Mode of turns/time in a 4X game

[Aleksey_aka_al]

Which mode of turns/time in 4X games you like most? Or which you'd like to see a game with?

First option of the poll is about what you see in Civ.

For second option you can check this Wikipedia page. It says such mode is used in Master of Orion series. At first phase players give orders, at second all orders are executed at the same time...

Example for third option - Europa Universalis.

And while adding last option I thought about first two X-COM games.

 

[PhroX]

I don't like the last option, but otherwise I don't really have a favourite, as I guess it depends on the game. I can't see myself ever wanting to play Civ in real time, but it works brilliantly in Paradox's games.

Also, on top of your suggestions, you've got games with different layers having different settings - for instance TB strategy with RT combat like in SotS or the TW series - which can also work well.

 

[GoodGame]

Real-time with speed control and pause is pretty good, as is turn-based.

The main issue is balancing time to consider actions, vs. pointless "next turn" clicking while waiting for an opportunity/something to complete. I don't think there's an absolute compromise, though maybe a seamless hybrid of turn-based, and Real-time with pause, would be ideal; Though there is the two-tier system that Total War uses. Really it's more of a UI thing.

The exception is RTS without pause, in which

 

[zapp999]

The wikipedia link was great, but can someone confirm whether the system for World Empires Live exist elsewhere?

WEL is a RTTS (Real Time Turn Strategy) which is a hydrid between the turn based and RTS.
more infor http://www.multiplayerhub.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=3299

So basically WEL has

Continuous movement - No
Instant Action resolution - Yes
All players active at the same time - Yes

The only difference from this and RTS is that the movements i.e. maps and actions are identical to that of a turn based system, you have grid/board and units teleport movement from A to B rather than moving in a steady pace.

Anyone confirm if this is unique, by the way how does Multiplayer in Civ 4 work does it resolve player actions (like battles or who moved into a tile) AFTER end of turn or does it resolve it mid turn like in RTTS WEL system?

 

[Thorn]

Another real-time vs turn-based. Why can't they just include BOTH options and let us choose? XCOM Apocalypse did! Sigh. I prefer turn-based but I can live with real-time with speed control and pause.