Forgive me, but I'm going to be using Gathering Storm civs and leaders in this one. If nothing else, it means there's going to be more women to choose from. =]
For a bonus challenge, I'm gonna try not to use the same picks as hS did last year for ANYONE involved. Here goes nothing...
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Delta Juliette: Cleopatra, Egypt
Egypt is a pretty strong nation that benefits from trade, and its bonuses to Wonder production seems like a good fit. Also, putting giant statues of cats everywhere just seems like something she'd do.
Zingenmir: Jadwiga, Poland
Jadwiga is a ruler defined by her faith, just as Zingenmir is defined by hers. She also has military flexibility and favours an aggressive-defence strategy, which I think would work well given Barony Zingenmir's location on the map.
Hieronymus: Harald Hardrada, Norway
This is based in large part on Harald's unique unit, the Viking Longship. Hieronymus shows up in mission posts to prod people about spelling errors; the Longship is one of the best harassment units in the game, as it's able to pillage improvements on dry land as well as those in the sea.
Kaitlyn: Dido, Phoenicia
They look alike, which always helps, and Phoenicia's focus on Loyalty is incredibly strong as well as fitting. It also feels right for her to have a bit more of a naval focus, with her Barony's connection to the sea.
Phobos: Mansa Musa, Mali
Big, burly guy with a beard? Check. Focus on trade? Check. Making SO much money? Check. Okay, maybe not that last bit for Phobos himself, but Mali is a gold-focused Civ the likes of which we've never seen before.
Neshomeh: Eleanor of Aquitaine, France
The flowing hair makes this one for me, I have to admit, but it also works with the culture aspect. With England's UA having been reworked considerably for GS, the French focus on mid-game Wonders - which tend to have Great Work slots - and culture allows her to generate a boatload of it per turn, sprinting through the civics tree and also meaning she can spread Great Works around to manipulate loyalty.
PoorCynic: Pericles, Greece
City-States aren't going to be major players in this game, but you still get a bunch of bonuses from them and that synergizes well with Pericles' Leader Ability. Holding sway over smaller players for no readily apparent reason also seems to fit the guy who wrote the Newbie Guides. =]
Larfen: John Curtin, Australia
Going with your countryman here, Larf. Not much to say beyond that, except possibly "Crikey!" or "By oath!".
Iximaz: Amanitore, Nubia
Some of you might be wondering why this isn't Tomyris, who is a real-life horse girl and just as annoying to fight. Some of you might be wondering why this isn't Gitarja, who builds up and out into the seas themselves with the Kampung. I'll tell you why I picked Amanitore, and that's one thing: archer spam. The Pitati Archer (replacing the, er, Archer) is a brilliant unique unit and Nubia has a 50% production bonus to ranged units. Ix's agents also use bows a lot. It seems to work.
Tomash: Cyrus, Persia
This might be a slightly odd choice, but what I like about Cyrus for this pick is his ability to both wage war (on pill-selling spambots) and build advanced infrastructure (made of code). It also encourages trade, which will make Phobos happy. =]
Huinesoron: Pachacuti, Inca
Doing a lot with a little - especially in mountainous terrain - seems like a great fit for out friendly neighbourhood utterlygeriatricbie's Baronial incarnation. I think that powering enormously large cities with nothing more than expert farming fits his sensibilities.
Scapegrace: Kristina of Sweden
She has my hair, she's a big ol' nerd, and she gets an enormous library to build as part of her leader ability. Nuff said.
