Should I purchase C3C or PTW?

Zevico · December 13, 2003, 02:54

Well, I currently have the Vanilla version of Civ, and I was wondering whether I should buy PTW or C3C...I have a few questions on both of the expansion sets for any kind hearted posters to answer:

Is it possible to "switch off" C3C and play PTW only if I purchase C3C (as I have heard C3C comes with PTW?), thus avoiding the horrible bugs I have heard of?

Also, how long does an MP game take? What types of MP games are there?

Thanks

Vince278 · December 13, 2003, 03:10

Get C3C. It has PTW content as well as new stuff. (I never bought PTW but I did get C3C. I'm glad I did it that way.)

Rhothaerill · December 13, 2003, 03:26

If you buy just C3C you will get all the content from both expansions, you will just not be able to play a PBEM or MP game in PTW. There will be a beta patch next week so hopefully the gpt and corruption bugs will be fully fixed.

Regarding MP games I have never played one since I usually stick to PBEMs, but you might visit the Civ3 MP forum for that answer.

Snotty · December 13, 2003, 05:10

Pbem is a very enjoyable way to play MP, and one turn a day can be very easy to fit into your life. Other MP games depend on the number of players and the map size. Its normal to play smaller maps with less players (4-6). A fast 4 player can be wrapped up in 4 hours or so, but you should be prepared for another session on another night if the game is undecided. Aggresive 1 on 1s can be all over in 1-2 hours. If you like huge games, and can find the people to play them with you, then you should be ready for the long haul.

Vince278 · December 13, 2003, 06:41

Originally posted by Snotty
Pbem is a very enjoyable way to play MP, and one turn a day can be very easy to fit into your life. Other MP games depend on the number of players and the map size. Its normal to play smaller maps with less players (4-6). A fast 4 player can be wrapped up in 4 hours or so, but you should be prepared for another session on another night if the game is undecided. Aggresive 1 on 1s can be all over in 1-2 hours. If you like huge games, and can find the people to play them with you, then you should be ready for the long haul.

Easy for you to say.

BTW, congrats on your big win!

Snotty · December 13, 2003, 08:13

Thanks Vince. I admit I am a bit biased

Zevico, MP is not everyones cup of tea, but it can take civ to a whole new level if you have the patience for it. The standard simultanious moves games can take a little getting used to.

Fried-Psitalon · December 13, 2003, 09:16

This may come as a distinct shock and regarded as heresy around here, but there's more to MP than just PBEM.

The largest strictly non-PBEM multiplayer community is the one I help run - check my signature for that info.

A typical ladder MP game runs about 2-3 hours, and ranges widely in type; the most popular are ancient start, future start, and quickciv. Having said that, though, if you've got a hankering for something different, you can find someone to play it 99% of the time....

except for PBEM, which all ladder folk regard as painfully slow and dull.

Merepatra · December 13, 2003, 16:00

Originally posted by Rhothaerill
If you buy just C3C you will get all the content from both expansions, you will just not be able to play a PBEM or MP game in PTW.

I'm not sure what was meant by this, but if you buy C3C you can play PBEM/MP under either C3C or PTW rules as exe files are included for both games.

Rhothaerill · December 13, 2003, 16:29

Originally posted by Merepatra
I'm not sure what was meant by this, but if you buy C3C you can play PBEM/MP under either C3C or PTW rules as exe files are included for both games.

Really? Mine did not work then. I tried using the PTW .exe file that launched with the C3C disk, but it told me I had to switch to the PTW disk (if that made any sense

). Unless I missed something I have had to switch back to the PTW disk every time I load up a PTW PBEM or democracy game

Kuciwalker · December 13, 2003, 16:47

That sounds like a bug. Congrats!

Vince278 · December 13, 2003, 23:44

Originally posted by Rhothaerill
Really? Mine did not work then. I tried using the PTW .exe file that launched with the C3C disk, but it told me I had to switch to the PTW disk (if that made any sense

). Unless I missed something I have had to switch back to the PTW disk every time I load up a PTW PBEM or democracy game

Not sure if it matters but it sounded like you loaded and used PTW before loading C3C.

Dis · December 14, 2003, 02:53

C3C is the most obvious answer. Unless you have money to burn and with to make the publisher and developer more rich, then you can purchase both

bongo · December 14, 2003, 07:08

Vince278 , I had the same experience. There are no way I can start PTW without the PTW cd.

I tried to uninstall everything, then reinstall but that only screwed up my comupter. Got PTW and c3c back in working order but i have a ton of double entries in my civ folders

Rhothaerill · December 14, 2003, 14:58

Originally posted by Vince278
Not sure if it matters but it sounded like you loaded and used PTW before loading C3C.

I have been using PTW since it came out so that is possibly the reason. Perhaps if you don't have PTW then a PTW game loads with the C3C disk. I can't verify that without uninstalling everything which I'm not going to do so I'll bow to the knowledge of Merepatra.

Jaguar · December 15, 2003, 00:47

C3C. The gamebreaking bugs will be fixed in the beta patch within a week.

Dimension · December 16, 2003, 02:35

Sounds like they really screwed up the copy protection on C3C.

I just bought it and installed it (with my DVD-ROM), and the EXE performs an illegal operation every time I run it. I tried putting the CD in my other drive (DVD-R), and it pops up a different error that tells me to eject the CD and put it back in.

I tried it on my other computer and it worked fine, but on my main machine I had to download a little "wink wink nudge nudge" to get it working. I'm sure this would also fix the PTW problem.

You can't say that it's unethical to defeat the copy protection if the game doesn't work otherwise.

Zevico · December 16, 2003, 02:55

Thanks y'all

I have decided that I'll purchase C3C once the patch comes out. And if it doesn't.... I'll grumble a lot more than I am now about it, and hope that fixes the problem.

MrWhereItsAt · December 16, 2003, 21:39

Originally posted by Zevico
Thanks y'all

I have decided that I'll purchase C3C once the patch comes out. And if it doesn't.... I'll grumble a lot more than I am now about it, and hope that fixes the problem.

Keep in mind too that this is a BETA patch, not fully tested. It is out as a present for us unsatiable addicts, but there may well be more patches to come. This game will be the most stable yet.

ducki · December 17, 2003, 11:26

Also keep in mind that Amazon has Conquests for $10(!!!) right now.

I can't think of a good reason not to get it at that price. In fact, we just bought two(one for my wife) and even if she just plays twice, it's about the same as a game rental for a console.