Is this how CivIV might look like?

[Civrules]

Since I'm also waiting for Sid Meier's Pirates!, I've been following its progress quite closely.
Some videos were released that show its gameplay. A particular video caught my attention because it involved the new land battles in Pirates!, and that they are also turn-based.

Here's the video (the first from the list):

http://media.pc.ign.com/media/566/566713/vids_1.html?ui=gamefinder

 

[EddyG17]

Really interesting, I takes into account, morale and terrain (hight)
If that is how Pirates is going to imagine CIV4

 

[Elgalad]

I think something like this is what we were talking about in the new way to do combat thread. I'm all for turn based tactical combat

Could bog down the game though, if there's too many battles each turn.

-E

 

[EddyG17]

We are going 3D!!! and with better graphics !!!!

[dance]

 

[Aussie_Lurker]

Very simple solution, Elgalad, is what they did in 'Birth of the Federation' or even 'Star Wars: Rebellion'. There, if you didn't especially want to view the combat, you could allow the computer to run the battle, for all sides, automatically, and just let you see the results! It even allowed you to do this if you were mid-way through a battle! What I used to do was only take command in especially vital 'lynch-pin' combats-and/or ones with a large number of units involved!!!

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

 

[Elgalad]

ha! you caught me Aussie

Yeah, I played Rebellion and BOTF too, still play BOTF once in a while actually. Anyway, I like the notion and it's probably one that the Purists wouldnt poopoo too much as long as it was 'deselectable'. I do hate one on one combat on the world map.

-Elgalad

 

[PeteAtoms]

That's what Ive been thinking. The tactical turnbased fighting like so many other great turn based games: Age of Wonders, Lords of Magic, etc..With the autocalc ability, i dont see what all the fuss is.

 

[Aussie_Lurker]

The other great thing about using this method, of course, is that it would allow you to properly simulate Siege warfare, without moving away from the turn-based game system! Of course, with both normal and siege warfare, their should be some kind of 'combat' clock, which determines how many combat turns you can fight before the new 'year turn' begins!

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

 

[Elgalad]

And using the Age of Wonders paradigm, multiple hex (!) stacks supporting each other becomes a reality as well. Sieges also work in that game. Now something like that for Civ would have to be made more realistic, no wallclimbing halfling rogues with poison darts...

Of course, Ninjas/Assassins are another matter, aren't they?

-E

 

[ShadowWarrior]

Dude, if Civ IV looks like that, I'll buy the game even if it costs me 100 bucks. And I'll make the money to upgrade my computer if that has tobe done to play the game.

 

[Aussie_Lurker]

If I were to put forward the features I would most like to see in a tactical, turn-based combat screen, they would probably be:

1) Fixed number of maximum turns allowed-say 20 or 40 turns. Obviously what each turn represents will depend on the era! So, at a 20 turn maximum, each combat 'turn' (or phase) would be around 2 years long in the Ancient era, but might be measured in mere days in the modern era!

2) You should be able to set a target and 'tactic' for each unit in the combat screen. Though each unit would have a 'default' target and tactic based on factors like unit type, target unit types, terrain and range to various targets. This can reduce the MM for those who just like 'set and forget' combat.

3) After each phase is finished, either side should be able to 'retreat' or 'call for reinforcements'. The reinforcements you could call would depend on how far away possible reinforcements are from the battle AND the number of years each phase currently represents. So, for example, you could 'call in' reinforcements from much further away in the Ancient age than in the modern age. How long they take to arrive in the battle would depend on the movement rate of the units you are bringing in!

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

 

[dh_epic]

Interesting looking combat system. I wonder how much it will resemble Civ 4?

 

[Stid]

that would look cool and would slow games down alot - gives me more to do at home would be interesting to finally find out how spearmen can fend off modern armour