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The Column: #17 -- Unconventional Reality

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  • The Column: #17 -- Unconventional Reality

    By Markos Giannopoulos
    November 28th, 1998

    note: This is The Column, a part of Apolyton where mainly Markos and Dan write whatever we want . Well, not just the two of us. The Column is open to everyone. If you feel like writing submit your article to us.

    INTRO

    The last 5-6 months, since we started hearing about CTP, Activision's version of civ, the most discussed new features were the unconventional units, like the Park Ranger and the Lawyer. Many players found these units to be silly or at least unreal. I will try to answer to these "accusations" for some of the units.

    PREVIOUS ARTICLES
    #15 "THE DEBATE"
    Andrew "Hoek" Hoekzema analyzes whether CivII is on its deathbed or not.
    #16 THE ART OF BEING LATE
    Markos tells the stories of the delays of three games
    COLUMN ARCHIVE

    TEXAS, EEER, PARK RANGER

    To those who don't like the new unit, the silliest unit in CTP. Park Ranger looks like a van painted in a 70's fashion, with happy colors, flowers, etc. What it does is quite serious though. Built only by an Ecotopian goverment(almost all of the unconvetional units are goverment specific), it acts as a non-poluting nuclear missile, a city killer. So, it's "silliness" must be on the name and the looks. And since when do civers care about these things? I thought we were centered on gameplay... As for it is realistic or not, I would say that it is as possible as a nuclear missile. And since it is set in the future, clean nuclear missiles are quite possible, isn't it?

    LAW & ORDER

    Another unit that some civers seem to hate, is the Lawyer. The Lawyer is built by a Multinational Corporate gonverment(most probably a futuristic economy-targetted goverment). When it hits a city(it seems that all unconventional units attack cities-you wont see a lawyer attacking a tank) it stops production for a certain number of turns. What is unreal here? Corporate "wars"? Law disputes that take years and cause factories to stop working? Countries helping their own industries?

    BLESS ME FATHER

    Finally, a way to increase your production is the Cleric unit. Built by Theocracy(=Fundamedalism), it converts enemy cities to your religion. Then, a part of the converted cities' shields go to you, and their population will be unhappy if the enemy attacks you. Is the use of religion in politics and economy unreal? I don't think so...

    STILL HATE THEM?

    Since these units will be goverment specific, you can avoid using them by not using these goverments. Further more, most of these units are set in the future, so you'll see them at the end of the game. However, even if you don't use them, you'll have to face them. I'm now wondering how you can stop the effects of the Infector unit, which pollutes the water suply of cities with some sort of disease. The effects may expand through trade routes....

    The opinions expressed on this page doesnt necessarily express Apolyton CS or GameStats.
    It is just the personal opinions of the writer.

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