HOF Questions and Answers Thread

Which save version are the games you can download? I tried looking at Mistfit's games, but got the usual assets error message.
 
Which save version are the games you can download? I tried looking at Mistfit's games, but got the usual assets error message.
I am guessing that you have installed BTS 3.13 and Mistfit hasn't. You probably will have to put the original 1.74 DLL back to be able to open his save file.
 
I am guessing that you have installed BTS 3.13 and Mistfit hasn't. You probably will have to put the original 1.74 DLL back to be able to open his save file.

Yeah, I have the new DLL
 
I am new to the HoF forum, and I have a few questions.

First off, I was playing Vanilla through GameTap, so I couldnt use this MOD. I recently purchased Civ IV:Complete, and that installed the most current versions of Vanilla, Warlords and BTS. I then updated to Bhruics patch, and added the HoF mod, but then experienced the "asset" thing, so I went back to the original 3.13 DLL, and I seem to be running fine. Do I need to re-run the HoF update as well? I want to be sure I have all the correct files before I start submitting games.

My second question is more broad. Its "Where do I start?" Holy Cow, there is a LOT of information to absorb about HoFs and GotMs, almost as much as learning Civ IV itself! Where would you recommend a newcomer "jump in" so to speak? I consider myself a Monarch level player, I like Continent/Hemisphere maps the best but can play the Pangaea and Island maps as well. I usually rush my closest opponent, consolidate my territory, and then have a mid-game war or two as well. I am just not sure how this works, with all the acronyms flying around on these threads. QMs, EQMs, Majors and Minors, etc, it can be a bit overwhelming. What would be some good choices for my first few games to submit? I am not interested in being #1 or anything, but I do like to perform at a high standard, and I think that HoFs and GOTMs will help me play a stronger game overall.

Any advice would be welcomed. Especially the "multi-game" things, where you play all the civs and all the maps, speeds, etc. That type of thing looks like a blast. I have read a bunch of threads, and a lot of this thread as well, but I could really use a more definitive "nudge" in the right direction. I am totally hooked on Civ IV, especially BTS. Heck, I would rather not even play Vanilla or Warlords at all, to be honest, but I cant seem to figure out a good starting point for a n00b.
 
I've only submitted 9 games for my HOF so far. What I do, I play random leader games at map types I haven't yet got an entry in the HOF for, at my current skill level (losing most of the time at emperor). I also do the gauntlets. The advice given in the gauntlet threads is what's enabled me to raise my skill level.
 
I am new to the HoF forum, and I have a few questions.

First off, I was playing Vanilla through GameTap, so I couldnt use this MOD. I recently purchased Civ IV:Complete, and that installed the most current versions of Vanilla, Warlords and BTS. I then updated to Bhruics patch, and added the HoF mod, but then experienced the "asset" thing, so I went back to the original 3.13 DLL, and I seem to be running fine. Do I need to re-run the HoF update as well? I want to be sure I have all the correct files before I start submitting games..
GameTap? That's a new one to me. Is that an online service or do they sell downloaded versions?

If you aren't seeing a warning about assets when you start a new game then you should be alright. There is a Assetchecker tab on the HOF Mod page that you can download to check if you are worried. Also, if you are using Vista you might want to check out the Vista fixes tab.

My second question is more broad. Its "Where do I start?" Holy Cow, there is a LOT of information to absorb about HoFs and GotMs, almost as much as learning Civ IV itself! Where would you recommend a newcomer "jump in" so to speak? I consider myself a Monarch level player, I like Continent/Hemisphere maps the best but can play the Pangaea and Island maps as well. I usually rush my closest opponent, consolidate my territory, and then have a mid-game war or two as well. I am just not sure how this works, with all the acronyms flying around on these threads. QMs, EQMs, Majors and Minors, etc, it can be a bit overwhelming. What would be some good choices for my first few games to submit? I am not interested in being #1 or anything, but I do like to perform at a high standard, and I think that HoFs and GOTMs will help me play a stronger game overall.

Any advice would be welcomed. Especially the "multi-game" things, where you play all the civs and all the maps, speeds, etc. That type of thing looks like a blast. I have read a bunch of threads, and a lot of this thread as well, but I could really use a more definitive "nudge" in the right direction. I am totally hooked on Civ IV, especially BTS. Heck, I would rather not even play Vanilla or Warlords at all, to be honest, but I cant seem to figure out a good starting point for a n00b.
Gaunltet are a good place to start. For the Quarttromasters or Elite Quattromasters just take a look at the web pages. The requirements are shown on the status tabs.
 
Just start playing as you normaly would excpet taking the maps leaders and options restrictions into mind when making a game. Make sure you get 4000bc saves for each submitting game and just play as normal. Thats the best way to start, then you can start looking at filling in holes on the tables.
 
@Denniz: Gametap is a service where you pay a monthly fee to basically play any game on the service as much as you want, once you stop your subscription, you can't play those games anymore. Apparently though, they are not fully functional versions, since he couldn't use the HOF mod while playing on it. Also, most games available on it are anywhere from 2-7 or 8 years old.

@Bleys: the GOTM is a monthly competition where you download a prebuild saved game, play through it, and compare how you did to how others who played the game did. If you are interested in trying it, here's the forum for it. The basic rules for getting a submission accepted there is the same as here...no replaying any of the game, and only submit your first attempt. We allow both winning and losing games however, and you'll get ranked even if you lose a game. The current BtS version of the GOTM(Game of the Month) is BOTM(Beyond the Sword of the Month...yeah, we've got little imagination about naming stuff) number 2. It will stop accepting submissions at the end of the day on February 15th. However, about that time the next BtS GOTM will be available for download and play.

If you have the time, doing both the GOTM and the HOF will be enjoyable for you and help you improve your skills. The HOF because you'll learn tons of new strategies for tons of different situations, the GOTM because everyone starts in the exact same position as you do, so you can compare how you did with others, to see what would have worked best for the game.
 
Can you describe how you changed this to 99 or 100%?

Keep in mind I am not computer friendly so... use small words and pictures please :)

Windows Explorer (I'm using XP maps and stuff, but I suppose it's the same in Vista)
C:Program Files/Firaxis Games/Sid Meier's Civilization 4/Mods/HOF-1.74.002/

Open HOF-1.74.022.ini with wordpad or a similar program.
Search for (Control F)
"# Threshold for Land being close to limit (Percent)"
Set the number on the next line to 99.0
Save the file
Start up civ, and it should work.
 
Thank you for the responses. It really is an overwhelming proposition to get started on. I really like the idea of the GOTM, playing a common map, as I can already tell there are MANY "tricks" for getting the best set-up to the Gauntlet and QM games.

I could still use some direction though. Lets say I want to start playing games for my QM (thats the "all leaders, all map types, all speeds, all difficulties, right?) which would you suggest I try for first? Just give me a strong nudge, like "Your fav CRE leader with a good UU (Hatty is mine) on a small Pangaea with all the easy-to-rush civs like XXX and YYY".

Also, what is MapFinder? And also-also, are there any other MODs that can be combined with the HoF mod legally to help with even more stuff that people suggest?
 
Also, what is MapFinder? And also-also, are there any other MODs that can be combined with the HoF mod legally to help with even more stuff that people suggest?
MapFinder is a HOF Mod function that will auto-regenerate maps and check the starting area for desired combinations of terrain and resources. When it finds one it saves the game to a folder. Later you can use a utility (separate download) to view a picture and the stats of each map.

The HOF Mod is the only SDK or Python type mod allowed. Blue Marble seems to work okay it though. There are a number of other mods incorporated into the HOF Mod. You have to go to your Game options to turn them on.

There is FAQ thread that has alot of HOF information that might help you: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=260678
 
Thats cool, I am seeing the picture now, thanks for that link, Denn.

BTW, GameTap is an emulator online service. Its a very good service too, I played dozens of games without having to purchase them myself, they have a bit of everything from old-school arcade games to full-fledged RPGs like Baldurs Gate 2, etc, and lots of stuff in between. Some of my favs were Pharoah, Ceasar III, Jagged Alliance, Return to Mysterious Island, stuff like that. Worth checking out if you enjoy LOTS of games, but would rather not spend months "perfecting" one or two in particular.

Note, the instant I started playing Civ IV, I KNEW I would be canceling my subscription (around $10 a month for unlimited access to all their games) once I found a copy of Complete in the states cheap enough, because I knew this was a game I WOULD play for months and months.
 
Question: I have BtS installed and am slowly working my way through the HOF approved maps that came with that game. Questions:

  1. Is there a discussion of the new maps somewhere?
  2. Why isn't 'Arboria' approved?
  3. Can I play (say) rainforest with Warlords and / or vanilla and get such a game recognized as a valid HOF entry?

Edit: never mind re 1) and 2) ... just saw this thread talking about the BtS mapscripts.
 
Question: I have BtS installed and am slowly working my way through the HOF approved maps that came with that game. Questions:

  1. Is there a discussion of the new maps somewhere?
  2. Why isn't 'Arboria' approved?
  3. Can I play (say) rainforest with Warlords and / or vanilla and get such a game recognized as a valid HOF entry?

Edit: never mind re 1) and 2) ... just saw this thread talking about the BtS mapscripts.
BTS mapscripts are not playable on other expansions. You would probably get an assets warning and it would show up as illegal on this end. I don't think we want to mess with the assets, the DLL's mess is bad enough. ;)
 
BTS mapscripts are not playable on other expansions. You would probably get an assets warning and it would show up as illegal on this end. I don't think we want to mess with the assets, the DLL's mess is bad enough. ;)
I was just going to drop the py file into the publicmaps directory. Oh well.
 
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