Essential mods?

[jahsoldier]

Hi there, pretty new player here - been playing for a couple of weeks and loving it, and I think I'm ready to start expanding with modpacks. I just wondered what people think are the essential mods to have.

For now I'd rather have things that don't complicate the standard game *too* much, since it took me this long just to get the hang of playing normally! Anything that keeps the game more more less the same, but just adds new and exciting stuff, would be dandy. (I'm still up for 'mission packs' that give you a whole new game though, like Fall From Heaven)

Currently I have my eye on Rise of Mankind, since it looks like it adds so much stuff, and Fall From Heaven II, since I'm a fantasy geek would people recommend these?

[jahsoldier]

Rise of Mankind looks a bit complex actually... what about Sevomod? I like playing Beyond the Sword and it doesn't look like there's a version for that, but does it add enough stuff that it doesn't matter?

[cephalo]

I'd say you definately have to try Fall from Heaven 2.

[jahsoldier]

thanks, what do you recommend regarding Sevomod v Rise of Man? I'm a bit torn cos I want some new cool stuff but not a completely different game.

[GoodGame]

We really need a review section like Civ3 had.

I recommend FFH2, too, though it's way complex these days.
Sevomod was a nice innovative vanilla mod that hasn't been updated in a long time.
TAM is a great ancients mod.
Revolutions is worth a look.
Rhye's mods and Dale's Road to War are all great but demanding on the system.

[Wolfshanze]

Originally Posted by jahsoldier

For now I'd rather have things that don't complicate the standard game *too* much, since it took me this long just to get the hang of playing normally! Anything that keeps the game more more less the same, but just adds new and exciting stuff, would be dandy.

Sounds like you'd be up for the Wolfshanze Mod (link in sig-line below).

It's a Civ-flavor-mod, combined with some new units in the biggest gap Firaxis left in the game... the Industrial Age... and a few new civs (Austria, Poland & Vietnam).

First, the "flavor mod" aspect makes each and every civ look and feel completely unique... Aztec cities look Aztec... Chinese cities look Chinese... Russian cities look... well... Russian. Same for the units... Germans look German, Japanese look Japanese, etc, etc... the uniforms and equipment are specific to each nation (Germans will fly Messerschmidt fighters, Americans will fly P-38 Lightnings, etc, etc). This "flavor" aspect is covered from the dawn of civilization in 4000 BC right up to the very end of the game in modern times.

As for the Industrial Age enhancements, the Wolfshanze Mod adds units missing from that age... especially coal-fired navies, ocean-going ironclads, pre-dreadnoughts and dreadnoughts, WWI units such as early tanks and biplanes.

Gameplay-wise, the game plays the same as it always has... you can still play from 4,000 BC to modern times just like always... tech progression is the same, old strategies still work the same, you just get better looking units, better looking cities, more units to play with in the industrial age, and better naval options.

Here's a video teaser of what you get... if you see it in the movie clip below, you get the equivalent of it in the Wolfshanze Mod... link for the mod is in my sig-line.

Spoiler:

Click Here to see the Wolfshanze Mod Video Introduction

[jahsoldier]

you plug like a good 'un looks like a great mod, downloading now. Both Sevo and RaM won't extract (both give error messages), FFH looks amazing but I'm gonna wait til I'm fed up of normal CIV4 before diving in!

[jahsoldier]

Thomas' War also looks good, anyone recommend it?

[Kael]

I like your plan to play normal civ for a little while to get used to it before diving into the extras.

I'd try The Ancient Medeteranien (TAM) mod next. Its a very specificly focused mod and does a great job of being accessible and fun.

After that onto Rhye and Fall of Civilization, which after getting used to normal Civ will blow your mind with what it does. And if you are interested in WW2 at all grab Dale's Road to War mod.

Between these three you will hit such a cool variety of mods that you are bound to found mutliple things you will love. Ancient era fixed setting, modern era fixed setting and Rhye's which changes the way Civ is played. I seriously envy new players who get to experience all this for the first time. They truely are works of art.

After you are done playign through each of those (gotta love a game that has a mod community that provides all this free content) you can dive into the wilder stuff. Necro Cristi allows you to fight zombie swarms in a post apocalyptic world, Fury Road allows you to battle in a Mad Max style environment, Planetfall returns you to planet in a Alpha Cenaturi inspired mod. All of these are fun, though still beign activly worked on. There is no danger of being bored anytime soon.

[musicfreak]

Rhye's is probably the best choice out of the ones I've played. And if you download my optimized version then you can play into the modern age without worrying about speed issues.

[JanusTalaiini]

Is there a current version of TAM? I'd looked for one a few weeks back and didn't find one. If there is, I'd love to play it!

[thomas.berubeg]

Originally Posted by Kael

I like your plan to play normal civ for a little while to get used to it before diving into the extras.

I'd try The Ancient Medeteranien (TAM) mod next. Its a very specificly focused mod and does a great job of being accessible and fun.

After that onto Rhye and Fall of Civilization, which after getting used to normal Civ will blow your mind with what it does. And if you are interested in WW2 at all grab Dale's Road to War mod.

Between these three you will hit such a cool variety of mods that you are bound to found mutliple things you will love. Ancient era fixed setting, modern era fixed setting and Rhye's which changes the way Civ is played. I seriously envy new players who get to experience all this for the first time. They truely are works of art.

After you are done playign through each of those (gotta love a game that has a mod community that provides all this free content) you can dive into the wilder stuff. Necro Cristi allows you to fight zombie swarms in a post apocalyptic world, Fury Road allows you to battle in a Mad Max style environment, Planetfall returns you to planet in a Alpha Cenaturi inspired mod. All of these are fun, though still beign activly worked on. There is no danger of being bored anytime soon.

and Kael is being modest. At the top of the spectrum is Fall From Heaven... You Will not be bored playing that for a long while (and there are always updates every few months with major new content...)