I Hate That Stupid Draft Button.

The Mad Monk · March 1, 2003, 17:19

Look at it. Just sitting there, so tiny, so innocent looking, so BLOODY FREAKING EASY to hit when rush building!!!!

If there was one design item I'd change in city view, it would be to have an "Are You Sure?" box open for that button, just as they do for rush building.

Chemical Ollie · March 1, 2003, 19:21

I have never used it. What is it for?

badams52 · March 1, 2003, 22:21

I know what you're saying, but it's only happened to me a couple of times. Just right click on the city from the outside, don't go to the city screen when rushing buildings. You'll have less headaches that way.

BTW, you can also mess up when right clicking too, it's just not as easy.

wilbill · March 2, 2003, 02:48

Quote:

Originally posted by Olaf Hårfagre
I have never used it. What is it for?

It creates a Conscript defensive unit.
I agree, M. Monk. After months of scarcely noticing the button was even there, a couple of weeks ago I started hitting it every time I wanted to rush something. The rotten thing should be moved to a separate screen by itself, lol.

Skanky Burns · March 2, 2003, 07:15

The conscript has 2 hit-points. It also creates unrest in the city for 20 years (cumulative) and reduces the city population by 1.

alva · March 2, 2003, 11:41

I know what you mean.

I too had a lot of problems with it changing from Civ to PTW.
Now it still happens from time to time, it isn't the best placed button, but please no more pop-ups

pedrojedi · March 2, 2003, 13:10

Isn't the hurry production just below the Abadon City option in the right-click menu? I don't know, but I did have a major screw up once when right-clicking to rush.

badams52 · March 2, 2003, 13:24

Pedro,

You are correct. It's just I've had less trouble accidently drafting with right click as opposed to city screen.

Another thing is sometimes instead of clicking the diplomacy button, I click just a little to the left of it which ends my turn.

So I've began using shift-D instead.

Daz · March 3, 2003, 10:02

So thats why the cities I conquered have the draft-related unrest. It stays even if the city falls to another player...

BTW... never used draft...

Master Zen · March 3, 2003, 13:44

I had an itchy trigger finger with the draft button at first.

Then I realized that drafting units causes unhappiness for 20 turns....

Datajack Franit · March 3, 2003, 15:54

hooray for draft as it saved my butt against the evil french who seized Berlin and Leipzig

Arrian · March 3, 2003, 16:06

I've hit that button by mistake a couple of times too, TMM. I feel your pain[/slick willy voice]

I cannot recall ever deliberately using the draft.

-Arrian

PrinceBimz · March 3, 2003, 17:39

Just be careful not to hit it by mistake. Anyway drafting has saved my butt so many times. Especially if an unexpected war breaks out and you are outnumbered. Run to your largest cities near the enemy and start drafing. Better to draft then to lose your city and have the AI burn it down. At least you can rebuild in time. Even though those drafties are untrained rookies better then nothing.

Datajack Franit · March 3, 2003, 18:09

AI burning down a city built thousands of years ago

The Mad Monk · March 4, 2003, 04:44

Quote:

Originally posted by badams52
I know what you're saying, but it's only happened to me a couple of times. Just right click on the city from the outside, don't go to the city screen when rushing buildings. You'll have less headaches that way.

BTW, you can also mess up when right clicking too, it's just not as easy.

I usually use the arrows on either side of the city's name in city view to jump from city to city - really convenient, especially if you have a large number and / or really spread out cities. So for me it's usually jump to next city - click rush button - confirm - jump to next city - click rush button - confirm - jump to next city - click rush button - confirm - jump to next city - click draft button - #$@&^%@%#$%@ - jump to next city - click rush button - confirm - etc.

Theseus · March 5, 2003, 00:36

Yep, bugs the crap outta me too. I hit it all the time (I'm a big-time drafter too... 12 pop before hospitals is a waste).

Not as bad as declaring war by accident, though...

Arrian · March 5, 2003, 11:15

Theseus,

What do you do with those drafted units? Do you throw them into the fray, or do you disband for shields in the hinterlands?

-Arrian

Datajack Franit · March 5, 2003, 11:53

Why do you press the draft button anyway? I press the "H" key (a good old relic, back at the time I used to play SMAC using the keyboard only... aaah

pedrojedi · March 5, 2003, 12:56

Never drafted, and now that I confirmed (I did not know that) that only size 7+ cities can draft, now I feel compelled to almost never do it. Tried my first non-AI-mood-controlled game, and, even though it felt different (dificult! man, if you don't train it...), it was not a big great difference after all... at least in this first (won! uhu!) game.

Theseus · March 6, 2003, 17:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Arrian
Theseus,

What do you do with those drafted units? Do you throw them into the fray, or do you disband for shields in the hinterlands?

-Arrian

Disbanding (I do this a LOT)
Back-up defense (they're not so bad in a mountain fortress)
Interior defense (left over from Civ2... I hate empty cities)
Maginot Lines
Garrisoning resistors

I'll use them in battle when outrageously advantage... Germany or some other bastard shows up with a stack of 30 Infantry, I arty them down to redline, and then get an awful lot of my conscripts and regs promoted.

alva · March 6, 2003, 18:05

Quote:

Disbanding (I do this a LOT)

Although a very good tactic, it does feel to me like an exploit.
(I use it too though

)

Kampus majore · March 7, 2003, 07:47

I use it from time to time as well. Usually in the infantry period or later. Because by then you have 12 pop cities without sanitation. It is a waste to let thet extra food go to waste!

It has saved my butt as well one time. I was badly outnumbered and the Russians started a war with loads of cossacks, mostly regular. I was under monarchy at that time, so I could draft even two per city! Then march them to the front (with railroad no problem!). Sure it was mostly cannonfodder, but it stopped them and gave me an opportunity to build REAL units.

Well it was before the 1.29f (even pre 1.21 I think) patch though, so the unhappiness was probably less than it is now....

Traelin · March 7, 2003, 11:06

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Look at it. Just sitting there, so tiny, so innocent looking, so BLOODY FREAKING EASY to hit when rush building!!!!

If there was one design item I'd change in city view, it would be to have an "Are You Sure?" box open for that button, just as they do for rush building.

Good God do I agree. I can't even tell you how many times I've accidentally hit that thing.