Ahhhhh......my first post ever on this board. Playing Civ for eons, average but improving player and drinking in all the posts. Such a delight, The interchange between Moongsinger and Rox was partifularly sweet. Two obviously intellectual players, Moonsingerer with a major tournament victory under her belt on Sid level I see. And Rox, obviously well versed in Civ, with strong ideas about what constitutes honorable play, cheating, fair play and reality. Let me throw my two cents in, Late but thought out.
There are countless examples in military history of lightning excusions beyond enemy boundaries. Deep charging blitzkrieg ones in our era especially. How long did it take for Viet Nam to fall despite boundaries which obviously were ineffectitve in deterring "settler creep" infrastructure Poland 1939 fell in 19 days. France, I believe in not much more. My own father was responsible for having RR stations in German terriory up and running in hours/a few days with captured rolling RR stock. He had Luxembourg City operational in two days from its smoking, bloody capture. Germany, in WWII, refit Russian RRs and had it not been for the different size gauge, would have been operational in days.
National boundaries have never been much of an impediment to swift, facilitated use of enemy territory and capitals, at least since Phillip developed anvil tactics with Macedonian cavalry. I would vote that settler creep is a unique, fairly accurate way to simulate lightning incursions into enemy terriorty when offensive forces (the limiting factor) are sufficient. That takes time and planning for the attacker.
Besides, if Firaxis wanted to, the AI could certanily be programmed to build and heavily garrison fortresses and barricades along the major transport routes at chokepoints. Tell me, does the fact that the AI rarely uses city garrisons more than 5 untis strong make concentrating offensive force on that ville cheating? I guess each will have to form his own opinion. I would say no.
All games have exploit points. The fact that Civ III has so few and they are buried so expertly, I regard as truly revolutionary in gaming and distinguishes it as one of the truly great games of our times. Honest. Where each of us draws the line at what constiutes an exploit or more radically, cheating is the real question. One man's cheat is another man's imaginative opportunity. And while we can argue the authenticity of it all, it still comes down to personal choice. What's yours?
And now, back to this interesting discussion of artillery?????? Neat concepts.......
Thank you for your kind words!
Thanks for taking the time to read my article!
