Modpacks and Maps and Scenarios

[Sid]

I'm not brave enough to download much of the PC-developed stuff for Civ3--everything is running smoothly at the moment. However, I have used the maps available from the Firaxis site (Imperialism--excellent; Marla Singer's Map--very accurate for Earth; Ringworld--awesome, huge and much better after the 1.17g patch).

Has anyone used other modpacks and scenarios? What works on the Mac? I'm not sure whether to try any of these until we get Brad's Editor in 4-5 weeks time.

 

[Aoxomoxoa]

Once I was able to figure out to download the .zip files off of the forums here, had to install Netscape and Zipit (i think that's the utitlity), I download the 10 Breeds or Broods, or whatever the name of that scenario was. I've loaded and played it up until 1400 AD or so now. It suddenly quit on me once, and a few of the inerfaces are altered a bit (the science advisor screen) but other than that, it's playing fine. This was a .bic file that i loaded as a scenario.

Aoxomoxoa

 

[Mike.doc]

Hey Sid
i'm on MacOs 9.2
How using downloadable files like with maps and insert it in the game?
Generally, what is the Civ 3 file which works like our old Civ 2 support file?
Are working the maps PC files on MacOs? How to translate them if necessaray?

 

[Mavfin]

I just use Stuffit Expander.

As far as I can tell, you can use any of the mods, as long as they don't hack the executable....

And, for now they have to be made for 1.17f PC, not 1.21f.

 

[Sid]

Love the head-bang!

I have downloaded and started to play several mods, as well as some of the graphics changes like 'Elvis the Domestic Advisor' and 'Happy Faces'. Lots of fun, but I will now revert to my original Art folder--except for some new irrigation tiles which look much better than those Firaxis provide.

The problems start when using 'modded' units which need to be enabled via the Editor--which we all know we don't have yet. Civ3 will quit when it tries to access a unit which is not recognisable. Don't ask me for more techie input than that. I have played around with various version of the 'mod.bic' file and have discovered that I can't do much harm if I re-install the original after a crash.

For now this is all on hold. We will need the new patch and then the Editor in order to 'fiddle' some more (hopefully while Rome burns, heh-heh).

 

[Mavfin]

I have most of the cool stuff added to my Mac Civ3 that Thunderfall has on the graphics mods page in his signature. Graphics are just graphics, after all....

 

[Mike.doc]

In which file I have to put the downloaded map? For example, in Arnes Europa file, I'v get 3 files : .Bic, .CPF, .Txt. What to do with each?

 

[Sid]

The .txt = text file should tell you what to do with the rest. Double-click on it to read it.

The .bic file will replace your 'civ3mod.bic' file--if it has the same name--but, ALWAYS KEEP A COPY OF YOUR ORIGINAL IN ANOTHER FOLDER*. This is the main 'rules' file for the game, I think. Other '.bic' files go in the 'Map' or 'Scenario' folders. If you don't see it when you attempt to 'LOAD SCENARIO' in the Main Civ3 Menu, swap it from Map to Scenario, as appropriate.

Don't know what .CPF files are. The other main ones are .flc; .pcx; .ini. I don't mess with .flc and.ini at the moment, as they are most likely to cause a crash. I do have numerous fan-created units, but they won't work until I can enable them with the editor. '.pcx' files are OK as they are mainly art/graphics/pictures. [BTW Mavfin, they are imporant to my aesthetic enjoyment of the game. <grin>]

* If anything goes wrong with any of this, you can always do a 'reinstall' from your Civ3 CD-ROM. You can selectively replace original files if you keep copies in another folder, called 'Orig Civ3 Files' or whatever.

 

[Mavfin]

I just meant that graphics files would work, as they are only graphics, after all. Hey, I have my graphics all modded up, too!

 

[Sid]

I'm off to check out the Thunderfall graphics that you mentioned earlier. Do you have anything else to recommend thaqt would suit us Mac folks?