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terrain speculations
Taking a look at some of the new screenshots, I think we can figure out a few things about how terrain works this time (forgive if someone has pointed this out already, as I haven't read all the threads, or if it isn't just bloody obvious).
First, it seems that Forest is no longer a terrain type in and of itself, but an addition to other terrain types, much like Irrigation. This is from one screenshot where one can see forested Plains, Grassland and Tundra (I hope they get rid of the last since forest can't grow on tundra). It doesn't appear that forest can grow on Hills or Mountains though, and the Hills part at least is a shame.
On the screenshot of all the units, the bottom-most tank appears to be on a hilly Plains, as does the unit next to it. So I imagine that elevation and vegetation are being treated more separately than in Civ2. Probably we'll find hilly Jungle, hilly Desert and so forth. No evidence yet that there's more than one type of Mountain, though.
The screenshot with all the units is also interesting for what it shows of the ocean. On that shot, differently from all the others, one cannot see the depth of the water. Perhaps they're taking a page from CTP here- the ocean's depths are unknowable until you get the right technology to see deep under. Makes sense to me, nice improvement.
It also appears that the lightest blue color follows the one square closest to shore in every case, but that the next lightest blue is variable. One can see that type in the minimap going all over the place, sometimes far from shore, sometimes not, so no doubt there is both Continental Shelf and Deep Ocean. The lightest blue is probably some kind of Beach terrain, again the same as CTP.
On the Emperor Caesar screenshot, there are some trade goods that don't appear on the Baltimore shot that shows 16 different ones, but some are the same in both (like Gold). For instance, the flame in the desert, which I'm guessing is some kind of perfume (many aeromatic spices like Frankincense and Myrrh come from the desert). I'm guessing this means there can never be more than 16 different types on the map at once, and when new ones come in, old ones (like Myrrh or whatever its called) have to go. It seems clear too that a max of 8 must always be Luxuries, and 8 not. Strange though, that Oil and some other thing (some type of grain?) appear within the Baltimore shot, but not in the 16 list in the top right.
If we're really clever, we could probably figure out what most of the trade goods are, based on these shots. Anyone care to try?
First, it seems that Forest is no longer a terrain type in and of itself, but an addition to other terrain types, much like Irrigation. This is from one screenshot where one can see forested Plains, Grassland and Tundra (I hope they get rid of the last since forest can't grow on tundra). It doesn't appear that forest can grow on Hills or Mountains though, and the Hills part at least is a shame.
On the screenshot of all the units, the bottom-most tank appears to be on a hilly Plains, as does the unit next to it. So I imagine that elevation and vegetation are being treated more separately than in Civ2. Probably we'll find hilly Jungle, hilly Desert and so forth. No evidence yet that there's more than one type of Mountain, though.
The screenshot with all the units is also interesting for what it shows of the ocean. On that shot, differently from all the others, one cannot see the depth of the water. Perhaps they're taking a page from CTP here- the ocean's depths are unknowable until you get the right technology to see deep under. Makes sense to me, nice improvement.
It also appears that the lightest blue color follows the one square closest to shore in every case, but that the next lightest blue is variable. One can see that type in the minimap going all over the place, sometimes far from shore, sometimes not, so no doubt there is both Continental Shelf and Deep Ocean. The lightest blue is probably some kind of Beach terrain, again the same as CTP.
On the Emperor Caesar screenshot, there are some trade goods that don't appear on the Baltimore shot that shows 16 different ones, but some are the same in both (like Gold). For instance, the flame in the desert, which I'm guessing is some kind of perfume (many aeromatic spices like Frankincense and Myrrh come from the desert). I'm guessing this means there can never be more than 16 different types on the map at once, and when new ones come in, old ones (like Myrrh or whatever its called) have to go. It seems clear too that a max of 8 must always be Luxuries, and 8 not. Strange though, that Oil and some other thing (some type of grain?) appear within the Baltimore shot, but not in the 16 list in the top right.
If we're really clever, we could probably figure out what most of the trade goods are, based on these shots. Anyone care to try?
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