Civilization - The Board Game

Andemagne · April 27, 2002, 20:08

do know this game?
have you played it?
what do you think of it?

Sarxis · April 28, 2002, 00:58

I would like to see it, if at least for research reasons.

Never seen it though. But I know there are some around here that have.

Urban Ranger · April 28, 2002, 02:04

Excellent game. A lot of fun to play. Best when combined with Advanced Civilization.

It has nothing to do with the computer game of the same name.

Mr. President · April 28, 2002, 03:20

It has nothing to do with the computer game of the same name.

Ah, I was wondering how it would work!

Adagio · April 28, 2002, 05:52

I have known it existed for a very long time, but I have never seen it

Chowlett · April 28, 2002, 08:56

There's a copy in a local games store to me (not Adv. Civ. though) - I considered buying it, but the play times made me worried I'd never get anyone to play it with.

If you want to see how it works, go to www.the-underdogs.org and download Advanced Civilization. Be aware that you have to play it in pure DOS mode, or it doesn't work.

Standup · April 28, 2002, 18:10

From what i remember there's a lot of cards involved and a fair amount of trading. We did play several times many years ago but for whatever reason got bored. 1829 by the same designer remains a personal favourite and supposedly inspired Railroad Tycoon - another sid game.
The board games main claim to fame seems to be its name which saw several companies trying to buy it for a certain computer game although i think their was little interest in the board game itself.

Andemagne · April 28, 2002, 18:20

Urban Ranger: true (Best when combined
with Advanced Civilization)
to be honest it's not a game with out AC.

Chowlett: yup! it takes time, and lots of it.
but you can allways make a deal before the
game, for example "we play for 4 hours, then
who's winning, wins"
and Civ on Board

is at it's best when played
with 4 or 6 players (not 5).

Urban Ranger · April 28, 2002, 23:28

Originally posted by Andemagne
Urban Ranger: true (Best when combined
with Advanced Civilization)
to be honest it's not a game with out AC.

Hey, what do you mean? There are some of us who had played the game before AC came out.

Urban Ranger · April 28, 2002, 23:29

Originally posted by Chowlett
There's a copy in a local games store to me (not Adv. Civ. though) - I considered buying it, but the play times made me worried I'd never get anyone to play it with.

I can't believe that there is no some sort of gaming clubs at Cambridge. Go check the student union list of clubs or something.

General Ludd · April 29, 2002, 00:27

I remember when I was a kid, I bought the Advanced Civilisations game thinking it was a sequal to Civilization. First game I ever returned.

(this was before Civ2 was released)

Andemagne · April 29, 2002, 10:45

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Hey, what do you mean? There are some of us who had played the game before AC came out.

I mean that it's a lot better game with AC expansion,
and that I don't play anymore without AC.

I wonder is it possible to play this game by Email?

Chowlett · April 29, 2002, 11:12

Yes, the version on Underdogs has PBEM support.

UR - yeah, but what I don't have is much time for another society.

Scouse Gits · April 29, 2002, 11:32

Great Game - as is 1829 - but finding devoted games fanatics these days with RL getting in the way - oh for the simplicity of undergraduate life .................

SG[1]

Urban Ranger · April 29, 2002, 23:39

Originally posted by Chowlett
UR - yeah, but what I don't have is much time for another society.

You just show up at their office when you need some people to play a game or two with you.

Skanky Burns · April 30, 2002, 03:26

Nice.

Grumbold · May 7, 2002, 07:48

Curious. I dislike the expansion because it eliminates half the skill imo by introducing far too many trading sets. For me the only appeal is it does make the game faster by doing so. Since getting players round for a five hour game is no easier than a seven hour game I prefer the original. For example having a famine every turn while one or more players hoard the grain cards trying to get a big score makes a lot of sense to me while in the expansion it can be ameliorated by rapid turnover of the other 4 point card set. The ability to convince other players to trade cards with you becomes too important compared to any other aspect of the game.

Urban Ranger · May 7, 2002, 10:16

I have never played with the expansion so I can't tell, but the original has this nice elegance in the design which makes the game good.

Chowlett · May 10, 2002, 12:54

Hmm, I feel like firing a game up at some point. Hmm, maybe this evening.

Hmm, I think I'll have to re-download it.

Hmm, glad I kept that '98 install - it allows me (with a bit of fast key-pressing) a true DOS mode.

Chowlett · May 10, 2002, 15:20

Incredible - it works under XP. Except that I get no sound, and appear to be missing the advcivil.bat file that's mentioned in the readme's, and I'm sure was there last time.

So, a dilemma - do I try it in DOS, thereby being cut off from the rest of the world while playing, but possibly gaining sound; or do I keep it in XP, with the reverse properties.

And does anyone have a copy of advcivil.bat they could send me? Or thoughts on how to get the sound working under XP.

Mark_Everson · May 10, 2002, 19:11

IMO Civ the board game was reasonably good for its time, but was Completely outclassed by Civilization the computer game. I looked over the AC rules at one point, but never played it. I think it was because it looked more complicated than sounded like fun, but I honestly can't say for sure. Even in its time (late 70s I think), I found Stellar Conquest a much better game, and more similar to the Civilization computer game that was to come.

Chowlett · May 10, 2002, 19:15

Hmm, I get sound effects, just not MIDI music. Odd.

devilmunchkin · May 11, 2002, 01:25

it seems hard to do......i just would figure there are too many nuances of the PC game that a board game could not cover.

Chowlett · May 11, 2002, 09:00

dm - as posted above "it has nothing to do with the computer game of the same name"

It's a board game made by Avalon Hill, which was eventually faithfully translated to Advanced Civilization on the PC, now available at the underdogs. However, it bears no resemblance to Sid Meier's Civilization. It's more trading than war - but it's great fun, if a little long. Give it a go!

devilmunchkin · May 11, 2002, 13:27

so is it like risk? and does it violate smc's trademark name?

Rex Little · May 11, 2002, 18:31

Not at all like Risk. Army-vs.-Army combat plays a very small role; when you "attack" another player it's generally with events such as "Volcano" or "Civil war". It's a race to get your civilization to accomplish certain things, and you're generally more interested in advancing your own cause than interfering with someone else.

It doesn't violate the computer game's copyright because the board game came first! Not sure, but I think Sid had to buy the right to use the name.

Urban Ranger · May 12, 2002, 01:59

Wars are in fact mostly counterproductive in the game, with a few exceptions. The main one being delaying other players from building cities.

Andemagne · May 15, 2002, 23:01

Have anyone tried that "Imperial Civilizations"-Variation?
you use 2 sets of pieces (110 tokens, 18 cities, 8 ships).

Urban Ranger · May 15, 2002, 23:18

No, haven't even heard of it.

Andemagne · May 16, 2002, 19:31

rules for "Imperial"-variation are in that Advanced
Civilization-Expansion. its a all different game, if
you play IC-variation.

another good new rule from AC is that "Trade Special
Cities" or what is was called. for every set of trade cards
gold, ivory, wine,..... there is one city that gives +1 to
sets of that kind of cards. for example corinth has 'wine'
as a speciality, so whenever you cash in a set of wine cards
you get +1 to number of cards (2 => 3, 3 => 4 .....) =>
the set is more valuable. this speeds the game up a little,
and there are little more sence about going to war.
it has a effect on trading too.