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THE COLUMN
A SPLITTING HEADACHE?
By Sheepy99
July 21, 2001

NOTE: This is The Column, a regular feature on Apolyton where anyone can write about anything to do with Civilization or the gaming industry as a whole. If you feel like writing, please visit the article submission page.

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COLUMN ARCHIVE

It happened to Rome, Great Britain, Germany. Of course I'm talking about Empires falling and splitting. Civ I skimmed over the subject and Civ II only had civil wars when a small empire stormed the capital of a bigger one. Should Civ III have some form of splitting?

If we want to be historically accurate, I believe Civil Wars and the like should be in the game (but an option to turn it off) . But first lets see why Rome, Great Britain, Germany broke up, and how it might apply to the game.

Rome - Arguably one of the Greatest Empires to ever rule the Earth. No army (Greeks, Gauls, Egyptians) that existed could stand in its way until Rome collapsed on itself in 475 AD. There are several reason for the fall of Rome such as: Corrupt Politicians, Cash deficits, More Slaves, then citizens. Growing hunger, and Over extension of its boarders. There certainly are more reasons then this, but most of these could be applied to Civilization III perhaps? What if a nation (in the beginning of the game) is in debt for long periods of time + low food supplies + several wars and/or loss of the capital. finally takes it's toll and the Empire splits? It certainly would make more aggressive players who try to do a "Mongolian Hoards" type of play think twice.

Great Britain - At one point there wasn't a place on Earth that the sun didn't shine on British soil. It may have well been the "Second Rome" spreading the English language throughout the world. But eventually the unhappiness of the "New British Subjects" caught up with England. First to break off was the United States. Then India and parts of British controlled China. Eventually Britain ran out of money and Europe started to become more of a issue then the rest of the British colonize, and the British Empire began to become smaller and smaller. Now parts of this brake up were from the effects of warfare from other European powers. Others parts of the break up was cause from the unhappiness of the subject (United States) which led to a break up and a new nation coming into existence. Now apply this to Civ III. What if an over seas colony unhappiness reaches a certain level. At some point the game will say "Your Worship, the unhappiness level of one of our overseas colonizes! has caused it to declared it's independence" Or take the Britain and Australia example, i.e. granting that colony independence freed up troops & money/improved world opinion. This would be part of the Mid Game.

Germany/Soviet Union - following the occupation by the allies after World War II Germany was split into 4 occupation zones. Eventually The US, British, and French zones formed into "West Germany" and the Soviet Zone became "East Germany". Then in 1989 Germany became unified and the Soviet Union Collapsed and became Russia. Now apply this to Civ 3. Say you're the Soviets and because of communism the economy is stagnate and unhappiness is starting to rise. Your advisors could say something like " Chairman, the unhappiness in the empire is starting to cause some of our puppet governments to revolt. If allowed to continue our who empire could collapse!" This example illustrates that if independent countries that become conquered by other nations become too unhappy. There could be a large chance that they try to revert to what they were before becoming occupied (joining what's left of it's former country) this would be part of the Late Game.

Which leads me to my last point. Should Democratic nations be pressured by the (eventually built) United Nations to allow parts of Democratic Nations that are occupying former independent governments to restore their independence? Should there be some sort of option to allow occupied territory to break off because of all the revolts? And should there be a World Opinion and would it be added to the score? Only Firaxis knows all the answers.
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About the author: civing since 1995

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