From 2K Greg on 2K Forums: "What would you like to know from the dev team?"

[abc127]

One question on a topic I've seen little discussion. I find the empire-wide happiness to be one of the more limiting aspects of the game. I feel like I get punished for expanding, and consequently do things like raze a lot more cities or sell of cities - which seems contrary to "building" a civilization.

what are the dev team's thoughts on empire happiness in general (e.g. do they like the current approach, etc) and are there any considerations for tweaking?

 

[Inhalaattori]

Article from Escapist told us that siege units like catapults are now more essential when trying to capture cities. Do you stil need iron to make catapults? What about Arab UU camel archer, do you still need horses to build them?

 

[bonafide11]

One question on a topic I've seen little discussion. I find the empire-wide happiness to be one of the more limiting aspects of the game. I feel like I get punished for expanding, and consequently do things like raze a lot more cities or sell of cities - which seems contrary to "building" a civilization.

what are the dev team's thoughts on empire happiness in general (e.g. do they like the current approach, etc) and are there any considerations for tweaking?

That's way too major of a change for them to do at this point. The happiness is such a central point to the game that changing that would require reworking the entire game. You can't expect them to revolutionize the game that much in an expansion pack.

 

[Deggial]

You can't expect them to revolutionize the game that much in an expansion pack.

Especially not, when there is no revolution necessary...

 

[nokmirt]

One question on a topic I've seen little discussion. I find the empire-wide happiness to be one of the more limiting aspects of the game. I feel like I get punished for expanding, and consequently do things like raze a lot more cities or sell of cities - which seems contrary to "building" a civilization.

what are the dev team's thoughts on empire happiness in general (e.g. do they like the current approach, etc) and are there any considerations for tweaking?

An excellent question. I have been doing these things in my game. Razing and selling cities. I just don't have the happines to keep them all. I have even had to sell some decent ones. The other thing they should look into is allowing you to raze captials, it gets annoying to keep them sometimes as well. Some empires are too far between. To build roads and connect everything is a drain on the economy. I am curious what the devs think about this. Good thinking abc127.

 

[Delgar]

An excellent question. I have been doing these things in my game. Razing and selling cities. I just don't have the happines to keep them all. I have even had to sell some decent ones. The other thing they should look into is allowing you to raze captials, it gets annoying to keep them sometimes as well. Some empires are too far between. To build roads and connect everything is a drain on the economy. I am curious what the devs think about this. Good thinking abc127.

The thing is, if happiness doesn't exist to limit your number of cities, then some other mechanic will, otherwise there's just no limit to the number of cities you can build.

I think they don't allow razing of capitals because it allows the civ that loses its capital the chance to regain it. It ties into the requirements for Domination victory as well - capture all capitals. So if they allow capital razing then they'd have to tweak the settings for Domination victory.

 

[flairin]

What will be included in the patch before the expansion, i.e changes to the tech tree, combat hp, siege units, naval units, unit values, etc. It would be nice to see how the game functions with existing civs (of course minus religion, espionage, new city states, etc.). It would be an error if these basic changes were not included without the expansion. And what about those who purchased Spain DLC? will there be a discount on the expansion, a free future DLC?

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

And what about those who purchased Spain DLC? will there be a discount on the expansion, a free future DLC?

The fact that they've had Spain for up to 16 months, plus the Inca and the scenarios. They won't be giving a free future DLC on the basis that Spain is included in the expansion.

 

[abc127]

The thing is, if happiness doesn't exist to limit your number of cities, then some other mechanic will, otherwise there's just no limit to the number of cities you can build.

Fair enough point - I don't necessarily mean they should get rid of it entirely. I only mean, that as implemented, I wonder whether the team feels that the results/consequences of the mechanic match the intent, or if it's something they ponder tweaking in some way.

 

[smallfish]

I'm more curious about this siege thing.

Does this mean that swarming a late Medieval capital of less than 40-def with Riflemen is now impossible, that I actually have to research cannoe in accordance to siege upgrade and bring those slow things along to blast the walls and brimstone?

 

[JolouPT]

I think we should focus on more dev aspects and not so much on functional aspects of the expansion. In particular I would like to know how devs have made the ai better in combat. The AI try to follow some generic combat guidelines, how AI plan an attack to a city? On the same subject how did the dev team try to make the AI better with artillery? It's no secret the AI never do anything right with that. It is harder to program AI combat on earlier ages or in later ages?

 

[SpaceJesus]

While Greg is out there, can he chop down some forests near Firaxis headquarters in order to speed up production of the game?

 

[apocalypse105]

While Greg is out there, can he chop down some forests near Firaxis headquarters in order to speed up production of the game?

Yeah or use a great programmer to finish it in time. He will finish the liberty tree soon there is hope

I rather let them have more time for it then finsihing it with flaws

 

[forty2j]

Serious question:

What were the opportunities that arose and challenged faced by doing an expansion for a very in-depth game with a different Lead Designer than the original?

 

[nokmirt]

The thing is, if happiness doesn't exist to limit your number of cities, then some other mechanic will, otherwise there's just no limit to the number of cities you can build.

I think they don't allow razing of capitals because it allows the civ that loses its capital the chance to regain it. It ties into the requirements for Domination victory as well - capture all capitals. So if they allow capital razing then they'd have to tweak the settings for Domination victory.

Oh I know all that and your right. Still it is interesting to hear the devs thoughts on questions we come up with.

The things that irks me is having to keep the capitals you capture in domination. It just stupid to have to keep all those places spread throughout the map. They should just have it that if your capital is captured, you lose it and another city in your empire is then relegated to that role. If you have no city left you lose. You are dominated. However, if you recapture your old capital city then you should have choice whether or not to give it that staus again.

They could make two victory conditions, one could be Capital Domination, another could be Civilization Domination. I also, do not agree with the idea of having to leave your enemy in their one remaining city. Many of you may not agree with me, but keep in mind, I started with Civ 2 and we gave civs in that game no mercy. Mercy is for the weak. And I do love to play domination, but we need a conquest victory condition for us old warmongers. Conquer a certain percentage of the map and you win, that type of thing. Thats all I ask.

One other thing I wanted to say. I do like playing where you turn off the victory conditions and play a point victory game. Thats a lot of fun. Although my first game on Emperor is all victory conditions, which I am in the middle of now. Its harder than king, but easier in some ways because the other civs have money for luxuries you sell. The hard part is that they have so much cash and can sign research agreements at will. Many times I cannot do this, but I need to get better at this level of play.

 

[MARDUK80]

I have one more question for the Dev team I would like to ask

- Will Morgan Sheppard return to voice the new nine Civilizations?

( http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=454675 )

 

[Pouakai]

Greg said in the chat of the live stream he's almost certain Sheppard is returning

 

[MARDUK80]

Nice. Great to hear this and thanks for the info

 

[blackcatatonic]

While Greg is out there, can he chop down some forests near Firaxis headquarters in order to speed up production of the game?

Awesome post is awesome.

 

[snipperrabbit!!]

Brainlazy article says that Civ5 vanilla was made by the Wrong team. No wonder why it was flawed at the beginning.