I've never played a single game of Civ2!

aaglo · November 20, 2002, 10:05

So that's why I have a question for you civ2-vets.

Now I have civ3, and soon I'll have the PTW-expansion to it. Now, should I buy civ2? Is it worth it, or would it disappoint me?

Straybow · November 20, 2002, 11:07

Well, there are enough differences between Civ3 and Civ2 to give them radically different flavors. What is it you are looking for in a game? Civ3 used trade only for strategic resources (plus automatic luxury trade within the nation), which many of us hard-core Civ2ers found boring. Many of us found the culture flipping to be a complete game killer.

We really like hunting for good trade payoffs and building up the trade routes of a city (which add trade arrows just like the trade arrows received from working a tile). And no flippin' culture flipping!

For $10 how can you go wrong? I think I saw Civ2 MGE (multiplayer, but stand-alone unlike PTW) at the local Babbages/EB for $15.99.

DaveV · November 20, 2002, 11:23

Quote:

Originally posted by aaglo
Now, should I buy civ2? Is it worth it, or would it disappoint me?

I have a feeling it will disappoint you. Just as a lot of the Civ 2 vets have found Civ 3 unsatisfying, I think it would be just as hard to go the other way. Things that may bother you:

You'll find the AI appallingly passive. It expands slowly, and attacks with dribs and drabs of units. It's fairly easy to acquire and maintain a research lead.

Diplomacy has fewer options. You can demand or offer tribute, trade techs and units, ally, declare war or peace, and that's about it.

All the civs are identical. No civ-specific units nor abilities.

Graphics are a lot more primitive.

There are a large number of well-known exploits, some of which are game-breakers.

On the other side of the coin, Civ 2 has a much larger and better-developed tech tree, more units, and more choices in strategy. The consensus on the Civ 2 forums is that Civ 3 is a prettier, but shallower, game.

Straybow · November 20, 2002, 11:48

Hey, DaveV, did you change your avatar? I thought you had a size 5 "Boston" rather than a size 2 "2Boston"

Rasbelin · November 20, 2002, 12:04

If you buy Civ II, you'll understand better why Stella Polaris should have more elements from Civ II than it now has.

DaveV · November 20, 2002, 12:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Straybow
Hey, DaveV, did you change your avatar? I thought you had a size 5 "Boston" rather than a size 2 "2Boston"

No, it's the same as it's been since I created it. It's an in-game shot of a case where I was on my second pass through the city list. I don't like the default naming convention of having cities named "Boston" and "Boston 2" because I can't tell their units apart.

*** we now return our readers to the topic...

H Tower · November 21, 2002, 02:22

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveV
All the civs are identical. No civ-specific units nor abilities.

that's true unless you play the scenarios. Which, btw, are completely kickass.

Scenarios IMO are the best part of civ2

Rasbelin · November 21, 2002, 03:29

I agree with H Tower and I add that the true multitasking on the Windows desktop is also one reason why Civ II is great entertainment while working.

Ming · November 21, 2002, 04:23

There is still a strong communtiy for Civ II MP. It is indeed a different game from Civ III, and works a heck of lot better at this point in time.

If it is cheap, buy it... and join us in the Civ II MP forum

aaglo · November 21, 2002, 04:52

Well, thanks for the advices/tips/whatever.

Unfortunately I don't play MP (for now atleast), so you wouldn't see me at MP-forums. Especially when I know that you all have played this game for 7 years, and me being a newbie... I would propably be slaughtered in a few turns...

And another thing: where can I find more time, if I buy this game? Should I shorten my sleep and work time?

anyway, thank you. I'll consider buying civ2. Your comments seem couraging enough.

H Tower · November 21, 2002, 05:08

drop by the Scenario League forum when you get the game and the friendly posters will be glad to point out to you their favorite scenarios

aaglo · November 21, 2002, 05:24

H Tower -

Somehow your comment seems sarcastic...

H Tower · November 21, 2002, 05:25

i wasn't trying to be, its just really late here right now, we really are nice people

aaglo · November 21, 2002, 05:27

Now you are only making the impression worse...

atawa · November 21, 2002, 06:48

If you allready play civ3 then learning civ2 wouldnt take much time.
Just read up in the strategy section and start playing MP here or on the zone: www.zone.com

Another good way is to join our Democracygame for civ2 (Link in my sig)

-Jrabbit · November 21, 2002, 09:27

Nice pitch, atawa!

Straybow · November 21, 2002, 13:17

Better yet, join one of our succession games. As each player takes a round of turns you can see how they play their own style, and then kibitz, carp, and spar with each other. We're gentle with newbies, too, since we're playing with each other instead of against each other.

Scouse Gits · November 21, 2002, 15:22

Yes...well said Straybow. We have great fun playing succession games.

I do browse the Democracy threads from time to time and it seems there's too much talking and not enough action. The worst thing is they never post their game saves. If I have to make a decision about a game I want to look at all aspects of play... not just a series of selected and mostly meaningless screen shots

---------------------------

SG(2)

Rasbelin · November 21, 2002, 15:45

Quote:

Originally posted by aaglo

Unfortunately I don't play MP (for now atleast), so you wouldn't see me at MP-forums. Especially when I know that you all have played this game for 7 years, and me being a newbie... I would propably be slaughtered in a few turns...

Well, Aaglo, you don't have to worry about being slaughtered. Just join in for the unofficial Civ II MP team of SPDT. Currently I, GW and Blake are ones that have Civ II UCC, so you can well join in when we start playing. Hopefully we get some other SPDT members too playing.

Rasbelin · November 21, 2002, 15:49

Hey, I forgot to add that because of time zone issues, you might prefer to play with Finnish Apolytoners from the Suomithreadi. At least Andemagne and I play Civ II MP. I'm not sure if there's others, but you can check that by asking in the Suomithreadi.

Alex · November 21, 2002, 15:50

come on, aaglo, buy it. best bang for the buck of all time.

geez, this must be my first post in this forum since... I can't remember.

Straybow · November 21, 2002, 21:11

That coming from a die-hard SMACer is high praise indeed.

Jac de Molay · November 26, 2002, 13:04

Civ 2 is still better that civ3, IMO. Though I smac best of all.

aaglo · November 27, 2002, 09:49

Oh crap... I can't find civ2 on any of my local stores...

Rasbelin · November 27, 2002, 10:58

Actually you can't get Civ II anywhere in Finland as new.

But no problem, Agel Bagel.

There's two copies of Civ II (original) on auction at Huuto.Net. The bids are now 6 and 10 €. You can find them by following this link.

Straybow · November 27, 2002, 20:50

We Yanks get a blank square… curious what your currency name and symbol would be (and rough exchange rate).

Cedric Greene · November 27, 2002, 22:07

Show's up fine for me Straybow....

The Pioneer · November 28, 2002, 11:07

Well the curency is called the Euro and it's roughly one to one.

aaglo, since you cannot shorten your sleeping or work time, maybe you should try it during work

! I for one thing don't "loose" time on Apolyton from home, where I usually play games. But I do post from work on Apolyton

!

So long...

PS: I still remember my days as a student when I could carefree play for 48 hours straight!

Dis · December 2, 2002, 05:01

heretic!

St Leo · December 2, 2002, 20:20

Why not try cEvo? The micromanagement load is much lower than in Civ2.