What is the least necessary feature of each Civ game?

[Optimizer]

To continue he comparation, let us discuss what features of each Civ game were the greatest waste of code and disk space. I'd like examples that neither made the game better nor worse.

Civ 1: The copy protection quiz
I am convinced that the copy protection quizzes in the games of the early 90's worked to some extent, but why bother to make one which pops up in mid-game, is soluble from gameplay knowledge and is merciful enough to let you continue the game even if you were wrong. Microprose were lucky because enough people are law-abiding and pay for their games.

Civ 2: The Throne Room
You soon get tired of building the Palace in Civ 1 & 3, but the Throne room in Civ 2 wasn't even exciting in the beginning.

[DrSpike]

There are always units/buildings that never get built. I think the worst ones are some of civ3's later units......paratroopers for example.

[Apocalypse]

Paratroopers can be good though. They were very effective for the AI in Civ2.

[DrSpike]

They're a useable unit in civ2, though not great. It was Civ3 to which I was referring though......where they, not to put too fine a point on it, suck donkey balls.

[Sandman]

The explorer unit, useless in civ2, beyond useless in civ3.

The galleon/frigate magnetism combo never sees much action.

Stealth fighter AND bomber in civ3. One unit is more than enough to represent these modern day Zeppelins.

Radar artillery. Never even seen it.

Colonies, hardly ever had a reason to build one.

Fortresses and airbases are only sporadically useful in all civ games.

Freshwater Sea in SMAC only appeared very occasionally.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Sandman
The explorer unit, useless in civ2

Don't let any of the 2x production 2x movement King level Civ2 MPers hear you say that. It is a very popular unit amongst that crowd.........and sometimes useful in SP.

In Civ3 I totally agree though.

[Method]

SMAC-some of those unit abilities that come in really late like grav struts and cloaking device. the game is wrapped up long before then. oh, and the ability to get singularity reactors before quantum is a bit odd

civ3 - resources

/me ducks

[Kassiopeia]

Civ3 - seagoing units. Seriously, blockading was a pain... well, maybe I just didn't know how to use them.

[DrSpike]

Most people didn't like the non-lethal bombardment from sea and air. They changed it so it was an option whether some bombardment could kill in later patches though.

[moomin]

Really difficult choice. In SMAC, I'd say sea pods, but I know there are people who positively adore them.

[War4ever]

the explorer is a great unit in king x2x2 games....6 MP allows you to grab those unguarded cities by trireme....

but i dont' play that arcade crap anymore

[Capt Dizle]

Seriously, you folks are missing the point. Lots of those things should have been important parts of the game but weren't for one reason or another.

Least necessary features are things like the detail map in SMAC. I bet most of you didn't even know it existed.

Someone prove me wrong by telling me where it is?

[aaglo]

In smac, the least necessary feature, is propably the altitude-map. It does not add to the gameplay - it only slows older pc's down.

[Jamski]

Well, I don't know where the detail map in SMAC is, but I never read the manual

-Jam

[Optimizer]

Civ 2: All the zoom levels