Quick Answers / 'Newbie' Questions

[Winston Khan]

Thanks Roland, PC is not internet linked right now, will take the download to the machine and get back to you....

 

[Bonaparte1664]

Can someone inform me as to how you take a screenshot of the ENTIRE map? I mean, where you zoom out all the way. I just made a map that I want to post and have no idea how to take a screenshot (i know it involves the "Print Screen" button) and I need to take one of the whole map.

Thanks!

 

[frankcor]

Press Print Screen, then look in the ScreenShots folder in your game folder (usually "My Documents/My Games/Sid Meier's Civiliation 4"). The game saves a JPG format file there each time you press the key.

 

[LordQuorad]

I created a map before, around a month ago. But I forgot how again, and I cant find the tool i was using and its not ingame, I an not talking about the in-game editor that is used for changing map tiles and units, im talking about the editor that changes the tile properties and unit properties, and creates scenarios and maps.
I lost it and cant find it anywhere. mind helping me out?


EDIT: maybe i am thinking of civ3.
EDIT: But i am sure its civ4.
EDIT: because the map is for civ4.

 

[Matty R]

There are many options if you start a custom game. Ever tried it? If you are looking for a very fair map, then you could try the wheel map. It is mainly made for the multi-player game and is very fair. However that also makes it pretty boring and artificial. But if that is what you're looking for, then you might want to try it.
Also the custom continents options might help you create a map that is more to your liking. It's not as fair as the wheel map, but also a lot less artificial. Still, it doesn't have a completely natural feel like the normal continents maps. Natural looks and fair for game-play are two qualities that are not easily unitable in one map.

I would open a few of these maps and take a look at them in the world builder. Then you can get an immediate feel for how they tend to look and if they will produce something to your liking.

The creator of the map scripts and employee of Firaxis, Sirian, also wrote an excellent Map Script Guide. You can take a look at that to get a feeling of what certain maps might look like.

Thanks. I've just taken a look at that page. Something for the future.

I've got another question. If I capture or destroy an enemies capital city while it has sub cities, will that whole civlization fall?

 

[Truronian]

I've got another question. If I capture or destroy an enemies capital city while it has sub cities, will that whole civlization fall?

No, in a regular game all the cities must be taken/destroyed. There is also an option under Custom game called "Complete kills" which, when enabled, means all enemy units must be eliminated.

 

[Roland Johansen]

I created a map before, around a month ago. But I forgot how again, and I cant find the tool i was using and its not ingame, I an not talking about the in-game editor that is used for changing map tiles and units, im talking about the editor that changes the tile properties and unit properties, and creates scenarios and maps.
I lost it and cant find it anywhere. mind helping me out?


EDIT: maybe i am thinking of civ3.
EDIT: But i am sure its civ4.
EDIT: because the map is for civ4.

The only mapeditor in civ4 is the ingame World Builder. There is a useful Civ4 World Builder Manual which can be found here.

You can also mod civ4 by editing xml-files and Python/C++ editing, but I don't think that that is what you're talking about. You're probably mistaken with the civ3 editor.

Good luck editing.

 

[pixiejmcc]

BTW Roland, did you consider making a strategy article out of your findings on line of sight? You might have done it already. But if you didn't I am sure there are plenty of people who will find it useful reading.

 

[pixiejmcc]

I just fiddled around in world builder to test ur theories. They stand up so far .

But I dont understand why I can see the rice tile in this screenshot.

 

[Samson]

I just fiddled around in world builder to test ur theories. They stand up so far .

But I dont understand why I can see the rice tile in this screenshot.

It is because you can see 2 tiles across the sea from a land tile, so the tile NW of the city sees the rice tile over 1 tile of coast.

 

[pixiejmcc]

So it seems that any unit can see 2 tiles across the sea.

 

[Samson]

So it seems that any unit can see 2 tiles across the sea.

From a land tile. A ship can see only 1 tile until you get optics.

 

[Roland Johansen]

BTW Roland, did you consider making a strategy article out of your findings on line of sight? You might have done it already. But if you didn't I am sure there are plenty of people who will find it useful reading.

I've thought about it, but haven't done so so far. I don't think most people think of it as a problem because most things you encounter with viewing range are not that strange. Some things are rather peculiar, but you might not encounter them so often. But maybe you are right and it could be useful to people who wonder about this. I haven't seen the question come up that often. Most people are not that curious.
Another reason not to write it in a strategy article was that there was a small mistake in it. The research was not very thorough.
The original post (2869) has been edited to correct the error.

In your screenshot:
If a unit with viewing distance 1 were standing on the northern desert tile in your cultural area, then the rice tile would be behind the coastal tile and thus be visible.

You can remember those rules of viewing by thinking:
You can see behind tiles which are lower than the tile you're standing on,
You can see higher grounds behind lower grounds as long as you're positioned at at least the height of the lower grounds,
Forests increase the height of a blocking tile, but not the height of the tile that you're standing on.


In this case, you're positioned on flatlands and thus can look behind the lower coastal tile.

The following two screenshots show some peculiarities in viewing distance:

Spy viewing distance with optics

Destroyer viewing distance with optics and sentry

 

[pixiejmcc]

Why are these peculiarities?
I remember promoting my destroyer to sentry and being astounded at how far it could see.

But this makes sense, before it could see 2 tiles beyond, now it can see 3 tiles.

And, I think, the spy comes with sentry (I don't know modern and future units very well), so why wouldnt it see three tiles across the sea?

Hm, if units see 2 tiles across the sea from the start, which they do. Then why doesnt this increase with optics?

 

[Roland Johansen]

Why are these peculiarities?

The question is why the spy and the destroyer can see 4 out of 5 tiles on the other side of the hills. It can be explained but I do think most people would find this case strange.

Edit: Some might also wonder why the spy can't see the coastal tile, 3 spaces to the north, 1 to the west while it can see the coastal tile 3 spaces to the north.

 

[Winston Khan]

All sorted now, taking it easy on my first game in, Spainsh in Ice Age. Looks good.

Thanks Roland Oh Yeah, I used to play Civ3, hence the few postings before Civ4...

 

[a4phantom]

erm whoever has founded buddhism-the AI can see into your city, nothing bad about building the temple but it only has an affect if you convert to Buddhism.

The first part is true but the temple will give 1 happiness whatever your state religion. A city can have 7 religions and get 7 happiness from 7 temples. Cathedrals (synagogue, most, pagoda, etc) don't give happiness unless they're of your state religion, and every city where your state religion is present gets 1 happiness automatically. With Free Religion, no cathedrals give happiness but every religion present gives the city 1 happiness, and temples are unaffected.

So there is no negative consequence to building a temple, besides the (well spent) resources used to build it.

 

[LordQuorad]

I liked the modability of the civ3 editor. why didnt they have one for civ4?

 

[LordQuorad]

I loved the modability of the civ3 editor. Why did they not have one for civ4?

 

[Roland Johansen]

I loved the modability of the civ3 editor. Why did they not have one for civ4?

The modability of civ4 is more extensive, but it might be less accessible for the occasional modder.

-Ingame world builder
-XML text editing (not that difficult)
-Python code editing (more difficult)
-C++ editing (you have to know something about programming)