In the grand tapestry of Civilization 6, few leaders can weave a cultural victory with the same breathtaking speed and efficiency as Bull Moose Teddy Roosevelt. His unique abilities, intrinsically tied to the very land he governs, transform the map into a canvas for cultural expression. While other civilizations build their cultural heritage brick by brick in their Theater Squares, Bull Moose Teddy paints his with the broad strokes of mountains, forests, and natural wonders. This guide delves into the nuanced strategies and analytical approaches required to unlock his full potential, transforming your early game into a cultural powerhouse. Analysis on forums shows that a successful Bull Moose Teddy player is not just a city-builder, but a master landscape artist, meticulously crafting a civilization where every tile contributes to a symphony of culture and science.
The Bull Moose Philosophy: Understanding the Core Mechanics
At the heart of Bull Moose Teddy’s strategy is his leader ability, “Antiquities and Parks.” This ability provides +2 Science to tiles with Breathtaking appeal adjacent to a Natural Wonder or a Mountain, and +2 Culture to tiles with Breathtaking appeal adjacent to a Wonder or Woods. This is not a minor bonus; it is the cornerstone of your entire game plan. The player community consistently emphasizes that a failure to grasp the significance of this ability is the primary reason for suboptimal Bull Moose Teddy playthroughs.
To truly harness this power, one must first understand the concept of “Appeal.” Every tile on the map has an Appeal value, which can be viewed through the Appeal lens. Tiles are rated as Breathtaking (+4 Appeal or higher), Charming (+2 to +3), Average (-1 to +1), Uninviting (-3 to -2), or Disgusting (-4 or less). Teddy’s ability only triggers on Breathtaking tiles, making the manipulation of Appeal a critical skill.
Several factors influence a tile’s Appeal:
- Positive Appeal:
- Adjacent to a Natural Wonder: +2 Appeal
- Adjacent to a Wonder: +2 Appeal
- Adjacent to a Holy Site, Theater Square, or Entertainment Complex: +1 Appeal
- Adjacent to a Dam, Canal, or Neighborhood: +1 Appeal
- Adjacent to Woods or a Coast tile: +1 Appeal
- Adjacent to a River: +1 Appeal
- Negative Appeal:
- Adjacent to a Mine or Quarry: -1 Appeal
- Adjacent to an Industrial Zone, Encampment, or Airport: -1 Appeal
- Adjacent to a Strategic Resource: -1 Appeal
- Adjacent to a Rainforest or Marsh: -1 Appeal
A popular strategy is to meticulously plan your city layouts to maximize positive Appeal modifiers while minimizing the negative. This often involves creating dedicated “appeal zones” where you cluster your high-appeal districts and wonders, and “industrial zones” where you relegate your appeal-damaging improvements.
The Opening Gambit: Settling for Success
Your starting location is arguably more critical for Bull Moose Teddy than for any other leader. A strong start is not just about having access to resources; it’s about having the right kind of terrain. Many professional gamers suggest that if your starting location is devoid of mountains, woods, or nearby natural wonders, it may be more efficient to restart the game.
When scouting for your first city, prioritize the following:
- Mountain Ranges: Mountains are a powerful source of early science. A city nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains can generate a significant science boost from the very first turn.
- Dense Forests: Woods are your primary source of early culture. A city surrounded by forests will quickly accelerate your progress through the civic tree.
- Natural Wonders: A nearby natural wonder is a massive boon, providing both science and culture. The specific yields of the natural wonder are less important than the Appeal bonus it provides to adjacent tiles.
A concrete example of an ideal start would be a city founded next to a mountain range with a large forest on the other side. This allows you to work tiles that benefit from both the science and culture aspects of Teddy’s ability.
Your initial build order should be focused on capitalizing on your high-yield tiles. A common and effective build order is:
- Scout: Essential for exploring your surroundings and identifying future city locations.
- Slinger: Provides basic defense and can be upgraded to an Archer.
- Settler: Your first priority should be to expand and claim more high-appeal land.
The Pantheon of the Bull Moose: Choosing Your Faith
While Bull Moose Teddy is not a faith-based leader in the traditional sense, a well-chosen Pantheon can significantly amplify his cultural output. The player community overwhelmingly recommends Earth Goddess. This Pantheon provides +1 Faith for every tile with Breathtaking appeal. The synergy with Teddy’s abilities is undeniable. Not only does it provide a steady stream of Faith for purchasing Settlers or Naturalists later in the game, but it also encourages you to settle high-appeal locations, which is already your primary goal.
However, there are other viable options depending on your specific circumstances:
- Goddess of the Hunt: Provides +1 Food and +1 Production from Camps. If your starting location is rich in deer, truffles, or other camp-based resources, this can provide a significant boost to your early growth and production.
- Oral Tradition: Provides +1 Culture from Plantations. If you have a high concentration of plantation resources like citrus, cocoa, or cotton, this can be a powerful source of early culture.
Analysis on forums shows that while Earth Goddess is the most consistent choice, a savvy player will adapt their Pantheon selection to the unique characteristics of their map.
The Art of Expansion: A Tale of Two Districts
Your early-game district choices are critical for establishing a strong cultural foundation. For Bull Moose Teddy, the two most important districts are the Preserve and the Theater Square.
The Preserve is a unique district that is often overlooked by new players, but for Bull Moose Teddy, it is a game-changer. The Preserve itself increases the Appeal of adjacent tiles by +1. Its buildings, the Grove and the Sanctuary, provide bonus yields (Food, Faith, Culture, Science, Gold, and Production) to adjacent unimproved Charming or Breathtaking tiles. The key here is “unimproved.” A popular strategy is to place a Preserve in a location surrounded by high-appeal tiles and then leave those tiles unimproved for the rest of the game. This creates a “super park” that generates a massive amount of yields.
The Theater Square is the more traditional path to a cultural victory, and it is just as important for Bull Moose Teddy. Theater Squares generate Great Writer, Artist, and Musician points, and their buildings provide slots for Great Works. The Amphitheater, Art Museum, and Broadcast Center are all essential for generating tourism.
The optimal strategy is to build both Preserves and Theater Squares in your cities. A common approach is to build a Preserve in your first or second city to kickstart your yields, and then to build Theater Squares in all of your subsequent cities.
The Wonder-Struck Strategist: Prioritizing Your Builds
Wonders are a powerful tool for any civilization, but for Bull Moose Teddy, they are doubly so. Not only do they provide their own unique bonuses, but they also increase the Appeal of adjacent tiles, further amplifying Teddy’s leader ability.
In the early game, there are several wonders that you should prioritize:
- Temple of Artemis: This is arguably the most powerful early-game wonder for Bull Moose Teddy. It provides +1 Amenity for every Camp, Pasture, and Plantation within 4 tiles, and it provides +4 Food. The amenities will keep your cities happy as you expand, and the food will fuel your growth.
- Oracle: The Oracle provides +1 Culture and +1 Faith for every district in the city, and it reduces the cost of purchasing Great People with Faith by 25%. This is a powerful wonder for any civilization, but it is especially so for a culture-focused civilization like Bull Moose Teddy.
- Apadana: The Apadana provides +2 Envoys whenever you build a wonder in this city. This is a powerful tool for becoming the Suzerain of city-states, which can provide significant bonuses to your culture and science.
A popular strategy is to use your first Great Engineer to rush the construction of one of these wonders. This can give you a significant advantage over your opponents.
The Diplomat’s Dance: Friends, Foes, and Film Studios
While Bull Moose Teddy is a cultural powerhouse, he is not a military one. His unique unit, the Rough Rider, arrives late in the game and is more of a defensive unit than an offensive one. Therefore, it is essential to cultivate friendly relationships with your neighbors.
A few key strategies for effective diplomacy:
- Send Delegations: As soon as you meet a new civilization, send them a delegation. This is a small gesture, but it can go a long way toward building a positive relationship.
- Establish Trade Routes: Trade routes provide a steady stream of gold and can also generate tourism. Prioritize trade routes with civilizations that have a high cultural output.
- Manage Grievances: Be mindful of your actions and how they affect other civilizations. Avoid making promises you can’t keep, and try to resolve conflicts peacefully.
Later in the game, the Film Studio building, unlocked in the Modern Era, becomes a critical component of your cultural victory strategy. The Film Studio doubles the tourism output of all Great Works and National Parks in the city. A popular strategy is to build a Film Studio in every city that has a Theater Square, effectively doubling your tourism output.
The Policy Puzzle: Optimizing Your Government
Your choice of government and policy cards can have a significant impact on your cultural output. In the early game, the best government for Bull Moose Teddy is Classical Republic. This government provides +1 Amenity in all cities and +15% Great Person points.
As for policy cards, there are several that are particularly effective for an early-culture game:
- Inspiration: +2 Great Scientist points per turn.
- Literary Tradition: +2 Great Writer points per turn.
- Aesthetics: +100% adjacency bonus for Theater Squares.
- Natural Philosophy: +100% adjacency bonus for Campuses.
Analysis on forums shows that a common mistake is to neglect to switch out policy cards as your needs change. Be sure to review your policy cards every few turns to ensure that you are maximizing your bonuses.
The Grand Design: A Symphony of Culture
By following these strategies, you can transform your early game into a cultural juggernaut. The key is to remember that for Bull Moose Teddy, the land itself is your greatest asset. By carefully planning your cities, choosing the right Pantheons and wonders, and cultivating friendly relationships with your neighbors, you can create a civilization that is not just a collection of cities, but a work of art. The path to a cultural victory with Bull Moose Teddy is a challenging but rewarding one. It requires a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics and a willingness to think outside the box. But for those who are up to the challenge, the reward is a victory that is as beautiful as it is decisive.