Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, is a formidable leader in Civilization 6, known for his versatility and strong cultural and military potential. Central to his unique playstyle is the “Founding Fathers” ability, a powerful tool that, depending on the game version, can either accelerate your government’s legacy or provide unparalleled policy flexibility. This guide delves deep into the strategic nuances of this ability, offering a comprehensive analysis for players looking to master Teddy Roosevelt and lead America to victory.
The Two Faces of Founding Fathers: Base Game vs. Rise and Fall
It is crucial to understand that the “Founding Fathers” ability functions differently depending on whether you are playing the base version of Civilization 6 or have the Rise and Fall expansion enabled. Both versions offer significant advantages, but they require distinct strategic approaches.
Base Game: The Power of Accelerated Legacy
In the base game, the “Founding Fathers” ability is straightforward yet incredibly potent: it halves the time required to earn government legacy bonuses. This means you can acquire powerful legacy policy cards in half the number of turns it would take any other civilization. These legacy cards, once earned, can be used in any government for the rest of the game, providing a permanent, stacking advantage.
Strategic Implications of Accelerated Legacy
Analysis on forums shows that the key to leveraging this ability is to strategically cycle through governments to collect the most valuable legacy bonuses. Many professional gamers suggest a dynamic approach, switching governments not just for their inherent bonuses but with the specific goal of quickly unlocking their legacy cards.
Key Government Legacy Bonuses to Target:
- Oligarchy: The legacy card from Oligarchy provides a +20% combat experience bonus for all units. For a leader like Teddy Roosevelt, who already possesses a +5 combat strength advantage on his home continent with the “Roosevelt Corollary” ability, this is a game-changer. According to the player community, rushing Oligarchy early allows for the rapid creation of a highly experienced and formidable military, crucial for early expansion and defense.
- Classical Republic: This government’s legacy card offers a significant boost to Great Person generation. For players aiming for a Cultural Victory, which is one of Teddy’s strongest paths, this is an essential legacy to acquire. A popular strategy is to switch to Classical Republic after securing the Oligarchy legacy, accelerating the acquisition of Great Artists, Musicians, and Writers who are the lifeblood of a cultural game.
- Merchant Republic: The legacy of the Merchant Republic expands your trade route capacity. More trade routes translate to increased gold and, with the right policies, a substantial boost to your cultural output. This legacy synergizes well with a cultural or economic focus.
- Democracy: In the late game, the Democracy legacy card makes purchasing Great People with Gold or Faith 50% cheaper. This can be the final push needed to secure a Cultural Victory, allowing you to snatch up key Great Works and wonders.
A Sample Government Progression:
A popular strategy is to start with Oligarchy to build a strong military and secure your continent. Once the legacy card is unlocked, a switch to Classical Republic is recommended to begin stockpiling Great People points. As you move into the mid-game, Merchant Republic can further bolster your economy and cultural output. Finally, in the late game, adopting Democracy can provide the economic power needed to purchase any remaining Great People and secure a victory.
Rise and Fall: The Unmatched Flexibility of Wildcard Slots
With the Rise and Fall expansion, the “Founding Fathers” ability is completely reimagined. Instead of accelerating legacy bonuses, it converts all Diplomatic policy slots into Wildcard slots. Additionally, it grants +1 Diplomatic Favor per turn for every Wildcard slot in your government. This change shifts Teddy’s focus from a government-cycling strategy to one of extreme adaptability and diplomatic influence.
Strategic Implications of Wildcard Flexibility
The conversion of Diplomatic slots to Wildcard slots is a massive advantage. It means that in the early game, when Diplomatic policies are scarce and often situational, you can fill those slots with powerful Economic or Military policies, giving you a significant head start.
Leveraging Wildcard Slots for Different Victory Conditions:
- Cultural Victory: This is where the Wildcard flexibility truly shines. You can slot in policies that boost Great Person generation, increase tourism from Great Works, and enhance the appeal of your tiles for National Parks. The ability to mix and match these policies allows you to create a powerful cultural engine tailored to your specific circumstances.
- Diplomatic Victory: The bonus Diplomatic Favor from Wildcard slots makes Teddy a natural contender for a Diplomatic Victory. By maximizing your Wildcard slots through government choices and wonders, you can generate a steady stream of favor, allowing you to influence the World Congress and win crucial votes.
- Domination Victory: While not his primary focus, the extra Wildcard slots can be used to great effect in a military campaign. You can slot in policies that boost unit production, reduce unit maintenance costs, and increase combat strength, turning your military into a highly efficient and powerful force.
Maximizing Your Wildcard Potential:
To make the most of this ability, it is essential to increase your number of policy slots. This can be achieved by:
- Advancing through the Civics Tree: Later-tier governments offer more policy slots, which, for Teddy, means more Wildcard slots.
- Building Key Wonders: The Forbidden City and Potala Palace are crucial wonders for any player looking to maximize their policy slots. For Teddy, they are even more valuable, as each additional slot is a versatile Wildcard slot.
The Roosevelt Corollary: A Synergistic Power
It is impossible to discuss the “Founding Fathers” ability without also considering Teddy’s “Roosevelt Corollary.” This ability grants a +5 combat strength bonus to all American units on their home continent and, with the Rise and Fall expansion, a +2 appeal bonus to all tiles in a city with a National Park.
The Synergy with Accelerated Legacy (Base Game)
In the base game, the “Roosevelt Corollary” and “Founding Fathers” abilities work in perfect harmony. The accelerated Oligarchy legacy, combined with the inherent combat bonus on your home continent, makes your early military almost unstoppable. This allows you to secure your borders, clear out barbarian camps with ease, and even engage in early offensive wars if the opportunity arises.
The Synergy with Wildcard Flexibility (Rise and Fall)
In Rise and Fall, the synergy is more subtle but no less powerful. The extra Wildcard slots can be used to further enhance your military’s effectiveness on your home continent, making it a veritable fortress. For a Cultural Victory, the +2 appeal bonus from the “Roosevelt Corollary” is a game-changer, making it significantly easier to create high-appeal locations for National Parks. The Wildcard slots can then be used to slot in policies that further boost the tourism output of these parks.
Diplomatic Visibility: The Unseen Advantage
A frequently overlooked aspect of Teddy Roosevelt’s strategy is the importance of diplomatic visibility. While he has no unique abilities that directly increase it, his other strengths make it a particularly valuable asset.
The Combat Bonus
Every level of diplomatic visibility you have over an opponent that they do not have over you grants a +3 combat strength bonus. This can stack up to a massive +12 bonus. When combined with the “Roosevelt Corollary,” this can give your units an overwhelming advantage on your home continent.
Achieving Superior Visibility
Analysis on forums shows that the most effective way to increase diplomatic visibility is through a combination of:
- Delegations and Embassies: The simplest and most direct way to gain a level of visibility.
- Trade Routes: Establishing a trade route provides another level of visibility.
- Alliances: Alliances grant a level of visibility and have numerous other benefits.
- The Printing Technology: Researching Printing grants a free level of visibility with all civilizations you have met.
- Espionage: Spies can be used to establish listening posts in foreign cities, providing a significant boost to your visibility.
By actively pursuing these avenues, you can gain a significant intelligence advantage over your opponents, allowing you to anticipate their moves and giving your military a crucial edge in combat.
Conclusion: A Leader for All Seasons
Teddy Roosevelt’s “Founding Fathers” ability, in both its incarnations, makes him one of the most versatile and powerful leaders in Civilization 6. Whether you are accelerating your government’s legacy in the base game or leveraging the unparalleled flexibility of Wildcard slots in Rise and Fall, this ability provides a clear path to victory. By understanding the nuances of this ability and how it synergizes with his other strengths, you can unlock the full potential of this remarkable leader and guide America to a glorious triumph. The key, as many professional gamers suggest, is to remain adaptable, to understand the unique strengths of each version of the ability, and to tailor your strategy to the specific challenges and opportunities that each game presents.