Not enough time in second half of game, what settings to change?

[greggbert]

I think other people have mentioned this, but the first half of the game has awesome pacing, but when I get to the second half (normal map default everything.) everything seems to run too fast. I’ll create a ship and it’ll be obsolete by the time it gets to the nearest enemy continent, same with most of the troop types in the later game. The units at the end of the game look awesome but I haven’t get to use them much, and I’d like to!

The problem with epic is that the first half of the game runs way too slow and you still kind of run into the same problem at the end.

Question: Has anyone successfully adjusted the settings so that the end game units get some play? Please post what you did to accomplish this!

I hope that some patch in the future tweaks this a little like they tweaked the corruption in Civ3 patches.



Also, while I’m asking: Do you know if the governor settings influence automated workers?

And… Does anyone know how war weariness is affected by religion?

[khumak]

That's the reason I always play Epic. On normal tech advances happen so fast anything you build is obsolete as soon as you build it.

[Cordelayne]

On the usual epic setting, I think the production of units and buildings and wonders is too slow.

Therefore, I recommend going to the CIV4GameSpeedInfo.xml file (if I remember correctly) and editing the epic speed settings to slow down science even further, but to slightly speed up the three production speed variables. I also tweaked several other things on that file, including increasing the total number of turns for the game, to make sure I could get to the end of the tech tree.

After much frustration, I've found this MUCH more fun.

I also created a new civilization, the Scots, who are Philosophical and Industrious--what I think is the best combination and one not available in the game as it ships. But that's another story.

[Tiberius]

You might want to try out some mods from the Civ4-Creation&Files forum.

http://www.apolyton.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=257

[Killazer]

Yeah the later eras are a bit crazy tech progression wise but at least u can instant upgrade anything you do manage to build before its obsolete lol.

[Sarxis]

Agreed. Even on Epic, I was flying through the tech tree in the second half, even with something like 60% culture.

[greggbert]

Originally posted by Cordelayne
On the usual epic setting, I think the production of units and buildings and wonders is too slow.

Therefore, I recommend going to the CIV4GameSpeedInfo.xml file (if I remember correctly) and editing the epic speed settings to slow down science even further, but to slightly speed up the three production speed variables. I also tweaked several other things on that file, including increasing the total number of turns for the game, to make sure I could get to the end of the tech tree.

After much frustration, I've found this MUCH more fun.

Can you pls post what settings you changed and what you changed them to? Or simply post your XML file somewhere? Thanks!

[Datajack Franit]

did you switch off tech trading?

[Cordelayne]

Here's an explanation I posted in another thread a few days ago. It's extremely cool that we can easily make mods like this--

Epic is better, but I still find it very frustrating--it usually takes far too long to create military units, and it's still a bit too fast to my taste for science advances.

I solved this by modding the "Epic" speed setting, which is ridiculously easy.

Find the file CIV4GameSpeedInfo.xml in the Assets/XML/GameInfo directory. Open with notepad (or any editor). Make a backup copy. Make a written list of what you change. Change some numbers. Save. And play using the new version of the Epic speed.

I did the following:

--changed Construct from 150 to 75;
--changed Create from 150 to 100;
--changed Research from 150 to 250;
--changed Build from 150 to 75;
--changed Growth from 150 to 100;
--changed Inflation% from 18 to 5; and
--changed the final group of "1 year turns" from 200 to 500, extending the game for 300 years.

That's all from editing one text file! One can twiddle in many ways, of course, but I like the above. Production of units and buildings is much faster. Production of wonders is a little faster. Science research is slowed way down. And there are plenty of turns, so you can go all the way to the end of the tech tree.

I'm extremely pleased with the balance with these settings. And I can go back to the original in 15 seconds whenever I want by just changing the extension on the backup file and removing the modded file.

***************

As to another question above, yes indeed, I always turn off tech trading. I just hate having to compete with the AIs on that.

My current game is going great. Small map. Four civs. Above settings. I'm Scotland (philosophical and industrious). Around the year 1950, my score is about 6000, my nearest opponent the English have about 3000. And at that point, last night, they started building spaceship components. So in just five turns I mobilized forces and conquered their capital.

In Civ3, it always seemed an almost impossible pain in the neck to be a world conqueror. I like the scope in Civ4. I've extended the game by 300 turns, so I have plenty of time. I'm going to just wipe everybody out, heh heh heh.

I really do like this game! It's interfering dreadfully with my work in the so-called "real world," but that will just have to wait.

[TheArsenal]

Interesting. I’ve been waiting for a mod which did nothing but change the game speed, science and production to stretch it out. But if it is this straightforward, I may just tweak it myself.

[GodSpawn]

Yes, very interesting. I wonder if you have to start a new game after tweaking, or can I do it mid-game?

Well, I can try it and see I guess.

[spa]

Anyone who's looking to change the pace of the tech research should check out

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=140264

I have used Vilu's little program and it works great because it edits each technology's cost. This does what editing the tech rate can't, it takes account of increasing research growth. So, with Vilu's easy to use and simple program, you can slow down the later game without affecting the early one. In my current game, I increased the tech costs and I have had a nice bit of time to play in each era. I had an axeman war, something I have never done before without them being made obsolete. I could have had more fun playing with the other units except being on my own island isolated me. I also got to use carvels to explore the map extensively and I have enjoyed a real age of sail with frigates and galleons. It has been great. The numbers I used were as follows:

Ancient 1.1
Classical 1.3
Medieval 1.7
Renaissance 2.5
Industrial 3.6
Modern 4
Future 4.5

Next time out, I'm going to increase both the Industrial and Modern eras a little bit more (maybe 4.2 and 5) because I still found things getting too fast once the observatories and univeristies were built in my large growing cities. Not quite as bad as normal, but still techs coming in at 5 a turn (I'm shooting for roughly about 10 turns as a min in each era).

EDIT: One thing though, slowing things down with this tool without altering the number of turns isn't a good idea because your game could prematurely end. For me it doesn't matter as I always play custom with time victory turned off. I also altered the inflation rate to epic setting to take into account the slower research.

[MrFun]

I'm printing this thread out for future reference if I decide to buy Civ IV.

[Cordelayne]

Oh good grief. You have to buy Civ4. For all the early bugs, it's really one of the all-time great games. It's not only a great strategy game. It's also very stylish and funny.

[Shaka II]

Yes, Civ IV is a must buy, at least for a Civer. It sets a new standard in just about every way.

Great work Spa, when I've gotten over my initial fixation with vanilla Civ IV, I'll give it a try or perhaps Dearmad's mod. It's nice to get the feel of an era, without being rushed into the next one. Also, to conquer the world takes time.