The power of dots!

[McMonkey]

This may not be new knowledge but it is to me:

There is a nice thing in my Civ2-Scenarios. It seems, that there are no further diplomatic talks with the AI-ambassador possible (you can't make any suggestions), if the Name of the scenario folder has a point (.) in the name. I noticed it in my Mod "Star Trek Baq mod 2.0". But there are other scenarios, which have the same problem: like "Aeterna Civitas II MP 1.1"...

Can someone validate this?

I have just tested his theory with Rise of the Dictators using a recon regiment. When I name the folder "Rise of the Dictators II" I can investigate cities but when I change the folder name to "Rise of the Dictators I.I" I cannot. Very, very interesting! I wonder what other secrets Civ2 is still hiding :gruebel:

This would be useful in a scenario where you want diplomats to bribe units but not steal technology or incite revolts etc... It would be worth testing if this stops the AI from talking to the player too. Could save a lot of events space in some scenarios where you don't want communication!

[McMonkey]

Just tested this out and it looks like the nations can still talk, but limiting the envoys to just bribing without having to mess with the game file could still be a useful trick in certain games.

Also knowing this may help fix some scenarios that seem to be broken. That's if its not already common knowledge

[AGRICOLA]

It seems that putting a "." in a folder name (illegal in folder names) can produce more than one unexpected result.

I encountered this a few years ago in Colwyn's Red Front 1.5. I found that with a "." in the folder name, the game ignores the @PILLAGEMENU in the GAME file that accompanies the scen, and uses the one in the vanilla GAME file. In your case the "Investigate cities" order is found under the @SPYOPTIONS in the GAME file.

Ever since my problem, I've avoided using the dot in folder names because it can mess up various options.

[Hans99]

Man, i stumbled over this problem a long tima ago playing "Bitterfrost IV 1.0" I thought my Test of Time is corrupt so i reinstalled it, and till now it works with the dot in the folder as normal.

But the old version behaved exactly as described by you.

The old 8+3 times were better...