Dom Pedro II's Civilization 4: Test of Time

Dom Pedro II

Modder For Life
Joined
Apr 3, 2002
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Location
Exit 16, New Jersey
Dom Pedro II's Civilization 4: Test of Time

Compatible with BTS 3.19

Moderator Action: Current download is here.
Download: Test of Time (84.5 MB)
Python Bug Fix

If you downloaded the first version of the mod, there small patch to fix some errors: here

Well, it's finally here. This mod is far too complex to put a full description here, so I will refer you to the Test of Time Guide PDF file I have created. That will include a full description of changes as well as screenshots.

This is still very much a Work In Progress, so keep that in mind. This is essentially a public beta of the mod. I'm looking for tough (but polite) criticism to better help me improve this mod, so feel free to leave your comments in the mod's discussion thread.

Note: I recommend setting the game to HIDE Python Exceptions since I'm getting some kind of issue with BUG that I have yet to resolve.

I have to give thanks to the mod components I did not create myself that went into this: RevolutionDCM, BAT, BUG and a few others. Thank you to glider1, jdog5000, TheLopez (wherever you are) and more whose tireless efforts have helped make this mod and many more possible.

And a special thanks to Zebra 9 who created the excellent Equipment Editor Screen that I could never have done on my own!

Below I've included a somewhat lengthy letter to the community. You certainly don't have to read it, but if you've got free time... ;)
Spoiler :

Eighteen years ago in 1991 MicroProse published Civilization, the first game in the Civilization series. In 1992 I got my first computer, and one of the first games installed on it was Civilization. I was about 8 years old at the time, and to be honest, I had no interest in it. It was too complicated for me, and anything that didn't have either Ninja Turtles or dinosaurs just didn't hold my interest. A few years later, my uncle came to stay with us for a few days. He discovered Civilization on our computer, and Sid Meier had claimed his first victim in my family. I tried to stay up as late as possible watching him play, but he outlasted me by many hours. But after that visit, I didn't really pick it up again for a while. In 1998, my parents bought me Civilization II: Multiplayer Gold Edition and that was the start of my love affair with this game. As much as I loved the game itself, the thing that intrigued me most was the ability to make my own scenarios and mods for the game. I set about feverishly creating historical scenarios, and becoming a common face on the Apolyton Civilization website. I made good use of their database of graphics, scenarios and mods.

I became very active in the discussions for the development of Civilization 3, and my biggest concern above everything else was the ability to mod the game. When Civilization 3 was released, I began work on my mod I called Age of Man. The focus was to make each civilization a unique experience with many unique units, buildings, and technologies. I quickly became focused on making unit graphics for Civ3. But my mod went unreleased for Civilization 3 because by the time I'd compiled enough units to satisfy me, it was already time to move on to Civilization 4.

In Civilization 4, I had found true high point of modding for the series. The extent to which modders could change the game was absolutely without parallel. As a result, my interests quickly turned from graphics to coding. Having no experience in C++ and Python though, the learning curve was quite steep. While I've put down modding for periods of time, it took me years to learn how to use C++ and Python sufficiently to make my vision a reality, and then even more time on top of that to code and debug these changes properly. In that time, I have released a number of small modcomponents, and my code can also be found here in there in other people's mods such as the WoC and jdog's Revolution mod.

But this mod is my magnum opus. It is the product of years of work and a true love of this game. It has been a feature of my life longer than many other things. It has helped me make new friends. In at least one case, it was one cause of a failed relationship with a girlfriend, but it also helped me find another one (unbelievably). It has at times directed the course of my education compelling me to take courses in history and computers.

This mod is a thank you. It is a thank you to the makers of the game and to this community which has been a constant source of interesting discussions, useful tools, fun mods, and endless support. Civilization 4, already two years beyond its last expansion pack, is slowly drifting into twilight. It compiles in my mind the very best features of the first Civilization to the last, and combines them with my new ideas for the future. And still there are people interested in modding and creating here, and I hope that I can add to that continued process of renewal and revitalization. For that reason, I couldn't think of any better title that Test of Time. In addition to giving a nod to previous encarnations of Civilization, it also highlights this game's and the franchise's staying power. This mod is still a work in progress, and there is still a lot of work left for the future. I thought it was time though for me to finally reveal to the community what it is that has been driving me all these years. So without further interruption, I present Dom Pedro II's Civilization 4: Test of Time.
 

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Congrats' on the release, Dom Pedro II!

Is the python exception sg. that has isColor in it? That might have to do with new unit classes you added to your mod, and you didn't add to some ini file...

edit: it's related to the unit naming component I believe
 
I have a request. Could you please attach only your XML, Python and SDK source files, without all the graphics?
 
Had a CtD when accepting to end my war against the Spanish.
(By the way, nice feature :))

I'm liking it so far; but I've not played much yet. Crash happened a bit early ;)

The need to stop growth to train military units is disturbing but quite interesting too.

Anyway, more feedback later :)
 
Have read through the PDF-file and I'm really impressed - especially the diplomatic additions (unit trading, asking for votes, AI offering something for go to war request, AI gifting units) here are what I was always looking for :goodjob:
 
Did you say that modding helped you find a girlfriend? :dubious:

Yeah, that one made me paused too, I can understand the losing as girlfriend, but actually getting one? Wow. All in all though, bravo, the letter makes me feel privledged to be allowed to play it. Thank you.
 
Well, the modding didn't help me. It was because she was into civ, and it provided an initial connection between us. We mightve ended up getting together anyway, but it provided a starting point.

But she was into Civ2 and I was looking ahead and was deeply involved in Civ3, so it eventually drove us apart... Jk ;)

I'll look into the diplo bug. Since I usually sim the games with AI autoplay, I would expect more problems with the interface-dependent stuff since the AI doesn't bother with diplo screens and what not.
 
WOW, How long have you been working on this? It would've taken me till civ 6 was released to finish. Great job. As soon as you get it working I'm sure it will be one of the most popular mods in existence for civ 4.
 
Had a CtD when accepting to end my war against the Spanish.
(By the way, nice feature )

Attached here is a fix to the end war CtD crash. Just unzip it to the same folder and it will overwrite the erroneous file.
 

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