The Essential Civ 3 - New Ideas

raingoon · February 15, 2000, 15:30

SUBMISSIONS ONLY!

Here is where you submit YOUR ONE IDEA for the Essential Civ 3 list. Your idea will be given its own topic thread for debate/discussion.

Guidelines for New Ideas are "anything goes," so long as it is clear how the new idea will enhance the game in Civ 2 terms.

Good luck!

DaveV · February 15, 2000, 16:14

Open source AI.

LordStone1 · February 15, 2000, 20:18

Well-designed graphics (not horrible ones like in SMAC).

yin26 · February 16, 2000, 00:06

Detailed replay, both visually and in written form (hopefully a natural language play-by-play).

EnochF · February 16, 2000, 00:28

Easy transition from Cities to Regions for mid- to late-game play. Based on government. Incorporation of Region Capitols, region-wide improvements, and cultivation of resources inside region boundaries.

Grier · February 16, 2000, 03:58

You should be able to custom design units, adding different weapons/armour/transport, and also be able to upgrade a unit at any city with a barracks.
[This message has been edited by Grier (edited February 16, 2000).]

Tiberius · February 16, 2000, 04:22

Beautiful, animated, 3D - CITY VIEW !!

FinnishGuy · February 16, 2000, 05:32

Make the graphics move fast. No slowdowns, none, no matter how many units or cities or whatever graphics items are on screen. FAST, get it? Thanks.

February 16, 2000, 05:39

A fully-featured separate scenario-editing program with an easy-to-use interface, a scripting language, editable graphics and settings (untis, technologies, etc.), and full documentation in the form of both a manual and a good help file.

yin26 · February 16, 2000, 19:28

...moving up...

Seeker · February 16, 2000, 19:37

To really borrow and take a look at other quality strategy games like Imperialism for trade and diplomacy, Warlords 2 Deluxe for scenario editability, ect. is my most important suggestion

Dr Strangelove · February 17, 2000, 00:44

Real combat screens:
For each battle the computer generates a de novo map that rflects the terrain of the areas around the point of contact. The units from the strategic map would be broken down to smaller units deployed in the battle map. This would work well in conjunction with custom made units, i.e., you would decide how many infantry brigades, cavalry brigades and artillery brigades to put in your armies. The player would manuever, attack, and defend with his units.

raingoon · February 17, 2000, 06:03

Grier --

You already nominated Hex Based Maps as a new idea. Only one nomination per category. Which do you want to nominate?

raingoon · February 17, 2000, 06:06

Seeker --

Borrowing from other games is not a new feature. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Can you be more specific -- which of those other game features do you want to see?

current up to this post
[This message has been edited by raingoon (edited February 17, 2000).]

Tiberius · February 17, 2000, 07:06

In my opinion, we should combine LordStone1 and FinnishGuy proposals and send this very clear message to Firaxis: Well-designed AND fast graphics! (poor Firaxis). Of course, only if they both agree with this.

FinnishGuy · February 17, 2000, 09:13

Sure why not combine the proposals, but I prefer word order "fast and well-designed".

February 17, 2000, 10:38

well..
Nativepop/CIVilans
..either one is fine for me

raingoon · February 17, 2000, 15:04

Dobermann,

What language do you want to use for the nativepop/CIVilians idea? (I posted on the CIVilians idea myself recently -- are you referring to that?) I just need to know how you think this idea should be described so others will understand... - raingoon

raingoon · February 17, 2000, 15:08

Lordstone1 -- okay to add your idea into Finnishguy's nomination?

February 17, 2000, 15:46

AH, then I say..
Include a virtual population with its own agenda/needs/desires
is that good enough?

bcr3 · February 17, 2000, 16:56

OK, with all these micromanagement suggestions, let me throw out one a suggestion to make certain they don't take over the game...

Instead of Chieftain, Warlord, etc. being governed by progressively tougher AIs, have each level include more advanced features. For example, Chieftain would be a lot like Civ 2, with just a few new concepts (such as, perhaps, the LASS system) and using the new interface. Deity would include all the new features: regions, battle maps, customizable units, civilian population with its own agenda, etc., etc., etc.

I make this suggestion because I am quite fond of designing scenarios, and many scenarios would not be able to handle so many complicated features. For example, if you were playing a scenario based on an alien invasion, do you want to deal with domestic problems? Of course not, the great premise of sci-fi is that if the Earth were invaded, we would all band together, right? So if you want to keep that mood, you would play the scenario on Chieftain or Warlord level, whereas if you wanted to get a more realistic experience, you would play Emperoro or Diety.

OK, that suggestion only applies if they decide to include all this micromanagement stuff, but that's my contribution to the pot.

------------------
Anarchist Supreme of the Glorious PROT!

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Audentior Independant Nation.

Frank: "You live at Apolyton, don't you?"
bcr3: "Pretty much."

waynehead · February 17, 2000, 18:22

The ability/option to create provinces or states within an empire after a certain threshold, and both penalties and bonuses for doing so.

Seeker · February 17, 2000, 19:45

OK. Scenario Editor then.

Aurelius · February 17, 2000, 21:25

A universal log editor for not just OCC (One City Challenge,) but any civ game.

To elaborate just a bit, I would like to see a Civ3 feature that provides a turn by turn summary of the game events that can be edited as fits the player's need--example:

OCC Game
3500 BC Alphabet
3400 BC Hut-50gd
.
.
.
20 AD Contact-Romans
.
.
.
1645 AD Ship Arrives in Alpha

Making logs in multicity games is too complex but a computer could do it trivially and players could compare games as well as analyze play....

The use of logs is very good in competition as any good game must have a way of being recording.

Aurelius

Theben · February 17, 2000, 22:27

Moderators get to pick two, right?

'cuz I'd really love to see both LASS/CLAS-D combat used and see espionage/diplomatic missions as opposed to units. Also just about everything from don Don's original SUPPLY, MOVEMENT, etc. posts. Okay that makes three.

If I have to settle for one

I'll pick the combat.

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Theben
Co-Moderator of the Civ3 Forums

raingoon · February 18, 2000, 04:31

Seeker, scenario editor already nominated. Care to add to that thread by seconding and nominate another idea?

Theben, could you be a little more descriptive about what combat your talking about?

(Korn469, aside from where I've asked for clarification, this thread is current up to this post -- she's all yers!)
[This message has been edited by raingoon (edited February 18, 2000).]

Zanzibar · February 18, 2000, 08:23

Introduction of Tourism in the game.
Certain buildings (obsolete Wonders, "World's Biggest"-s, museums, hotels, casinos, "Disney Land"-s, etc), some natural resources (for example: wine, snowy mountains), natural wonders, a good reputation, a well-developed infrastructure and ...(I don't know what else, I'll wait for your ideas), to generate extra money: tourism gold.

Adm.Naismith · February 18, 2000, 08:35

Simultaneous turns of play - During a turn, every AI and human player place his/her/its order, (dynamic as movement or attack, to alert as counter fire or sentry or simply building & management). When every player end the turn the computer (as a "game master") put in effect and resolve every order. Units in movement can fall in ambush, defensive units (if alerted) react to attack more realistically, fighter scramble, nuclear MAD, etc.
You can see all this happening as a continuos animation (computer zooming here and there without the loss of general scenario).

Some rules are needed to resolve conflicting orders (you can't fund adiacent city by different settler, can't end same Wonder in two different cities, etc.) but you can have a better use of time (better multiplayer support, not PBEM), and some mix of TBS and RTS strong points.

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Adm.Naismith AKA mcostant

Matthevv · February 18, 2000, 09:59

Rise and fall of empires. As your empire expands, it should be increasingly likely to be split by civil war, rebellion, etc. In the end all empires would disintegrate, and you would have to start again to try and build a new one.

Steve Clark · February 18, 2000, 14:44

To be able to PAUSE during the AI moves. Sometimes when the AI is attacking (in CivII), battles go by very quickly and then the map jumps to another battle or to move somewhere. By pausing after each battle or move (perhaps an optional dialog box with a continue control?), the user is better able to determine what the AI is coming at you with.