Diplo screens feel ... lonely

[minger]

I am very excited about Civ 5 but just feel like expressing a nitpick. I don't know if anyone else had the same feeling that I did, but watching a lot of the diplo screens in action, they seem kind of lonely. For a lot of the leaders, it's some down-dressed dude in the middle of a field. There's no one around them, no majestic artchitecture befitting that of a ruler, etc.

Of course, the ones for Ramesses, Elizabeth I, Askia, and George Washington are more decent looking, but the the ones of those like Alexander, Ghandi, the Siam leader, and the Japan leader, look like I'm talking to some random citizen or random warrior out in the middle of nowhere.

They could do a variation (homage) to Civ I and stick advisors in the background that could react to what is going on, maybe vary the # of adivors depending on how strong the civilization is, or have other indicators in the background to show how strong or advanced the cilivzation is. You can be in the middle of a field but maybe have an army in the background, or banners, or more elaborate architecture or buildings, or something. In general a lot of the leaders need to look more like leaders it seems.

 

[King Jason]

They could do a variation (homage) to Civ I and stick advisors in the background that could react to what is going on, maybe vary the # of adivors depending on how strong the civilization is, or have other indicators in the background to show how strong or advanced the cilivzation is. You can be in the middle of a field but maybe have an army in the background, or banners, or more elaborate architecture or buildings, or something. In general a lot of the leaders need to look more like leaders it seems.

That would've been cool. You declare war on a civ and though the leader might react in a "bring it on!" sort of way regardless... the advisors could react depending on their "thoughts"... Like, for example, shake in their boots and have "oh crap" worried expressions on their faces if you outgun your enemy. Or conversely they could burst into a roaring laughter at the thought of your attempt to concquer them.

All in all, while I personally hate the resources and development time that goes into this kind of flair (stick to portaits, imo) ~ If you're gonna do it, do it right... and background nuiances would be a greatly unique and fun way for players to extrapolate information about their opponents. Far better than facial expressions and gestures.

Great idea.

 

[crazy_achmed]

I have to agree and just decided to not play my already preordered civ5 copy if they did not improve the diplo screens that way! (and i will say to all of my friends that they must not buy this game until i say to them it is save [except the on which already preodered])

 

[bjbrains]

If you're going to boycott the game because you think the diplo screens are... lonely, then you've got messed up priorities.

 

[AriochIV]

I do agree that I found the images of talking to a leader somewhere out in a field very strange. I do prefer the examples where the leader is being addressed in his or her throne room or office.

I can see why the artists wanted some artistic license here to create more varied and interesting settings -- and some of the outdoor settings are just gorgeous. But I think they could have done so in ways that made a little more sense in game terms. Nobunaga could have been in his garden instead of on a hill; Napoleon could at least have been near his command tent instead of an empty field.

We give Askia a pass on this issue, because we realize that he would be in his office, except that he just recently set it on fire.

 

[Ramesses]

I think it would be an excellent idea to represent all general information you need to know about a civ in the background. Most of the following examples would probably only work for the leaders in the field, but nothing a little creativity can't fix.

Population: The higher their population, the greater the number of generic housing.
Happiness: The more lavishly decorated (and less splatted with rotten foodstuffs) the palace/throne room is, the happier the citizens.
Culture: Some sort of monument or temple off to the side; larger and shinier means a higher cultural output.
War Status (WHEOOHRN): Soldiers marching in the background.

 

[Centurio]

I do agree that I found the images of talking to a leader somewhere out in a field very strange. I do prefer the examples where the leader is being addressed in his or her throne room or office.

I can see why the artists wanted some artistic license here to create more varied and interesting settings -- and some of the outdoor settings are just gorgeous. But I think they could have done so in ways that made a little more sense in game terms. Nobunaga could have been in his garden instead of on a hill; Napoleon could at least have been near his command tent instead of an empty field.

We give Askia a pass on this issue, because we realize that he would be in his office, except that he just recently set it on fire.

Yeah, nobody wants a flaming office. To this end, I think that a Japanese garden would be much more germane to Nobunaga's personality type. Since Napoleon was an Emperor, he should be afforded a throne room.

Also, I don't know if anybody else has seen him yet, but Augustus is actually my least favorite leader in Civilization V. His posture, attire, and setting make him look more like some jerk sitting in a closet than the ruler of anything.

 

[ahmedhadzi]

I think the whole new diplomacy screen and leaders talking in their own languages is just overblown fact which has NO INFLUENCE on game play what so ever and wasted resources and money which they (2K) could have invested in improving GAME PLAY!

If they kept the diplomacy talks like they were before I wouldn't have any problems. Now it will look cool for maybe first game or two, but then afterward I couldn't care less what is Montezuma talking about (like anyone reads those lines in current diplo talks).