In the grand strategy of Civilization 6, few leaders possess the unique territorial synergy of Teddy Roosevelt, particularly in his Bull Moose persona. His ability to draw Science and Culture from the very appeal of the land itself presents a gameplay dynamic that rewards careful planning and a deep understanding of environmental mechanics. While many leaders focus on raw production or military might, a successful game as Bull Moose Teddy is an exercise in landscape artistry, where the placement of Campuses and Theater Squares is not merely a matter of adjacency bonuses but a foundational element of a thriving, intellectual, and culturally dominant civilization. This guide delves into the nuanced strategies for optimizing these key districts, transforming your empire into a beacon of progress and a testament to the power of a well-planned city.
The Bull Moose Philosophy: A New Approach to District Placement
Before placing a single district, it is crucial to internalize the core tenets of Teddy’s Bull Moose ability. This leader ability grants +2 Science to tiles with Breathtaking appeal (+4 or more) adjacent to either a Natural Wonder or a Mountain. It also provides +2 Culture to tiles with Breathtaking appeal adjacent to a Wonder or Woods. This fundamentally alters the value of every tile on the map, turning high-appeal terrain into a source of consistent, passive yield. The player community consistently emphasizes that a shift in mindset is required; instead of seeing mountains as mere barriers or woods as early-game production sources, they become the cornerstones of your scientific and cultural engines.
Key Principles of Bull Moose Placement:
- Appeal is Paramount: The concept of Appeal is no longer a secondary consideration for neighborhood placement or seaside resorts. It is the central mechanic that will fuel your victory. From the moment you settle your first city, you should be assessing the appeal of the surrounding tiles.
- Mountains and Woods as Anchors: Your Campuses and Theater Squares should be planned around mountains and woods. These terrain features are not just for adjacency bonuses; they are the activators for your leader ability.
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- Natural Wonders as Pilgrimage Sites: The discovery of a Natural Wonder should immediately trigger a reassessment of your expansion plans. Settling near a Natural Wonder provides an unparalleled opportunity to create a super-city with massive Science and Culture yields.
The Early Game: Laying the Foundation for a Flourishing Empire
The first 100 turns are critical for setting up a successful Bull Moose Teddy game. Your initial decisions will determine whether you can effectively leverage your unique abilities or if you will be playing catch-up for the rest of the game.
Settler Placement and Early Exploration:
Your first city should be settled in a location with immediate access to high-appeal tiles. Look for a starting position with a mix of woods, mountains, and a river. A river not only provides fresh water but also increases the appeal of adjacent tiles. Many professional gamers suggest that it is often worth moving your initial settler a few turns to secure a more optimal starting location.
Your initial exploration should be focused on two objectives: finding high-appeal locations for future cities and discovering Natural Wonders. A well-placed city near a Natural Wonder can single-handedly carry your early-game Science and Culture. Use your starting warrior and an early-game scout to reveal as much of the map as possible, paying close attention to mountain ranges and large forests.
Early Build Order and Technology Path:
A popular strategy is to prioritize an early builder to improve luxury resources and to begin planting woods. The technology path should be aimed at unlocking key districts and wonders. Astrology, for the Holy Site and the ability to found a pantheon, is a strong early choice. A pantheon like “Earth Goddess,” which provides +1 Faith from tiles with Breathtaking appeal, has incredible synergy with the Bull Moose ability.
Strategic Campus Placement: The Engine of Scientific Progress
For Bull Moose Teddy, the Campus is not just a source of Great Scientist points; it is a direct beneficiary of your leader ability. The goal is to create “super Campuses” that generate massive amounts of Science per turn.
Maximizing Campus Adjacency Bonuses:
The standard adjacency bonuses for Campuses are the foundation of your placement strategy. Remember these key values:
- +1 Science for each adjacent Mountain.
- +1 Science for every two adjacent Rainforest tiles.
- +1 Science for every two adjacent District tiles.
The synergy between the standard mountain adjacency bonus and the Bull Moose ability is where the magic happens. A Campus placed adjacent to a mountain not only gets the +1 Science from the mountain itself but also has the potential to be on a high-appeal tile that generates additional Science from the Bull Moose ability.
Advanced Campus Placement Techniques:
Analysis on forums shows that the most successful Teddy players go beyond simple adjacency. They create “Campus Clusters” that are integrated with the natural landscape.
- The Mountain Ring: A Campus placed in the center of a ring of mountains is the ideal scenario. Each mountain provides a +1 adjacency bonus, and if the Campus tile itself has Breathtaking appeal, it will also generate +2 Science from the Bull Moose ability.
- Campus and Holy Site Synergy: Placing a Campus adjacent to a Holy Site is a powerful combination. The Holy Site can be used to generate Faith, which can be used to purchase Naturalists later in the game to create National Parks. The two districts also provide a +1 adjacency bonus to each other if placed correctly.
- The “V-Shape” Placement: A popular strategy is to place a Campus in a “V” shape between two mountains. This provides a +2 adjacency bonus and often creates a high-appeal tile for the Campus itself.
Concrete Example: The Ideal Campus Placement
Imagine a city settled near a mountain range. You have a tile that is adjacent to three mountain tiles. This tile has a base appeal of +2. By placing a Campus on this tile, you will receive:
- +3 Science from the three adjacent mountains.
- If you plant woods on the adjacent tiles, you can increase the appeal of the Campus tile to Breathtaking (+4). This will activate the Bull Moose ability, providing an additional +2 Science.
- The total yield of this Campus, before any buildings, would be +5 Science.
Theater Square Placement: The Heart of Your Cultural Empire
The Theater Square is the key to a Culture Victory, and for Bull Moose Teddy, it is a district that can generate significant yields from the very beginning of the game. The placement of your Theater Squares should be a deliberate and calculated decision.
Maximizing Theater Square Adjacency Bonuses:
The primary adjacency bonus for Theater Squares comes from Wonders:
- +2 Culture for each adjacent Wonder.
- +1 Culture for every two adjacent District tiles.
The synergy with the Bull Moose ability comes from the placement of the Theater Square on a high-appeal tile adjacent to woods or a Wonder.
Advanced Theater Square Placement Techniques:
Many professional gamers suggest that the placement of Theater Squares should be planned in conjunction with the placement of your Wonders.
- The Wonder Cluster: A Theater Square placed in the middle of a cluster of Wonders can generate an incredible amount of Culture. This requires long-term planning and a significant investment in production, but the payoff is immense.
- The Entertainment Complex Synergy: Placing a Theater Square adjacent to an Entertainment Complex is a powerful combination. The Entertainment Complex provides amenities, which increases the happiness of your city and can lead to higher yields. The two districts also provide a +1 adjacency bonus to each other.
- The “Green Belt” Strategy: A popular strategy is to create a “green belt” of woods around your city center. This increases the appeal of the surrounding tiles, making them ideal locations for Theater Squares. A Theater Square placed on a Breathtaking tile adjacent to woods will generate +2 Culture from the Bull Moose ability.
Concrete Example: The Ideal Theater Square Placement
Consider a city with a planned location for the Great Library. You have a tile that is adjacent to the planned Wonder and also adjacent to a large forest. This tile has a base appeal of +2. By placing a Theater Square on this tile, you will receive:
- +2 Culture from the adjacent Great Library.
- By planting more woods around the Theater Square, you can increase its appeal to Breathtaking (+4). This will activate the Bull Moose ability, providing an additional +2 Culture.
- The total yield of this Theater Square, before any buildings, would be +4 Culture.
The Power of National Parks: A Cultural Victory Engine
No guide to Bull Moose Teddy would be complete without a detailed discussion of National Parks. The National Park is a unique tile improvement that is essential for a Culture Victory. It provides a massive amount of Tourism, and for Teddy, it also increases the appeal of all tiles in the city by +1.
Creating and Optimizing National Parks:
A National Park must be created on a diamond-shaped area of four tiles that are all owned by the same city, have an appeal of Charming or better, and are all on land. The four tiles must also form a vertical diamond shape.
- The Role of the Naturalist: National Parks are created by a Naturalist, a unique civilian unit that can only be purchased with Faith. This is why an early investment in Faith generation is so important for a Bull Moose Teddy game.
- The “Appeal Bomb”: The +1 appeal to all tiles in a city from a National Park can be used to create a “appeal bomb.” By carefully planning the placement of your National Parks, you can chain the appeal bonuses to create entire regions of Breathtaking tiles.
- National Park and District Synergy: According to the player community, the most effective strategy is to create National Parks in cities that already have well-developed Campuses and Theater Squares. The increased appeal from the National Park will boost the yields of these districts even further.
The Art of the Perfect Placement
Mastering Bull Moose Teddy is a rewarding experience that requires a different way of thinking about the game of Civilization 6. It is a strategy that rewards patience, planning, and a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the world. By understanding the core mechanics of the Bull Moose ability and by carefully planning the placement of your Campuses and Theater Squares, you can create a civilization that is not only scientifically advanced and culturally dominant but also a work of art. The key is to see the map not as a collection of resources to be exploited but as a canvas on which to paint your masterpiece.