East Berlin Effect

[LuciusAlexander]

I have forgotten the names of the cities and civilizations involved.

But I remember getting that message saying that the citizens of a rival civilization's city were "casting envious eyes upon the luxurious lifestyle of their neighbors" or however it was expressed.

"OH great" I thought, "I'm in no position to fight a war right now."

Much to my shock, instead of an attack, next turn that city rebelled against their civilization and surrendered to me.

I've seen it happen a couple of times since, and came to call it the East Berlin Effect (after the most obvious real-life example of the phenomenon.)

Since then, I've seen that other CIV games and similar games like Galactic Civilizations have played up the idea. But I'm wondering if anyone here can tell me more about how it works in CIV II. It seems to be extremely rare and just about impossible to trigger deliberately. I seem to remember reading somewhere online that there was a certain distance factor - i.e. not beyond, I think it was 10 squares? But within that range, distance doesn't matter?

Can anyone tell me more about how it works, when it can and can't happen, etc? In particular, I am curious to know if barbarian cities ever succumb this way? Is there some name by which the phenomenon is known besides what I call it, The East Berlin Effect?

Thank you.

Lucius Alexander

Palindromedary Enterprises

 

[LuciusAlexander]

Oh yeah, and does it matter if the two cities are, or are not, connected by land? i.e. if rich advanced city is one island, and poor backwards city is on another island?

Lucius Alexander

House of the Palindromedary

 

[Ali Ardavan]

I have never seen this happen. Are you sure you are talking about Civ2 and not some other version of Civ?

 

[Ace]

It happens in Civ3, and, maybe, in Civ1, but that memory of Civ1 is pretty hazy after all this time....

 

[LuciusAlexander]

I am absolutely positive I have seen it happen in CIV II, Gold Edition.

I have played other versions of CIV, but except for CIV I, not nearly as extensively.

In CIV III it does not take much playing to see it happen. In CIV II, as I said, it's extremely rare.
If it can happen in CIV I, I've never seen it.

Lucius Alexander

House of the Palindromedary

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

Hm. I've never even heard of this before. I think it might have something to do with black unhappy citizens.

 

[McMonkey]

I have never seen this happen in well over a decade of extensive Civ2 playing. I'm not saying that its impossible as Civ2 still manages to keep surprising me from time to time, but if I was a betting man I would say it was from another version of Civ and your memory is playing tricks. There is the schism effect sometimes when a capital falls and a nation splits in two (when there is a Civ slot free) but that is quite different to what you are describing. If it was in the game you should be able to find it in the GAME.txt file, though I don't recall seeing it in years of extensive editing!