Spreadsheet Tools-Game Diplomacy, Events and Info

[Saygame]

I am a fan of spreadsheeting and an avid fan of Civ IV. The plethora of data in the game, for quite some time, defied my ability to digest it, process it and link it together to form coherent strategies. I have found that distinct cultures, starting positons and variables call for different approaches in each game. There are just so many possibilities. And my enjoyment of the game is amplified by its seemingly endless discoveries and nuances.

This forum, as well, has given me considerable enjoyment, giving me an ability to synthesize my strategy from others' experiences and the mulititude of capabilities of nations, units, religions etc.

In spreadsheeting with Microsoft Excel, which you must have to use here, I have been able to dissect aspects of the game in detail, digest them, and in reading this forum, apply them in a meaningful and coherent way. I know some will not enjoy my rigorous and sometimes lengthy approach. And this first contribution is a bit simplistic but I still think useful. But for those who find value, I present these, by way of an attachment, with my thanks to all of you who have gone before and made my games so compellingly enjoyable.......

If a sufficient number find this valuable I shall share more detailed work I have enjoyed exploring and building. Many of you, I suspect, will build upon my initial ideas as I have done on Velcroyx's premier primer threads. There is much to understand that doesn't meet the first glance. For me, spreadsheeting helps me digest it and link it together.

My first spreadsheet, attached here, covers several games aspects: (normal speed mode) game turns and game turns left by date, an event color coded log of combined Civics, Wonders Availability and Technologies listed in chronological sequece by tech tree column (entitled "Lvl") , an easy way to assess what nations, units and skills you will be encountering after you make contact in a game and lastly and most importantly diplomacy. I have endeavored, where possible, to make them self explanatory. And I have accompanied them with instructions where not.

Please let me know if you find value in these. There is so much more I have on religion, town building, linear relational prediction of cultural victory, and production.

I hope you enjoy............

[Saygame]

Now for Directions.

Player Input:
The first worksheet, "Player Input" is simple. Simply put in the first names of the leaders you meet on the rose colored worksheet entitled "Input players" (rose tabs mean input is necessary and red means print out this sheet to record info prior to input-saves moving back and forth between programs).

Names are provided at the bottom of the worksheet to make it easier to cut and paste leaders into the player slots, and to ensure correct spelling and there is room for 9 other players. Currently these slots are filled with leaders, as a way of example. Input your own game leaders over the top of them. If you have less players then you can use the "hide" command to make it easier.

Immediately you will have reported country leader traits, country, traits, starting techs, traits effects, buildings receiving 100% bonus, and special units. I find this useful to immediately assess my competition and their capacities while I plan my rapidly evolving strategy.

One note. The Input Players worksheet feeds the diplomacy worksheet with leader names.
To make the diplomacy input really easy, leaders should be arranged with your leader first and then the rest, in order, from left to right as they are on the F4 relations screen. Makes input MUCH more painless, easier and quick.

Now onwards

[Saygame]

Instructions:

"Print for Diplomacy Recording"

This sheet is simply to give you a blank page to record diplomacy data from the game. There is room for religion (later as things develop), a current balance on YOUR relationship balance and lastly a box for relationships between each nation ("annoyed", etc).

Relationships are input directly from the F4 screen. If you have input the players in the eventual order this screen uses, it will be simple to record relations. If not, go back and arrange the "Players Input" page in that order.

Then print it out. Record the relations in the sheet thusly:

a. Recording your data on the blank form and when finished transfer it to worksheet entitled "Diplomacy Input".


Calculate your own numeric net diplomatic balance and write them in the box column provided.

b. As you are the first leader listed, record your relations first. Then click on each leader and record their relations counter clockwise. After doin it a couple times, it gets easy and really simple.

c. Use the codes provides on the worksheet when you transfer the data to the computer worksheet. The program will be translating your input to color coded "Grades" between countries (A,B,C,D,F as a matter of fact). You will find that the code for Annoyed is "A" and Furious is "FU". A nice acronym for furious I think if you catch my drift.

d. After recording and inputting the codes you are finished. Print it out for future game reference. The data will be reflected in final form of the worksheet entitled simply "Diplomacy". This sheet shows you the relationship that exists between every country in the game. Red colored relations are negative ones and Green colored relations are positive ones.


So okay. Why is this important to know?

Well, everyone understands that direct relations is important. A border mate who hates you is much more likely to go to war with you.

But how bout that "you traded with my worst enemy" or "you declared war on my friend" that you didn't know you were making. Well now you are equipped to make an educated decision on who, when and what you will do. Not to mention open borders decisions with countries that intend to invade you potentially.

A whole nother dimension to the game you are now equipped to view when asked to make a decision. In a timed mulitplayer game with AI's, it is crucial info you need now.

......and onwards......

[Saygame]

Lastly,

The "Dateline Events" is an event chronology that keeps events squarely before you as you progress in a game. It is especially helpful in changing your strategy and game plan if you need to. It's real value is to consolidate Civics, Wonders and Tech together in one reference sheet before you.

The Turn Time is simply a correlation of turn number with dates that keeps you appraised of how many turns remain. I am aware it is not entirely accurate but it is close enough to work well. I use it for other uses, so far to see if a projection of culture for victory conditions and when I will hit them assuming the same culture/turn as I am getting now for my three culture cities. It helps me in increasing culture in my lowest culture city in a timely manner and ensures I keep looking and improving culture.

The "Tribes" worksheet is nothing more than a database page of countries, leaders, traits and units. It is used to populate my "Players Input" Listing.

Hope all this was of value to some........

[couerdelion]

I answered early because I know this is one thing that I look at manually. A computer generated version would work a lot better so this is probably the thing I would find useful.

[Urban Ranger]

Looks like a database is a better tool for the task at hand.