My first and only gripe.

[mgdpublic]

This is the only civ game Ive ever played. I know its detractors primarily didnt like the micromanagement involved. I had the misfortune of getting into a war yesterday with a game I was really enjoying. That redefines micromanagement.
I talked to a friend who was a Civ I addict and it seems they have done virtually nothing to help with the micromanagement during war. Firaxix seriously needs to take a lesson from Microsoft's Age of Empires. An intuitive building queue, with auto-send to a certain area, and an escort mode where a fast unit slows down to hang with the slowest unit. What kills me is that this programming is insanely easy and that firaxis knows how much this micro management stuff really ruins the late game for alot of people.
I wont gripe about this next thing to I know its true. I sent a battleship to a certain area and turn after turn it makes its way there. Well on the way it passes by an enemy galleon. I would have loved to have taken the thing out, but Auto-Jonny, decides to haul right passed it. Is there a key which kills the auto-move MID-move?

 

[Mr Spice]

I always avoid all automatisations, governors and stuff. The AI often makes bad desicions and is always inferior to you.

 

[WarandPeace]

Originally posted by mgdpublic
An intuitive building queue, with auto-send to a certain area, and an escort mode where a fast unit slows down to hang with the slowest unit. What kills me is that this programming is insanely easy and that firaxis knows how much this micro management stuff really ruins the late game for alot of people.

It goes without saying that when one wants to enable a war with mass produced units he/she must go through the unnecessary labor of directing each unit to the desired destination by hand, an aspect that would have been excepted in a game of which is undeveloped and crude.

 

[Alphidius]

Actually, all you have to do is to move all the units you want to and click on the 'end turn button' (circular button on the bottom right)

And never ever let your units auto move unless they're escorting another unit (I always send a settler and a defensive unit together). To escort another unit make sure they're travelling to the same destination and of the same speed, then their routes will be of the same.

 

[drake]

Auto-anything, as pointed out, in games is bad, particularly civ. It takes power away from a player. The Ai will always make bad decisions for you. So why can't you just manually do everything yourself? Is it really too much work to go through each city quickly to ensure all is well?

Complaining that the AI doesnt run half your empire just sounds very silly to me. What is the point of playing a civilization building game if the Ai builds half of it for you and moves your units for you?

 

[WarandPeace]

Originally posted by drake

Complaining that the AI doesnt run half your empire just sounds very silly to me. What is the point of playing a civilization building game if the Ai builds half of it for you and moves your units for you?

I agree. Although I'm afraid you've missed the point. This isn't an argument about telling the dumb AI to run empires for lazy players, but to make it easier on them by including simple options like route destination, etc.

The reason behind this is is when having 20-30 cities all at once pumping out Calvary or tanks to send over to a faraway place, continually, it is very inefficient to repeat the same action over and over, telling the various units where to go across the globe, by clicking and dragging --to a place which usually is just one place-- to either for an attack, or rushing to save a city in danger.

So, would it be rather difficult, or wrong to insert an option, for the benefit of the players, to have each unit a city makes go directly and automatically to a certain destination assigned by the player to take some needless work off his/her back?

 

[drake]

Unless you're moving hundreds of units in a turn I really don't see the issue w&p. Of course this might also be because I like a nice slow paced game. I take a long time to play civ and cutting down time isn't really that big of a prioirty for me. Rushing through a game kills the enjoyment for me.

Ok, I yield to reason....it would be nice to have the option of being able to do that automated stuff......

 

[WarandPeace]

I suppose I'm too accustomed to other strategy games, not turn based ones, e.i. Starcraft.

But you got to admit, those cities does look like barracks from which little zealots or marines pop out of; though it is a hassle without the option... maybe the hassle is the game and the game hassle?

 

[Sam_Catchem]

The Build Q is OK..it should tell you when your Q is over and whether you want to start another.

Also..in terms of managing your cities...I wish there was a list of unhappy cities..so I can go fix them. The domestic advisor blows and so does scrolling across your empire to find smoke billowing. Maybe there is one..and I didn't find it. I think the interface is the biggest deraction of the game..many tings could have been done better..but I think that is just what was sacrificed to rush it out.

 

[VoodooAce]

Well, I would never let the ai run anything for me, other than the occasional worker, but....

An automatic go-to function, when building units, wouldn't suck. I'd like to be able to order all marine units produced in city A to go to city B until I say otherwise.

There should also be an escort function because not all units have the same movement rate.

What reason could they give for NOT allowing this. Say you send out a carrier, i'd like to be able to order 3 or 4 batlleships to follow it wherever i send it....

 

[Doomsday]

There is an automatic "go to" button, press g.
The AI has done a great job choosing the shortest route, this round of CIV. Great for navel units.

I like moving units myself because sometimes the AI does things that go against my gameplan.

 

[jaguara]

I agree with the poster on a few things...

I would not want the AI to automate any decisions for me...but what I do want are tools, and summary screens that are useful and help to minimize micromanagement.

On the whole, I found the advisor interface in SMAC to be much more useful.

As for auto routing of troops...well even the original Master of Orion included that option.

I am glad that they included build queues, and that you can save and load a default queue.

There shoudl be a way to cycle through revolting cities as well. Options like that are always nice...

But...as for Age of Empires being great at avoiding micro-management...I beg to differ. Dark Reign (the original), had great tools to direct real time units on how to behave if you were not there...such as retreating and what not...
I would get a great combined arms force built in AofE, only to see my cavalry charging down his pikemen...while my footmen attack his cavalry and my pikemen attack his infantry etc etc. Now THERE was micromanagement!

Jaguara