New sub-category for Creation & Customization?

I would be interested in reading posts that detail the specific changes that a modder made to produce their mod. E.g. unit stat changes, new unit stats, new civilization specifics. This info exists in some of the mod descriptions, but it's not universal. Often there are aspects or ideas in a mod that I like, and would like to copy, but I don't like EVERYTHING about the mod.

Also in order to see what the designer had in mind, I would actually have to download the mod and sort through the edit tabs to see the differences. It would be great to see that info without having to look "under the hood..."

I'd like to see how the designer used the editor to make the game conform his or her vision.

Here is an example of what I would like to see:

A unit that I am developing to fill the gap between Offensive HTH foot unit and Guerilla:
Grenadier:
Stats: A5.D3.M1/Cost 50s + Saltpeter (available w/ Metallurgy)
Medieval Infantry and Longbowmen upgrade to it, then it upgrades to Guerilla.

It represents the adoption of gunpowder as the primary offensive weapon by European armies -- it's cheap and powerful enough to encourage players to upgrade or replace all those old obsolete units with it if they have Saltpeter.

Guerilla are made slightly better to make the upgrade to them f/ Grenadier more attractive: A8.

Musketmen are made much cheaper (because they are very OVER priced in the game) Cost 40s + Saltpeter.

Cavalry are made a little more expensive because they are astonishingly UNDER priced in the game. Cost 80s + Saltpeter & Horse.

By modifying these units in minor, balanced ways the age of gunpowder becomes much more dynamic, and players won't have all those ancient units running around well into the Industrial age...

Finally I would eliminate the Age of Sail spoiling Ironclad.

EDIT: Fixed misspelled word

Having a category for the above would separate it from the more technical/graphic questions or discussions in the Creation & Customization forum. It would encourage feedback on aspects of game design -- rationales for the stats of the units, ideas for alternate UUs, ideas about civilization characteristics -- city names, leader names, descriptions for the civilopedia, new tech tables etc...

A forum for design components rather than the completed designs, for tinkerers, and a place to put non-graphic design components.

Another example of what I have in mind:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49084&perpage=20&display=&pagenumber=1

See? Kryten's rant doesn't really fit into new unit graphics, but is specialized enough to have it's own category.

This category would combine elements of game design w/ elements of historical analysis...

Just make a "Suggestions on how to improve your game" torturial and post it in the torturials forum.

Thanks Yoda, but I don't think that's quite the same thing either... It's dedicated to posts on such topics as uploading units or using graphics software... The nuts and bolts of Mod creation -- but not to discussions of new or alternate unit ideas, and the logic behind them.

My idea is to discuss game mechanics, essentially, rather than to provide new graphics or tutorials.

I am especially interested in tossing in the historical context for the unit... Why does a Cavalry attack at 6, for example? What exactly is it simulating?

I understand what you are saying, Mojo, but I'm not sure we need it. Such things can be posted in the main C&C forum.

I agree with padma. I don't see the need for such a forum. Its not really a "creation" so to speak.

To Mojotronica,

I must admit that I agree with the others: a new Forum would not be appropriate.
The “Customisation & Creation Forum” is for people who want to change the existing rules….
The “History Forum” is for people to discuss real world events….
And the “General Forum” is for talking about just about everything else related to Civ3.

Whereas the “Completed Units Forum” cannot be argued with (oh, people can comment on the visual aspect of the new animation, but the fact is the new unit is THERE for all to see and use, misuse, or ignore, as they see fit), when it come to rule changes in the editor, then everything depends upon each individual person’s perceptions:-
....some people don’t like Spearmen defeating Tanks, while others accept that in war the unexpected happens....
....some people hate corruption & culture-flips, while others like them....
....some people (all right, ME! ) think that infantry can defeat other infantry, while others think that only mounted troops should be able to win battles....
Nothing is concrete: no two people agree about what is ‘realistic’.

However, having said all that, I DO understand what you are saying, and I do partly agree with you.

So I have a suggestion Mojotronica.
How about if you start a new threat in the Customisation Forum where we can post all our ideas and editor tricks.
It could be called something like “Suggestions For Modifying Existing Rules For More Realism” (the word ‘existing’ is important, otherwise people will think it is just another wish-list for Civ4).

This would be a nice place to put all the tricks, tips and ideas that I and others have collected over the past couple of years.
With luck, people will also post their own suggestions and observations, so that it will become a sort of ‘realism ideas library’ that people could browse if they want to create a mod or scenario....or if they just want to spice up their own version of the game.

If you do decide to start this thread, then here is a short selection of some of things I’d like to post (most of these have already been posted before. But, as you have mentioned, they are scattered in many different threads and hard to find):-
*Making Galleys ‘wheeled’ and oceans ‘impassable to wheeled’ to stop Ancient world colonization.
*Allowing forests to be mined to stop the AI cutting down every tree in sight.
*Making mountains ‘impassable’ and the effects this has on the realism, challenge and visual aspect of the game.
*Making AEGIS Cruisers carry Cruise Missiles for more realism.
*How to slow down the ‘tech race’ so that Tanks don’t appear in the Middle Ages.
*Why some foot troops should have 2 move points (skirmishers).
*Defensive bombardment: it’s effects and how to add it.
*The visual realism of not allowing cities to be built in deserts & tundra.
*How to make Shaman, Druids, Monks, and Priests lower the enemy’s morale by using defensive bombardment.
*And (of course), the fact that in reality infantry CAN defeat other infantry.
....plus many, many more.

I think it would be best if you yourself started this thread. After all, it is your idea.
(Besides, if I started it, people would just think it is “Kryten’s Rant Corner”, as mrtn so eloquently put it! )

I have to agree with the others...

I can see it's use, but I don't think that it should be made into a new forum.

Thanks for the suggestion, Kryten -- I have done so:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49529

Your ideas really fleshed-out the concept -- gave the idea direction it lacked...

Thanks very much!