Gazing to the future

[denyd]

Just because inquiring minds want to know:

A couple of questions about the future of the XOTM events

1. Any chance of the Austrians or Minoans making a return visit?
2. How about those special Asian flavor or Mongolian replacements?
3. Any special plans for the end of year games?
4. Any plans on using unusual map sizes (huge, small, etc) or configurations?
5. Any thoughts about replacing the current barbarians with a nastier version?

I'll also take this time to thank the entire staff for the hardwork and dedication that it takes to maintain this high level of excellence we've been priviledged to be part of.

 

[civ_steve]

I guess I'll take a shot at this. I haven't thought too far in the future as I'm still getting my feet wet about even setting these games up! So the development of an approach to G/COTM is still occuring.

1.) Probably not, as the current plan is to limit ourselves to out of the box civs. There has been discussion about loading in special files to run GOTM and the general feeling has been to keep it simple and not go there. I'm not opposed to revisiting this.

2.) Same discussion as 1.

3.) Perhaps

4.) I would like to present a variety; however, even in just the few months I've been in this position I can see that certain maps generate considerably more submittals. Not sure if this is due to time available for the game, or to difficulty level. I would like to keep the Civ3 participants active and involved, and in part that means setting up maps that the players can finish and will submit, so that might lend a bias to certain map configurations.

I don't think Large or Huge are a good idea!

5.) How nasty would you like them? I have been considering ways to make Barbarians more of an impediment.

One concept from the past I have been considering is setting up minor tribes. These were civs that were incredibly powerful in the beginning of the game, but had no capability to expand their empire beyond their starting cities. If I can do that within the base Civ3 game, I'll probably do a few of those.

I would be happy to hear any additional thoughts or inputs.

 

[denyd]

Actually, Austria is included with Conquests, it's the lost tribe (#32)

I was also wondering about using some of the special units (Machine Gunner, Auxillary Cavalry & Kamakaze, etc) from the scenarios.

I think last December they used a large map and extended the due date 15 days.

The minor tribes were fun to deal with. What I think was done was give that tribe 4 extra settlers and then not allow them to build anymore. I think the Minoans were one of these. They also had the Peltast.

As for the barbarians, just substituting swords or archers for warriors, knights for horsemen and privateers for galleys should be an easy first pass.