Why do the pyramids do that?

[Minor Annoyance]

I'm trying to figure out why somethings in the game work the way they do from some historical or narrative perspective. I'm usually good at inventing my own reasons so things make sense, but some I'm having trouble with.
The representation civic takes some thinking. As a gameplay mechanic it exists to create the choice between a centralized population of specialists working inside a big city and a spread out population working in towns. I don't really get the connection between these two systems of government and the effect they have. Also, why does a jail reduce war weariness?
Some wonders seem to be meant to operate as symbols that create there effect rather that having a direct effect. Like the great lighthouse makes travel easier with light so you get more trade routes, but the Colossus is a statue which does nothing. You'd just have to assume a symbol of a civilizations wealth, power, engineering skill etc. would enhance trade. The one that makes no sense to me is the pyramids. I'm not an expert on history, but I don't recall hearing about the ancient Egyptians having a go at democracy at any time or anything other than monarchy, so why is that what the pyramids do? The technologies that enables the democratic civics are far past a classical era civilization's advancement but Greece and Rome had democracies, so why isn't it a Greek or Roman wonder the one that gives access to all governments? That would make a lot more sense to me
The civ2 and 3 effect of the pyramids acting as a granary didn't make sense either.
Thoughts?

 

[Matthew5117]

I'd too like to know about these oddities.

However, for jails I assume that it reduces WW because when protests take place, the police could arrest the protestors, therefore, there won't be as many protests.

As for the Colossus, maybe it influenced traders to come visit it and while they were there, they could trade. Just a guess though.

 

[Joshua368]

I thought it was established that Pyramids gave advanced governments from the aliens that helped build them.

Other than that, it's just a game and some aspects will reflect that. Don't think there's any sort of logical explanation for some things.

 

[Matthew5117]

I too heard that but I guess I forgot to mention that.

Even if civ is supposed to reflect the real world, it is unrealistic. There was another thread talking about how realism is worse than balance. I too agree with this.

One example in civ where things aren't realistic is the time management. It takes over 1 century to build a library?

One thing that is closest to realistic than balanced, however, are praetorians.

 

[Kevie]

Why does code of law establish Confusianism?
Why does xyz....

Just apart of the game. Half makes sense, the rest doesnt.

Hence, civ4

 

[Rotty]

Granaries for all Egypt is actually what most medieval people really thought the Pyramids had been built for. If you go to Venice, you can still see a 12th century mural of the Biblical Joseph using them for that purpose.

Considering how utterly central the monarchy was to Egyptian ideology, the Civ I/IV/Rev Pyramid effect is one of the dumbest wonder effects in the game. I'd really like to see the II/III version brought back.

 

[Harry Potter52]

Guys.. It's a game!! Why so serious??

 

[fed1943]

Being serious for fun:
If I do not agree with a war, buy I'm jailed before I can share
my concerns, perhaps war weariness grows slower.
As a symbol, Pyramids, like other similar things, began almost
in the XVIII/XIX century; so...
Best regards,

 

[Spitefire]

I think it would be neat if the civilopedea included some bit of info about what inspired the effect of the building in question such as in this case the pyramids.

 

[Matthew5117]

Don't all the of entries include a historic description?

 

[Harry Potter52]

Well then, how about saying that the pyramids awed the people and infused so much confidence in the people about their government, that they let them do whatever they wanted to.
UHHH, come to think of it, that's a bit weak explanation, but then hey! I am not sid

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Make mids cheaper, have them count as a granary in all cities, and have the temple of artemis (or possibly parthenon or some other roman or greek wonder) enable ONLY Rep . Yikes, that wonder would go from rarely built by humans to quite popular!

 

[zeolite]

Granaries for all Egypt is actually what most medieval people really thought the Pyramids had been built for. If you go to Venice, you can still see a 12th century mural of the Biblical Joseph using them for that purpose.

I like that explanation. Nice one. I had always assumed that pyramids were so famous that it would be absurd to leave them out of the game but there was no obvious use for them so Sid had had to come up with something and granaries were appropriate for the early tech-level at which the mids became available. Your explanation is better though Rotty