Mods for multiplayer

[xian]

From time to time I sit down with 2-3 friends for a casual round of civ. Our usual setting involves playing a standard or large pangea FFA with AI. We follow an agreement to not go to war with each other if it isn't necessary and to not gift each other techs. But if a war goes down the wrong path there is always someone to help.

After a couple of games we are now searching for an alternative setting or a mod.

We don't like PvP as much because there is a rather large skill gap between the individual players and would therefor prefer to stick to our semi-allied style.

Are there any mods out there which are stable in multiplayer? What are your recommendations? Do those mods also have have decent AI oppponents?

I would be really interested in your experiences and recommendations.

 

[Luthor_Saxburg]

What is PvP?

Do those mods also have have decent AI oppponents

I have NEVER seen any game which has a decent AI...

You are looking to play in Multiplayer game but with a more cooperative tone rather than a competitive one? Is that it?

There are quite a few MOD's which are good to play in MPP but I don't see anyone that is more for a cooperative play. Humans are usually better than AI. If you have a bunch of humans that kind of ally with each other then the AI has little chance. Maybe you can play against AI but using with extreme difficulty (eg Immortal)?

Another idea would be to play in groups. If you are 3 you find other 3 players and you play as allies and they play as allies (against you). It's much better to vs humans than vs AI.

I did setup a game where there would be a very strong AI and a lot of human weak nations forcing the humans to ally or perish but most people weren't too keen on the idea.

 

[Manco Capac]

I have NEVER seen any game which has a decent AI...

Lol, you definitely never crossed by K-mod.

 

[Saru]

I tried getting multiplayer to work with mods with a friend but we were unable to start the game as he was unable to load the game even though we succesfully got to the lobby (I hosted).

 

[Tigranes]

Lol, you definitely never crossed by K-mod.

I did, but I still agree with Luthor. K-mod is a step in the right direction, any modding of AI is an encourageable undertaking. But still AI there tends to overwhelm you with numbers, not with skills. If you win on Monarch with vanila and lose to K-mod on Nobel sometimes -- that would mean an AI compatible with I.

 

[VCrakeV]

Can mods even be used in multiplayer? Is the use of modes limited to, say, hotseat? I had planned on a local IP match with some friends, and although it's not necessary, I was thinking of introducing some nice mods.

 

[tchristensen]

Yes, mods can be used in multiplayer. I have run two and three player games with many mods. My favorite is a heavily edited version of Invictus Realism. A very tough and unforgiving mod that I play over the web using DirectIP with 1 friend. I have also played as a LAN at the house with three guys both in DirectIP and LAN. I have been told its much more difficult to play with 3 or more over the web unless you use Hamachi (I have not tried that yet).

Everyone playing in our tight circle have the old version of the game (from discs) and I have heard the Steam version has issues with MP. I am told there is a beta version on Steam for this purpose.

As for Invictus Realism, I have opened up all the the civilizations tweaking the normally AI only cultures to have unique play styles -- Indians for example have a tougher time technologically but are superior in woods/jungle. Isreal and many other cultures are unable to build settlers until specific techs are reached, etc....

 

[lizacarr]

But without war with friends there is no suspense in the game.
War with friends makes the game more interesting and exciting.

 

[Lazteuq]

You could play something like the Road to War scenario. You and friends could be Britain/USA/France and fight Nazis and Italians.

 

[Jpinter]

So do you have to use the beta version of CIV IV on Steam in order to play mods in multiplayer? My friend and I play LAN all the time vanilla Civ, cause we can never find our games in the lobby when we try mods.