Your BtS questions

[yin26]

Originally posted by ayronis
If this is true, then I highly doubt people will speak of Civ4 Vanilla and BtS as the same thing at all. Indeed, this is exciting.

It could be, too, that my setup is conducive to the new AI. I play land maps, aggressive AI, No Tech Brokering, 7 AIs. I wouldn't expect the same level of difference, let's say, on an islands/continents map or when a player Tech Brokers like crazy and gets a big tech lead.

[darrelljs]

How do slave revolts work?
Has WW been reduced at all (especially in AW games)?
How does tech stealing work?
Have there been any changes to the vassal state mechanics?
Were there reductions in the discount the AI gets to upgrade troops?
Does the AI still start with a free Settler on Deity?
Can the AI win via Domination?

Thanks,
Darrell

[Wiglaf]

Is that navy relevant? It doesn't seem like they did much with it.

[Ekmek]

What does the corporation screen look like?

[Solver]

Originally posted by E
What does the corporation screen look like?

Quite similar to the religion screen.

[yin26]

Solver: Would you like me not to answer any more questions until your review is out?

[ayronis]

Originally posted by yin26
It could be, too, that my setup is conducive to the new AI. I play land maps, aggressive AI, No Tech Brokering, 7 AIs. I wouldn't expect the same level of difference, let's say, on an islands/continents map or when a player Tech Brokers like crazy and gets a big tech lead.

Perhaps, but if what I am hearing is true about the AI's new abilities to perform naval invasions then I would speculate that on those settings you might notice an even larger difference.

I wonder how much will be changed in the forthcoming patches for Vanilla and Warlords. Such changes could have a huge impact on how similar the old formats feel versus the new.

[Solver]

Originally posted by yin26
Solver: Would you like me not to answer any more questions until your review is out?

Feel free to answer anything. If the public can get more than one player's perspective, that's only for the best.

[yin26]

Cool. I'll give hazy answers, and you can give the full analysis.

Originally posted by darrelljs
How do slave revolts work?

When using the Slavery Civic, you initiate a trigger for the possibility of a slave revolt event -- part of the 'random' event system. Should the event trigger, the city will go into revolt for a turn.

How does tech stealing work?

You now have Espionage Points (EPs), which accrue two ways -- actively and passively. Active points are gain when you direct part of your econ to it...just like you could 'buy' culture points. Passive points come from certain buildings, like the courthouse. You can also earn EPs as a result of some Events or using the Great Spy that way.

To steal a tech, then, you move your spy unit to an enemy city and a cost menu comes up for various actions if you have enough EPs to spend.

Have there been any changes to the vassal state mechanics?

Hmmm, the mechanics are the same, but it seems like the AI is playing more competently overall, so you seem to get vassals in more satisfying and logical situations.

EDIT: Yes, as Cyber mentions, you can also 'create' a vassal.

Can the AI win via Domination?

I did see this in one game that I played horribly in. In a few other games I lost, I was beaten too early to say, but probably the AI would have gotten a Domination victory if it didn't get, say, a Space Race victory earlier.

[Robert]

So, back from lunch, diper changes, feeding the baby and playing with my son, ready for some more QAing

[QUOTE] Originally posted by darrelljs
How do slave revolts work?[/q]

If a civ uses the civic 'slavery' then every city runs the risk every turn to get a slave revolt. If slaves are revolting, the city is in some kind of anarchy. (the same as when your city is about to culturally switch to another civ)

You also get an option, there are 3 choises, out of my head they are do nothing (and the slave revolt may continue), pay a large amount, to make the slave revolt end, and pay a smaller amount, that let's the revolt end quickly. It's out of my head, I don't play with slavery on since this is a pretty hard drawback and I've never been a whipper anyway.

Has WW been reduced at all (especially in AW games)?

Not that I mentioned.

How does tech stealing work?

If you have enough EP's against a certain civ you bring a spy to one of his cities, and press the "espionage action" button, you pick the "Steal tech" from the list of possible actions, and you pick the tech you want to steal.

Have there been any changes to the vassal state mechanics?

You can create your own vassals by putting a bunch of cities on another landmass and grand them independancy. They'll become a civ of their own, but stay your vasal with a really good attitude towards you. That way you can harvest the resources without paying that much maintenance towards far away cities.

Were there reductions in the discount the AI gets to upgrade troops?

Not sure. Blake should be able to answer this

Does the AI still start with a free Settler on Deity?

Yes

Can the AI win via Domination?

Didn't see it happen. I guess that it's possible though. I most of the time play huge maps with many civs, so that domination is just less likely.

[Robert]

Ok, yin won that round

[Solver]

CS, you display an embarrassing lack of knowledge about some of the most important aspects of the game

And Yin kicks ass

[yin26]

LOL! No, I'm not as good at many of the details as you guys are.

[Solver]

It's merely that you're too modest, your gameplay insight is amazing.

[vague mode]
You recently said you're Tier 2 at best... I've come to think of you as Tier 1, and that's in a really short time to boot!
[/vague mode]

[Robert]

Originally posted by Solver
CS, you display an embarrassing lack of knowledge about some of the most important aspects of the game

And Yin kicks ass

What details?
Slavery?
I at least tried to answer it as good as possible :P
Now you either have to join us, so we can mock your answers, or you stop commenting