Age of Exploration: General discussion

[Domo]

I opened this thread just to start a general discussion about the age of exploration scenario. I always had big interest in this age and I think it's great that it is in Civ3 now.

So.....
- post opinions
- post gameplay aspects
- post own opinion
- post errors
- etc.

 

[Flamegrape]

I was working on my own world-wide scenario for the "Age of Exploration" before C3C came out. I was eagerly anticipating the new Portugeuse and Dutch civilizations that are included in this expansion. I was somewhat disappointed in the Age of Exploration scenario that was provided in C3C, however. In reality, the Portugeuse virtually ignored Brazil until many years after the Spain had a secure foothold in the americas. The Portugeuse were much more concerned with securing a trade route to India and China via the southern tip of Africa. I found a good website that describes the history of the Age of Exploration:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/index.html

I am continuing to develop my own Age of Exploration scenario that encompases the entire planet. I'm using Kal-El's 140x140 Earth map as a starting point. I intend to include a few more resources such as tea.

 

[Mojotronica]

The game designers tried to get Portugal to focus on colonizing Africa, and gave Spain a leg up on the colonization of the New World by placing starting units where they did, but in practice Portugal's Golden Age gives them a HUGE advantage in colonizing both Africa and the New World...

 

[Smellincoffee]

I played it as the Aztecs. It seems the only way to win is to send out Jaguar warriors to enslave every barb they can find. I did this- and built three wonders- and won the game only six turns before it was over.

I think it was a nice touch that the Iroquios were on the European flavor of the tech tree.

 

[aaron_burr]

I beat it with the Spanish on Regent via victory points. It was pretty tame war-wise. Fun, though.

For some reason, I couldn't load missionaries on ships.

 

[Svar]

Has anyone played an old world civ and conquered one of the American civs? I'm currently playing as France and there have been no wars. Also when any ships I have had up to frigate moves into open ocean tiles it takes 2 movement points, do any ships get to traverse open ocean at the normal rate or do you always have to travel in sea lanes?

 

[AceDragon]

Thoughts and Opinions, I loved this conquest scenario best cause it reminded me of some other games I own and like within the same time period (Colonization of course! And Uncharted Waters I & II )

I played Portugal - I owned Africa and parts of South America. My problems are/were that Spain and Portugal locked in cultural dispute for key tiles (like the Saltpeter) which can be made up for once you get colonies er other cities going. France in my game was a beast, Francis the I started wars with every European power at least once. I used my key cities between continents as staging grounds to hide my privateer fleets (If they can't get their treasure back to their capital they won't get victory points) The natives didnt pose a threat to me so I by and large left them alone to fight between themselves.

Definitely is my favorite one !

 

[Domo]

Well, thanx for all the reactions guys.

To me it was very disappointing to see only America and parts of Africa emerge into this scenario. For some countries (Netherlands & Portugal mainly) India and the Indies were much more important.

I loved Colonizations too, but the same problem was in there. Hope they plan on making a good exploration scenario or even game (colonization II maybe ) at once. I bet lots of people would like to see that !!!!!

 

[Ekmek]

I liked it but I didnt see the AI use the treasure thing too much, so I didnt get to do the pirate raidingthatmuch. Plus I was the english, not realizing tat they didnt get privateers. The AI did fairly well at exploring and colonizing which i thouht was cool.

my big complaint is that it was not a whole world scenario. that must be worked on...

 

[Svar]

Originally posted by Ekmek
I liked it but I didnt see the AI use the treasure thing too much, so I didnt get to do the pirate raidingthatmuch. Plus I was the english, not realizing tat they didnt get privateers. The AI did fairly well at exploring and colonizing which i thouht was cool.

my big complaint is that it was not a whole world scenario. that must be worked on...

In my first game the Portuguese must have sent about 13-15 treasures home before I won as the French. I was getting treasures so fast in the end that I couldn't pick them up fast enough. In my second game I checked the rate that various buildings generate treasures and was suprised that gold mines generate a treasure every 3 turns. No wonder I couldn't keep up.