No Viking Civ Please

[Pangur Bán]

Why exactly is the term "Vikings" more useful than Scandinavian. The popularity of the Vikings as a civ seems to stem from the fact that they were included in Civ2. (Conventions ). Having a civ called the Vikings seems to exclude the quite considerable achievements of Scandinavian countries since early modern times, like Swedens scientific and military contributions. In addition to this, I have to doubt whether the Vikings on their own deserve a place in civ3. Ok, they were great shipbuilders and they explored far and wide; but this really isn't enough, the Eskimos got to nearly all the places that the Vikings did and many civs that are unlikely to be included in the expansion pack, like the Dutch and Portuguese, were far better explorers. And I'm not exactly sure either that the term "Viking" should really be used considering the history of the word. It seems to be a bit like the Arabs producing their own version of civ and having a Crusader civ representing the West.
My main point is that even if there were to be a Scandinavian civ, it should not be called the Vikings.

 

[I-iZ-l337]

Moderator Action: IdioticWarrior, you are perm banned. You are not welcome here. In other words, get lost.
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[Damien]

Viking is a general term.
Like the arabs to call all the people talking arabic or the native americans.
There was already a difference between norvegian,swedish n danish vikings.Danish had for a long time a central govt n were invaders and very good at war.Swedish were traders n explorers.
Norvegian settled in Iceland n discovered america.And i think those people should be in civ3.They knew how to write moreover.
Their writing was the runic one.Vikings founded many cities-such as Dublin.

 

[Selous]

vikings rule .... they killed lotsa people and had the known world fear them ... and its that last one that people think is cool ... and the viking gods ... they were very very cool ..... i would have to say that the vikings are probally the coolest ancient civ ever!! .... they drank lotsa beer, shagged lotsa chicks (stole them too) and their heaven valhalla .... u got to kill all day and drink and eat all night (and probally shag).... best sounding heaven ive ever heard off

in short ... vikings are far to cool to not have in

 

[Zachriel]

Though often culturally absorbed, the Vikings (Scandanavians) conquered and settled from England to Russia to Byzantium.


BRITANNICA
Vikings, also called Norseman, or Northman, member of the Scandinavian seafaring warriors who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the 9th to the 11th century and whose disruptive influence profoundly affected European history. These pagan Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish warriors were probably prompted to undertake their raids by a combination of factors ranging from overpopulation at home to the relative helplessness of victims abroad.

 

[kurt]

Vikings need to be included as a civ because of several reasons. They were great warriors, they even discovered America before 1492.

 

[philippe]

EDITops double post.sorry

 

[philippe]

oh yes include the viking.i would love to see the face of elizabeth
when i land with my vikings

 

[Mr Spice]

Originally posted by calgacus
Ok, they were great shipbuilders and they explored far and wide; but this really isn't enough, the Eskimos got to nearly all the places that the Vikings did and many civs that are unlikely to be included in the expansion pack, like the Dutch and Portuguese, were far better explorers.

The Eskimos we surely present in Greenland, where Norwegian vikings did found some colonies, but what other places are you talking about? Scandinavia? Britain? Byzantium? Russia?

Sure, the Portugeese did explore further away than the vikings did. 600 years later, after major development in European naval technology and navigation expertice. That does not diminish the achievements of the world´s greatest explorers, bandits and adventurers, ie the vikings.

I say the vikings have earned their place in history, as well as in Civ 3.

 

[digitalprimate]

Well, all the Civ's are in this game are actually "composite" civs. None of these Civs were nation-states with clearly defined identities as portrayed in the game from ancient times; they are all composites of several non-contemporaneous Civs. For example, the Greeks in the Civ3 incorporate aspects of Macedonian culture, the Babs incorporate Hittite, Sumerian, etc. The Americans and Zulu didn't even exist as cultures for the vast majority of the history this game covers. So I don't really have a problem with the historical accuracy of the Vikings as a Civ.

I suppose the bottom line is: would they be fun to play? Heck yeah - imagine galleys with jazzed up movement and attack, or even an amphibious-assault enabled spearman! Now, if we get a Viking funeral pyre graphic when your galley dies I'll be all over it...

 

[Parmenion]

In the UK there are dozens of towns and cities that celebrate their Viking heritage with re-enactments of battles, funeral pyres and feasts etc... If the Vikings can still be remembered in this way, much as the Romans are too, then why can't they be allowed to be a 'Civ' in the game.
In my opinion, I familiarise myself with my Viking (or Scandinavian) ancestry than I do any other (Celtic, Norman, Roman or whatever) so why do I have to play as the useless English when I'm feeling patriotic? Elizabeth gets the vote of leading the worst civ in the game... WHERE ARE THE VIKINGS.....? RAAAAAAAAGHHH!

 

[radar42]

The longship should be a special version of the Trireme with two unique capabilities:

1: Ability to travel up rivers, ie between river tiles
2: Ability to cross the open ocean

These two abilities are really what sets this vessel apart from any seafaring vessel of the time. Most Viking attacs were actually conducted from the longships first going up rivers, because so little of the vessel was below the waterline.

 

[Lord_Vetinari]

I, a Swede, would be much more comfortable with a Viking civ than I would be with a Swedish civ.

The reason for this is that I don't think Sweden qualifies as a civ (in the game). Sure, we've had a "golden age" as a semi-powerful european power, but lots of other euro countries has so too, and it would be unfair to leave out civs like Holland or Austria for the Swedes. We are just too similar to lots of European countries that were more powerful than us.

The vikings, however, has a quite unique culture, a cool set of gods, and played a Huge (with capital letter) role in the shaping of Europe. They should definately be in the game.

And Firaxis, Please please please, don't make the viking UU into a ship. Altough it might be historically accurate, it will damage them in gameplay. My vote would go to the Berserker, perhaps a 4/1/1 swordman with the ability to make amphibious assaults.

Ps. Has anybody thought of this: The three "most popular" excluded civs Vikings, Mongols, and Spanish, were all rather violent conquerors/plunderers at times. Perhaps Firaxis is making a new character trait to go with this?? Just a thought, I have no idea what it could possibly be (gain more money when plundering cities?)

 

[Stuka]

Originally posted by Selous
vikings rule .... they killed lotsa people and had the known world fear them ... and its that last one that people think is cool ... and the viking gods ... they were very very cool ..... i would have to say that the vikings are probally the coolest ancient civ ever!! .... they drank lotsa beer, shagged lotsa chicks (stole them too) and their heaven valhalla .... u got to kill all day and drink and eat all night (and probally shag).... best sounding heaven ive ever heard off

in short ... vikings are far to cool to not have in

Oh God I think I pissed my pants!

 

[philippe]

Originally posted by Selous
vikings rule .... they killed lotsa people and had the known world fear them ... and its that last one that people think is cool ... and the viking gods ... they were very very cool ..... i would have to say that the vikings are probally the coolest ancient civ ever!! .... they drank lotsa beer, shagged lotsa chicks (stole them too) and their heaven valhalla .... u got to kill all day and drink and eat all night (and probally shag).... best sounding heaven ive ever heard off

in short ... vikings are far to cool to not have in

when you say that i want to be born a 1000 years a go as a viking
philippe the destroyer!
philippe,lord of destruction!
include viking civ firaxis!

 

[Major Guevara]

Originally posted by Lord_Vetinari
I, a Swede, would be much more comfortable with a Viking civ than I would be with a Swedish civ.

The reason for this is that I don't think Sweden qualifies as a civ (in the game). Sure, we've had a "golden age" as a semi-powerful european power, but lots of other euro countries has so too, and it would be unfair to leave out civs like Holland or Austria for the Swedes. We are just too similar to lots of European countries that were more powerful than us.

The vikings, however, has a quite unique culture, a cool set of gods, and played a Huge (with capital letter) role in the shaping of Europe. They should definately be in the game.

I also a Swede totaly agree

 

[Pangur Bán]

I can see the Vikings are very popular! But my thoughts were that a civ called "Scandinavia" could just as easily represent those Vikings AND other variations of Scandinavian culture at different times in history.

PS: I think that the Swedes must be the most honest people on Earth!

 

[Lord_Vetinari]

"I can see the Vikings are very popular! But my thoughts were that a civ called "Scandinavia" could just as easily represent those Vikings AND other variations of Scandinavian culture at different times in history.

PS: I think that the Swedes must be the most honest people on Earth!"

I see your point, but when it's all said and done, Vikings just sound much better that Scandinavians.

Ah, but I am 50% Norwegian, so I find it a little bit easier to diss Sweden

A tip from a friend: You better shorten your sig, or the mods will start screaming at you

 

[Pangur Bán]

Thank you friend. But I like my sig so much that I'll just wait till I have to shorten it. But I don't think I will have to, because the limit is supposed to be 5 lines, which IS the length of my signature.

 

[Lord_Vetinari]

Ok, now I understand. On my screen your sig is 7-8 lines, but thats probably because I've got a 14 inch screen. No prob then