Civilization 5

[exhile]

I'd like something closer to Alpha Centauri: with actual altitude for each square. This could lead to more refined terrain types combined to climate.

Are you referreing to a blue sea, green sea, sea shore level, coastal shore, irrigated land, plains, deserts, hills, mountains, troposhere, mesosphere, exosphere type of altititue? That would be one complex system and you would have to throw out the square analogy and start describing tiles as cubes.

Also being able to step on the poles... that would lead to an something lika spherical map, but I'm conscious of the difficulty of combining a sphere but the solution is simple: a huge polyhedron.

I would like to be able to step on Antartica like all the previous Civilization games. Although the north pole really has nothing to step on except ice. The Arctic ocean is just a minor distance for Canada to attack Russia.

I woud prefer the next franchise to be a little less demanding. With a 1,5ghz with 1 gig and a good 256mb video card civ IV became awfully slow in late game, even on a standard map - and that was better than minimal syst. requirements. Cutting in the detail of terrain, units or ressources to go for a more schematic appearance instead would make all more fluid without requiring a gaming pc (which is what I had, though a very little older than what was sold when the game was released). Normally a Civilization player is not looking for a graphically realistic game, but for a totally brillant concept with a refined interaction of rules. Remember: I got addictited to Civ.I on a Mac SE.

You think a standard map in the modern age is slow. Go try the huge earth map with 18 civs in the modern age and then you'll find that one turn is enough time for you to toast lite bread, put on some butter and pour a glass of pop. I haven't tried going to the corner store for one turn yet but later perhaps.

I liked Civ3 because the game was not as computer resource demanding compared to Civ4. Hey, computers need to get upgraded some day in it's 3 year life cycle and you'd might as well do an upgrade or buy a new system for a new game than anything else besides a new operating system.

 

[doktorsubtil]

This is hardly simple. Are you asking for a 20-tile map? That's the largest regular polyhedron. There are more complicated versions with arrangements of hexagons and pentagons. Using such a map would completely contradict your second request for a game that plays better with fewer resources.

I would really love a spherical map as well, but it's far from a simple task.

I didn't know that; indeed it's a problem. Maybe a hybrid system: this 20-sided polyhedron with each of it's sides divided into flat tiles?
And the heck with minimal syst reqs: I would be ready to buy a totally unaffordable computer just to be able to play this almost spherical map...

 

[rysmiel]

Are you referreing to a blue sea, green sea, sea shore level, coastal shore, irrigated land, plains, deserts, hills, mountains, troposhere, mesosphere, exosphere type of altititue? That would be one complex system and you would have to throw out the square analogy and start describing tiles as cubes.

Or apply the Civ2:Test of Time solution and have several layered flat maps that one moves between.

 

[Firestorm94]

I think the game should include an in-game civ editor
for example, the steps would go something like this
1.)name your civ
2.)name your leaders
3.)choose UU's and UB's
4.)choose personality (eg. peaceful, aggressive, wonder happy, etc.)
5.)city names
6.)choose art styles
7.)add or remove certain aspects of an existing leaderhead
and... i might be missing something, but im too tired to type more.......................
or i'd go for more fair diplomacy

 

[doktorsubtil]

Are you referreing to a blue sea, green sea, sea shore level, coastal shore, irrigated land, plains, deserts, hills, mountains, troposhere, mesosphere, exosphere type of altititue? That would be one complex system and you would have to throw out the square analogy and start describing tiles as cubes.

I would like to be able to step on Antartica like all the previous Civilization games. Although the north pole really has nothing to step on except ice. The Arctic ocean is just a minor distance for Canada to attack Russia.

I don't mind describing tiles as cubes, as long as we get new depth in the game. Having low lands, highlands would be great, especially if climate dynamics are integrated to the game.
Canada being able to attack Russia is one of my major concerns too.

 

[EmperorFool]

Maybe a hybrid system: this 20-sided polyhedron with each of it's sides divided into flat tiles?

Yes, you could do that. Each side of the 20-sided polyhedron is a triangle, and of course you can divide a triangle into any number of smaller triangles. The map would then be roughly spherical, but drawing it might be difficult. This last part I haven't thought out.

For example, five sides meet at a single point, but if you were to lay them out flat, they wouldn't form a complete circle about that point: 5 corners times 60 degrees per corner equals 300 degrees, 60 shy of a circle. It would make the areas around those points (the vertices) difficult to navigate.

Then again, there's no reason to force the map to be drawn flat, and you could poof out the flat triangle sides to form a semi-curved surface so it appears to be more of a sphere.

That's all great, except that Sid Meier is very much attached to square tiles for some unknown reason, and it's his name that's on the box.

 

[Matthew5117]

I like idea that Firestorm94 has but no need for the custom city names, just do that in the game like it is now.

Cubes instead of squares would also be interesting. Would this concept allow elevation so you could settle the seas and skies? Lots of change would be required though.

However, right now, I am thinking something similar to Spore where you can custom create anything practically.

 

[doktorsubtil]

Basically my concern with Civ IV was that much energy is spent making a 3D engine that is useless, for it brings nothing to the game style: it's simply a layer of 3d on a 2d plane. I think we could get a much improved appearance and fluidity by making top-notch 2d worthy of being called work of art instead of making fishes pop up the sea. Civ IV is fake 3d; I just want to accept the inevitable: if we're not able to make the real thing, it's no use to make compromises.

 

[doktorsubtil]

Yes, you could do that. Each side of the 20-sided polyhedron is a triangle, and of course you can divide a triangle into any number of smaller triangles. The map would then be roughly spherical, but drawing it might be difficult. This last part I haven't thought out.

That's all great, except that Sid Meier is very much attached to square tiles for some unknown reason, and it's his name that's on the box.

Maybe the venerable Sid could be more incline to accept lozenges obtained by combination of two of our equilateral triangles. Some of these would then cross the borders of our "tectonic plates".
Still I think triangles instead of quadrangles would really put a different and interesting twist on the unit moving dynamics. Cities could also grow in a more detailed fashion (if a lozenge equals two triangles).

 

[KaiserElectric]

I think the game should include an in-game civ editor
for example, the steps would go something like this
1.)name your civ
2.)name your leaders
3.)choose UU's and UB's
4.)choose personality (eg. peaceful, aggressive, wonder happy, etc.)
5.)city names
6.)choose art styles
7.)add or remove certain aspects of an existing leaderhead
and... i might be missing something, but im too tired to type more.......................
or i'd go for more fair diplomacy

Great idea. I'd love to see this in Civ 5.

 

[Firestorm94]

Great idea. I'd love to see this in Civ 5.

actually, now that I think about it, this could be made for CivIV, if I had a lot of modding experience already, I would start right away, but this would be great to have for people who are too lazy to mod (me)

This could also allow Firaxis to use an un-moddable (evil music) game, to improve performance

 

[Onionsoilder]

It couldn't be part of Civ IV itself, but someone could program a tool that automatically adds the parameters to the CivIV Data.

 

[Healz]

I think a lot of this is sort of part of the World of Civilization or WOC modules idea for Civ IV BTS that allows you to drop in the modules you want into your civilization to allow you the experience you want...

 

[sammual]

Well, for big changes... the hexagonal grid (instead of square one) would be interesting. But I'm afraid that Sid considers square grid a sort of tradition of the Civilization series...

I would LOVE to see CIV5 with a Hex Map and Tactical combat.

Sammual

 

[Anarchist 1082]

Hi all hows it going. I'm a big fan of the Civilization series. I'm playing Civ 4 BTS and while its a very good game there is a lot of room for improvement and there are some fantastic ideas put forward in this thread for Civ 5. I'd like to propose some ideas. Apologies if some have alreay been mentioned. Things I would like to see improved in Civ 5 are as follows:

1.) More wonders, buildings and units, and at least 2 or 3 UUs and UBs for each Civ. Someone already suggested a medieval infantry and an early knight unit. That would be excellent. Why isnt there buildings such as pubs, brothels, casinos, a sports stadium or a cinema complex? Shopping malls should be a building for every civ - You don't just find shopping malls in America! And why is stock exchange the UB for the English. There is already the Wall St national wonder which is the stock exchange for the whole nation. Every nation should be able to build a stock exchange but maybe Wall Street could be a world wonder that is more powerful than a regular stock exchange.

2.) The Colluseum should be a world wonder. It was after all voted as one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Maybe there should be an amphitheatre building instead of what is now called the "colluseum" building, which later upgrades to a sports stadium.

3.) I know it was already mentioned but add a lot more diplomacy options and more random events. Have organisations such as the EU, Olympics, NATO in the game. Maybe they could be world wonders like the UN or Apostolic Palace.

4.) Add in immigration, refugees, civil wars. A strong economy combined with civics such as free speech, free religion etc should bring more immigrants from poorer countries into the country thus increasing population. In the modern age, city growth should depend on how many wonders and buildings are in the city and strength of the local economy - not on how many farms are nearby. When a certain technology is reached the food production is nationalised. Allow civil wars to occur if there is a lot of unhappiness in certain cities. Also if your nation expands too quick and your science rate falls to 20% or lower and still losing money per turn, you could allow a section(s) of your empire to split and become independent. Another idea: if your colonies grow wealthy and powerful or you are oppressive to a certain group of people or vassal, they could rebel against you and declare Independence and if you refuse to recognise their independence there could be a War of Independence.

5.) Why not add in terrorism? If you're at war with (or opressing) another nation then there is the chance that immigrants from that nation will cause terrorist acts inside ur country or to ur units.

6.) I like the way governments are more customizable with civics in Civ 4. But some of the combinations dont make sense. How is it possibe in reality to have Police State + Free Speech? They hardly go hand in hand. Increase the amount of civics and let them make more sense.

7.) Some ideas for civic changes: free speech should INCREASE war weariness a lot - Anti-war protestors can voice themselves freely. Slavery civic should have the option to enslave newly conquered workers and turn them into "free workers"(ie. Slaves) that need no financial support, but maybe work a little less efficiently. When you switch to emancipation these "slave workers" would become regular workers in the new government. Another idea is: free market economy would have better chance of producing great people than other economy types.

8.) A lot more civs needed. How about an Irish nation where their UB would be an "Irish pub", and leader could be Bertie Ahern. Other ideas for new nations would be a Nazi empire, Soviet empire, Brazil, Australia. Some might argue that Soviet Union and Russia are the same but then couldnt you say Holy Roman Empire and Germany are the same people? Different empires!

9.) More fun in war. Instead of just seeing 3 guys fight another 3 guys and the battle is over in seconds it would be cool to have the option of viewing the battle on a realistic scale and having the option to try and withdraw your army if they are getting a hammering. Also hiring of mercenaries for battles would be cool. Also each unit would need to be fed. Which brings up point 10.

10.) Building units should be similar to buidling settlers/workers. Food from the city aswell as hammers are needed to train units. Perhaps a certain amount of food is needed for production before the unit can be built. This would eliminate (a little bit) the idea of archers being "mined" out of hills. And I agree that units and buildings should have seperate production queues.

11.) Add in more fun features. Bring back the high council from Civ 2. Make leaders look like they belong to the current era ie. Alexander should have a suit in the 20th century. Allow me to put in my own picture head in place of whatever leader i choose.

Thats all I can think of for now. Anyone want to comment on my ideas please do. Thanks.

 

[Vandal Warlord]

Wow! Pretty good Ideas! Another thing I would like to see for Civ 5 is more Historical Scenerios like "The Hundred Year, Japanese Civil" or " The Scottish Wars of Independence"

 

[rysmiel]

I would LOVE to see CIV5 with a Hex Map and Tactical combat.

I wouldn't. It would no longer be Civ.

 

[Onionsoilder]

[/quote]8.) A lot more civs needed. How about an Irish nation where their UB would be an "Irish pub", and leader could be Bertie Ahern. Other ideas for new nations would be a Nazi empire, Soviet empire, Brazil, Australia. Some might argue that Soviet Union and Russia are the same but then couldnt you say Holy Roman Empire and Germany are the same people? Different empires![/quote]

Holy Rome and Germany are NOT the same empires. That is akin to saying the Roman Empire is the same as the French. Besides, Stalin is alreayd a Russian leader, and you can "play" as Hitler by selecting Unrestricted Leaders and going Boudica/Germany.

 

[Turquoiside]

All most of the odeas on this page: No! Ireland does not to be on the game. Rome, China, Egypt....Ireland? No it doesn't fit the game. I said almost. On post 165), 5 and 3, I agree, asell as on the leaderheads changing over eras. Also agree with Vandals' suggestion.
No, I don't want custom civiliztions either. Mods can do that, the game is about taking the reigns of historical civilizations and then rewriting hostory. Its about "What if Aztecs started next to Spain", not "What if Japan started next to Phoenixland".

 

[rysmiel]

No, I don't want custom civiliztions either. Mods can do that, the game is about taking the reigns of historical civilizations and then rewriting hostory. Its about "What if Aztecs started next to Spain", not "What if Japan started next to Phoenixland".

Not everyone sees it that way.

One thing I would really like to see in Civ 5 is an option to switch off all the leaderheads, civ-specific stuff, and Civ names, and just play with Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple civilisations.