New Time Scale suggestion

Master Zen · February 7, 2003, 02:26

Hola,

I dunno about you guys but I think the vanilla Time Scale used in Civ3 is a bit off. Every game I've played, no matter the map size ends up with the technology not matching the historical time period.

I decided to use the Civ2 time scale and found it to be much more accurate. Another thing I didn't like from the CIv3 time scale is that 1 year-turns begin only until 1950 compared to 1850 in Civ2.

So for all of you who might want to mod the Time Scale (found in Scenario Properties, though I don't remember if it was availiable in Civ3, I've been playing PTW), here's the Civ2 data:

Base unit of time: Years
Starting Date: 4000 BC

First 50 turns = 50 units (4000 BC-1500 BC)
Next 50 turns = 25 units (1500 BC-250 BC)
Next 50 turns = 25 units (250 BC-1000AD)
Next 50 turns = 10 units (1000-1500)
Next 50 turns = 5 units (1500-1750)
Next 50 turns = 2 units (1750-1850)
Next 50 turns = 1 units (1850-)

Enjoy

Optimizer · February 7, 2003, 05:33

I think that the time scale should have been possible to edit. I doubt it'll change in Civ 3, though.

You should post this in the Civ Games General/Future forums.

Alex · February 7, 2003, 08:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Optimizer
I think that the time scale should have been possible to edit. I doubt it'll change in Civ 3, though.

You should post this in the Civ Games General/Future forums.

Huh? I thought he said that he modded the game to include the Civ2 time scale and that he was pleased with the results.

Optimizer · February 7, 2003, 10:06

OK, so you can change it in PTW?

Well, that'd be a reason to buy it...

Flash · February 7, 2003, 12:16

He was my time scale:
Ancient Era:
Copper Age: 7000 BC -- 4000 BC
Bronze Age: 4000 BC -- 1000 BC
Iron Age: 1000 BC -- 500 AD

Middle Ages ERA:
Middle ages: 500 AD -- 1500 AD
Renaissance/ Age of Reason: 1500 -- 1750 AD

Industrial Era:
Industrial Revolution: 1750 Ad -- 1850 AD
Age of Steam/ Electrical Age: 1850 to 1950

Modern age:
Information age: 1950 to present

Breakdown:
First 75 turns = 40 units each;
next 150 turns = 20 units each;
next 150 turns = 10 units each;
next 200 turns = 5 units each;
next 125 turns = 2 units each;
next 100 turns = 1 unit each;
next 100 turns = 1 unit each;
last 100 turns = 1 unit each

Master Zen · February 7, 2003, 12:23

Yeah, you can mod it in PTW.

Firaxis should have announced all these "little things" in PTW since more people would have bought it.

Moddable time scales, naming all units, incresed map size and bombing ranges, they never did tell us about this and I find it to be really cool additions.

WarpStorm · February 7, 2003, 12:49

Sure Firaxis did. A lot of these were mentioned in the various chats.

Optimizer · February 7, 2003, 13:01

When I get my hands on PTW (if I can find it cheap enough) I'm gonna try a "flatter" timeline with less difference in the turns/year quota. This way the ancient age will last longer.

I'm gonna balance this with higher cost for ancient techs, a higher price for Settlers and Workers in the beginning, and more work cost for terrain improvements.

Master Zen · February 7, 2003, 13:02

well, being a newbie to Apolyton, I got my PTW info from the www.civ3.com site and none of these things were ever mentioned.

Optimizer · February 7, 2003, 13:10

What's the original time scale?

WarpStorm · February 7, 2003, 15:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Master Zen
well, being a newbie to Apolyton, I got my PTW info from the www.civ3.com site and none of these things were ever mentioned.

That is probably the worst place to go for info anymore. When Infogrames took over running it from Firaxis, they have pretty much ignored it. They don't even have all the patches on that site.

SuperSlinky · February 7, 2003, 22:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Optimizer
When I get my hands on PTW (if I can find it cheap enough) I'm gonna try a "flatter" timeline with less difference in the turns/year quota. This way the ancient age will last longer.

I'm gonna balance this with higher cost for ancient techs, a higher price for Settlers and Workers in the beginning, and more work cost for terrain improvements.

The problem with this is that the game might be over in the ancient era if it lasts longer. You will expand more in the ancient era, you will make contact with more rivals in the ancient era, and the big wars will begin sooner. There may not be much need for a modern era if the game is played out in the ancient era. Your idea would work better with the largest maps I would think.

Optimizer · February 10, 2003, 11:13

I think it can be handled by the measures I mentioned.