Please explain civ4 to a civ2 player

[Lord Avalon]

Originally posted by Diadem
Civ2 is just civ1.1 anyway. The only real improvement was nuclear terrorism.

What about hit points?

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Virdrago
I'm not going to add anything new, most of you already have, and some have been repeated...

You think TCO is still reading this thread?

I guess, at the very least, there may be somebody else who is getting well informed... or nostalgic (*sigh*, howitzers...)

I'm reading all this, so thanks everyone.

[MasterDave]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon

What about hit points?

I do not remember much about Civ1 except the diplomats flipping all of my cities, never researching anything because I could steal it all, and the all-or-nothing combat (like when a phalanx would kill a Battleship).

The concept of hit points and wounded units was a huge improvement introduced in Civ2.

[TCO]

1. It sounds like more micromanagement. You must have settlers everywhere doing all this terrain stuff.

2. For those that like the game better then Civ2, what makes it more FUN?

3. How about the advisors and the movies? I loved those in Civ2. Please tell me they spent the money for real movies and not those crappy cgi stuff.

[Solver]

1. Settlers, Workers, whatever. You don't need a hundred of them anymore. Heck, you can automate them and they'll do an adequate job. Plus, the real decrease of micromanagement is mainly through other means.

2. Better AI, more strategic depth. Come on, Civ2 veterans can beat it on Deity all the time. The Civ4 AI is, at the moment, by far the best Civ AI. Strategic depth is something you have to play to see, but generally, Civ4 strategies will have more diversity than the old Civ2 ones. And warmongering finally has its downsides.

3. Nothing like the Council movies in Civ2, you're out of luck. And the wonder movies are CGI. The Civ2 movies were great, for sure, but I actually like something about the Civ4 wonder movies, there's a kind of simple elegance to them. But no, they're not the best ever.

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by Solver
3. Nothing like the Council movies in Civ2, you're out of luck. And the wonder movies are CGI. The Civ2 movies were great, for sure, but I actually like something about the Civ4 wonder movies, there's a kind of simple elegance to them. But no, they're not the best ever.

Ditto. Though I would like to see more cut scenes/game events take place, perhaps even ala Medieval 2: Total War cutscene style. Something to make me sit back and think "Boy, you really accomplished something."

Maybe a throne room/palace equivalent, or maybe not -- that distracted a little from the focus. Maybe something else...

edit:
Here's an idea! Great accomplishments -- along the lines of the circumnaviagtion bonus. That would add back in the wonders like Magellan's Expedition, Richard'd Crusade, Bach's Music, and Darwin's Theory which obviously cannot be built like buildings. Maybe great leaders could have a chance of accomplishing one of them. So whenever your civ accomplishes something truly great in gameplay, or does a certain action first, you get to watch a little movie saying how great you are and then telling you what bonus you're getting.

What do you think?

[Solver]

Well you already get a little movie to watch for building a wonder .

What I find more underwhelming is eliminating a civ - you merely get an on-screen message saying that civ X has been eliminated. Now that could use a bit more of an accomplishment feeling.

[Lord Avalon]

Originally posted by Solver
What I find more underwhelming is eliminating a civ - you merely get an on-screen message saying that civ X has been eliminated. Now that could use a bit more of an accomplishment feeling.

Like hearing the lamentations of their women?

[rah]

While the wonder movies, throne room and council where a nice touch in II, a few years in I turned those options off because they just slowed things down.

So while I miss them in IV, I don't miss them for long. And I must admit, I haven't even seen them all in IV, but I don't feel like I've missed anything.

I'm glad the effort was devoted to game play.

The AI is a better opponent, (mostly by the simple removal of ZOCs) and by better handicapping at the higher levels. I don't think the AI otherwise is THAT much better. But Blake is working on that.

[Diadem]

Originally posted by Solver
3. Nothing like the Council movies in Civ2, you're out of luck.

The council! How could I have forgotten that! That was so cool. I wonder why they didn't put something like that in civ4...

"The people rejoice sire, and only because of your leadership... A king!"

But Alexander01 is certainly on to something with his idea of Great Accomplishments. I want Darwin's Voyage back!

[Adagio]

They should bring back council movies from Civ2... I miss them

[fed1943]

I miss the High Council.

My copy of civ2 still plays, but the council is gone.

Best regards,

[snoopy369]

It would be not that difficult to mod in a council ... not sure how easy it would be to add it to the interface, but I think you could have a council modded in if you wanted to

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by Solver

What I find more underwhelming is eliminating a civ - you merely get an on-screen message saying that civ X has been eliminated. Now that could use a bit more of an accomplishment feeling.

I hear you there. Maybe something like SMAC's civ eliminated videos.

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by Adagio
They should bring back council movies from Civ2... I miss them

They should animate the councillors to match the game's ambiance. If the leaderheads are animated, they should animate the council too. Maybe have a talking Sid or something.