engaging puzzle for players to solve, a challenge to create the most efficient and powerful Campus network possible.
Analysis on forums shows that players crave more meaningful choices and strategic depth. A reimagined University of Sankore would deliver on both fronts, transforming a lackluster wonder into a must-have for any player serious about science. It would be a wonder that is not just built, but earned, a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the enduring pursuit of knowledge. The what-if scenario of an adjacency-based University of Sankore is more than just a hypothetical exercise; it is a glimpse into a more dynamic and strategically rewarding Civilization VI experience.