Will the advisors be of any use?

[Steve Clark]

In alot of the screenshots, we see advisors "advising" the player on what to do (besides setting up queues). We all know that the advisors in Civ2 were an absolute and complete joke, why would Civ3 be that much better? Do you think that the AI can determine long-range strategy and thus advise you what to do next??? Why did they spend so much time building something like that in the game when very shortly, we'll be able to figure this stuff out better for ourselves. I'm all for help screens and tutorials, but this seems to go beyond to where they believe advisors are necessary for game play.

"Why would we let the AI do anything when we can do it better?"

[lschaef]

I'm sure some of the adviser messages will get old and we'll find them useless, but I've seen a few in the screenshots that I think will be useful in quickly telling us info we'd have to search for. Such as the domestic adviser telling us that city X is not growing...or not producing enough food to survive.

We'll have to wait and see. I'm sure they knew the advisors in Civ I and II weren't that useful, so hopefully they worked to improve them.

[Pembleton]

They're useful for facts that you wouldn't otherwise know. For example, they will say that another civ is "more technologically advanced" or "they are ahead in production" or "they will never accept this proposal", etc.

[Jason Beaudoin]

I think they will be invaluable because there is so much information to be had in CIV 3, that by having an advisor point something out to you is very useful. For example, if your military advisor tells you that there is lots of room to expand your military, I see that as a great tool. If you're foreign advisor is telling you that an enemy is technically advanced, you'd want to try to increase your science, or steal their technology.

I don't know about you, but I'm going to keep a close eye on what my advisors say.

Besides, other than practicality, I think they add an huge element of atmosphere to the game, which to me, is very important.

[Civ Dave]

Well, I always loved that little science dude that said "we're numer one in SCIENCE!!!!!" and be so enthusiastic as to compare me to a double clock speed microchip


I have seen so far that the advisors basically keep your civ "on a leash"
They tell you when your screwing up, more than what you should do now....
I haven't seen one positive advisor message yet
"Your city isn't producing!"

I want my advisor to just say "Hey Dave, your doing a great job "

I know I sure as hell won't get that kind of response from other civs

[Earthling7]

I'm sure the advisers have their happy moments. It did happen in the Civ2 council. I loved it when the Military Dude got drunk in his armour...

[Zardos]

Re: Will the advisors be of any use?

Originally posted by Steve Clark
We all know that the advisors in Civ2 were an absolute and complete joke, why would Civ3 be that much better?

I doubt it would.

Originally posted by Steve Clark
Why did they spend so much time building something like that in the game when very shortly, we'll be able to figure this stuff out better for ourselves. I'm all for help screens and tutorials, but this seems to go beyond to where they believe advisors are necessary for game play.

From a business perspective it makes perfect sense to have advisors (and governors, etc.). Firaxis is in the business of making games that sell. If they want to increase their customer base beyond those that post at Apolyton, they are going to need to create some simplifications for the "casual" (beginning) civ player. Not everyone has an illness where they need to come check the Apolyton boards every twenty minutes to see if by some chance they might have released Civ III six days too early and I, er I mean you, would need to rush to the store to go and get it .

Firaxis knows they have us. They could eliminate the governors and advisors and it wouldn't phase us in the slightest. However, they do need to worry about the twelve year olds out there (that wasn't meant as any kind of slam, rather kudos to those twelve year olds that take on playing civ) that are introduced to Civ for the first time.

I think I made my point, but it may have been garbled for all my vain attempts at humorous (humorless?) rhetoric.

[The diplomat]

I think the advisors will be useful to cut some micromanagement. We have seen screens where the domestic advisor is telling the player about a city that has finished producing something. the advisors lets the player quickly change production WITHOUT going into the city screen. It will be very useful to be able to change production or change science directly without going through the screens.

[Blaupanzer]

No advisors = sales of game 30,000.
Advisors and the hype their screens create = 100,000.
Advisors and governors that handle micromanagement for the "less intense" gamer = more people who will recommend the game = more after release sales.
And, they add atmosphere and humor.

[drake]

Will the advisors be of any use?

uhhh..I mean no.

[Earthling7]

Originally posted by Blaupanzer
And, they add atmosphere and humor.

They.. umpfh.. are.. .hillary... ous...

Come on peoples. If you have seen the screenshots, you will know that they are more than Artificial Idiots. If you haven't seen the screenshots, check them out and come back!

[CobraA1]

They seem to be informational, at the very least. In Civ II, I always hated when what seemed like a good offer made the other civ become my mortal enemy . The only thing I could safely give was gold.

They'll at least be useful during diplomacy.

Of course, listening to them is totally optional.

[Lorizael]

I think the advisors will definetely be good at reminding me of those little things I always forgot to do in Civ II. And the adivisors know the rules of the game so to speak, so they will know if the enemy is advanced and stuff.

I also think they're very funny. We should send paper airplanes!

[Jaguar]

Re: Re: Will the advisors be of any use?

Originally posted by Zardos
Firaxis knows they have us. They could eliminate the governors and advisors and it wouldn't phase us in the slightest. However, they do need to worry about the twelve year olds out there (that wasn't meant as any kind of slam, rather kudos to those twelve year olds that take on playing civ) that are introduced to Civ for the first time.

Hey, I am 13 and I was playing civ (1) at the age of 6. And I could beat emperor level too, so dont be dissing civ playing 12 year olds.

[Carolus Rex]

Steve,

I completely agree with your post! They should have spent all that time and all those resources on developing MP instead...

Case closed!

Carolus