TheRealMaestro
Chieftain
I have played every game in Sid Meier's series up to Civ IV Vanilla
to know that I love the series. I still play Civ IV regularly and I
often use Civ II for simple war scenarios or even go back to the
original for nostalgia's sake.
In 2010, shortly after it came out, I also purchased Civ V Vanilla.
I only played it once and only to the Middle Ages (? Foggy memory.)
as my computer back then was barely able to handle the processing
power required. Since then, I have changed computers to a better
one, but I have also changed e-mail addresses and thus set up a
new Steam account.
I'm not sure as to whether I would rather purchase Beyond the Sword
for Civ IV, or the vanilla version of Civ V, given they both cost the
same amount. My computer can run Civ IV without lag and, though
I would need to look into it, I think it will be able to handle V without
problems.
Given that I know what Civ IV is like, but not Civ V, I'm not sure what
to do and so I turn to the Civ community for advice. Here are some
facts about how I play Civ, if it helps:
Factors pushing me towards Beyond the Sword/away from Civ V:
Factors pushing me towards Civ V:
Having weighed the advantages and disadvantages, I'm leaning
somewhat to Beyond the Sword but am still quite ambivalent.
The obvious solution of "just buy both" is not an option for
financial reasons. Does the Civ community have any advice as
to further benefits/drawbacks to each of the games? Answers
to my questions about moddability and game experience would
also be helpful in making my choice. I look forward to your
suggestions.
(Given that this could conceivably fit in either the Civ IV or the
Civ V forums, but those would for obvious reasons probably get
responses strongly in favour of one of the two, I thought that
this would be a more suitable place to post. If I would get more
responses elsewhere [or in a pair of cross-posts to the Civ IV
and V forums, if that's allowed?], please tell me.)
to know that I love the series. I still play Civ IV regularly and I
often use Civ II for simple war scenarios or even go back to the
original for nostalgia's sake.
In 2010, shortly after it came out, I also purchased Civ V Vanilla.
I only played it once and only to the Middle Ages (? Foggy memory.)
as my computer back then was barely able to handle the processing
power required. Since then, I have changed computers to a better
one, but I have also changed e-mail addresses and thus set up a
new Steam account.
I'm not sure as to whether I would rather purchase Beyond the Sword
for Civ IV, or the vanilla version of Civ V, given they both cost the
same amount. My computer can run Civ IV without lag and, though
I would need to look into it, I think it will be able to handle V without
problems.
Given that I know what Civ IV is like, but not Civ V, I'm not sure what
to do and so I turn to the Civ community for advice. Here are some
facts about how I play Civ, if it helps:
- I always prefer to play Civ IV at Noble, for the reason that (I think)
it puts the player and the A.I. at the same level, with no special bonuses
or handicaps and is so the most "realistic". - I am not the best at waging war (except in Civ Rev) and am not
very good at necessarily winning the game, although without fighting
I can build a prosperous civilisation. - There are various mods that I would want to make to customise
the game, regardless of which version I get. These would include
adding and removing certain civilisations, a complete overhaul of the
modern era, & cetera. I have an entire laundry list. - I enjoy playing historical scenarios that use the default units; think
of the "1000 AD" scenario of Civ IV, or the WWII/Rise of Rome scenarios
from Civ II. - I do not play any multi-player games.
Factors pushing me towards Beyond the Sword/away from Civ V:
- Simple familiarity - I know what it is like to play the vanilla version,
while concepts in Civ V (esp. social policies vs. civics) are unknown to me.
Of course this would fade once I play Civ V, if I choose to get it. - I like the idea of having multiple potential leaders for a single country.
- Civ IV drew a lot of its æsthetics, especially the music, from the original
Civilisation. Many countries' background music are re-mastered
versions of Civ I's music for them. I've been told, on the contrary,
that Civ V is radically different than the previous iterations in terms
of game experience. - I have heard that Civ IV is more easily modified and generally open
than Civ V is, though I obviously cannot confirm/deny this. If Civ V
is easily moddable, consider this problem gone. - I am not sure yet as to whether my current computer can handle
Civ V; I would need to look at the requirements.
Factors pushing me towards Civ V:
- City-states sound like a fun game concept.
- I'm curious to try the new game in Civ, counter-balancing my fear
of the unknown. - The graphics of Civ V from screenshots I've seen are beautiful;
it looks even nicer than Civ IV.
Having weighed the advantages and disadvantages, I'm leaning
somewhat to Beyond the Sword but am still quite ambivalent.
The obvious solution of "just buy both" is not an option for
financial reasons. Does the Civ community have any advice as
to further benefits/drawbacks to each of the games? Answers
to my questions about moddability and game experience would
also be helpful in making my choice. I look forward to your
suggestions.
(Given that this could conceivably fit in either the Civ IV or the
Civ V forums, but those would for obvious reasons probably get
responses strongly in favour of one of the two, I thought that
this would be a more suitable place to post. If I would get more
responses elsewhere [or in a pair of cross-posts to the Civ IV
and V forums, if that's allowed?], please tell me.)