Quick vs. Normal vs. Epic: Pros and Cons?

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

I'm wondering what are the advantages and disadvantages of playing at the different speeds (apart from the obvious time commitment per game). Is epic better for the war-mongerer since you get more turns in a game? Do the different speeds favor different playing styles?

What speed do you like best and why?

 

[Shillen]

Epic is always better. The only reason to play on faster speeds is if you're short on time and want the game to go by faster.

 

[jeannie]

Personally, I've preferred Quick games, since I can complete one in 3-4 hours. I think it's helping to shorten my learning curve.

 

[ImpossibleSKY]

I tend to play on quick for MP and Normal for SP - Amount of playtime is an issue for me, so I don't really have the time to play on epic or long drawn out games.

 

[Astax]

I love face off vs careebars on Epic/Normal. "OMG I got like 20 happies faces in my capital" YEAH and 2 archers Warmongers actually totally benefit fromt his because it takes longer to buidl army so when you attack an unsuspecting carebear,t hey won't have time to build any defense. Add to it a nice sweet through their lands pillaging all mines and they are like WTH Oh no 10 more turns to finish my warrior.

 

[Skutai]

Can you translate that for me, Astax? I don't speak 133t D00d!

Anyway, Epic is a fun speed since you can actually enjoy the Rennaissance and Industrial ages instead of having them whoosh by in a cloud of dust on Normal speed. I really wish there was just a Slow Research setting. I'd like to actually get Tanks in the early 20th century, instead of the early 19th!

 

[Yusaku Jon III]

I've been playing on Normal mostly out of habit since this is still very much a learning experience for me. But, with my becoming familiar with the interface and all that, I'm considering switching to the Quick speed due to the time constraints and a desire to see how the late game works out. It takes me about four hours just to get to Modern tech in the Normal speed, and that's if I have the resources needed for the units.

For Astax, I'll try to remember that when I go online on an Epic speed game. This "Carebear" cares enough that he'd build up a sufficient army for territorial defense, especially since you've given away a possible online strategy that I might be up against. But, thanks for announcing your intentions ahead of time.

 

[DaemonDivinity]

Well, Epic definitely seems to make military easier. Haven't tried Quick yet though.

That being said, you're ending up with tech earlier cause quite simply Civilization in reality has had more Dark Ages then Golden Ages overall, which has set technology back centuries at a time. Playing without them, of course it's possible to tech faster.

 

[Lord Chambers]

I played normal exclusively thinking epic might get boring, and I have a hard enough time finishing games.

But I'm enjoying epic more. It's actually the most fun, since you may have a chance to use units before they're obsolete.

Epic also gives a boost to players who forest chop at the start to build wonders. On otherhand, forest chop might benefit a player with a different strategy on quick, since those shields won't go to ancient tech but less-ancient tech.

 

[KAuss]

I just played and won a noble game last night on huge map in 4 hours... Epic... Without epic I won't even play...

 

[phungus420]

SP games, epic. MP games= quick.

I wouldn't even want to try an epic MP game, for one MP games while going faster due to the turn timer, are far more agressive, forcing you to focus more on military then economy= less research. Epic would take forever in MP.

 

[GamesMan]

Guys, I've only played Normal so far; what IS the difference in the game types. Is it just less time passing per turn? What exactly please???

 

[ÆnigmÆffect]

I still don't understand how people can finish games so fast. I just finished 2 games, both sitting at something like 13 hours or so.

Huge map, 4 hours, Epic??? Wow. I'm sure it'll take me like 40 hours... I guess I just take my sweet time...

So... What does Epic speed actually do? Is only production affect, so that each thing cost more hammers? Do you get more turns also? How's research affected?

 

[KAuss]

How many turns is it to 1872? Cause thats when I got my cultural win...

Playing a peaceful game is a LOT faster than a war game... I spent a lot of time going into each city viewing the happy / health / growth button... Other than that, it was waiting and waiting for the culture to build...

I've played other games in 6ish hours, but with some war... I lose those games cause I don't spend enough time looking into each city and specializing them... Now that I know, I'm going to try to build more than 6 cities and see if I can muster up another win...

When I play a game, I usually try to start it, and have time to finish it... When you play it through one sitting, you don't have to back track as much... You know what you gotta do every turn...

I even manually control my workers too... Last game lasted like 4:32 mins... On Huge Epic Noble...

Edit: Epic applies multipliers to a lot of aspects of the game... Mainly, it stretches out the game experience... A worker on turn 1 will cost 23 turns... Techs cost more, etc... Normal strats won't work too well with epic... Chopping is almost nullified unless you do clear cutting...

 

[Ramboost]

Epic is the way to go for me........and since I am only playing a coople of hours every week, it takes me FOREVER to finish a game But I like to take the time to deploy my strategies and I hate building units and wonders that are useless or obsolete just a few turns later........

I am still on my first epic/huge map game........and I have had the game for 2 weeks now...........wish I could take some more time to play.........

 

[KAuss]

If I were you though, I'd play a few quick games to get used to the techs and wonders... First game epic huge is killer...

 

[Juhahu]

I only play epic. Normal is just too quick. If you build army, it's outdated before it reaches enemy border

Epic isn't not too slow for multiplayer even. Took a bit over 5h to finish MP match on epic, won by 1650AD.

 

[André Alfenaar]

I only play epic. Normal is just too quick. If you build army, it's outdated before it reaches enemy border

I agree, but on small maps normal speed feels about right.

Strangely, it seems that map size setting doesn't influence speed of research and production. So I think the larger the map the slower the game speed should be, because the unit movement speed keeps the same.

 

[LeSphinx]

I only played standard. I found one game quicker than it was with Civ3!
What are the effect when played a quick or epic game. The map are smaller or bigger ?

LeSphinx

 

[Juhahu]

I only played standard. I found one game quicker than it was with Civ3!
What are the effect when played a quick or epic game. The map are smaller or bigger ?

LeSphinx

I think it's 50% more turns. Also production and research take 50% longer.

Doesn't epic have same amount of turns than normal game in civ3?