Understanding and Finding Hidden Specials

[Bloody Monk]

cavebear asked for some info on this subject. While there are many good threads in the Civ2 Strat Forum, this one is a good general primer. Especially, note the posts by Straybow where he gives links to an earlier discussion on the subject, complete with pictures. I played the foil in that discussion, so I remember it well.

There is one key idea to keep in mind, the Pattern. Specials will appear in one of two easily recognizable patterns, and the second is just the first turned on its edge. They will appear, in stacked columns, as 1-3-3-1, or 2-4-2. In these patterns, the 1's and 2's are aligned under the second special above or below them. Open Map Editor and make a map of all grass or ocean and the Specials will be more plain to see.

Here is the link:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=1438719#post1438719

AFTER, but only after, you have studied this and noodled around a bit identifying hidden specials, you may want to find and use the Hut Finder Program which basically makes everything clear to see.

Hope this helps.

Monk

[Bloody Monk]

SG[1] has tweaked his Hut Finder so that it is now a masterpiece and is very easy to use. Here is that link:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=1720040#post1720040

If you have qualms about using such additional software, you should avoid that. But, you may want to give it a whirl just to see what you can learn from it.

Monk

[cavebear]

Thank you. Actually, I now realize that I wasn't grouping the Specials together correctly and extended one group in the wrong direction. The 2 Wines and the Whale SSE of Two Whales aren't in the same group, it seems.

[Bloody Monk]

Not exactly.

Notice the grain at the bottom of the River complex. It is three on a diagonal from the bottom grapes. That spacing is the indicator of separate groups of specials. Since the grain is linked with furs, that group has two on the top, so it is a 2-4-2 grouping. Examining the grape/whale group, we see it MUST also be a 2-4-2 group. This is because if it were 1-3-3-1 there would be a special (fish or whale) on the sea tile two clicks out of port from Cartenna.

Recognizing those elements, I could say no to your earlier proposal for a hidden special in the gold, rivered grass tile.

I still get tripped up though, too. It is sometimes not so easy to discern the separation points between the groups. It requires more time studying the patterns. Catching the shift from a series of one kind to the other is tricky. You are looking for another 2-4-2 and it turns out to be a 1-3-3-1.

Another good tip is offered by Stu, SG[1], in that thread. Where you find a hut there will be a Special two tiles away either NE or SW of it. If you don't see it, then it is hidden. Write the co-ords for that tile down in case you need to do some 'work' there later.

Monk

[rjmatsleepers]

Looking for hidden specials is the work of the devil - remember what happened to Dr Faustus.

RJM at Sleeper's

(This is meant to be a light hearted reminder that there are some of us who believe that you should not know anything about the map except that which you discover by being there. If you are of a religion that believes in the devil, please accept my apologies and my assurance that I did not intend to mock anyone's religious beliefs.)

[Bloody Monk]

Originally posted by rjmatsleepers
Looking for hidden specials is the work of the devil - remember what happened to Dr Faustus.

RJM at Sleeper's

(This is meant to be a light hearted reminder that there are some of us who believe that you should not know anything about the map except that which you discover by being there. If you are of a religion that believes in the devil, please accept my apologies and my assurance that I did not intend to mock anyone's religious beliefs.)

"You can not be serious!!--John McEnroe

Are you saying that knowlege of the game is the work of evil?? Are you saying that because YOU refuse to learn (just by looking) how to "discover" what the map is telling you, that it is, and should forever be, unknowable --surely not.

Sounds more like laziness to me. How can you pat yourself on the back for these thoughts/feelings??

("If you are of a religion that believes {that ignorance is bliss} , please accept my apologies and my assurance that I did not intend to mock anyone's religious beliefs.")

Monk