BTS Screenshots Repository

[The Navy Seal]

[Ten characters]

Where did they come up with such a junkie icon?

 

[Snoopaloop]

Where did they come up with such a junkie icon?

I really like the icon. It looks antique, like an emblem you might see on an old map or something.

 

[p dandy]

My god, someone actually asked to see the launch icon? People are going crazy .

 

[The Navy Seal]

I really like the icon. It looks antique, like an emblem you might see on an old map or something.

Yea But the Expansion is for late game not Early game.

 

[Lars_Domus]

Oops.. I just noticed I messed up with the icon, sorta. With the one I posted, I had messed around with the folder settings to get it as big as possible. The low-res version that is actually on my desktop has a slightly different arrangement:

Anyway, as far as icons go, I think that high-res version is actually pretty cool. I don't really care much about the aesthetics of icons one way or the other, though.

 

[DrewBledsoe]

If you the AP leader and are at war the next time a vote comes around, you can propose a resolution for all AP member civs to declare war on your enemy (alternatively, if your enemy is an AP member, you can also propose a resolution to end the war)

Yeah that happened.

 

[Mesousa]

Heh, The damn Apostolic Palace ... I was on a continent with Hannibal and Boudica, and built it. Hannibal helped Boudica get elected, and I when I later went to war with her, two times she used to AP to force me into peace. That wasn't quite what I had in mind when I built it.

Well, annoyed I went after Hannibal instead. She couldn't quite find it in her to propose a peace there too, it seems. So selfish.

 

[Snoopaloop]

Yea But the Expansion is for late game not Early game.

Its for anything after the sword. The age of exploration, and finding the new world was after the invention of gunpowder in Europe. Maps from that time would be antique to me.

 

[Watiggi]

The thing you said doesn't exist is the Gameplay change: "You must research the Sailing Technology before you can trade along rivers or coast outside your borders.", I think.

Yep, I noticed that last night. Take a look at the screen shots below: One is the first game I played (which I just reloaded in order to take this pic - reload was post patch) and the other is of a new game!

The only rationalisation I can come up with is that the icons disappear when you research the tech. Strange though.


Whoa! Samurai gets 2 First Strikes PLUS Drill I which can go down the Drill line! Why on freekin' earth is the Samurai and Phalanx getting such a massive boost while the Keshik gets nothing? Ugh! Why no love for the Keshik? If anything, the Keshik needs a boost in order to bring it in line with the other top notch military civs - which it deserves - hell no... it demands it! Right now it's like a powerful civ that's under represented (and always has been, that's to Firaxis ).


@Xfactor: Why is there a discrepency between your version of BtS and mine? The stats of the Great Spy you showed (post #447) have it giving +4500 EP's while on mine it gives +3000 EP's? edit: it's probably game speed.

 

[Watiggi]

What are the FCs of the other new leaders? Has there been changes to FCs of the existing leaders? I hope that Catherine finally favors Serfdom.

If Catherine's favourite was Serfdom, then she'll be screwed in the late game when she prefers that over Emancipation (although I'd imagine a bit of AI coding would solve that issue by having her prefer it pre Emancipation).

I think you mean Forbidden Palace. Btw, about it, pre-release articles said that Ziggurat and Rathaus have lower FP reqs than Courthouse and Sacrifical Altar. I think that this isn't true, because they're very powerful already. Could someone confirm my thinkings?

There is no mention of a reduced requirement for building the FP for either the Rathaus or the Ziggurats.

I think it just means the bonus existing from Vanilla 1.00. They just show all of them in the Civilopedia (like Trait bonuses, which earlier only existed in leaders section). This can be confirmed, if someone looks to Barracks entry. If it shows the bonus too, it's like I thought.

Apparently it was a bug where the Ikhanda wouldn't give +2 happiness when in Nationhood (whereas a normal Barracks would). This change basically been fixes this.

 

[Snoopaloop]

@ Watiggi, isn't it true that all horse archers atleast lost that -10% city attack that was implemented in Warlords?

Even with this change, I agree with you that the Keshik demands a boost. Such a powerful historic military unit, that isn't given any credit in the game.

 

[Watiggi]

Very expensive, espionage is very slow to start with. Mine is quite boosted in the screenshot, by having all the early ziggurats from being Sumer, and that fact that my very first GP was a great spy, who I used to constuct Scotland Yard at some absurfly early date.

Have your units stay still for a few turns. The price drops steeply (assuming it isn't caught!). I had something drop from 52 EP's to 2 EP's once. Big drop!

Anyone stolen a technology yet? I'm curious as to how cost effective this is. For example, does it scale with the beaker cost of the tech? With proper multipliers, can a TE (thief economy) become viable?

Darrell

The more you do it, the more it damages relations. In order to live off of it, you'll need to maintain a high number of EP's and that wont happen if you keep spending on tech stealing. You could focus your EP's on one civ and then go from there. It would require a bit of skill to keep it going I would think though. Also, the AI clues in on it and kills your spys in quick succession if you're not carefull. I think the best bet would be to go for as many Great Spy's as you can get your hands on. This will land you lots of super specialists and lots of EP's for a particular civ and will let you recover quickly from spending on missions.

You can also steal from the treasury and use that to deficit research too. I steal quite often

@ Watiggi, isn't it true that all horse archers atleast lost that -10% city attack that was implemented in Warlords?

Even with this change, I agree with you that the Keshik demands a boost. Such a powerful historic military unit, that isn't given any credit in the game.

Agreed. That's something that constantly frustrates me with Firaxis - the fact that they wont see the lack of credit given to them. Also, the city penalty no longer exists for the horse archers.

 

[Pikkis]

Whoa! Samurai gets 2 First Strikes PLUS Drill I which can go down the Drill line! Why on freekin' earth is the Samurai and Phalanx getting such a massive boost while the Keshik gets nothing? Ugh! Why no love for the Keshik? If anything, the Keshik needs a boost in order to bring it in line with the other top notch military civs - which it deserves - hell no... it demands it! Right now it's like a powerful civ that's under represented (and always has been, that's to Firaxis ).

I agree completely. Samurai is now very powerful, but don't forget it only accepts Iron, while normal Maceman and Viking Berserker accept both Copper or Iron. I've thought that while Oromo Warrior is now the 1st unit having both first strikes and immunity to fs w/o promotions, Keshik should have itfs from normal HA in addition to its existing 1fs. Also, its "ignores terrain movement costs" ability should be changed to Mobility promotion, which would able units upgraded from Keshiks have it too. Ger could be boosted from 4XP to 5XP considering Totem Pole also gives 3 additional XPs. For last, GK could be Chm/Imp and KK could be Chm/Cre. That would lead to better end, while the only major bonus removed (considering they should use their Keshiks the most) would be 100% faster Barracks. With Charismatic and 1XP better Ger they would start with 3 promotions. These changes would make them extremely powerful, I think. Build mostly C2+unit type promo Keshiks and a couple of C1+M2 Keshiks and you're the master!

If Catherine's favourite was Serfdom, then she'll be screwed in the late game when she prefers that over Emancipation (although I'd imagine a bit of AI coding would solve that issue by having her prefer it pre Emancipation).

In Warlords (don't know about BTS), Wang Kon favors Caste System. He still uses Emancipation after it's available. Seems pointless to give Lincoln Emancipation FC (though it's real), because everyone changes to it after it's possible. In my latest games with Warlords, I've noticed that Bureaucracy is like Emancipation. Everyone uses it, even if they favor Vassalage, Nationhood or Free Speech. I hope this is fixed with leaders now prefering different victories.

There is no mention of a reduced requirement for building the FP for either the Rathaus or the Ziggurats.

I thought so. They're very powerful already.

Apparently it was a bug where the Ikhanda wouldn't give +2 happiness when in Nationhood (whereas a normal Barracks would). This change basically been fixes this.

I didn't know about the bug, because my games with Zulus ended before Nationalism (I always tried Impi rush, sometimes it worked too).

 

[frob2900]

Edit: Blast! Can't get ImageShack to show me the images.

Anyway, this post was going to be about how the AI now uses workboats to explore the world and how barbarians often leave their workers lying around for you to snatch.

I've found Photobucket to be a much better host than Imageshack (faster and less ads). Could be worth a try.

 

[PieceOfMind]

More or less, I consider this proof that the AI is better with overseas assaults. In this example here, Zara Yaqob sent an invasion at me. He had seven transports and a carrier in the group, with fighters loaded, which you can see in the first screen. On the following turn, he tactical nuked me and took the city amphibiously. As you can see victory was already mine so I was just seeing how well he'd invade. I have to say I'm impressed that this was not pathetic. Thanks Blake!

The reason he sent such a stack was that I nuked a few of his cities.

Spoiler :

 

[Jamesds]

Has anyone else noticed the subtle changes in BtS which make it really nice? Like, the units run differently, not in a straight path, the map fades in and out (like Watiggi said earlier) and I'm sure the graphics and terrain are sharper...despite the graphics settings being the same as they were set in Warlords. BtS is certainly a great XP!

 

[Watiggi]

I agree completely. Samurai is now very powerful, but don't forget it only accepts Iron, while normal Maceman and Viking Berserker accept both Copper or Iron. I've thought that while Oromo Warrior is now the 1st unit having both first strikes and immunity to fs w/o promotions, Keshik should have itfs from normal HA in addition to its existing 1fs. Also, its "ignores terrain movement costs" ability should be changed to Mobility promotion, which would able units upgraded from Keshiks have it too. Ger could be boosted from 4XP to 5XP considering Totem Pole also gives 3 additional XPs. For last, GK could be Chm/Imp and KK could be Chm/Cre. That would lead to better end, while the only major bonus removed (considering they should use their Keshiks the most) would be 100% faster Barracks. With Charismatic and 1XP better Ger they would start with 3 promotions. These changes would make them extremely powerful, I think. Build mostly C2+unit type promo Keshiks and a couple of C1+M2 Keshiks and you're the master!

I rather like the "ignore terrain movement costs" ability over the free Mobility because the former guarentees you 2 movement points whereas the latter doesn't. That guarentee goes a long way for me.

If the Samurai can get Drill I (and the Drill promotion line) on top of the current 2 First Strikes (making it as effective as Cho-Ku-Nu's except Samurai can get City Raider aswell!), then I'd go for at least giving the Keshik an additional First Strike plus an immunity to first strikes. Or a much (much) higher withdrawl rate.

Definitely agree with the Ger giving +5xp. I am still perplexed as to why that was never done as it would give better synergy for their mounted units (3 promos). Currently, Washington has better mounted units than the Mongols. Go figure!

...but that's for another thread that's clearly never going to read by Firaxis Hopefully one day they'll gain some much need respect for the Mongols.

I thought so. They're very powerful already.

I'm actually wondering whether it's broken. Its an espionage frenzy! (I'm playing as Gilgamesh now). It's like having a third Organised trait that's better than Organised (as you can build them a lot earlier), which also brings in a lot of espionage points (+6 per city).

Build the Great Wall (+2 Great Spy points) and use the Great Spys as super specialists/Scotland Yard and your laughing!). I've racked up over 2300 EP's against my neighbour (haven't got Mathematics yet), and this is even after doing missions! It's a lot of fun though

Has anyone else noticed the subtle changes in BtS which make it really nice? Like, the units run differently, not in a straight path, the map fades in and out (like Watiggi said earlier) and I'm sure the graphics and terrain are sharper...despite the graphics settings being the same as they were set in Warlords. BtS is certainly a great XP!

Yeah, it does feel like a lot of attention has been spent of improving the 3D engine and unit animations. The combat animation seems much smoother too.

 

[Watiggi]

AI built a fort on top of rice!

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

AI built a fort on top of rice!

Well, they did say it was going to be a smarter AI . Could anyone please post any screens of the Charlemagne scenario and particularly of any new leaders that might be there? Is the "Anglo-Saxon leader" still that static image that was previewed a couple of weeks ago?

 

[shinku]

New AI Tactic: build second city on 1-tile island and beeline for a religion?

Choose Religion option was checked, as well as Advanced Start (660 gold).
If I remember well, Hinduism was founded on the first turn and Christianity followed shortly after.

Also, is it a coincidence that Isabella chose Christianity for religion or do AIs have favorite religions when Choose Religion is checked?

Spoiler :