MOD: The BALANCER

[Elucidus]

Version 2.1 Almost Ready

Version 3.0 has been put on hold until there are some better resorces available, a better editor primarily.

Version 2.1 is coming along nicely, thanks primarily to the work of WesW. He has been a great help with the new units and such. There has been a multitude of changes this go around. Including many new buildings, units, and wonders, as well as some changes to many. There are new resources also thanks to WesW.

2.1 isn't quite ready for general release, but if anyone is interested in testing it out please send me an email here. I am still working out the finishing touches (pics, icons, and other such things), as well as a few balancing issues. With the new resources added in, I am trying to have each piece of terrain retain it's own distinct flavor.

I will post the new readme when it is complete. Hope you guys enjoy it.


Check out the new Balancer homepage.

[Rhuarc]

Hi guys, I'm kind of back. I now have access to the internet but I won't be able to update the page until I get back to school next week. If we are thinking of combining mods how would be the best way to go about doing that? Since the balancer mod changes a lot more should we incorporate into that the changes that Wes made in medmod3? Then anything that both changed would have to be looked at and decided on. What about a name? I was thinking of something like MedMod3 Balancer (I know i know, really original! ) Anyway, I think this would be incredible if we were to combne the mods. This coud become sort of a standard for people to play with, and especially for when multiplayer comes out!!

[Elucidus]

Rhuarc,

While you have been away, I have been going over the MedMod3 and making a few changes based on the last Balancer (2.01). Some of the changes were based on changes made in the Med Mod 3. We haven't decided on a name or anything. I was just calling it Balancer 2.1. Well, back to work.

[Rhuarc]

Hey Wes, what would your feelings be on combining the mods into one and working together on it to create one balanced mod? I think we could get alot more people using it if we were all in it together. Would you be willing to combine the mods, come up with a name and then work together on balancing and things?

BTW, I'l be back at school next monday so I can start updating the page then.

[Elucidus]

Rhuarc, email me. We need to discuss what's been going on. Wes and I have been working hand-in-hand on this.


BTW, I've updated the page a couple of times since you have been gone. Just news and stuff nothing design-wise.

[Elucidus]

Well I have made a few new building pics. I have a few more to go, and quite a few new wonder ones as well.

[Elucidus]

Got some new Wonder Splashes as well.

Here is the Taj Mahal. If anyone can find a better picture let me know.

[Elucidus]

Here is the one for Walt Disney World.

[Elucidus]

2.1 Available

The Balancer 2.1 is available and has added quite a few things. Download Here or Here. There is a download that has some enhanced wonder splashes. These enhanced Wonder Spalshes are just pics of the existing wonders and are not needed for the balancer mod.



Here is the readme.txt




------------------------------
The Balancer

2.1 beta (000)

13-Mar-2002

Creators:
Elucidus
WesW


Web Admin:
Rhuarc
------------

Questions? Comments? contact me at elucidus_healfire@yahoo.com

(Note: This is a beta because not all graphics for the new items have been included. Some units reuse older graphics. Mostly the missing graphics are Wonder Splashes and building queue icons, maybe a few civilipedia icons. If you see a generic pic with "To Be Added" or just a generic building icon then that is something we are working on. If it shows up as a blank picture, let us know as that is a glich. As I release the graphics patches they will be numbered (001, 002, etc...) I will also update the full install with them and anotate the latest files included in it. 2.1 beta (003) for example. If you have a better way for us to track this, please let me know.




NOTE: BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, EXTRACT THESE FILES TO THE ROOT DIRECTORY OF YOUR CIVILIZATION III FOLDER

Also note: An in-game known issues list was included in the civilopedia for your convenience. I have not found any issues yet in testing version 2.1 but things can change, keep an eye out. If you are unsure of weather we are aware of a possible issue you are having, please check there first. In the civilopedia go to the "Concepts" area. In there you will see a tab named Balancer Mod. In that tab we will list any known issues with the mod. As of now there are no game-breaking issues.

First, I have to say that this mod was started by Monkspider. He created it, but since I haven't heard from him in a long while (read: months), and I was working on it with him regularly, I took it over. Also, we need to thank others who have had an impact as well. Special Thanks to Anunikoba, Korn469, Chegitz Guevara, Yaga, Pydodrew, Cian, d-audi, Wesw, SilentBob, Kromwel, java4me, Wite Rabbit, thomsonlau, Synthetik, Mizaq and Harlan for the help or inspiration that they have provided.
WesW has come on board since version 2.1 and he has contributed a lot to the mod, please welcome him and thank him for his great efforts. The biggest thanks I have to give are to other modders whose mods I have included in this version. If any of them wish me to remove there files or data from my mod simply let me know and I will. Thanks go out to you:

Sevorak's More City Names mod.


Thank you for that, it helps a lot.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed making it.
Have fun!



For version history, see History.txt

Latest changes:

- General Changes
-- Citizen value in shields raised to 25.
-- Fortify gives +50% defense.
-- Raised the defense from bombardment of citizens and buildings from 8 to 12.
-- Numerous errors with civilization build often/never settings corrected.
-- Cities grow to size 8 before needing an Aqueduct, and 15 before needing a Hospital.
-- Espionage missions except Sabotage reduced. Investigate city by 70%, all others by 50%.

- Governments, Added
-- Theocracy
-- City State

- Improvements
-- Added
--- Royal Academy (Monarchy)
--- Mill
--- Monastery (Theocracy)
--- Gestapo HQ (Fascism)
--- KGB Office (Communism)
--- Party HQ (Communism)
--- Fire Hall
--- Theatre
--- Brokerage (Democracy)
-- Changed
--- Marketplace no longer increases luxury trade (Bonus happiness) it instead gives +50% Luxury output
--- Bank increase luxury trade instead
--- Walls now have a bombardment defense of 16.
--- Cost of the Palace reduced to 30, make that 300, shields.
--- Cost of Armies reduced to 300.
--- Cost of Forbidden City reduced to 200.

- Units
-- Added
--- Ranger (New American UU, replaces Paratrooper, see Changed section below for what happened to the F-15)
--- Babylonian Bowman (New Babylonian UU, replaces Bowman, see Changed section below for what happened to the Bowman)
--- Longbowman (New English UU replaces Archer, see changed section for what happened to the Man-o-War)
--- Man-At-Arms (New Medieval age swordsman, to unit transition)
--- Crossbowman (New unit to help the transition to Rifleman)
--- Grenadier (New German UU, replaces Rifleman, see Changed section for what happened to the Panzer)
--- Horse Archer (New Knight replacement for those non-european Civs)
-- Changed
--- F-15 renamed to Strike Fighter and made available to all civs as an upgrade to the bomber (sort of a Fighter/Bomber)
--- Bowman made available to all civs as a pre-archer unit.
--- Man-o-War renamed to Ship-of-the-Line and made available to all civs as an upgrade to the frigate
--- Panzer renamed to Armor and made available to all civs as an upgrade to the Tank

- Technologies, Changed
-- All advances cost more.
-- Engineering enables irrigation without water.
-- Mass Transit system now available with Combustion to allow you to combat population pollution earlier.
-- Writing requires Bronze Working, and Gunpowder requires Banking, for unit progression reasons.
-- Espionage has taken The Republic's place in the advances chart. The Republic has been moved to Democracy's position, and Democracy to Espionage's. This allows you to conduct espionage missions earlier, and places all three advances closer to their actual historical spot.
-- MPP and Trade Embargo enabled by Espionage.

- Resources
-- Added
--- Cotton adds 2 Shields and 1 Commerce
--- Apples, Dates, and Fruits appear on different terrain, but share an icon for now, they all add 2 food
--- Marble adds 2 Shields and 1 Commerce
-- Changed
--- Uranium and Aluminum now share an icon, due to the limitation of new icons. They still retain their old properties
--- Horses no longer require a tech to see, after all they are animals roaming the contryside.
- Terrain, Changed
-- Grassland Irrigation gives 2 food now instead of 1 (This is to help differentiate the different terrains)
-- Flood Plains Irrigation gives 2 Food now instead of 1 (This is to help differentiate the different terrains)
-- Hills can now be irrigated
-- Clear Jungle now takes only 6 turns
-- Clear Forest now takes 10 turns and gives 15 shields for harvesting
-- Build Fortress takes 8 turns instead of 16 on base terrain

- Specialists
-- Changes
--- Scientist renamed to Alchemist
-- Additions
--- Musician gives +2 Luxuries and requires Free Artistry
--- Accountant gives +2 Taxes and requires Economics
--- Scientist Gives +2 Research and requires Physics
--- Investor gives +3 Taxes and requires Rocketry
--- Comedian gives +3 Happiness and requires Smart Weapons
--- Researcher gives +3 Research and requires Computers

- Wonders, Added
-- Master Race (Fascism)
-- Hollywood
-- Disney World
-- Taj Mahal
-- London Exchange (Monarchy) [Looking to Rename]
-- Carnegie Steel Trust
-- Einstein's Lab
-- Napoleonic Code (Republic)
-- The Prince (Monarchy) [Looking to rename]
-- Hammarabi's Code
-- Hippodrome
-- Stonehenge
-- Internment Camp (Fascism)
-- Gulag (Communism)

[Rhuarc]

Everyone remember to check out the new Balancer mod Webpage for information on what is currently going on, place to download the mod from, changes to the mod, and other gereal information about it.

[monkspider]

I'm so proud of you guys, you all have made the mod a million times better than it was when I first started it. I appologize for not being able to help, but I recently have gotten married and have had little time for video game tinkering.
I am very pleased that some people have taken over in my footsteps to make this mod so great. i look forward to throwing in my two cents from time to time here!
Good luck, all of you!

[Rhuarc]

Hello monkspider!! You need to check out the new website for the mod. You can take a look at it here

Elucidus has been working alot on it and just recently WesW and myself have joined into the effort, although I am mostly working on web stuff and helping balance it.
Once again, Welcome back!! (Oh, and congrats on getting married!!!)

[Synthetik]

.............

well, I know you havent heard from me for a bit, and I was going to test the MOD out, heres the bad news, I have a virus and will be reformatting tomorrow or the next (work depending).
I am almost positive that this has been the cause of my problems, so I hope that any problems I stated I had you didnt change directly due to my word.
after foramatting, I will then reload what I need and then games and such.
then Ill run the mod, on a fully clean install of windows.

ps, glad to hear from you again monk, and congrates on the marriage !

[Vesayen]

where can I d/l this? The link is dead......

[Elucidus]

Well you can go directly to the download page (there are two). Each one has a link to the other so if it looks like nothing happened when you clicked a link, check the top and see if it didn't send you to the other location. Let me know if there are any problems.

Primary

Alternate


Our web page with news on the mod and all is located here if you are interested.