Civilization... not what you think

September 2, 2000, 10:23

I heard there's a board game called Civilization. has anyone here played it? how different is it from the PC game civilization?

Lord Silvi · September 3, 2000, 05:12

Yes, it is an old Avalon Hill Classic.
The PC game is based on this boardgame.
But there are a lot of differences:
The map is the mediteranean sea. Time is stone age until 250 BC. Population grows and you may found a crude kind of city. It is 100% multiplayer - you trade the trade-goods and even desaster-cards with other players. No military units, your population coins do the invasions. Technology must be bought and is the key to victory.
Lots of fun, but you need at least 4 player, better 8 player.
This old boardgame is the reason I bought the PC-game.

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For those who fight for it, life has a flavour the sheltered never know.

September 3, 2000, 08:02

do you know where in Germany I can get it? did you buy it those days? if yes, how much did you pay?

Lord Silvi · September 3, 2000, 15:41

To buy the Civ boardgame is an easy task.
Producer of the german version is Piatnik, Mönchengladbach 02161/177940.
I saw this game in several stores even in department stores.
But it is expensive, something around 80 DM.

September 4, 2000, 10:07

thank you! I'll look for it! I don't have too much money but 80DM aren't that expensive... but.. we are talking about a board game, aren't we? well, if I see it anywhere for a bit less I'll probably... look at the package and then say "nah, nothing for me..."

perhaps I'll buy it... perhaps

Lord Silvi · September 4, 2000, 17:53

When you are a dedicated civer and you see the package - you will buy it.
It is a holy reliquary!

Bromley · September 12, 2000, 09:27

Is this the same as Advanced Civilisation, a PC game released by Avalon Hill and now abandonwazez?

September 12, 2000, 09:34

Lord Silvi - can you count me (some of) the store(s) where you saw that... I checked some and couldn't find it... although they have some Avalon hill Board Games, like Diplomacy

Lord Silvi · September 13, 2000, 18:22

This stores may order Civilization for you.
But remember you need at least 3 other players! Better 6.
Visit the Spielwarenmesse in Essen in Oct. or Nov. Meet me there. They have dozens of this game.
Once I saw Civilization (board game) at Kaufhof.

September 14, 2000, 10:54

well, I already went to a Kaufhof (actually it's Galeria Kaufhof) and they didn't have Civilization there...

I could order the game at bol.de but I'd have to pay about DM 69,90 there... is that the usual prize?

Spielwarenmesse in Essen? when will that be?

Lord Silvi · September 15, 2000, 11:28

Andz
Buy it at BOL. Der Preis ist heiss.

Spielwarenmesse is Spielemesse, my mistake.
I am not sure when exactly it is. But I`ll let you know it.
At this fair they present and sale mostly boardgames.
There are a lot of shops with old ones. Once I saw an old SPI classic: "After the Holocaust" At least 20 years old, used, and priced 250,- DM!!! *heul*

September 16, 2000, 00:48

oops! the producer of the German version is Piatnik... BOL says the same, but today I went to a Toy Shop and asked them whether they could order the game... I told them it would be from Avalon Hill...

Did you buy it? If yes, how much money did you spend on it?

VetLegion · September 25, 2000, 20:16

I hope it is a good game, 80 DM is a lot of money at least to me

But to set it straight: civilization is _not_ based on the Avalon Hill game. The manual clearly states it has evolved from railroad tycoon and describes the proces.

Urban Ranger · September 25, 2000, 23:14

AH's Civilization is excellent if you can find at least 3 other players. It has simple mechanics and a good depth.
[This message has been edited by Urban Ranger (edited September 25, 2000).]

September 26, 2000, 05:27

I love Civilization -the board game. In fact, I have it around somewhere still (albeit with many of the tokens missing 'cos my friends were sore losers). I was introduced to it in 1986 by my English teacher. I played it for close to seven years after that.

I liked its balance of conquest, expansion, trading and science development.

Like somebody else mentioned, it was also the inspiration for me starting out on the pc game.

Urban Ranger · September 26, 2000, 22:03

One of the best features of the game: war is deadly. You can't win by beating up other players. You can only win by being peaceful.

February 13, 2001, 16:45

I've seen that boardgame in a toy store in Rostock. opened the box, had a look at the content... it appears quite complicated... not that I wouldn't like to play it, but I doubt I'll find any fellows to play that game with me, considering how complex that thing is

Father Beast · February 17, 2001, 22:47

the 200th issue of CGW has a full version of a game called "advanced Civilization", which looks a lot like what you guys are talking about. unfortunately, I don't have any documentation and don't know what I'm doing.

just saying where you can get a full version of the PC game if you want...

Grumbold · February 23, 2001, 09:27

Yes, the PC Game "Advanced Civilisation" is the computer port of the original boardgame. Without access to the rules you are going to have a hard time, because it keeps all the odd rules. The AI is not too shabby so it can make a reasonable opponent. Better than some human players because it cannot be bluffed into accepting you are not really winning

If you are really keen and can't find them online anywhere else, I could try and explain them.

Algernon Pondlife · March 24, 2001, 03:47

"Yes, it is an old Avalon Hill Classic."

Just for the record Avalon Hill bought the game from Hartland Trefoil a UK company that invented the game. I have the original. I expect that AH mostly just repackaged it.

" The manual clearly states it has evolved from railroad tycoon
and describes the proces."

Also I have read somewhere that Sid Meier did base his game on the board game and I don't see how that can be other than true because the similarities are too great. There is no logical design relationship between Civilization and Railroad Tycoon. I seem to have mislaid my original manual but are you sure it is not more about the historical sequence or the use of graphics than the game design that it talks.

It is quite possible that Railroad Tycoon was based on a game called "1829", also developed by Hartland Trefoil and possibly the best board game ever devised. However I have no evidence that he ever saw that game and there are many other railway board games.

AustralianJeremy · March 25, 2001, 06:08

Mmm.... something.

Anyone know where I could get the Civilization board game in Australia?

And where I could download the abandonware computer version and rules?

AustralianJeremy · March 27, 2001, 06:22

Bump - please?

quinns · March 28, 2001, 17:59

Hello Jeremy,

This was the best I could find on obtaining the "board game" Civilization.

----- Quoted from http://www.lilback.com/civilization/ah/board.html

"....Civilization costs around $30, and Advanced Civilization is an add-on set that costs an additional $30. I
would highly recommend the Advanced version, but there are some people who prefer the original
version. You should be able to find both versions at your local gaming store (who should be able order
it if they don't have it in stock). You can also order it direct from Avalon Hill. Their phone numer is (USA) 410-254-9200 ...."

Hope this helps!!

AustralianJeremy · March 29, 2001, 00:42

Thanks quinns - but does anyone know where in Australia I could get it? Our dollar's worth less than 50c US at the moment, which is insane and makes everything from the US very expensive indeed.

And anyone know where to download the free advanced civilization game?

colossus · March 29, 2001, 23:06

IMO, civilization is the greatest multiplayer boardgame I've ever played.

Play mechanism is simple but challenging, with lost of fun in the trading stuff. Basically, the game centres around trade, acquiring advance, city planning and calamity control(sound like civ2?).

Advanced civilization add-on is a must-have if you happen to see it. The add-on creates more advances, calamities, trade goods, and have a somewhat different rules governing trade.

There is also a Western Mediterranean add-on map featuring Spain and Britain. The extension map give you a feel very differnet from the East Med's city-rich terrain. Unfortunately it would be very difficult to find, even second-handed.

The biggest drawback is that you have to gather some people(the more the better, but never less than 4) for a whole day to play the game. Expect the game to play for 1.5 hrs for every player, thus a 6 player-game requires roughly 9 hrs. I once have the lucky experience collecting 8 people in the game, for a good 12 hrs to finish it.

Yet the investment is worthwhile and you could scarcely have more gun than that!