Random Events in Civ5?

[ferenginar]

I like random events, but I don't like it when it provides you with three options but two of them a greyed out because you don't have enough cash at the time. By all means provide options but let them be stategic decisions that effect the future game, not pay 20 for a 40% chance of getting.... or pay 50 for an 80% chance of getting...

Random discoveries of extra bonuses on tiles are fine, but they should be balanced by an equal chance of a negative effect. (Wheat gets blight -1F)

 

[Rusty Edge]

I enjoy random events, particularly the ones written by JPK1187 and Solver.

I hope random events are retained in Civ V.. they really add a lot to replayabillity and one more turn.

I'd love a random events editor- I'm sure we fanatics could come up with some great additions to the game.

 

[Willem]

Case in point (something that hits me a little close to home), shortly after the British sacked DC during the war of 1812, a hurricane hit the area (remember, they didn't have doppler radars back then, so would not have known that it was coming). The storm caused a lot of devestation to the British army. When they returned to their ships, they turned north and attacked Baltimore. Baltimore, after a strong fight, defeated them and turned them around (and killed the General of the British army in the process). Now, Baltimore could have fought them off, still, if the storm hadn't hit... but there is a good possibility that if the British would not have had the losses caused by the storm, they could have won the battle, and history would likely have played out very differently.

Another case in point. The Chinese had amassed a huge army/navy to attack Japan but all their forces were lost during a Typhoon off the coast of Japan. I forget the date when it happened unfortunately, sometime in the Middle Ages. Fairly recently archeologists have found the remains of hundreds of ships at the bottom of the ocean, indicating a massive invasion force was simply obliterated in one fell stroke because of bad weather. Had the storm not occured Japan would probably have ceased to exist as an independant nation at that time.

Here we go. There were actually two invasions ordered by Kublai Khan that were decimated because of bad weather in the 1200's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasions_of_Japan

 

[the343danny]

Another case in point. The Chinese had amassed a huge army/navy to attack Japan but all their forces were lost during a Typhoon off the coast of Japan. I forget the date when it happened unfortunately, sometime in the Middle Ages. Fairly recently archeologists have found the remains of hundreds of ships at the bottom of the ocean, indicating a massive invasion force was simply obliterated in one fell stroke because of bad weather. Had the storm not occured Japan would probably have ceased to exist as an independant nation at that time.

Here we go. There were actually two invasions ordered by Kublai Khan that were decimated because of bad weather in the 1200's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasions_of_Japan

Heh, the true kamikaze. Lucky us. However they didnt all sink. Around the quarter of the Mongolians survived and fought with the Japanese in their homeland. However, even if some transports did survive, is it going to be fun if your one and only elite infantry that you have been with the entire game with dies due to such random events? I'm fine with most kinds of events, just not XXX unit gets killed type.

 

[Thormodr]

The Mayans invented a game called Civilization in the last game I played. I chose the +1 happy person per city option. I had never got that even before. Thought it was kind of cool.

 

[Willem]

However, even if some transports did survive, is it going to be fun if your one and only elite infantry that you have been with the entire game with dies due to such random events? I'm fine with most kinds of events, just not XXX unit gets killed type.

Well granted some events might be a bit extreme to be tolerated. I personally have all the Barbarian uprising events turned off in my Civ 4 game. But something that simulates a real life event like that would be kind of interesting. Like your convoy loses their movement for one turn, or your forces are all at half strength when they land. And event can be upredictable and have an effect without being game-breaking or frustrating, if done right.

 

[SJSerio]

Well, I'm playing a game to escape reality, not re-introduce it to my life

Again, it's different from person to person. I just feel that the better player should not have to worry about something entirely out of his control screwing with his game. It's like tripping in Super Smash Bros Brawl. It's really just something that makes it easier for people who are bad at the game to play at the same level as people who are good.

You escape reality by playing a historical based game? I never really understood that argument against realism in games. I may play games to escape real life, but not necessarily reality. And, to me, in a game like Civ, realism helps bring me into the game.

You say that you feel that a "better" player should not have to worry about a random event screwing with their game? I would say that a better player would adapt to the event and work to overcome the set back (assuming that it is a set-back and not a bonus). Consider acting... sticking to a script is pretty simple even for the worst actor, but improv is the true measure of the ability.

Besides, random events could always be turned off in the options if the player chooses.

I'd prefer to not have random events.

I like the events, but I don't like the randomness. I liked the quests more. I think little events/bonuses would be a nice middle ground. Like getting a small bonus for building the first library or something. Things that could change quite often from game to game, but aren't entirely random.

See above for my thoughts on randomness!

Another case in point. The Chinese had amassed a huge army/navy to attack Japan but all their forces were lost during a Typhoon off the coast of Japan. I forget the date when it happened unfortunately, sometime in the Middle Ages. Fairly recently archeologists have found the remains of hundreds of ships at the bottom of the ocean, indicating a massive invasion force was simply obliterated in one fell stroke because of bad weather. Had the storm not occured Japan would probably have ceased to exist as an independant nation at that time.

Here we go. There were actually two invasions ordered by Kublai Khan that were decimated because of bad weather in the 1200's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasions_of_Japan

Very good point! For a long time, Japan was an island that many said could not be conquered. I am sure that there are many other examples of random events that swayed the course of history.

Heh, the true kamikaze. Lucky us. However they didnt all sink. Around the quarter of the Mongolians survived and fought with the Japanese in their homeland. However, even if some transports did survive, is it going to be fun if your one and only elite infantry that you have been with the entire game with dies due to such random events? I'm fine with most kinds of events, just not XXX unit gets killed type.

Yeah, using a powerful unit that you have built up really sucks... in fact it is terrible... when it happens to you. When it happens to your opponent, however...

That is one thing to hit on... people hate the random events when they work against them. However, when they work in their favor, they are great! The point is, random events can happen to anyone. In games that I have played, I have come across events that went my way (which I loved), and events that worked against me (which I hated). You just have to adapt and overcome and you may have to change your strategy completely! Pull back from expansion... disband some units... change your diplomacy...

It's the nature of the game!