How to make the game longer

[Suisami]

I was wanting suggestions on how to make the game last longer. By that I mean take longer to get through the tech tree and make a slower paced game. Sorta like a civ 3 equivalent of marathon from Civ 4.

I've tried making the mimimun research time longer, but it just makes everyone go at the same space and make it nearly impossible to catch up if behind.

I've tried limiting the research speed bar to 5 and it helps but its not slow enough.

Does any one have any idea on how to lengthen the tech pace of the game without making you have massive stockpiles of gold or unbalanced tech progress?

 

[MPK]

Play around with the Editor a bit..... I play 1000 turns (think 540 in normal).instead of 50 yr periods I have 25 yr periods as my Max,. took me a while (still taking) to get things correct as I want. take it in slow stages,,,,,, You might need to learn how to add more Techs to research as well.

 

[Suisami]

That's generally how I figured I go, but I'm trying to preserve the general balance of the game and just slow it done. But I guess it can't be helped. Anymore ideas?

 

[Quintillus]

In the World Sizes section of the rules, you can set a Tech Rate for that map size. If you double that, it should cost twice as much to research everything, thereby approximately doubling how long it takes for things to be researched. So in theory, multiply the value for each map size by 1.85, and you'll be at about 1000 turns to progress the same amount.

You'd also want to adjust how many years each turn covered, but I think this would cover the research issue. You'd still have issues of buildings costing the same amount as usual, but it should get you most of the way for tech progression with minimal effort.

Disclaimer: I don't have Civ3 installed right now, so this is from memory. I'm also not sure what you mean by "research speed bar". The one I'm talking about is a number that you enter, and IIRC it's usually 320 or 400 for Huge maps, so I don't think it's the same.

 

[MPK]

That's generally how I figured I go, but I'm trying to preserve the general balance of the game and just slow it done. But I guess it can't be helped. Anymore ideas?

Balance... good aim,, that is why I said do small bits at a time. I also aim for a longer drawn out game. Some people like to get to the more modern times, but I like playing with Archers and Spearmen, bombarding castles and searching for Hemp to build ancient Galleys.

I have added a few extra buildings (fills in time on the more advanced cities), but no Techs. Bit dumb on that.
.........try.....

Increasing the cost of buildings, well increase the cost of anything a city builds.

In the Editor: Scenario Properties:

Time Scale:\... reduce yrs for each turn. /
Game Rules:\...turn off accelerated production / (i'm sure you have).

Edit Rules:\ World Sizes: -
....... I play 265 x 265 maps (or more) with 1000 turns so I need to turn the Tech Rate up to 500 or even 600.

General Settings:\... Here also is [Technology]>Future Tech Cost; I always change this to the same as Tech Rate. I just have a funny feeling they are the same thing (?)

Improvements and Wonders:\..... I put the cost up on everything....well I've doubled the turns in my game, which has halved my growth span, so I need to scale and adjust everything to this change...it is not as easy to do as it sounds.


PS: try putting forward any ideas on what you want or how you could achieve these. Or any ideas you can think of on how to have a better Editor and post them on IndieCiv : [ Civ3 - Creation & Customization > Civ3 - Project & Mod Development > Independent Civ Development.]