Should we try to influence the designers to extend the medieval period?

[Theben]

Compared to the ancient times, the medieval period didn't last all that long- and later ages even less.

[Lancer]

By the time I'm done with warriors, archers, and axmen I've had enough of them. The time of swordsmen though macemen I feel that I don't have enough of. Also I need time to be able to build the units and a few buildings in my cities to keep my economy up and my tech from falling behind. Settler rush has been largely addressed, but not the rush I feel to build everything needed. Marketplaces for example. Here in the Philippines I live in a community, Jagna, that is much like an ancient farming community. About 7ish years ago the market burned down. The people built their stalls up by the municipal building and had a functioning replacement marketplace within weeks. No king had to step in and change the production of the whole city of Jagna. Within 4 years a spanking new, much improved market made with cement (won't burn) was erected. It is being paid for by the people who rent the stalls.

So why in Civ do I have to spend decades building a market?

The time of triremes is good, could be extended a bit, but the age of sail is far too short, and is hit hard at the end by ballooning of all things. Balloons should be for observation only until combustion engines.

If I had my druthers the game would end with the advent of combustion. I don't expect everyone to go for such a drastic measure, but maybe people will go for increased time with the early weapons systems.

Plus, any patch should fix the whole notion of unsupported attacks by catapults against citys. The troops within would debauch from the city, drag them in and use them for firewood. If they could sit outside and throw rocks it was always during a combined forces attack on the city for the purpose of making a hole in the walls for the soldiers to attack through. Not a viable anti personel weapon.

Toss a few rocks over a wall and seriously hurt 6 units? Silly detraction from an otherwise excellent game.

[Seedle]

Well, If you want a long game with concentration on non-gun units, play Fall from Heaven, on marathon. The mod is already designed to be slower than the normal game, putting it on Marathon is just insanely slow, which might be what you're looking for. It also is a fantasy mod, so no modern units. Of course, it's a fantasy mod, not a historical mod, so there might be more you dislike than you like. But it only has one gunpowder unit and plays slow, so you might want to at least give it a look.

[Lancer]

Thanks Seedle, I'll give that a try.

[Seedle]

You're welcome Lancer. I was mistaken, there are a few gunpowder units in Fall from Heaven 2, but according to the civilopedia, only one ignores city defenses, that's what I was thinking of. Still, it's very few gun units. And to be clear, I was referring to the mod at CFC, not the Age of Ice scenario that came with BtS, though I think they are both good mods. Let me know what you think of it, be your thoughts good, bad, or indifferent.

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by Lancer
By the time I'm done with warriors, archers, and axmen I've had enough of them. The time of swordsmen though macemen I feel that I don't have enough of.

I agree wholeheartedly, though I suppose that's just repeating my earlier sentiments from the PolyCast.

[Theben]

So why in Civ do I have to spend decades building a market?

This was actually a CivIII List question. One idea was as your population became more free, it decided where more of your money/production/science would go. But you'd be compensated by having a greater % of each (and you could build/research more than 1 thing at a time).

[Lancer]

Originally posted by Alexander I


I agree wholeheartedly, though I suppose that's just repeating my earlier sentiments from the PolyCast.

I liked your statement, as you can tell.

"This was actually a CivIII List question. One idea was as your population became more free, it decided where more of your money/production/science would go. But you'd be compensated by having a greater % of each (and you could build/research more than 1 thing at a time)."

I'd like the ability to build more than one thing at a time. Or, some things would just get randomly built by the population, and only taxed by the gov. The gov isn't involved in creating much other than roads, military and more gov anyway.

[The Priest]

True, but as the player you are the civilisation, not the government. For most of history the two have been far from the same thing (and today considering how civilised most politicians are ...)

[Alexander I]

I think it would be neat if cities/provinces had development levels. It's not realistic to have to build one building at a time, each taking a number of years.

For example, the people should build their own markets, religious shrines, etc., anything they would need for immediate usage and could provide for themselves.

As the driving force behind the civilization, you come in and turn the crude market into a grand marketplace, the simple shrine into a magnificent temple, build castles and fortifications, and so forth.

Thus, basic buildings would have different upgrade levels based on the advancement of the civ as a whole and the advancement of each settlement individually (ie. is it a backwater, or is it your capital).

Just my two cents.

[Supr49er]

Aren't there already some Medieval mods/scenarios?

[Blaupanzer]

Alexander I is clearly into micromanagement. I think marathon is long enough. Want units to last? Research something other than the tech for the replacement.