Newish to Civfanatics...how do I join in the games?

[Lormax]

Hello all. Registered long time ago but only recently started coming back. Some quick questions...

How can I get started with playing in the GOTM games? Since I have BTS installed, can I only play in the BOTM games, or both GOTM and BOTM and WOTM? Also is there a way to play through the older previous games that you've all completed already to see how I compare?

Sorry for the nub questions, though I look forward to being on the scoreboards with you all soon!

 

[AlanH]

Hi

There's a "First visit" page on our GOTM web site that may answer some of your questions. There is also a FAQ page

If you have BTS installed then you can play BOTMs. You must also have Civ4 "vanilla", since BTS is an expansion pack; so you can also use the Civ4 software to play GOTMs. You can only play WOTMs if you also have Warlords. That's a separate expansion pack, and is normally a separate purchase [unless you have the Civ4 Complete package].

You *could* play an old game by downloading the Start file from the relevant game release page. However, that requires that you have the correct versions of Civ4 software and HoF Mod, which can get confusing. A better bet is therefore to use the WorldBuilder saves that are linked on the Results pages for the games. A WB save can be used with any version of the appropriate software, with or without any version of the HoF Mod. Copy the WorldBuilder save to the correct My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization IV\...\Saves\WorldBuilder\ directory on your hard drive, and start the game using "Play Scenario" from the Single Player menu.

 

[Lormax]

Well I have both expansion packs purchased, though I haven't played a strictly Warlords game in a long time. I'd like to jump into BOTM07, so I'll start reading up. I haven't modded my Civ4 at all, ever, so hopefully the HoF mod is pretty straightforward

Are the scoreboards reset every so often?

 

[AlanH]

Which scoreboards? There are results pages for every game. The Global Rankings and Pantheon of Heroes are updated automatically when each game result is published. The Global Ranking chart displays a score that is a complex combination of the results from the last nine months' games.

 

[da_Vinci]

Welcome to the XOTMs!

Also be sure that you have the latest patches if you are going to play the latest XOTMs. Now if you are thinking about playing older games just for fun, the older games that ran on earlier patches won't run with the later patches installed ... so you would need complex dual or higher installs of the games (multiple installs at different patch levels) to do that (probably not worth the effort, as 2.5 new games per month ought to be enough )

The HOF mod does a straightforward install, and is the best thing that ever happened to your game of civ!

dV

 

[Lormax]

When I meant scoreboards I meant the medals and such that people get from the different results. Sounds like it continually cycles since it's on a ninth month period though, so I'm guessing there's never a full reset.

Yep, my game is all fully patched and ready to go. I'll skip playing the previous games, I'd rather not deal with multiple installs and patch hunting.

Does the HoF mod do anything other than allow the games to be submitted?

 

[AlanH]

Scores are counted in the Global Rankings and are cumulative over a rolling nine months.

Medals are counted in the Pantheon of Heroes, and they are never reset. You can see medals there that were won in Civ3 GOTM 1.

My point about using WorldBuilder saves for old games is that you *don't* have to worry about patching multiple installs. They will work with the latest version of the appropriate expansion.

The HoF Mod is a compendium of several player assistance mods, Each variant (one for each expansion) comes in the form of an installer, and it includes an event auto-logger, enhanced Domestic and Foreign Adviser screens, options for autosaving on exit and end of game, and more. Once the mod is installed, enable and configure these options by opening the Options screen in-game and selecting the HOF tabs.

 

[MacBalt]

My point about using WorldBuilder saves for old games is that you *don't* have to worry about patching multiple installs. They will work with the latest version of the appropriate expansion.

This is good to know. Thanks for asking the question Lormax, and welcome back!

 

[Mesix]

FYI...all of the BTS games 1-6 use the same patch as the upcoming game 7. I played through several (but not all) of the earlier games for practice.

 

[da_Vinci]

My point about using WorldBuilder saves for old games is that you *don't* have to worry about patching multiple installs. They will work with the latest version of the appropriate expansion.

Oops! I guess I never fully understood the magic of those worldbuilder saves ...

dV

 

[Thrallia]

yes, the worldbuilder saves are essentially scenarios, you can even play those games at whichever civ you want to...you don't have to be the one you were stuck with enjoyed playing as during the actual competition.