Colonies...

[Berserk89]

I just thought of another feature I'd really love to see in a civ game (if not civ 4, then maybe 5???). I'm not sure if this idea has been discussed before, as I haven't been a member for very long, but here goes...

What if it was possible to make other (small) civilizations colonies? The leaders of the occupied civilizations would still have a lot of control over the country, but absolute power would belong to you. You'd also have access to resources and luxuries in the colonies as if they were your own, and travelling inside the occupied areas would be like moving behind your own borders. When it comes to production, I think that should be mostly managed by the colonies themselves, but of course you could overrule their decisions any time, making the cities help you produce millitary units during war and etc. I also think that the army in the colonies should be controlled by you, and that you should have the responsibility of defending the colonial cities as if they were your own.

In order to make colonies, maybe it could be possible to give smaller and less advanced civilizations an ultimatum, where you give them a choice between becoming a colony and war? Or maybe you could manage to convince them with religion?

Just a thought , but personally I think this would be a cool feature that could make civ even MORE intriguing...

 

[Virote_Considon]

It'd be cool if you could control all the colonys wealth, imports and exports, Millitary Alliances, etc, but they controlled what they build, population, health, and stuff like that.

 

[Hyronymus]

More like a satellite nation you mean? Something similar as what Libanon is to Syria i.e.. I thought it has been suggested before, don't know under what title though. The idea is good as long as it doesn't become an exploit.

 

[KrikkitTwo]

This would be really good since it would make war less of an all-or-nothing affair. If you could surrender to an enemy in exchange for the possibility of surviving and revolting another day, when his empire is beset by enemies, or of switching to be one of those enemies vassals, it would keep the diplomatic game interesting because you would be doing diplomacy with your own empire.

 

[mastertyguy]

What could be fun is to be YOURSELF this nation.

 

[Napo981]

The only thing to make sure is not to "kill" the colonizied nation, i.e., to be sure the colonized nation still have a chance to develop sufficiently to stay competitive.

Or the colonized nation would be killed de facto, even if it is not destroyed.

A good way would be sharing scientific advances, so if the colonized civ decides to separate, it should be competitive enough not be destroyed immediately.

 

[Napo981]

Other comments..

Colonized civs could 50 % shields and 80% to the master civ. Automatic sharing of luxuries and ressources, but all under the control of the master civ. Automatic sharing of tech.

Under these conditions, it sometimes could even good to be colonized. Which, in fact, fits with the history.

At the industrial era, eliminating a civ could worsen diplomatic relations, favoring colonizing.

When revolting, all the units on the colonized civ's territory are now under the control of the revolting civ.

What about that?!?

 

[Hyronymus]

Sounds sound to me. It would be a good addition to have a diplomatic ability to reach independence though. Problem is it ain't very easy to realise such a diplomatic ability.

 

[Meleager]

I like it.

 

[orven]

Nice idea man... Only thing is that like in real life a colony is something you'll have to protect with your life. Sometimes is an empire's history it'll have to got to war having a colony on the other side of the world is not a good idea during those times. Like during WW2 the phillipines was considered the achilles heal of america. But it is still an idea worth thinking over.

 

[Berserk89]

Nice additions to the original idea Napo981! I also agree with Hyronymus that it should be possible to work out peaceful ways for the colonies to gain independence. Maybe there could be like a step-by-step program for liberty, where control of the colony is gradually passed back to the original government...?

Does anyone else have any ideas concerning revolting colonies and how this should be done? It would be cool to hear more views on that...

 

[Hyronymus]

Revolts should be knocked down by violence, much violence . Just joking of course. It would 'be unpleasant' if your colony suddenly revolted and seperated itself from your nation so there have to be ample warnings. If you could set the luxury rating for your colon(y/ies) indepently from your own luxury rating you might be able to hold on until reinforcements have arrived.

 

[Azash]

What if your own empire was made a colony? How about this..?

If you become a colony, you will need to feign compliance. You can not build military units, or maybe make it possible, but increase the control from your ruler, eventually leading into a possible war to force you to stop building units/improvements the AI doesn't want you to. It might also be possible to adjust your production in the city screen(s), maybe producing entertainers and the loike to slow down production, or to use a new kind of spy screen to instigate revolutionary meetings, and similar campaigns, ultimately starting a full-fledged riot. Also, you would need to have a stronger military present than the AI, or the Ai could force calm.

Also, this would stretch through all your "old" cities, and those that couldn't would still be more loyal to you and much easier to propaganda. In addition, if your cities were more rich on culture, the cities who managed a revolt could send out a "wave" of propaganda effect, which would mean that close-by enemy cities could be flipped. The final thing would be, that if a certain percentage of the enemy's cities, including your own, flipped, there would be an anarchy outbreak that would strengthen your "propaganda wave" and disintegrate the AI's government.

I've also been thinking of suggesting barbarian uprisings (in town forms).. Imagine if, during the time you are colonized, random "Roman uprisings", or whatever you played as, could take place, and the semi-barbarians would attack the citites that have at least one Roman citizen, and if it would be liberated, this would start aforementioned mass revolt/flip/anarchy wave-thing, and additionally the guerrilla resistance would join your military.

How does this sound?

 

[Azash]

*Bump* This is a great thread - don't let it die.

 

[HourlyDaily]

I still like the idea of raising a barbarian or civilian insurgence in the mountains and swarming over your city to take it by force. It has been said before but colonisation and resistance are major elements of human history.

 

[mastertyguy]

It is even one of the best ways to win a war. Think about Hannibal (well, he lost, but anyway). He got lost of troops from the recently conquered Gauls.

 

[AlfMaster]

that seems like a great new feature, It would be AWESOME if that was incorporated

 

[Berserk89]

I've also been thinking of suggesting barbarian uprisings (in town forms).. Imagine if, during the time you are colonized, random "Roman uprisings", or whatever you played as, could take place, and the semi-barbarians would attack the citites that have at least one Roman citizen, and if it would be liberated, this would start aforementioned mass revolt/flip/anarchy wave-thing, and additionally the guerrilla resistance would join your military.

How does this sound?

Really cool idea! This would add a lot of realism to the game as well, since guerilla activity is a phenomenon that takes place in practically all occupied areas in some form