Apolyton CS: Civilization III: The List v1: Civilizations

CIVILIZATIONS
-Summarized by Thread Master: LordStone1-
LordStone1@yahoo.com

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1. NUMBER OF CIVILIZATIONS INCLUDED    TOP

I asked how many civilizations should be included in the gaming software. But from the response elicited, this is not a real priority.

1.1) Seven civilizations from each of the ages included in the game. (Travathian)

1.2) "Hundreds!" (Eggman)

1.3) As much as Firaxis can reasonably squeeze in, but it shouldn't be a priority. (Freddz)

2. NUMBER OF CIVILIZATIONS IN ONE GAME    TOP

Civilization II allowed you to play with seven civilizations. C:CtP upped it to eight, but by tweaking the files, you could jack the number up to 32. However, from the responses, it is assumed that the general agreement is that there should be a choice ranging from three to thirty-two or more. It should be easy to change it - perhaps in the startup stage of the game.

2.1) Give the player the choice: see how their computers can handle it. At least 32 civilizations should be playable at one time. Otherwise, it is a step backward from C:CtP. (Eggman)

2.2) If I wanted to play with 100 or 200 civilizations, I should be able to do that. (Paul)

2.3) Have a drop-down menu ranging from 3 civilizations up to - and possibly over - 32. Include a warning message if one exceeds the number of civilizations recommended for enjoyable play according to his/her computer specs. (LordStone1)

3. SPECIAL ABILITIES    TOP

Civilization II did not offer any civilizations any special abilities. Neither did C:CtP, so the only difference between one civilization and another was the color, the architecture, and the AI personality. However, SMAC had seven distinct factions, each with special abilities. We discussed whether this idea could be implemented in Civilization III.

3.1) No. It may tick off people if some civilizations got slighted. There are too many civilizations anyway. (Darkstarr) There should be no individual properties for civilizations except for architecture and AI personalities. (Ecce Homo) No - what if Vikings have a seafaring advantage, but a random map puts them in the middle of a grassland? (Kmj) There should not be any difference between civilizations among the lines of social engineering statistics. This will cause unimaginable damage to the game on any number of levels. (Shining1)

3.2) Special abilities should be optional - you can turn them on or off. It also should play-balance. How about having civilizations "earning" advantages? Over a period of time, you could acquire points which you could spend on whatever particular advantage you want. (Eggman)

3.3) Give them a technology in what they specialize at the beginning of the game. (Imran Siddiqui)

3.4) Any special abilities based on civilizations borders on racism is clearly a bad idea. On the other hand, different civilizations in history are different from each other. So, different civilizations should have preferences, like this civilization would take the Conquer option if this was a choice given. (NotLikeTea) Give them different motives, a la SMAC's "Discover, Build, Explore, Conquer". Perhaps, make the British strong in Math and Economics, and Greeks with Philosophy. Give them 'focuses.' (Snowfire)

3.5) How about this: about 1000 years into the game, once you've had a chance to explore around a bit, a screen will pop up allowing you to customize your civilization. However, there would be a limit of two or three items that you could change, and each advantage has to be offset by a disadvantage. This could be made part of a larger social engineering area. (VaderTwo)

3.6) Possible Cultural/Civilization Emphasis(es) by VaderTwo: Increased/Decreased:

3.6a) Amount of food
3.6b) Amount of shields required for units
3.6c) Amount of shields required for city improvements
3.6d) Amount of shields required for wonders
3.6e) Movement rate
3.6f) Attack/Defense factors
3.6g) Happiness
3.6h) Viewing range
3.6i) Amount of science rate
3.6j) Amount of money
3.6k) Amount of luxuries
3.6l) Attitude toward your civilization by other civilizations
3.6m) Terraforming
3.6n) Random events (good and bad)

3.7) Have differentiated civilizations: Say, Mesopotamia has a start with a greater emphasis on agriculture, but have them decide where they want to lead their civilization. (The Octopus)

3.8) Each civilization should be very different from each other - otherwise, why choose one civilization over another? Have +1 research, -2 economy, etc. (evil conquerer)

3.9) Lump civilizations together in categories of civilizations, like "Warlike" would get Bronze Working while "Peaceful" would begin with Alphabet. It would be like how the white civilizations were always expansionist in Civilization II, the blues more peaceful. (LordStone1)

3.10) Have them form special abilities over time - if one civilization has been warring for a very long period of time, they should begin to grow special abilities favoring them in war. If you build a lot of boats, you get better at seafaring. (Freddz, NotLikeTea, delcuze2) However, some should be exclusive. It would be dull to artificially train to be good at everything. Being exceptionally good at one thing should take up enough resources to preclude experts in everything. The "special abilities by doing" idea is a popular idea.

3.11) Have special abilities be assigned based on geographical starting positions. For example, if your first city is near a desert, that civilization can get Irrigation as their first free advance, or get +1 in farming. Build on that idea. (Diodorus Sicilus, CormacMacArt) These attributes should be limited, however, like a single technology or a +1 bonus in something. This will solve the problem of offending anyone by giving out racial attitudes. (Bell) Everyone likes this idea.

4. PERSONALITIES FOR INDIVIDUAL CIVILIZATIONS    TOP

One of the things you could always depend on in Civilization II was that you had to squash the Mongols and the Russians immediately, since they were aggressive, expansionist, and extremely warlike. Should this be carried onto Civilization III?

4.1) Each civilization should have a distinct personality. When playing on the Earth map, the personalities should mirror the real world ones. However, on a random map, the personalities should also be randomized. (Travathian) For example, "Isabella of Spain should be a total bitch" on the Earth map, but not on a random map (Imran Siddiqui).

4.2) Allow personalities to change over the course of the game. A semi-warlike civilization can become a pacifist if they lose a big war. The Babylonians can become warlike if their borders are threatened. (Mo)

4.3) It would be interesting to have different personalities for one country based on whether the leader was male or female. Stalin would be more warlike, while Catherine would be more enlightened. (Cartagia the Great)

4.4) Have a randomize option on the menu like on SMAC. (Freddz)

5. CIVILIZATION "FEELING" IN CIVILIZATION III    TOP

The only thing that separated one civilization from another when playing was the color of the shield and one of the four architectural options. We discussed whether this concept should be expanded so that you get more of a civilization-ism feeling that you are playing the British, not an orange civilization.

5.1) Allow unique individuals from certain civilizations pop up as random events. For example, if you were the French, Pasteur would pop up as a random event and give you a science boost. But Pasteur wouldn't pop up for the Aztecs. (the Octopus)

5.2) Replace color-codes with flags. Britain should fly the Union Jack, not some orange shield. (Eggman) This would help if we had 32 civilizations - more variety of colors.

5.3) Allow historical names to be used for specific units. The Japanese could have the Samurai, while the Greeks have the Hoplites, and the English their Knights. But all three would be the same unit, just different names. (Shining1)

5.4) It is important to be able to tell apart civilizations if you choose to use colors. What happens if you have so many civilizations you have to use red, maroon, chartreuse, puce, and vermilion? (Diodorus Sicilus) Implement different shield designs, like with multiple color designs like stripes, polka dots. (Eggman)

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