How Often do you Finish Your FFH Games?

[3141592]

The speed bottleneck on most games is with the GPU. However civIV and FFH uses so many python call-backs and AI reasoning with relatively simple graphics, the CPU is probably the bottleneck. It is worth overclocking the CPU, though you should always be very careful and take it slow.

 

[Vanion]

While I agree that the CPU is probably the most important factor performance-wise for Civ4, the game also requires loads of memory to run decently, especially in the later stages of the game.
I really hope the upcoming performance improvements lead to a smoother playing experience.

 

[Randolph]

Thanks Pi & Vanion, perhaps the between turns slow down is due to the CPU and the delays while changing zoom (particularly when switiching to, and to a lesser extent in, global view) is due to RAM shortage?

 

[LDiCesare]

I think I got onevictory of each time and that's about it. Last I played a Tower of Mastery (hadn't done it yet), and the last turns took 11 minutes on average with me doing nothing but press end turn. Vista 2Gb memory for a large Creation map. I had an initial time of 90 turns to build the tower, computed it would waste something like 16 hours if I didn't adjust. Went for money to buy it in about 15 turns, which was doable while watching tv.
Obviously, I won't finish much of these games. I would, but it's nopt possible with the memory and cpu usage FfH2 sports.

Just for information, I had the game crash on memory allocation while moving a flying flesh golem on a mountain. I have no idea why memory should be allocated at that time, I suppose maybe field of view? But memory is definitely a limiting factor.

 

[Fafnir13]

I finished my very first game, but I've been terrible at it ever since. Doesn't help that I play a lot of multiplayer with a few friends who have differing schedules. I've managed to finish a couple of the two player games, but never a three player.

 

[Sarisin]

Frankly, I am a little stunned at the numbers after 150 members have voted. I think it is safe to say that the overwhelming majority don't finish most of the FFH2 games they start.

So, I'd be curious to hear what the superb FFH development team thinks about the results of this poll. While the best game/mod ever, does it concern you that most of the games simply cannot be finished by the players?

Any relief in sight as it doesn't seem that improving your rig will help? Or, do we just have to be content dialing down to smaller maps, less civs, no hell terrain, normal speed, etc.?

As I said, the early-mid game is great fun IMO, but it sure would be even more fun to be able to get beyond that with some heavy-duty options selected.

 

[Dinkeldog]

I mostly finish, although if any rival (opponent that's regularly at war with me) has an Immortal, the game's over.

 

[Nikis-Knight]

I would be interested to see a similar poll about unmodded Civ, though. On larger maps it has most of the same issues, and I think I finish more games of FfH than I did unmodded.

 

[Tarquelne]

Thank you for this, I had forgotten that back before I started writing code I proposed an alternative set of Victory Conditions which are MUCH lower, so that you have to struggle quickly to get yours before the AI gets theirs.

That'd be great. Even just a fantasy version of a Spaceship-type victory would be a big improvement IMO. I haven't found the AI very good with Altar or ToM (which I don't happen to like anyway - just personal taste) but the BTS AI seems to put together a Spaceship OK.

 

[Pyr0mancer]

That'd be great. Even just a fantasy version of a Spaceship-type victory would be a big improvement IMO. I haven't found the AI very good with Altar or ToM (which I don't happen to like anyway - just personal taste) but the BTS AI seems to put together a Spaceship OK.

That's because both 'Builder' victories in FfH (ToM and Altar) require a specific strategy rather than just being a production goal. The AI never switches its mana nodes, so pretty much zero chance of a ToM victory (though I've had one game where the Sheaim had 3/4 towers by the end). The Altar requires a GP-oriented specialist economy, which the AI is also bad at doing.

 

[Ahriman]

The endgame is pretty boring; there is a long gap between when I am the most powerful civ by far and no-one else has a chance, and when I actually fulfill the victory conditions.

So its pretty rare to play all the way to the end.

 

[LDiCesare]

I would be interested to see a similar poll about unmodded Civ, though. On larger maps it has most of the same issues, and I think I finish more games of FfH than I did unmodded.

Unmodded civ IV end game is way faster than FfH2 for me. I finish 100% of unmodded games and maybe 10-20% of FfH2 games.

 

[Demus]

Frankly, I am a little stunned at the numbers after 150 members have voted. I think it is safe to say that the overwhelming majority don't finish most of the FFH2 games they start.

So, I'd be curious to hear what the superb FFH development team thinks about the results of this poll. While the best game/mod ever, does it concern you that most of the games simply cannot be finished by the players?

Any relief in sight as it doesn't seem that improving your rig will help? Or, do we just have to be content dialing down to smaller maps, less civs, no hell terrain, normal speed, etc.?

As I said, the early-mid game is great fun IMO, but it sure would be even more fun to be able to get beyond that with some heavy-duty options selected.

While the performance issues are a trouble for some, i recon quite a few players (like me) simply can't be bothered to finish off those last 2 civs, when you've got them dominated in every possible way (production, tech level, unit experience etc.). For me, once i've finished building up to a strategy, and used it to kill of the most powerful opponent, the game's basically over besides some mopping up. At that point, the game is already "won", so i start a new one.
A possible fix would be to give backward civs an even greater tech boost, to the point of "if you're building T4 units, they should at least be at their T3's". Eighter boost tech rate, or gift them the techs untill they can actually put up a fight.

 

[Sarisin]

While the performance issues are a trouble for some, i recon quite a few players (like me) simply can't be bothered to finish off those last 2 civs, when you've got them dominated in every possible way (production, tech level, unit experience etc.). For me, once i've finished building up to a strategy, and used it to kill of the most powerful opponent, the game's basically over besides some mopping up. At that point, the game is already "won", so i start a new one.
A possible fix would be to give backward civs an even greater tech boost, to the point of "if you're building T4 units, they should at least be at their T3's". Eighter boost tech rate, or gift them the techs untill they can actually put up a fight.

Or, you could choose to switch civs after you get that common message from the Ambassador!

I haven't figured out which is funnier - that one, or the "you really should give back that city to make that civ happy" one.

 

[ShadowDrgn]

I should add that I don't finish many games simply because of OOS errors.

In general, the victory conditions are too hard to achieve. You already know that you're going to win the game 50-100 turns before you can meet the requirements.

 

[KillerClowns]

1-50 percent. Patches are usually to blame, although also games that are doomed or inevitable, and sometimes corrupted saves. And sometimes I just leave a game for later, and then forget what I was even planning when I reload it...

 

[TheGreatSteve]

Used to be never, but I've come up with a new plan-Cheat.

Worldbuilder myself a nice start, but go up a difficulty level. The AI's bonuses are constant, but a nice capital BFC has less impact as the game goes. Late game is nice and difficult, without the "attacked by 15+ guys before I have 6" early-game that the AI's massive discounts would normally bring.

 

[vorshlumpf]

I would be interested to see a similar poll about unmodded Civ, though. On larger maps it has most of the same issues, and I think I finish more games of FfH than I did unmodded.

I voted "Never" on this poll because I couldn't remember the last time I actually finished a game. However, it would be the same for vanilla CIV IV. My typical set-up is a huge map with many (17+) opponents at the longest speed - by the time I get mid-way through a FFH game (if I make it that far), I have no more challenge and lose interest. For Civ IV, I have less interest in the late game (I'm big on the medieval era), so again I lose interest. It's been a long time since I couldn't finish a game due to performance issues (haven't had a problem since upgrading to 2 megs of RAM).

I'm constantly tinkering with the code to try to get a game where the AI challenges me throughout the ages. Well, I was - I've given up on that now.

 

[Grey Fox]

I finish 90%+ of vanilla games, if I don't finish them it's probably cause I know I will lose or I've patched the game or something. Not counting countless starts I've restarted for various reasons. I always play small or standard, of late usually small with at least 6 civs. (Finish a game in less than 12 hours)

 

[Frogmanx82]

I finish most of the games I where I start with advanced starts. I like the advanced starts because then all the civs have access to decent units and heroes, a founding religion, and your not waiting forever to be able to build what you want.

My record prior to that was similar to others, only once finishing a game.