Beta HOF Rules/FAQ

[Craterus22]

I'm not entirely sure what you're asking here.

The HOF that comes with the game is a horrible afterthought... a cool hall of fame with some of the graphics you use (along with an adjusted scoring system - that you work out as you gather more data) would be very cool.

 

[superslug]

There's an entire modding community out there that might could help you with that. We're quite focused on this Hall of Fame itself.

 

[Big_Ben]

Can we set an opponent ruler to the same one as ours? It isn't stated in the rules that we can't. I haven't been but I want to try someone knew to play with, who is also my favorite opponent right now.

 

[Quantum7]

For the defintive HOF, I'd suggest requiring a default for the 'no barbarians' option (either on or off). Right now you pretty much have to turn it on to get the best possible score.

 

[superslug]

Can we set an opponent ruler to the same one as ours? It isn't stated in the rules that we can't. I haven't been but I want to try someone knew to play with, who is also my favorite opponent right now.

No. Each leader (AI or otherwise) must be unique.

For the defintive HOF, I'd suggest requiring a default for the 'no barbarians' option (either on or off). Right now you pretty much have to turn it on to get the best possible score.

It'll be interesting to see how things develop. In III, some players found barbs on useful, others didn't. IV isn't III, but I suspect the pattern will repeat.

 

[Dianthus]

Can we set an opponent ruler to the same one as ours? It isn't stated in the rules that we can't. I haven't been but I want to try someone knew to play with, who is also my favorite opponent right now.

Currently the rules are a little ambiguous about that, but the intention of the "no repeated leaders" bit is that it should include your leader as well as the opponent leaders. So, the short answer is "no" .

[Edit] X post with superslug. Luckily we gave the same answer [/Edit]

 

[Shillen]

It'll be interesting to see how things develop. In III, some players found barbs on useful, others didn't. IV isn't III, but I suspect the pattern will repeat.

I doubt it. In civ3 even with barbs on you could send settlers out unescorted. Also turning barbs off removed all goody huts from the map. In civ4 the goody huts stick around. I guess you don't want to take my word for it, but turning the barbs off in civ4 is completely unbalancing. It's blatantly obvious as soon as you try it out.

 

[superslug]

I guess you don't want to take my word for it, but turning the barbs off in civ4 is completely unbalancing.

It's not that I don't take your word for it, it's just that I take EVERY player's opinions into consideration.

 

[EMan]

...but turning the barbs off in civ4 is completely unbalancing. It's blatantly obvious as soon as you try it out.

My understanding is that in 4GOTM01, Barbarians are turned OFF!
(The Only option box checked.)

Aeson, who I have the highest regard for, was involved (primarily?) in creating the 4GOTM01 start position/game parameters.

So, I don't think the "Barbarians Issue" is that clear cut.

 

[Dianthus]

Maybe it *is* clearcut and Aeson was just being nice and giving the GOTM crowd an easy game .

 

[Shillen]

The barbarians were on for GOTM1. It's just another case of people getting confused by the "not checked"= barbarians are on.

 

[EMan]

I haven't played the 4GOTM01 yet but this is a copy from Scope of the Game:
(http://gotm.civfanatics.net/civ4games/index.php?month=40001)

"Civilization: Rome - Unique Unit: Praetorian
Leader: Caesar - Expansionist, Organised
Difficulty: Noble
Map size: Standard
Landmass: Continents
Climate<: Temperate
Water level: Medium
Era: Ancient
Speed: Normal
Barbarians: None
Rivals: 6
Victory conditions: All enabled
Submissions due by January 1, 2006."

Is this a "Typo" then?

 

[Dianthus]

Looks like it. I checked the start files and the game options are set to default, which means No Barbarians is unchecked, meaning they are on!

 

[Shillen]

It must be. I can assure you there were barbarians and not ones that were popped from a hut. There were even barbarian cities founded.

 

[LeSphinx]

I want to know if we can use a map generated by a custom choice in the HOF CIV4 ?
(by selecting the number of continent in a continent map for exemple)

LeSphinx

 

[EMan]

@Dianthus & Shillen: Thanks for the feedback.

I was playing a "Practice" Game with No Barbs to simulate GOTM......So, I REALLY appreciate y'all setting the Record Straight!

 

[Smirk]

You could have just the huts in Civ3, sedentary or something gave you the huts but not active barbs.
I don't think its that unbalancing, I find them boring and annoying so only play with them if I have some particular goal in mind. Since they have no overriding goal they are just a random nuisance.


I would like to know if there is any thoughts about map exclusions? Some of the map generators are really a departure from Civ3 and HOF random maps. I'm talking mainly about the maps designed for multiplayer where resources are controlled differently to deal with human vs human interaction.

 

[Shillen]

Barbarians couldn't capture your cities in civ3, though. I think barbarians off changes the entire way you play civ4. Turning barbarians off in civ3 changes nothing about how you play. You left your cities undefended even with barbs on .

 

[superslug]

I want to know if we can use a map generated by a custom choice in the HOF CIV4 ?
(by selecting the number of continent in a continent map for exemple)

That's legal for Beta for now.

I would like to know if there is any thoughts about map exclusions? Some of the map generators are really a departure from Civ3 and HOF random maps. I'm talking mainly about the maps designed for multiplayer where resources are controlled differently to deal with human vs human interaction.

You're right about the map generators being different. In III, we could live with anything the program could whip up, but IV obviously has settings and maybe even sizes that just don't make sense for the Hall of Fame. It'll take time, perhaps the whole Beta, to figure out exactly where the official lines will be drawn. When we roll out the permanent Quatro, available map options will decrease, and probably the approved mod list as well.

 

[Velvet-Glove]

I have a suggestion for the Hall of Fame/Gauntlet page:

Please make it clearer to everyone that both an initial game file and a final game file will be required when the time comes for submitting a game. As it stands at the moment this requirement for the start file file is only made known to the user when s/he logs in to submit a game.

I very nearly fell foul of this myself because I read the rules, went off and spent 12+ hours on a game, then went to submit it. It was only then that I realised I had to sign up again to use my CFC username in the HoF (no problem with that) after which I was able to get to the submission screen. It was only when I got to this point that I found out a start file was needed and I truly thought I was screwed because I hadn't saved one! As it happens, I had not played any other game in the interim and found a starting file in the autosave folder - I'm pretty sure I didn't save the first turn so presume this is something the game does for you? Anyway, I was lucky, others may not be if they start any other games before squirreling away their start file, so please... make this information known up front on the website (where the game rules are explained or at the least in the FAQ), it's sure to save quite a few less savvy people like myself some grief!

Thanks!