Ethics of reloading?

[.Shane.]

Just curious what you think about this.

Obviously, not acceptable in competition, so I'm just talking about when its you and the AI.

I'm still learning the game, so I reload a lot, mostly to see effects of specific choices. The more I play, the less I reload.

Since I'm a newer player I was curious what the general view of this community was on the subject.

Thanks!

 

[TyranusBonehead]

Generally, I do not reload. I'll abandon a game before reloading. However, when trying to figure out a best strategy I will reload if an idea doesn't work out and try something else.

 

[tR1cKy]

Uh, it depends. If you want to learn to play better, reloading and trying different things is a good learning tool. If you're simply playing, a reload can be considered a cheat with yourself (quite a silly thing), so it's better not to do it unless in case of correcting stupid mistakes, such as you unwillingly hit a key and the worker joins the city or the units pillage a tile.

 

[.Shane.]

Uh, it depends. If you want to learn to play better, reloading and trying different things is a good learning tool. If you're simply playing, a reload can be considered a cheat with yourself (quite a silly thing), so it's better not to do it unless in case of correcting stupid mistakes, such as you unwillingly hit a key and the worker joins the city or the units pillage a tile.

yeah, I wish they had an "undo" button, I hate reloading just because I hit the wrong key.

 

[Mordack]

only when I commit a physical error

example:

clicking on the wrong govt after emerging from anarchy

 

[k-a-bob]

only when I commit a physical error

example:

clicking on the wrong govt after emerging from anarchy

That's the worst.

Sometimes I reload to see what the AI would do differently if I did something different for learning purposes. In a game I started yesterday, I saw Greece was about to attack me (traded for a tech and gold with gpt ) then he attacked. I held the town. I reloaded, did the same thing, except moved some forces (2 swords) out of another border town towards his town, and his secondary force moved in another towards them instead of the town defended by a redlined warrior. I didn't expect that.

 

[Pounder]

Really you shouldn't do it until you discover time travel.

 

[fe3333au]

I reload when I am assisting in testing a mod ... the gameplay, graphics, text and links ... I will anally test every link and right click that is possible ... so reloading is essential for this process ...

When it's me and AI ... I must admit that if i do something stupid like unload a settler without a guard unit near barbs ... or sailing a loaded galley into a barbarian armarda ... well then I reload the turn again ...

 

[Own]

I used to reload all the time, like if I fail an espionage mission I'd reload and try again (with preserve randome seed off).

But I've kicked the habit and NEVER reload.

 

[oldStatesman]

IMHO if it's just you and the AI...whatever floats your boat. After all, it's about having fun...

I reloaded constantly my first few games until I learned how to do things ---- I still do occasioanlly when I learn a new thing. I will also do a save when I deem it a critical decision time - so I can go back and replay the game making the other choice - i.e. what will happen if I go to war or stay at peace? Should I try and build that wonder, or build a lot of small things first...How will my Civ develop in both situations? One game can be replayed with many variations.

 

[Rambuchan]

My opinion: Reload to learn the game and the level. Once I became competent on Regent I stopped reloading and have moved up without reloading. Something going majorly wrong for you in your game can be a good lesson, reloading when it goes bad obviously denies you that lesson.

 

[Xen]

if reloading the game was comparable with drug useage, I'd be a heroin addict.

 

[Beorn-eL-Feared]

lol Xen. Like oldStateman said, it's all about fun; I usually do reload when I try something new that ends screwing me up, but avoid it when I fix myself a goal (ie I finished a personnal fastest SS self-challenge yesterday, and would have reloaded in no circumstance). It keeps the challenge where it is wanted, and the fun where it is meant to be.

 

[TheBB]

Really you shouldn't do it until you discover time travel.

Imagine having the AI reload on you every other turn ...

That's one tech that's NOT going in the game. EVER.

 

[0Shadowfax0]

HHAHAHAHAHA

I reload on casual games all the time. IT is really useful to learn great strategies (or to just see if the odds will come out differently if you lost a battle the first time) You can easily see which units will work against which enemies and cities.

 

[gmaharriet]

I play with random see OFF and save frequently, but I think it's been a few months since the last time I actually did a reload. It just makes me feel more secure to know that I COULD reload if I really wanted to, and it's easier to accept bad results when I know it's not necessary. If I have the choice, I'm willing to accept the losses...no choice just makes me angry.

 

[Bluemofia]

Reloading is bad. You don't learn fom it.

 

[StavrosMelb]

Reloading is bad. You don't learn fom it.

I think you do. You get to understand which strategies work - and which don't. I do it when I want to understand how a certain strategy will work out differently. For example, in a game the other week, I suspected an AI was coming to attack me, so I attacked them first... I reloaded, didn't attack this time, and I was right; they attacked me. It helps you understand why you make certain decisions, and if you know the choices you make are right/wrong, then you learn from that.

If you do it persistently just because you lost a small battle or for some petty, minor issue, then it's basically cheating. But for bigger issues like accidental movements (that are vital), wrong buttons pressed, accidentally missing the 'D' (Diplomacy) button and going into the next turn, etc, then I don't see a problem with it.

 

[Desertsnow]

only when I commit a physical error

example:

clicking on the wrong govt after emerging from anarchy

Sakes I think I've done that maybe once. The one thing I most fear while playing is making exactly that mistake.
Generally, though, I don't reload. If the game is going that badly I'll just give up and start over anew.

 

[Luthor_Saxburg]

accidentally missing the 'D' (Diplomacy) button and going into the next turn

This happens to me a lot! At least my button is not well tuned, because if I touch it a little bit to one of the edges (can't remember which one), it goes next turn...

About reloading, I generally agree with StavrosMelb, I reload when I forget to do things that have an impact.

Sometimes I save a game at those critical moments and make a decision. A lot later (30 turns?) I go back and re-play the game to see the effects of the other decision.

Sometimes, when something very critical happens (like when I lose a wonder because of a 1 turn delay) I cheat myself and reload. But I think I'm doing it less and less.