PolyCast Episode 42: "Mix It Up"

[DanQ]

The forty-second episode of PolyCast (PC), an official podcast of Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS), has arrived with a core host change into the foreseeable future. "Mix It Up" now netcasting features regular co-hosts Daniel "DanQ" Quick, Makahlua and Imran Siddiqui with Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney and first-time guest co-host Bruce "Beta" Hynes. It runs for 44m59s. Until further notice, "Cartimandua" will be filling in as the fourth regular PC co-host with Kelly "KMadeleine" on an unexpected leave of absence for reasons still unknown.

PC is a bi-weekly one-hour audio production of ACS is an ongoing effort to give the Civ community an interactive voice on game strategy; its sibling show ModCast focuses on Civ modding. ACS is the only known website to produce its own Civ podcasts.

[DanQ]

Summary of Topics

- 03m07s | Forum Talk
  Why build farms at all and why no 'building' Espionage in Civilization IV.
- 10m13s | Interview
  Speaking to Bruce "Beta" Haynes about the Civ IV Beyond the Sword Democracy Game (BtSDG) about to get underway on Apolyton. The first of a two-parter, includes the greater history of DGs in the community.
- 16m28s | Research Lab
  The case for a withdrawal equivalent for defense in the Civ series.
- 25m51s | Senate
  What is a reasonable gift request and a new Top 10 list by request: Unique Units in Civ IV.
- 37m16s | Mailbag
  Feedback o'plenty from Apolyton's 2008 April Fools joke, the launch of a third PolyCast podcast.

- Intro/Outro | Miscellaneous
  When Catherine is slapping you and introducing Sid Meier's Laundromat!.

[EPW]

beta

[Lancer]

I'm listening to the show and paused it to comment on the different levels of defense suggestion. When I served in the army in Germany I was in one of the border guard Cav regiments. Ours screened the Fulda Gap, a natural route of attack dictated by terrain. Or mission was to force the Sovs to take 24 hours to get from the border, point A, to point B, a place where the heavy NATO divisions would meet them head on. Problem was that the personel for some of those divisions were in the US and their equipment was in Germany. They had to get there, get everything running, get ammo loaded and get to their prepositioned areas before we did, and the Sovs did. All our training was in ambush and manouver. At no point were we to stand and fight, more like fire and reposition, again and again. Cheerfully one day they told us we could expect 80% casualties in those 24 hours. They also told us we were picked specially out of training because we never quit. Not that we all did all so well in training but we were persistant.

So that's it, a unit made for the sole purpose to retreat and buy time and never quit. If the Sovs get to the prepositioned equipment before our guys from the US got to it, well that would be bad.

So, good idea, multiple choices for defense which could trade into unit atributes given through training, barracks, that sort of thing.

Now, back to the show.

[Lancer]

Just to elaborate, units not trained to retire in good order or new units lacking dicipline should really never try it. A retirement can turn into a route very easily. History is full of cases where a few highly disiplined units screened a disorderly flight of the rest of an army which saved both forces from being overrun. This disipline should come to units that are highly trained in retrograde ambush and manouver and units that have alot of combat experience.

[DanQ]

Originally posted by EPW
beta

We enjoyed having him on the show and he enjoyed being on as well. (That could change, I suppose, when he listens to this final product... )

Originally posted by Lancer
... good idea, multiple choices for defense which could trade into unit atributes given through training, barracks, that sort of thing.

Now, back to the show.

Enjoy.

[Lancer]

Enjoyed

Still working on a decent Skype phone btw. Got a crappy one when we bought my wife's webcam. Basicly an earphone and a little mic that dangles on a wire.

So next trip into town I'll look into Office Depot.

Anyway, haven't forgotten.

[jkp1187]

Originally posted by Lancer
Just to elaborate, units not trained to retire in good order or new units lacking dicipline should really never try it. A retirement can turn into a route very easily. History is full of cases where a few highly disiplined units screened a disorderly flight of the rest of an army which saved both forces from being overrun. This disipline should come to units that are highly trained in retrograde ambush and manouver and units that have alot of combat experience.

Perhaps if we could ever work out the appropriate rules for defending unit withdrawal from combat, it would be appropriate to make this a promotion...perhaps unlockable only via Combat III?

I've definitely thought that naval combat definitely needs some sort of 'defensive withdrawal' as well.

Original posted by DanQ
with Kelly "KMadeleine" on an unexpected leave of absence for reasons still unknown.

Now that doesn't sound good.

[RobWorham]

Great installment!!!

Thanks for handling the PR side of the BtSDG Beta, and thanks once again for agreeing to host!!

Looking forward to the second installment.........

[Heraclitus]

The top 10 unique units list mad by DanQ was a classic example of good polycast civ discussion. It was an ok list. That was a surprise. Both Cartimandua and Beta's suggestions were intelligent HRE and Byzantine empire have pretty good unique units. Like Beta I think the Russian UU deserved a bit higher ranking.


Beta was a very good guest cohost , the topic that explored Demo games was very interesting. In fact I'm tempted to check that forum out, demogaming sounds like loads of fun. I'm looking forward to part 2 of it. Presenting and talking about various civ communities and alternatives ways of playing civ is always interesting (like Demo, Diplo,...), you should do that more often!

[Alexander I]

Once again, an excellent PolyCast, Dan-O.

Imran and Maki were as entertaining as ever, and boy does Beta know a lot about DemoGames.

And congrats to Cartimandua on making the PolyCast team!

[Cartimandua]

I think my favorite part is the blooper reel, I laughed pretty hard (but maybe that's because I knew the context of the comments).

Okay...the other parts were good too, and Beta was a very knowledgeable guest host.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Thanks for kind words, and Lancer . We'll have to get your military expertise on one of these shows.

[Lancer]

I'm looking forward to being on a show, but my expertise reminds me of 'That 70s Show'.

[DanQ]

Originally posted by Lancer
Enjoyed

Still working on a decent Skype phone btw. [..]... haven't forgotten.

Originally posted by jkp1187
Now that doesn't sound good.

We're hopeful that Kelly will return. We're fortunate that Cartimandua is interested and available to fill in for her.

Originally posted by Heraclitus
The top 10 unique units list mad by DanQ was a classic example of good polycast civ discussion. It was an ok list. That was a surprise.

Both Cartimandua and Beta's suggestions were intelligent HRE and Byzantine empire have pretty good unique units.

Indeed. If I had made a Top 15 list, I'm sure I'd have at least one of those two on it.

Beta was a very good guest cohost , the topic that explored Demo games was very interesting. In fact I'm tempted to check that forum out, demogaming sounds like loads of fun. I'm looking forward to part 2 of it.

Presenting and talking about various civ communities and alternatives ways of playing civ is always interesting (like Demo, Diplo,...), you should do that more often!

We're always open to such suggestions. We'd wanted to focus the BtS DG on the show for a bit.

Originally posted by Alexander I
Once again, an excellent PolyCast, Dan-O.

Thanks, Alexander.

... boy does Beta know a lot about DemoGames.

And congrats to Cartimandua on making the PolyCast team!

Originally posted by Cartimandua
I think my favorite part is the blooper reel, I laughed pretty hard (but maybe that's because I knew the context of the comments).