Devil's Advocate: Why shouldn't I get BTS?

[Jvstin]

Disclaimer: I intend to purchase BTS, possibly this week.

In the spirit of debate, however, and the recognition that not everyone likes everything. (I recall some disgruntlement over features announced here for previous Civ games and expansion packs.)

So, why *not* Beyond the Sword? What are the things that people wouldn't like, enough to be "deal breakers" for certain players?

[yin26]

As a tester of the game (Warlords forward), I have to say that I was amazed how much I could play and still not tire of it all (referring to BtS now). Keep in mind that most of us testers played for hours every day, often having to break our rhythm due to technical problems or balance issues or whatever. Still, I always looked forward to starting again as there was so much to try next time.

It's possible, of course, that some players prefer a far more streamlined version of Civ. My guess is that once people get over the euphoria of things like events, espionage, and the like, they will begin to probe BtS at its core and wonder what has really improved? Of course, the AI has improved a great deal, and for me that's the single most important thing.

However, that, too, has consequences. There are many players who come to Civ casually, simply wanting some entertainment that far more often than not results in their winning the game. But the new AI is far more aggressive in doing things like whipping, maximizing its econ, etc. Your casual player has dealt with those things, even within his own empire, very little if at all. Having to drop a difficulty level --or having to play more intently-- might be a turn off to that type of gamer. I should say, though, that the AI governor got a huge overhaul as well, which should help even the casual gamer.

In the end, Sid's original design was a masterpiece of simplicity. With BtS, we now have a far more complex game. For the hard core, this is a boon in most respects, particularly for the SP crowd that can afford the game-time to wallow in minute details. For the less hard core (and for the hard core MP crowd), many aspects of this complexity can be --and perhaps generally will be-- ignored, but I don't see any deal breaker there.

What I do see, though, is an X-pack with such ambition that it will take players a good long while to get a grasp of it all...and that may or may not be the greatest thing to have to say. How does espionage work exactly? How about corporations? For those who enjoy figuring this stuff out over time, of course, this is not a problem.

[Wiglaf]

I think a lot of people are buying BTS just because it is there. I personally didn't really see the need for a new expansion pack after Warlords.

Since I'd gotten bored with Civ4 I'm playing BTS now to spice things up, mainly. I think corporations and the improved AI do a good job to spice up the later game, which was always so dull.

[dregor]

Not liking Civ4, being broke, or not having a computer are the only reasons I can think of.

[AEdwild]

Just got it... and tried out a new game during my lunch hour. I like the expanion but there are things I am not sure aboute...

MORE COMPLEX: If you like your Civ games streamlined, then this expansion pack is not for you. It adds layers of complexity with the espionage (gotta keep checking that espionage screen) and random events (storms, floods, etc.) which require you to make a particular decisions to address the event.

Overall you get more control over your Civilization, but that means more decisions and micromanagement. Control-freaks rejoice! Auto-pilots mourn!

NEW VOICE-OVER GUY: The new advancement, Aesthetics, has some guy other than Nimoy doing the voice-over. Was a bit unexpected at first, as I was expecting to hear Nimoy -- also the guy doing the voice-over was rather blah, more like a college prof rather than a trained actor.

[yin26]

That's Sid Meier!

[Aro]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
I think a lot of people are buying BTS just because it is there.

[Solver]

A very good thread idea. Clearly, people who didn't like Civ4 shouldn't get BtS.

Other than that? Maybe if you play MP exclusively. Then the new AI doesn't matter, corporations and the modern stuff don't matter much either, and I am not sure how well the MP community will receive the combat changes (siege changes, primarily).

[Alexander I]

You should get it. Trust me, you''ll love it.

[player1]

Well, the beauty of BtS is that it is more oriented to hardcore games (more features, higher learning cure, more options, more confusion), and since casual gamers don't bother too much with expansions, it's a win/win, especially since vanilla Civ4 got patch too, to fix some annoyances (and has old tame AI, I think).

[Solver]

Casual gamers are generally happy to have just new civs and new units. So the new civs in BtS would probably please the casual gamers.

[MrWhereItsAt]

If you think there will be a 3rd expansion, then wait and see what that one will be like, because if it is worth getting then you can bet your socks it will have all the improvements that BtS does - without having to pay for that as well.

[Zinegata]

I'm not yet getting BTS only out of the fear of bugs :P

I've endured far too many technical problems with Civ IV to trust Firaxis wholeheartedly in this regard :P

Otherwise, gameplay-wise, it looks like they made it work, and the mods are very interesting.

[MoonWolf]

Don't get BtS if you have something important to do. And don't get it unless you like late evenings and being extra tired at work the next day. Also, don't get it if your girlfriend forces you to watch TV-soaps with here. The pain of having it but not be able to play is just to deep...

[Vinnnch]

Creazy week, where they release simultaneously the new Civ Expansion and the last Harry Potter. Bought both of them yesterday, and, arriving home, started to cry cause I didn't know with which one I would start...
Finally started Potter, because my wife would not have understood why I was still on this "crazy game" when the book I expected just was released...

So guess, my new Civ4 DVD is still lying ASIDE the computer. Never imagined this could happen ! :-)

PS : I will personally kill anybody answering this with such things as "bleh, Harry dies page 578 trying to kill Voldy", or anything else !!!!