Expansion Pack Civs (Part 4): A never-ending story?

[orange]

Dear {insert random deity here}, please someone bump Byzantines out of the top 16. There is NO reason to have Greeks Romans and Byzantines in this game.



Personally I don't like the Polynesians either, but I'd prefer anything to the Byzantines. Same with Hebrew...should not be in the XP

[Taranis]

viking 20
inca 20
hebrew 15
dutch 15
koreans 20
polynesians 10
aksumite 20
byzantines 15
khmer 20
turks 5

[sachmo71]

Originally posted by orange
... Same with Hebrew...should not be in the XP

Why on earth not?

[Tigen]

Originally posted by sachmo71


Why on earth not?

From my point of view, we already have the Babylonians representing semitic civilizations (I believe this is what Firaxis indicates in their descriptions). The Hebrews could be said to be Babylonians with monotheism.

Anyway it's all arguable and relative but in my opinion it should be a higher priority to get underrepresented civs included such as more African, American, and Asian ones.

That said, I originally voted for Hebrews and Arabs but since then reconsidered them in light of the Babylonian civ. Judaism spawned Christianity and Islam, but Judaism itself has common roots in ancient Sumerian/Babylonian religion as can be seen from Biblical references.

Furthermore, Civ 3 doesn't model religions in a way that reflects the influence of the Hebrews. In real life the Hebrews themselves really didn't do much of anything (compare to Arabs) except write the old testament (which is kind of a wonder of the world), but the religious influence spread like crazy...but this influence didn't HELP the Hebrews at all (it turned others into fanatics like themselves). So it's not accurate to model this with cultural assimilation IMO.

Just my thoughts.

[ranskaldan]

From my point of view, we already have the Babylonians representing semitic civilizations (I believe this is what Firaxis indicates in their descriptions). The Hebrews could be said to be Babylonians with monotheism.

I believe Firaxis meant that Babylonians represent all civilizations in that area, like Hittites, Sumerians, Assyrians, Akkadians, etc. Not Semites. AFAIK Hittites and Sumerians are not even Semitic.

Anyway it is really too great a stretch to have one civ represent all Semites. "Semitic" is a rough ethnic category. You might as well have the Greeks represent all Indo-Europeans (Indians, Romans, Persians, Celts, Slavs, Hittites and Germans)

Thus although I *might* accept to a certain degree that Babylonians represent Hebrews (since they are from the same region and same time), equating Babylonians with Arabs is just too great a stretch. The only link between the two is a distant linguistic and ethnic link broken 7000 years years. The Greeks, Romans and Celts share the same kind of distant link, but they aren't and shouldn't be lumped into one civ.

Thus I give 20 points to the Arabs. To me not including the Arabs is tantamount to not including the Romans, or Egyptians, or Chinese.

[Saxman]

For what it's worth:

Arabs 20
Celts 20
Vikings 20
Spanish 20
Hebrew 20
Portuguese 10
Mongols 10
Inca 10
Turks/Ottomans 10
Austro-Hungarians 10

I'm looking forward to this (theoretical?) pack a great deal, but as a Civ newbie, can anyone tell me how integrated it will be with other improvements? In other words, will the pack also include game balancing for existing units and text for wonders/advances, or will I have to try to mesh other mods with this one? An all-in-one would be very attractive to a lot of new players, IMHO.

Be seeing you,

Saxman

[wyz_sub10]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Civ votes

Originally posted by Solmyr


What I was saying is that the Incas aren't the only large empire native to South America. There were others

Gotcha.

[wyz_sub10]

Originally posted by ranskaldan


I believe Firaxis meant that Babylonians represent all civilizations in that area, like Hittites, Sumerians, Assyrians, Akkadians, etc. Not Semites. AFAIK Hittites and Sumerians are not even Semitic.

Anyway it is really too great a stretch to have one civ represent all Semites. "Semitic" is a rough ethnic category. You might as well have the Greeks represent all Indo-Europeans (Indians, Romans, Persians, Celts, Slavs, Hittites and Germans)

That was Firaxis' intention, as I have heard as well, but I agree that this is trying to cram too many cultures into one group.

That's why I would vote to add the Bantu in Africa and, upon further reflection of Solmyr's post, maybe another South American culture like the Chimu.

[wyz_sub10]

Leaving an Open Slot

What do people think of this modpack with an open slot?

I think the idea is to add civs (not replace them, right?) using the copy tool??

If so, why not leave a slot open for the end user to do whatever with.

I know the Canadians wont make it in, but I'm going to modify whatever to put them there anyway. This will be the case, I'm sure, for people wanting Australia or Ukraine, or some lesser known civilizations that they are particularly interested in.

In creating the Canadians, for instance, I would just copy the animation of an existing unit and modify it as I want. Leader animations are less important to me.

For the full-fledged new civs, however, I could see where all the details are more important because the computer would end up playing them quite often.

Thoughts?

[Desert Journeyman]

Cartheginians: 20

Ranking among the most popular "alternative" civilizations of the first game, and made into an "official" choice during the second incarnation, the Carthaginians deserve "a new round" here, if only as a direct rival to Rome. The inclusion of Carthage also precludes the need for a Phonecian civilization. About the most convincing problem I can see, however, is the "special unit", which obviously, would have been the imported war elephant. Because India already has these, a less well-known unit could be the Great Terime, Slinger or Numidian Horseman, a stronger or more versatile version of transport, infantry and cavalry, respectively. Carthage would rely, naturally, on a series of trade and seafaring bonuses.

Confederates: 20

Oft-overlooked in many games, the Confederacy is a viable option if only to outline how government might have been established. Basing their model on the early Articles of Confederation, the South possessed an extremely "loose" federal government, a factor which plauged them to no end when raising taxes, enacting levies, and passing any truly "national" or "blanket" legislation. I could envision the South with either the Blockade Runner or Irregular Cavalryman, both possessing greater-than-average movement. The South would, of course, be somewhat scaled-back in certain areas of administrative ability and technological aquesition, but would possess a rather impressive agricultural and merchantile bonus.

Khmer: 20

I assumed I was one of few supporting this "option", but the Khmer represent another sterotype of the "final block" needed to "close" the E. Asian civilizations. While many remember that region as being a morass of impassible jungle and "final" major flashpoint of the Cold War, it was once cradle of an impressive civilization to say the least. The Khmer would again rely on the elephant as one of its key units, possessing an advantage in terms of technologies having to do with early religion and philosophy or, more region-specific, construction.

Austro-Hungarians: 20

I'd add this if only for the "ambiance" of playing a struggling power whose imperial designs far exceeded its imperial ability. Austria-Hungary was never a major power beyond the European continent, and even then, fell variously under the sway of France and Germany. I can see how many might argue that Austria-Hungary has no true "right" to be ranked among the most important civilizations, but I contend that they would still be worth a try. I'm not quite sure how to deal with their advantages and disadvantages, especially in terms of technology, but they might have an "early" iron working technology. Their special unit would be the Hussar, a fast, light cavalryman.

Ottoman Turks: 20

Again, while "Turks" or "Arabs" might be the more "encompassing" selection in a stereotypical sense, the Ottomans inspire the underdog in all of us. Who can forget that famous charge by Peter O'Toole and his intrepid band of bedouin warriors? Not I. Again, Turkey was one of the most popular civilizations in the WWII scenario on Civ 2, especially for those who could not deal with much larger powers or preferred "starting small". The Turks would gain an advantage in philosophy and perhaps in terms of trade. Technology related to gun powder or iron (Damascus steel) might also be appropriate. The Turks would aquire either the Jannissary or Mameluke as their special unit.

Portugese: 20

South America has always beckoned, and Portugal, with various merchantile and move (exploration) bonuses, might be worth the taking. Their imperial tenure was commemorated in the fantastic novel "Shogun", and still remains alive today across much of Brazil. The Portugese are one of those easily-indentified civilizations whose contributions were clearly during the merchantile era and not long after. Of course, the galleon serves their purposes quite well.

Brazilians/Argentines: 20

How many of us remember the Falkland War? Okay, that was Argentina, I know, but I will say we can lump Brazil, Chile, and the Argentines togeather. I've always been fascinated by the region. Did you know that as late as 1889, Chile possessed a military of greater skill than the United States of America? Argentina ranked as possessing the sixth-highest gross domestic product on earth in 1939, and the entire region seemed to be emerging towards greater recognition and importance. Although the decline in world markets shortly after the war more or less "doomed" the developing area, it was a mecca for European immigration and at various times during the 20th century, the focus of intense warfare. The Brazilians would gain the Gaucho, Post-Dreadnaught, or Gunboat, representing, alternitavely, the high points in their colonial and pre-industrial histories.

Dutch: 20

Again, another "old favorite", the Dutch represent this sort of balance between territorial poverty and literal currency-based wealth. Taking this in stride, their colonial holdings once encompassed the E. Indies, W. Indies, Formosa, India, northern Brazil, and South Africa. The last is rather interesting as well, since as opposed to the frigate - which the Dutch seem likely to recieve -, we might also consider giving them the Boer or Franc Tireur, an early partisan unit. The Dutch would necessarily possess a rather advanced monetary system and perhaps some odd improvements over other civilizations when at sea. I do like the Boers, also, though I think they fit with the Dutch rather than out on their own.


Again, I stress that I'd sooner see a "custom civilization maker" like that of Alpha Centauri: SMAX along with new civilization than anything else. I think Alpha Centauri had a lot of good ideas in terms of modifiation. The "darkness" of the atmosphere and odd tendancy of the game to freeze, slow, or evolve to become much too complex really destroyed it, not the capabilities of the add-on software or patches.

[TCO]

(more whine coming in this post). Locutus, the Fatties are named after a poster!! please eleiminate them. Plus they are much less appealing than the Kittycats.

I ask for 20 points to be shifted to the GPians.

[Locutus]

Originally posted by GP
(more whine coming in this post). Locutus, the Fatties are named after a poster!!

Well, was the civ named after the poster or was the poster named after the civ?

[TCO]

Originally posted by Locutus




Well, was the civ named after the poster or was the poster named after the civ?

Purely a technical point. The Fatties are, well, FAT. Oh, and LUMPY. The Kittycats are cute and cuddly.

GO Kittycats!! Down with the Lumpenpeople!

[Plan Austral]

20- Incas
20- Ethiopians
20-Phoenicians
20-Argentineans
20-Mali
20-Spanish
20-Mongols
20-Cuba

And
Desert Journeyman
the Gaucho is argentinean,
i think that a bandeirante would be a much better special unit for Brazil.

[Puritan]

First time voting:

Spanish 20
Mongols 20
Arabs 20
Vikings 20
Hebrew/Israelis 20
Canadians 20