Just How Unhelpful is the Manual & Civilopedia ?

[TomVeil]

Question: does the Civilopedia auto-update when one runs a mod/scenario, or must the mod/scenario include Pedia text? The answer to this question will have major effects on how one would go about revising the Pedia, as a couple of posters have suggested.

[rjwoer]

In CIV 3 it was possible to right-click on something (especially units / buildings in the city queue) and the corresponding Civilopedia entry would pop up. Is there such a feature in CIV 4 too?

No there isn't. This is another feature lacking from the usability of the 'pedia and the smooth transmission of information during gameplay. I thought for sure there would be as much linking from objects/topics to information as in Civ 3 but alas. Even the linking in the 'pedia is mediocre.

[SorvinoBackhand]

Another good call, rjwoer. That's why one of the options in the poll is 'a step back from civ 3.' I thought all the cross-linking in the civ 3 'pedia was excellent. (Actually, I thought the whole civ 3 'pedia was extremely good.)

Its one the most mystifying parts of the current game. After dropping the ball on bringing civics from SMAC into civ 3, but then getting it right in civ 4, Firaxis stumbled again on keeping a good compenent from a previous game. You'd think the series' evolution would be a more straightforward, iterative learning process...

[Enigma_Nova]

Well, if they don't try ideas, then how would they find out which ideas are crappy and which to keep?
I mean, we all <3 Religion, don't we?

[djpsychonaut]

Originally posted by Enigma_Nova
Well, if they don't try ideas, then how would they find out which ideas are crappy and which to keep?
I mean, we all <3 Religion, don't we?

Yeah, but who in their right mind would like that replacing text with a bunch of tiles and divorcing the pedia from gameplay would be a good idea?

I think it was just a rush job. They were so focused on other parts of the game and got sloppy with the reference material.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by djpsychonaut
Indeed, also it doesn't mention in the pedia that the Space Elevator has to be built near the Equator! I had to rely on Apolyton to find that one out.

I think it's Civ 2 that lets you build the Hoover Dam anywhere, but it is useless unless you actually build it in a city next to a river.

So I rather have the game not letting you do silly things.

[rjwoer]

Yeah, but who in their right mind would like that replacing text with a bunch of tiles and divorcing the pedia from gameplay would be a good idea?

I think it was just a rush job. They were so focused on other parts of the game and got sloppy with the reference material.

Well put.