PolyCast Episode 61: "Somewhere Along the Line"

[DanQ]

Look closely enough and you may find it. The sixty-first episode of PolyCast, an official podcast of Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS), is now netcasting. "Somewhere Along the Line" features regular co-hosts Daniel "DanQ" Quick, Makahlua, Imran Siddiqui and Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney with returning guest co-host Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith and first-time guest co-host Douglas "Rusty Edge" Smith.

PolyCast is a bi-weekly audio production in an ongoing effort to give the Civ community an interactive voice on game strategy. A nominee in the "Best Produced" and "Gaming" categories of the 2008 Podcast Awards, its sibling show ModCast focuses on Civ modding.

The summary of topics is as follows:

- 02m47s | Research Lab
It's a matter of time: a proposal to radically alter a fundamental basis of Civilization gameplay.
- 21m04s | Senate
Redux: favourite Civilization IV Leader Traits, last discussed during Episode 20 in July 2007, and now includes worst trait considerations; then, how to deal with siege and is Cavalry overpowered in Beyond the Sword.

As always, enjoy.

 

[Arlborn]

Thank you, I'd like to hear their opinion about the worst trait, so I will give it a listen.

 

[sylvanllewelyn]

Some of their strategic mentality are only gained after playing lots of games. I like the way they explain complicated strategic concepts in a way that an intermediate player understands.

Except their conversation about the "worst trait". That was disappointing.

Expensive being the worst trait?! Are you stupid?!

 

[nbcman]

@ DanQ
Shouldn't you have linked to the BTS worst trait discussion rather than the discussion of the Vanilla worst trait discussion that was from 2.5 years ago that you linked to in your post?

for BTS:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=307602

 

[r_rolo1]

Well, I would have a thing or two to say about the worst trait discussion if I was there

 

[DanQ]

@ DanQ
Shouldn't you have linked to the BTS worst trait discussion rather than the discussion of the Vanilla worst trait discussion that was from 2.5 years ago that you linked to in your post?

The link refers to the thread we discussed for worst trait. It didn't strike me or anyone else on the panel that it was for CiVIV Vanilla otherwise we would have referred to a/the Beyond the Sword one. Given what thread was discussed, the link I provided should remain for consistency.

That said, I've made a note to myself to make a point of referring to the BtS one you have linked to in our next episode. Good catch!

Thank you, I'd like to hear their opinion about the worst trait, so I will give it a listen.

You're welcome -- looking forward to your feedback.

Some of their strategic mentality are only gained after playing lots of games. I like the way they explain complicated strategic concepts in a way that an intermediate player understands.

On behalf of the team, thank you for the kind words.

Except their conversation about the "worst trait". That was disappointing.

Exp[a]nsive being the worst trait?! Are you stupid?!

Who said Expansive was the worst trait? We generally ranked it in the bottom half of (BtS) traits, but not at the very bottom.

Well, I would have a thing or two to say about the worst trait discussion if I was there

You're welcome to provide that input here. We're always open to constructive criticism.

 

[r_rolo1]

Ok, since you asked....

Trait ranking is moot, unless you define clearly of what map, diplo situation, leaders... are we talking about. I'll not miss financial or philo if I'm tokugawa in a pangea-like dry tectonics in Agg AI with GK, Ragnar, Alex, Monty, Cathy and Napoleon.... or João in a Terra map

 

[DanQ]

Ok, since you asked....

Trait ranking is moot, unless you define clearly of what map, diplo situation, leaders... are we talking about. I'll not miss financial or philo if I'm tokugawa in a pangea-like dry tectonics in Agg AI with GK, Ragnar, Alex, Monty, Cathy and Napoleon.... or João in a Terra map

Towards these considerations there was no "#2, #3" etc. given though we did come to a consensus on #1 and had varied opinions on what was #11 (worst). We did touch upon difficulty level briefly, and there was some mention of map types, but we were speaking mostly in generalizations.

As was said at one point, though I don't believe it was during this segment, "it depends".

 

[DrewBledsoe]

A relaxing listen as I fell asleep this morning....and nice to hear you IRL Rusty

 

[DanQ]

A relaxing listen as I fell asleep this morning....

Out of curiosity, first-time listener or..?

 

[DrewBledsoe]

Out of curiosity, first-time listener or..?

Listened to a few with Kmad (who I knew from forums- where'd she go to btw any idea? ), Rusty I count as a RL friend, even though we've never actually met.

 

[Rusty Edge]

Listened to a few with Kmad (who I knew from forums- where'd she go to btw any idea? ), Rusty I count as a RL friend, even though we've never actually met.

Agreed . I'll be in Baltimore this August , actually, not virtually, by the way.

 

[Rusty Edge]

Ok, since you asked....

Trait ranking is moot, unless you define clearly of what map, diplo situation, leaders... are we talking about. I'll not miss financial or philo if I'm tokugawa in a pangea-like dry tectonics in Agg AI with GK, Ragnar, Alex, Monty, Cathy and Napoleon.... or João in a Terra map

I too, enjoy Joao on a terra map. Don't you think a lot of it is the UU and UB?
Could you get the same results with the other expanssive leaders?

 

[DanQ]

Listened to a few with Kmad (who I knew from forums- where'd she go to btw any idea?)

No idea, re: KMad.

Hope you'll be tuning into more episodes in the future, and perhaps going through (some) of our archives as well.

 

[Supr49er]

No idea, re: KMad.

Hope you'll be tuning into more episodes in the future, and perhaps going through (some) of our archives as well.

I do both. It was startling to hear one of my forum posts quoted the first time.

The casts are great. Keep up the good work.

 

[DanQ]

I do both.

Excellent!

It was startling to hear one of my forum posts quoted the first time.

The casts are great. Keep up the good work.

Thank you for your support.

 

[Rusty Edge]

I do both. It was startling to hear one of my forum posts quoted the first time.

The casts are great. Keep up the good work.

Anytime Dan says "Welcome Rusty Edge" (or welcome to any other guest host from CFC, it's probably a quote from you also

 

[Rusty Edge]

So, I took DanQ's advice and tried playing as Sitting Bull. The defensive power of the dogs and archers was impressive, but by mid-game I was lagging in techs , popularity, and cash. Not fun. I still don't like S.B..

Started game another as Wang Kong. Much better! I had an isolated start on a cold continent that is sorta like Canada or Russia, most of the prime real estate is on the east and west coasts. I don't expect to nescssarily win this one, but I'm still competitive. I think it's more of a testament for financial. I had a surprise attack from Ghengis, but he shipped too much seige and not enough of anything else, so he beat me down in spite of protective, but he didn't have the troops to follow through.

 

[DanQ]

So, I took DanQ's advice and tried playing as Sitting Bull.

I did not recommend Sitting Bull. (If you have evidence to the contrary, please note it in reply.) I rank his traits, Philosophical and Protective, at #7 and #6 respectively.

 

[Rusty Edge]

I did not recommend Sitting Bull. (If you have evidence to the contrary, please note it in reply.) I rank his traits, Philosophical and Protective, at #7 and #6 respectively.

True . I was dissing protective as one of the worst of all traits, and you said that I should give protective a try and I might change my opinion.

On the other hand I have partial hearing loss due to nerve damage in one ear and nerve deterioration in the other . Hearing aides can only do so much for me, I have a gift for comical misunderstanding.


protective, reflective, defective , respective perspective- they all sound about the same