Placing your opponents on the map

[Mads Raven]

I wonder if you will be able to place your opponents start where you like on the map. If you e.g. would like a game in the pre-made "real world" with the true Civs beginning the game there where they original belong, is that possible? (The British starting in England, the Americans in America and so on). If it really is so that you can do that, then I think that it will be a big thrill trying to play the game at a huge pre-made "real world" map with all 16 Civs starting in their respective places... Waauuu!

[August Borms]

Civ 2 had the correct starting positions for civs on the worldmap too, so I'm pretty sure Civ3 will have it too...

[Sarxis]

The editor will most likely let you do this.

The question is- will it let you do it without seeing a randomly generated map?

[Earthling7]

Playing with 16 civs... Place yourself in Eurasia and the rest in America

As has been said, Civ2 had it, even CivOne did, so chances are, yes. And with this Editor, everything seems possible.

[Grumbold]

I think you'd have to choose different Civs to make a 16 player real world map with historic starting places viable. The European civs are just too close together (and England would barely have room for a single decent city) on a world scale map.

[El hidalgo]

Originally posted by Grumbold
I think you'd have to choose different Civs to make a 16 player real world map with historic starting places viable. The European civs are just too close together (and England would barely have room for a single decent city) on a world scale map.

But, the largest earth map will be 180x180 (32,400 squares) vs 75x120 (9000 squares) in Civ 2. That's 3.6 times as large. You could fit 3 cities in the UK/Ireland in the largest earth map in Civ 2 -- so you should be able to fit 9-10 in the largest earth map in Civ 3! Assuming the proportions hold, of course, but I think it's a safe bet you'll be able to fit at least 6. And I'm sure it won't be long after release before someone makes a 256x256 map, the largest possible. 16 civs won't be enough!

[August Borms]

I hope it'll be possible to create (earth) maps larger than the maximum size

I remember someone (Atahualpa?) made an earth map for CTP2 where you could place 3 civs in Britain

[Rosacrux]

256X256=65536 tiles

75X120=9000 tiles

...and you people are talking about not enough space to play a realistic world scenario?

I just cross my fingers for someone to create an accurate world map in the 256X256 format... then I can agree with previously said "16 civs won't be enough"...

...at least us peaceful builders shall have the time of our lives waiting for the others to discover us

[Earthling7]

I think 256x256, even 180x180 screams for more than 16 civs... How about 64 civs? Now that would be something!

[cassembler]

I remember some dude saying that on the 256x256 world maps, New Zieland itself would be able to hold like 6 cities or something like that...

[Grumbold]

Using rough math the world circumference of 25,000 miles in 250 tiles make 100 miles per tile. So Great Britain would be about 3 tiles wide by 6 tiles high.

[Mars]

I remeber hearing that someone already has a map ready to be converted into civ 3 that's 256 X 256. Anxiously awaiting playing on world map

[Wittlich]

In search of the allusive AI

I can understand the reasoning behind the placement of your opponents on the "Earth" map, and having them start close to where they historically would be....

BUT I am against having the ability of placing your opponents on a radomly generated map. Finding your opponents is part of the fun in playing Civilization - exploring your "unknown" world, hoping (and praying) that an AI is NOT on your continent/island, and lastly, if you are on a "sprawling" continent - figuring out what "choke points" you will need to place a unit/city a just in case the AI is in the area inorder to "curb" the AI's expansion into your neigborhood.

If you already know where the AI's are starting out at, this allieviates the normal tension/stress you have in exploring your part of the world. IMO, this unknown element is part of the fun of the game.

Is it just me? Or does anyone else like the mystery of "where-oh-where can the AI be?"

[Earthling7]

Originally posted by Mars
I remeber hearing that someone already has a map ready to be converted into civ 3 that's 256 X 256. Anxiously awaiting playing on world map

That's quick! I wonder what the maths teacher says when he sees the pages full of terrain rather than calculations.

[Earthling7]

Re: In search of the allusive AI

Originally posted by Wittlich
Is it just me? Or does anyone else like the mystery of "where-oh-where can the AI be?"

I generally agree with you, but the option should be there. You may want to experiment with behaviour on a given map etc. The option should be there. No useless limitations, please!