Thread Tools
Old February 16, 2003, 16:05   #1
Optimizer
Prince
 
Optimizer's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 698
Are civ-specific abilities racist?
In Civ 1 & 2, the civilizations differed only in their starting locations and their AI properties.

In SMAC the factions had several different properties. That made sense since they consisted of people with different backgrounds, values and equipment.

Civ 3 came up with special advantages for each civs and a unique unit for everyone. I have several objections to these features.

1: Many of the unique units are dependent on a specific kind of terrain. For instance, the Man-of-War and the Berserker are of little value if your empire is land based, and the Keshik is not very useful if there are no mountains nearby.

2: Since the traits and unique units differ a lot in strength, they make the game unbalanced.

3: You lose the opportunity of leading a civilization against its real history. I want the possibility to make the Zulu a peaceful civilization.

4: The featues suggest that the people of the included civilizations have natural attributes that do not change during 6000 years. This is not only unreal, it can also be called racism.

5: The game would be nicer if the entire unit gallery was available for all civs.

Can these features be edited away?

Well, you can give all specific traits to all civs. If you don't want to make golden ages harder to achieve through wonder-building, you could add more traits to the wonders.

The unique units could be available to all civs if you have the right techs and resources. Probably you would have to add some extra resources and techs to give all units their right place.
__________________
The difference between industrial society and information society:
In an industrial society you take a shower when you have come home from work.
In an information society you take a shower before leaving for work.

Last edited by Optimizer; February 16, 2003 at 16:12.
Optimizer is offline  
Old February 16, 2003, 18:09   #2
Az
Emperor
 
Local Time: 22:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: A pub.
Posts: 3,161
Good points. However, the game also uses real historical military units, so it IS very much predetermined.

It's just a game though, and I don't think that any damage is done.
__________________
urgh.NSFW
Az is offline  
Old February 17, 2003, 17:36   #3
Amesjustin
NationStatesAlpha Centauri PBEMCivilization III PBEM
Warlord
 
Amesjustin's Avatar
 
Local Time: 12:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: of nothing
Posts: 287
The game just reflects the national attitude that nation had in its height of power, and the UU represent the areas of military power those countries possessed. True you cannot always use them, but that just adds randomness (and for me the fun) of the game.

Since the attributes are civ-specific, not race-specific, I don't see labeling this as racism.
__________________
Get 84 Resources, 96 Resources, or the NEW 153 Resources! Get Rockier Bonus Grassland versions1.0 or 2.0! Get My Mix of Snoopy and Womocks early terrain! Get Varied Goody Huts!
Upcoming Mods - Optimator (with over 1000 new units!!!) & Godzilla, Revenge of the Kaiju!
I am in dire need of new dino and Kaiju units!
Amesjustin is offline  
Old February 18, 2003, 01:24   #4
Wycoff
Prince
 
Wycoff's Avatar
 
Local Time: 14:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 691
You can still play the Zulus as a peaceful civ, if you want to do so.

Civ traits and UUs were added to give the game a little variety. Civ 2 civs were pretty boring. The extra spice that Civ 3 has brought makes it much more exciting. Personally, I always hated having English War elephants and Sioux Legions. I don't find this racist at all. Different civs were stronger in different areas. This is just a simplification of their historical strengths, added to differentiate between and make the civ choice a significant one.
__________________
I'm about to get aroused from watching the pokemon and that's awesome. - Pekka
Wycoff is offline  
Old February 18, 2003, 06:16   #5
Elden
Chieftain
 
Elden's Avatar
 
Local Time: 05:17
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 45
The only problem I have with civ traits is some choices make no sense. For example Rome should be Religious - The city of Rome contains the Vatican - The Vatican is the centre of the Catholic Religion - The Catholic Religion is one of the most major Religions in the world.
__________________
Unfairly Banned at Civfanatics twice...
To protest the war I am using the UN Flag - Howard has said most Australians are for the war so clearly I am not an Aussie.
Elden is offline  
Old February 18, 2003, 12:52   #6
Dauphin
Civilization IV PBEMPolyCast Team
Deity
 
Dauphin's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Seouenaca, Cantium
Posts: 12,426
All the issues raised in the first post could be resolved by modability. I don't think its racist either.
__________________
"Everybody knows you never go full retard. You went full retard man. Never go full retard"
Dauphin is offline  
Old February 18, 2003, 18:38   #7
joncnunn
Civilization III Democracy GameC3C IDG: Apolyton TeamCivilization III PBEMApolyton UniversityC3CDG Team BabylonApolyton Storywriters' GuildCiv4 SP Democracy GameC4DG SarantiumC4BtSDG Templars
Emperor
 
joncnunn's Avatar
 
Local Time: 14:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Maryland Heights, MO
Posts: 6,188
Re: Are civ-specific abilities racist?
#1: Man-Of-War is never useful for the same reason that the Frigate is never useful. Iron Clads would need to be pushed back in the tree to make Frigates / Man of War useful.

Bersker would stilll be of great use without the ampehous assult. It's attack factor is 6! Escort them with Pike Men initally and upgrade the escorts to Musket Men later.

Isn't the Keshick cheaper than the standard Knight? This makes for a cheaper upgrade from Horsemen than normal at first and faster builds of new Kehicks later.

#2: Difference in starting terraigns is far more unbalancing than the traights in SP.

#3: You can still do so if you wish. See in the stategrey forum the thread Military Traight: It's Not Just for War Monglers. The AI is going to play the Zulu warlike, but that has more to do with the AI flags set for this race that the raw charestics.

#4: The traights are based on the civs at a specific time frame.

For instance, prior to what is now known as the French & Indian war, there was no American civ; virtually every Colonial saw themselves as Englishmen. And in their inital protests against the King & Parliment, they appealed to their rights as Englishmen. It was only later that they appealed to universal rights.

Egypt is clearly based on the first dynasty that built the Pyraimds dispite the poor choice of leader.

The Irqouis civ even has a UU that historically, they never used.

#5: That's editable; athough I note that the simplestic approach will result in several not being around.
(In Classic Civ III, Swordmen upgrades to Legionary which upgrades to Immortals. This was done to permit both Rome and Persia to build Warriors and upgrade to their UUs)

You'd also want to remove the trigures the GA flag.

Quote:
Originally posted by Optimizer

1: Many of the unique units are dependent on a specific kind of terrain. For instance, the Man-of-War and the Berserker are of little value if your empire is land based, and the Keshik is not very useful if there are no mountains nearby.

2: Since the traits and unique units differ a lot in strength, they make the game unbalanced.

3: You lose the opportunity of leading a civilization against its real history. I want the possibility to make the Zulu a peaceful civilization.

4: The featues suggest that the people of the included civilizations have natural attributes that do not change during 6000 years. This is not only unreal, it can also be called racism.

5: The game would be nicer if the entire unit gallery was available for all civs.

Can these features be edited away?

Well, you can give all specific traits to all civs. If you don't want to make golden ages harder to achieve through wonder-building, you could add more traits to the wonders.

The unique units could be available to all civs if you have the right techs and resources. Probably you would have to add some extra resources and techs to give all units their right place.
__________________
1st C3DG Term 7 Science Advisor 1st C3DG Term 8 Domestic Minister
Templar Science Minister
AI: I sure wish Jon would hurry up and complete his turn, he's been at it for over 1,200,000 milliseconds now. :mad:
joncnunn is offline  
Old February 18, 2003, 18:48   #8
joncnunn
Civilization III Democracy GameC3C IDG: Apolyton TeamCivilization III PBEMApolyton UniversityC3CDG Team BabylonApolyton Storywriters' GuildCiv4 SP Democracy GameC4DG SarantiumC4BtSDG Templars
Emperor
 
joncnunn's Avatar
 
Local Time: 14:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Maryland Heights, MO
Posts: 6,188
The Roman civ is clearly based Rome at the time of Julius Ceaser & Augustus.

The way Civ III uses the Religious traight, the Roman civ at the time clearly doesn't belong with them.

What Rome has known for was:

1. Best Military in the Known World. (Represented by Military)

2. Building numeous roads, and placing their cities in the road-network of Rome. (Represented by Commercial)

Their UU makes sense, Rome used Legionaries as both their main line attack unit and their main line defense unit.

The bigest thing from history left out about the Roman UU in Civ III is that their Legionaries built Roads where there wasn't any.

I'm fairly sure that the ability was left out of Civ III for balance reasons, and I agree with leaving that ability out.

Quote:
Originally posted by Elden
The only problem I have with civ traits is some choices make no sense. For example Rome should be Religious - The city of Rome contains the Vatican - The Vatican is the centre of the Catholic Religion - The Catholic Religion is one of the most major Religions in the world.
__________________
1st C3DG Term 7 Science Advisor 1st C3DG Term 8 Domestic Minister
Templar Science Minister
AI: I sure wish Jon would hurry up and complete his turn, he's been at it for over 1,200,000 milliseconds now. :mad:
joncnunn is offline  
Old February 22, 2003, 09:32   #9
Beren
Warlord
 
Beren's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Holland
Posts: 277
Hmm... they are commercial, because they built roads? Hitler built a lot of roads for his military too (again with as a positive side effect: economic advantages). I think a better representation for this point would be industruous.
More important: ancient economies did not really trade over roads: they traded over sea. Sea transport was five times cheaper than river transport, which was five times cheaper than road transport. In the Paxa Romana a lot of economic gain was made by specialisation, because there was little piracy, peace and one ruler in the Mediterrean. Yet again, the peace was not established because the Romans wanted a better economy. The possibilities of expanding the Roman empire into the north and south were simply not profitable. The attempts of war with Persia sometimes were and in fact this was the only place in which the Romans engaged war (in the first two centuries AD)
My point is: the Romans were not commercial. I have pleaded before and I will plead again for a new trait that would fit the Romans: universal. The Roman army system made it possible for everybody to become quickly integrated into the empire and gain a Roman feeling. They did this by toleration to religion and integrating the new people into their army.
The practical outlook in Civ3 would be: conquered people more rapidly turn Roman, non-Romans are less likely to resist your rule.
Beren is offline  
Old February 22, 2003, 09:34   #10
Beren
Warlord
 
Beren's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Holland
Posts: 277
Let me say this before you bring it up: the wars with the German Barbarians were because Germans violated the Roman borders. In the first two centuries AD these wars were not numerous (except in the end.)
Oh and then there is Traian who conquered Daccia, which was not really profitable, but that was merely a prestige matter.
Beren is offline  
Old February 22, 2003, 09:40   #11
Palaiologos
Civilization II PBEM
King
 
Palaiologos's Avatar
 
Local Time: 19:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Constantinople, Queen of Cities
Posts: 1,563
Pomans IMHO opinion should be Militaristic and Industrious.

As for the racism thing i think it is not a valid argument.

Racism would be if the Zulus had one trait and the Engilsh f.e had three.
Palaiologos is offline  
Old February 22, 2003, 10:00   #12
Beren
Warlord
 
Beren's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Holland
Posts: 277
Maybe it is a bit racist. I mean Germans are not fundamentally different from French. And they only became very scientific after the French occupation. The militarism is the Prussian influence in the German civ and is in fact not at all of applicance on present day Germany (with all the pacifism). But in fact we would like the game to ressemble the way the civilizations did work out to be. The idea of Civilization 3 is like: hey, wouldn't it be cool if Hannibal and Alexander allied up against the Romans which would seek support from the Zulus. The civs simply do have to apply to a certain image we have from them. If they don't we might as well add 16 fictuous non-meanful civs. (Like the Frectadorians, the Hallians, the Callians, the Nathusians or something like that).
Beren is offline  
Old February 22, 2003, 11:47   #13
Optimizer
Prince
 
Optimizer's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 698
Maybe you should be able to choose one civ trait, and only be allowed to change it at a great cost. That would be something for a future civ game.
__________________
The difference between industrial society and information society:
In an industrial society you take a shower when you have come home from work.
In an information society you take a shower before leaving for work.
Optimizer is offline  
Old February 22, 2003, 13:52   #14
Datajack Franit
NationStates
King
 
Datajack Franit's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Italia
Posts: 2,036
A religious Rome is a nonsense, as the Roman Empire became a Christian Empire in the last century of its history, causing its fall as well
__________________
I will never understand why some people on Apolyton find you so clever. You're predictable, mundane, and a google-whore and the most observant of us all know this. Your battles of "wits" rely on obscurity and whenever you fail to find something sufficiently obscure, like this, you just act like a 5 year old. Congratulations, molly.

Asher on molly bloom
Datajack Franit is offline  
Old February 25, 2003, 14:11   #15
Master Zen
PtWDG Glory of WarApolytoners Hall of FameInterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamSpanish CiversPtWDG2 Latin LoversC3C IDG: Apolyton TeamC4DG Gathering Storm
Deity
 
Master Zen's Avatar
 
Local Time: 13:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: of naughty
Posts: 10,579
I wonder, can you un-check "Civ-specific abilities" at the start and not get their UU? Never tried this.

I for one, do not think it is racist and give the same a little spice. Makes civ-selection a little more thoughful. Coming back to Civ2, it looks bland with all civs the same.
__________________
A true ally stabs you in the front.

Secretary General of the U.N. & IV Emperor of the Glory of War PTWDG | VIII Consul of Apolyton PTW ISDG | GoWman in Stormia CIVDG | Lurker Troll Extraordinaire C3C ISDG Final | V Gran Huevote Team Latin Lover | Webmaster Master Zen Online | CivELO (3°)
Master Zen is offline  
Old February 25, 2003, 15:41   #16
Abdul-Aziz
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 22:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Land of Eternal Truth
Posts: 75
I think ir is not racist...

BTW, datajack, Romans also had their own religion, not only Christianity...
Abdul-Aziz is offline  
Old February 25, 2003, 15:51   #17
XarXo
Prince
 
XarXo's Avatar
 
Local Time: 19:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: of the "I agree"
Posts: 459
Everything could be thought as racism (or better say "exclusionist").

For example, men doesn't have menstruation, so an Amazoness Civ should have a menstruation implementation in the game.

This is not racism, but BAD FOCUS on ideas!

The good thing to add in the game about this hipotetical Amazoness civ should be "because they doen't have men" no "because they are only women".

So, what about and higher growth rate just because they have higher higienic level?

(Yes yes, this example is SO RUDE!)
__________________
Signature: Optional signature you may use to appear at bottom of your posts
XarXo is offline  
Old February 25, 2003, 17:14   #18
Abdul-Aziz
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 22:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Land of Eternal Truth
Posts: 75
XarXo, how could they have growth rate at all if they're only women?
Abdul-Aziz is offline  
Old February 25, 2003, 17:55   #19
Dauphin
Civilization IV PBEMPolyCast Team
Deity
 
Dauphin's Avatar
 
Local Time: 20:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: Seouenaca, Cantium
Posts: 12,426
Quote:
Originally posted by Abdul-Aziz
BTW, datajack, Romans also had their own religion, not only Christianity...
Not exactly their own religion, they stole it from the Greeks.
__________________
"Everybody knows you never go full retard. You went full retard man. Never go full retard"
Dauphin is offline  
Old February 26, 2003, 11:05   #20
XarXo
Prince
 
XarXo's Avatar
 
Local Time: 19:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: of the "I agree"
Posts: 459
Quote:
Originally posted by Abdul-Aziz
XarXo, how could they have growth rate at all if they're only women?
Imagine that as a good reason for a war. They invade a kingdom and steal the "best" males and use them as slaves.
__________________
Signature: Optional signature you may use to appear at bottom of your posts
XarXo is offline  
Old March 8, 2003, 13:17   #21
Quintrala
Chieftain
 
Quintrala's Avatar
 
Local Time: 15:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Viña del Mar, Reñaca. Chile
Posts: 55
Quote:
Originally posted by XarXo
They invade a kingdom and steal the "best" males and use them as slaves.
Good idea
__________________
A los niños les gusta jugar con soldaditos, y a las niñas, con muñecas. Cuando son mayores es al revés.

Sombra terrible de los Lisperger, voy a evocaros!
Quintrala is offline  
Old March 9, 2003, 04:17   #22
Master Zen
PtWDG Glory of WarApolytoners Hall of FameInterSite Democracy Game: Apolyton TeamSpanish CiversPtWDG2 Latin LoversC3C IDG: Apolyton TeamC4DG Gathering Storm
Deity
 
Master Zen's Avatar
 
Local Time: 13:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: of naughty
Posts: 10,579
But still they'll have to reproduce... where do I sign??
__________________
A true ally stabs you in the front.

Secretary General of the U.N. & IV Emperor of the Glory of War PTWDG | VIII Consul of Apolyton PTW ISDG | GoWman in Stormia CIVDG | Lurker Troll Extraordinaire C3C ISDG Final | V Gran Huevote Team Latin Lover | Webmaster Master Zen Online | CivELO (3°)
Master Zen is offline  
Old March 23, 2003, 10:07   #23
VJ
King
 
VJ's Avatar
 
Local Time: 19:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 2,247
Quote:
Are civ-specific abilities racist?
Yes. So?
VJ is offline  
Old March 23, 2003, 21:28   #24
Verto
Apolyton Storywriters' GuildNationStatesMac
King
 
Verto's Avatar
 
Local Time: 14:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 2,824
Quote:
Are civ-specific abilities racist?
Yes. And sexist. I am disenfranchised every time I play Civilization.
Verto is offline  
Old March 23, 2003, 21:37   #25
peterfharris
GalCiv Apolyton Empire
Prince
 
peterfharris's Avatar
 
Local Time: 19:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 350
I couldn't care less whether civ specific abilities are racist or not. Anyway, I do not think they are racist, they are nothing more than a means of adding interest to a game by allowing for different strategies.
peterfharris is offline  
Old March 23, 2003, 22:06   #26
Sava
PolyCast Team
Emperor
 
Sava's Avatar
 
Local Time: 14:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: mmmm sweet
Posts: 3,041
I hope the ACLU doesn't browse these forums
__________________
(\__/) "Sava is teh man" -Ecthy
(='.'=)
(")_(") bring me everyone
Sava is offline  
Old March 24, 2003, 17:47   #27
JCG
Prince
 
JCG's Avatar
 
Local Time: 14:47
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: between a rock and a hard place
Posts: 998
They're not racist from my POV....It would be interesting to see more civ-specific properties. But then again I'd like to see them as more of a series of optional paths you can choose: if you build/develop/do certain things, you gain one type of UU, etc.

Maybe that would make the game too abstract, but hey, it sounds good in theory.
__________________
DULCE BELLUM INEXPERTIS
JCG is offline  
 

Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 15:47.


Design by Vjacheslav Trushkin, color scheme by ColorizeIt!.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Apolyton Civilization Site | Copyright © The Apolyton Team