railroads and superhighways

[LoneSnark]

I think that the writers of Civ3 have overlooked just how massive a growth in trade the world has experienced in the modern era. In Civ2, the modern era was when trade really did explode. Railroads increased trade 50%, and, the city improvement SuperHighways would increase per square trade another 50%. However, in Civ3, railroads no longer serve this function. (they only increase mine or irrigation productivity by one, instead of by 50% in Civ2. Of course, the construction of railroads and later paved highways not only exploded trade in Civ2 but even more-so in real life.

But what would this mean to the gameplay if railroads and highways did increase trade? Well, modern advances would have to cost more to offset the boom in trade, but what for those civilizations who do not have coal or iron and cannot build railways? Not only would their production and unit movement be hindered but they would also fall behind in research. And when the automobile is invented there would be another chance for disaster if they do not have access to rubber and thus cannot build the new superhighways and once again fall economically behind.

So, perhaps it is good that they discontinued the trade boost of railways and cut out superhighways all together. But I still miss them :-)

[barefootbadass]

As far as I remember railroads provided no trade bonus to squares that had them in civ2, they only increased shields in squares with mines. Civ2 did have something like a superhighway city improvement, which had some effect on trade, can't remember exactly what it was. That's a good idea, but having a worker improvement to do that I think would clutter up the game.

[LoneSnark]

I am affraid you are mistaken. I have Civ2 right here :-)

http://152.7.61.232/civ3/civ2rail.jpg

Railroads increased both trade and shield production by 50% (rounded down of course :-)

[LoneSnark]

Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, here is the civilopedia entry for SuperHighways !

http://152.7.61.232/civ3/civ2super.jpg

[The Mad Monk]

Not just railroads--all roads worked that way for trade.

Nothing sweeter than a spice square with a road running through it.

[moi]

in civ2, roads increase the trade of certain squares by 1. rails have no effect on the trade of squares. superhighways boost trade on roads or rails by 50%. if your civlopedia says something to the contrary, it's wrong. test it out if you dont believe me.

[LoneSnark]

moi is right. I just ran Civ2 and low and behold building railroad on a square already producing three trade did nothing to trade. Yet, the civilopedia clearly states that both trade and shield production goes up 50%... I wonder why I never noticed this little error all the days I spent playing Civ2...

Alright then, I still miss the SuperHighways. :-)

[barefootbadass]

Originally posted by LoneSnark

Alright then, I still miss the SuperHighways. :-)

You could make a city improvement in the editor that adds 50% to research, trade, and luxury output. This would simulate that effect I think.

[star mouse]

Originally posted by LoneSnark
moi is right. I just ran Civ2 and low and behold building railroad on a square already producing three trade did nothing to trade. Yet, the civilopedia clearly states that both trade and shield production goes up 50%... I wonder why I never noticed this little error all the days I spent playing Civ2...

Did you check the total shield and trade produced in the city before and after? The extra 50% might not show up on the square but instead might be shown in the totals for the city.

[DrFell]

Railroads definitely don't produce 50% more trade, that's superhighways. And it is silly to leave them out of civ3.