If you have a standard install and installed patch 1.21f do you have to make any mods to the BIC file to create a valid HOF game?
No, for HoF games, it's using the regular rules that came with the game (or patches). Changes in the .Bic file are not accepted.
Personally I like the idea of having the 4000 BC game in the HOF save, so you can compare your results to theirs. Can you use someone else's 4000 BC game to start a HOF game?
Part of the reason for the 4000 BC game is so people can play the game with the same map and civs and see how you compare to the high scorers. But I highly doubt you could submit the game though. I'm sure they don't want to see several scores all played on the same map, for the same reason that tournament and GOTM games don't count for HoF.
oh well guess im done playing hof attempts , now we got 2 have 3 saves? This is starting to get ridiculous
1) 3 saved games
2)culturally linked on?
3)respawning on?
4)different versions?
5) size differenetials in 1.21 vs. previously
Well, in other tournaments (GoTm), the 10 AD save is optional, but most players make sure they send that save. Obviously everyone has the 4000 B.C. save so that's why in those tournaments they don't ask for that save. The reason for the 4000 B.C. is for a couple reasons, one that Cartouche Bee mentioned (to see if you can outscore someone when you play on the exact same map) and the possible exploits that Palehorse mentioned. For example, someone could adjust a unit's stats that gives them an unfair advantage early in the game, and the unit becomes obsolete later on, and won't be detected in late saves, or at the end of the game. But with v1.21f any rule changes are made to the game are added to the save, so if anyone played that map starting at 4000 B.C. would come across these exploits.
If you have auto-save on at all times, the game makes and always keeps the 4000 B.C. save.
I don't like the culturally linked, either, but in previous patches it was an option in the preferences, but now it is more viewed as a rule, since it's on the same screen as the victory conditions, etc. And HoF and GoTM like to go by fireaxis's standard rules. Respawning wasn't even an option prior to v1.21f.
For almost all patches, any adjustments that were made didn't really affect the scoring potential a whole lot, so it didn't matter. But with the latest patch, the map (huge and large maps) is 20% smaller, so you have 20% lower scoring potential. But, like has been mentioned before, all of the scores (except Aeson's and Sir Plebs scores on Deity) should be beatable, even with the smaller map, because none of them have been seriously milked.
I wish we had the option with autosave to not write over the older saves....especially since they are now compressed.
