Apolyton Civ4 PREVIEW (By Solver) - Part 1 online

[Harovan]

Originally posted by Atahualpa
Isn't the settler thing exploitable? What if I build an expensive unit or building and before it's finished switch over to a settler? Thus I built it only with shields and grew in the meantime.

Thats an oldie. It doesnt work anymore. You lose all shields when you switch. But you gain them back (iirc with a little decay), when you switch back to that unit.

[Atahualpa]

I am curious to hear about it

[Solver]

Originally posted by Atahualpa
Isn't the settler thing exploitable? What if I build an expensive unit or building and before it's finished switch over to a settler? Thus I built it only with shields and grew in the meantime.

You can't transfer production like that anymore.

[Atahualpa]

So, how's it working? Don't both to answer if you don't like to

[Solver]

You must have missed that, it was covered elsehwere a long time ago .

You start building a Market and switch to a Knight - you retain your progress on the Market, start on the Knights with 0 shields, can later go back to Market and finish from where you left it.

[Atahualpa]

Ah okay, I thought that was for scientific advancements only.

[Locutus]

Originally posted by Aro
And we know why.

We definitely need a "envious" smiley...

Actually, Solver's only been playing for a few months, just enough to write an informed preview

Originally posted by MarkG
no comment on my dual monitor photo?

I guess you'll have to spam the forum again with new threads...

[The_Aussie_Lurker]

Hmmmm, I have only read the first section of your preview, Solver, but I can already say that I love the whole new system for putting paid to ICS. I had an idea, though. I wonder if you could expand this model to certain other types of-say-manpower heavy unit types (i.e. earlier infantry) to represent the fact that their being trained and used for the military is preventing them from being able to contribute to population growth. I have to say that I have waited a VERY long time for a system where I could mod in a reasonable 'human' cost for large armies, and everything I am hearing suggests that this time around I might just be able to do it!!

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

[Solver]

Well, I've just checked, and you can easily mod any unit to be food + shield buildable like Settlers are.

[Jon Shafer]

Originally posted by Solver
You must have missed that, it was covered elsehwere a long time ago .

You start building a Market and switch to a Knight - you retain your progress on the Market, start on the Knights with 0 shields, can later go back to Market and finish from where you left it.

Not exactly - production does decay over time so you can't just store things (read: units) up for eternity without paying and have them stored 99% done.

[littlechief]

What happens if a Civ is the first to discover the certain technologies to more than one religion. Say I am the first to discover Monotheism and hence am the founder of Judaism and then later I am the first to Theology and the founder of Christianity?

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by MarkG
no comment on my dual monitor photo?

Yes, it's a beauty.

I wonder about the maintenance upkeep for conquered cities.
Solver, you stated repeatedly that upkeep increases pretty sharp the more cities you found, but doesn't that count as well for the more cities you conquer from other civs? I have this impression that before a warring player realizes it he has to upkeep more newly 'acquired' cities then his treasure can afford. Or do conquered cities not add to your civs upkeep formula?

[Solver]

Not exactly - production does decay over time so you can't just store things (read: units) up for eternity without paying and have them stored 99% done.

I mention that in the 2nd part .

What happens if a Civ is the first to discover the certain technologies to more than one religion. Say I am the first to discover Monotheism and hence am the founder of Judaism and then later I am the first to Theology and the founder of Christianity?

You can found multiple religions.

GeoModder - conquered cities also increase maintenance. Thus, to conquer, you need not only an army but an economy to back it up - makes sense to me. Thus, conquering becomes a question of not only whether you've got the force, but also whether you can afford it.

[Lorizael]

From what source is this upkeep taken out of? Does it just get pulled from your national treasury?

[ixnay]

Originally posted by MarkG
no comment on my dual monitor photo?

Holy crap!

is what I have to say about that. That is really, really cool. Civ is the perfect kind of game to benefit from having dual monitors and I'm certainly glad I do now.