Quick Answers / 'Newbie' Questions

What determines whether partisans will appear (and fight my exhausted troops) when I raze a city? In some games it happens, in others it doesn't.
There's a certain percentage chance of it happening in some versions of BTS (patch 3.13 is one example, I believe). In the latest patch (3.17), I think this event has been removed.
 
There's a certain percentage chance of it happening in some versions of BTS (patch 3.13 is one example, I believe). In the latest patch (3.17), I think this event has been removed.

I have 3.17; it still happens from time to time
 
I have 3.17; it still happens from time to time
Hmm, that's odd, as I've had 3.17 for quite a while and have never noticed that event. Mind you, it's very rare that I'll actually raze a city... I usually keep everything I take, unless it's a really bad spot or would be hideously expensive to keep.
 
it is supposed to happen every time you raze a city of a civ running emancipation. pre-3.17 it was bugged as hell and happened everytime if the eventtrigger was active. Now it should occur rarely since there are few times you run into wars and raze a city in the modern age...
 
(1) Is the number of turns limited? There is no mention of this in the documentation, but there seems to be a setting in the .ini file and I read something concerning this elsewhere on this helpful site.

1) Yes. The #turns scale depending on game speed. (Quick game turns < Marathon)

The number of turns is limited due to a time triggered victory which is always active in the standard settings. This victory condition is triggered in 2050AD and grants victory to the one who has the highest game score at that point. Usually another victory condition is already triggered before that date. You can still play on after you've won or lost the game by selecting the 'Just one more turn' option after victory or loss.

You can also disable the 'time victory' in the game setup options of a custom game. In that case the time victory isn't triggered in 2050AD.
 
Two questions from a total newbie:

(1) Is the number of turns limited? There is no mention of this in the documentation, but there seems to be a setting in the .ini file and I read something concerning this elsewhere on this helpful site.
(2) I also read somewhere that you could start a game at any era. Did I misunderstand as I do not see any way of doing this when you start a game.

Thanks to anyone who takes the trouble to read/reply to this!

Just adding to what has already been answered, but you can check how many turns there are remaining in the current game by going to the victory conditions screen and looking under the heading Time Victory. I think F9 brings up that screen.
 
This question is somewhat strange, but bear with me. I am planning to buy a Civilization IV Complete game (I already have the original, but it ends up being cheaper to get the bundle) from an online seller who just happens to be in the UK. My main question is if there are any differences between the US and UK versions besides the ratings system. Different spellings for things like color/colour or grey/gray? Multiplayer differences? Anything significant? It seems like a silly question, but I am curious.
The really stupid question here is if the region codes would affect proper use of the game. It doesn't seem like that would affect a PC, but I just want to make sure.
 
This question is somewhat strange, but bear with me. I am planning to buy a Civilization IV Complete game (I already have the original, but it ends up being cheaper to get the bundle) from an online seller who just happens to be in the UK. My main question is if there are any differences between the US and UK versions besides the ratings system. Different spellings for things like color/colour or grey/gray? Multiplayer differences? Anything significant? It seems like a silly question, but I am curious.
The really stupid question here is if the region codes would affect proper use of the game. It doesn't seem like that would affect a PC, but I just want to make sure.

I can't answer your question specifically, but if you already own the original game and are looking to buy Complete (presumably including Warlords and BtS) because it is cheaper than buying BtS and Warlords separately, then I'd ask you to think twice. If you can pick up BtS by itself cheap it may be worth doing that instead because pretty much everything in Warlords is included in BtS anyway. It is only the Warlords scenarios that you would miss out on if you didn't get Warlords (and in my opinion the Warlords scenarios are pretty so-so anyway).

Whichever version you get the spellings will be American regardless. Multiplayer would be the same. The main thing to watch out for is don't buy a downloadable copy of the game (like using Steam), as compatibility problems with those games and various patches and multiplayer games have been noted on many occasions.

Whether or not there are regions codes that would potentially make you unable to play the game in your computer, I'm not sure of.
 
I don't think region codes apply to PC games - certainly not Civ anyway.
 
Thanks for the answers.
I already knew about Beyond the Sword obsoleting Warlords; I wanted to get it for the scenarios and what is, to my knowledge, mod compatibility. Warlords: Total Realism in particular caught my eye, but, as far as I can extract from their website, only works with Warlords, as of yet (Which I've just realized may have a vanilla version, which makes me feel very stupid.). Other outdated mods also interested me.
Also, I just ran into that problem about the download version's compatibility when I tried to patch my game, so I guess that is an added benefit to buying Complete. Anyways, $20 is a fair deal for Complete, so I think I'll stay the course.
And, Yeah, that region code thing was silly, but I just had a bit of a fear.
Again, thanks for the answers, you've certainly soothed my mind there.
 
Hi everyone, if I want to change the cost of techs I have to make a mod or scenario or something? And is there a limit on how expensive you can make techs cost?
 
Hi everyone, if I want to change the cost of techs I have to make a mod or scenario or something? And is there a limit on how expensive you can make techs cost?

You indeed would need to make a mod. I think you'd only have to change one xml-file that stores the tech costs, so it wouldn't be a very extensive mod, it wouldn't be a lot of work.

There probably is some limit on tech costs as the game is likely programmed to handle numbers up to a certain limit. But since I've never heard of such a limit, it is likely to be so high that it is not an issue for mod makers.
 
Trying to play Civ 4 on my HP laptop I receive error message, that means my display adapter isn't compatible with civ4.
Does anybody know a solution?

Thank you in advance
Manos
 
Trying to play Civ 4 on my HP laptop I receive error message, that means my display adapter isn't compatible with civ4.
Does anybody know a solution?

Thank you in advance
Manos

I'm not sure there is one, short of buying a new PC.

Civ4 requires a graphics display device that can handle Transform & Lighting (T&L) instructions. Unfortunately, many/most laptops do not have video cards capable of handling this.
 
Hi everyone, if I want to change the cost of techs I have to make a mod or scenario or something? And is there a limit on how expensive you can make techs cost?
If you just want a longer or shorter game experience, you can always change the game speed. Tech costs are scaled by the same factor on the different speeds (0.67 for Quick, 1.5 for Epic, 3 for Marathon).

However, if you're talking about just changing the costs of certain individual techs, then that's something you'd need to find (or make) a mod for. ;)
 
Trying to play Civ 4 on my HP laptop I receive error message, that means my display adapter isn't compatible with civ4.
Does anybody know a solution?

Thank you in advance
Manos

You could try the civ.ini file.

Change this bit
Code:
; Don't show minimum specification warnings
HideMinSpecWarning = 0
to
Code:
; Don't show minimum specification warnings
HideMinSpecWarning = 1

It may help, it may not. Civ doesn't check for physical T&L. Many pcs- laptops and others- are capable of performing T&L through software. Can't say if yours will or not from your info.

Anyways, try changing this .ini file, it won't do any harm ;)
 
You indeed would need to make a mod. I think you'd only have to change one xml-file that stores the tech costs, so it wouldn't be a very extensive mod, it wouldn't be a lot of work.

There probably is some limit on tech costs as the game is likely programmed to handle numbers up to a certain limit. But since I've never heard of such a limit, it is likely to be so high that it is not an issue for mod makers.

ok cool, thanks a lot man.
 
If you just want a longer or shorter game experience, you can always change the game speed. Tech costs are scaled by the same factor on the different speeds (0.67 for Quick, 1.5 for Epic, 3 for Marathon).

However, if you're talking about just changing the costs of certain individual techs, then that's something you'd need to find (or make) a mod for. ;)

Yeah I play on marathon, but I still think it goes too fast. I'm playing Rise of mankind and I advance so fast I never get to use knights or whatever for that long before they need upgrading. So I'll edit the mod like you guys suggest. thanks :D
 
Yeah I play on marathon, but I still think it goes too fast. I'm playing Rise of mankind and I advance so fast I never get to use knights or whatever for that long before they need upgrading. So I'll edit the mod like you guys suggest. thanks :D
Wow, you find marathon too fast?! :eek:

Well, I guess it's a mod you're playing, so that may be different to the regular game. Personally, I enjoy the drawn-out, "full civ experience" of marathon games - but I must say, any slower and the pace really would crawl. ;)

But each to his own preferences! Good luck with your modding. :)
 
Yeah I play on marathon, but I still think it goes too fast. I'm playing Rise of mankind and I advance so fast I never get to use knights or whatever for that long before they need upgrading. So I'll edit the mod like you guys suggest. thanks :D

You have two options:

Change all technology costs at once by changing the marathon game speed technology research factor (I'm assuming here that the mod uses that game speed and hasn't created it's own individual separate game speed) or change the technology costs of each individual technology to fine tune research speed over the ages. Depending on your game experience, the first fast method could be good enough or you might need to use the second more labour intensive method.

Good luck. :thumbsup:
 
Back
Top Bottom