Random Maps in Civ4

[Colonel]

In Civ3 you can generate maps to play (of Course). I like this but is there a way to set it up so only certian resourses appear in certian areas--- To give my point i mean is there a way to set it up like our world where certian resourse are found in only certian areas and there would be an appundance of the certian resourse in that area

Hope everyone understands what i am trying to say

 

[LostKnight]

Go to the editor and change it.

 

[Colonel]

thats not what i meant if you mean edit my own maps, i wnat it to generate random maps where only certian area would control resourses like one area has oil, another has rubber, and so on. This would increase trade and warfare alot

 

[sir_schwick]

I understand what you mean, Colonel. It seems random maps already do this with Luxuries. I bet Atari or Firaxis could add such functionality with Civ 3 Strategic Resources. To make it more interesting, you could seed how many 'resource regions' would appear for each resource. -1 would mean normal distribution, 0 would mean none(could play some interesting games without Iron), and any other number, well you understand.

 

[warpstorm]

Resources in Civ3 are based on the type of terrain that allows it. Luxuries 'clump' to allow monopolies and trading. During testing it was decided that strategic resources should not clump. Players didn't trade them and they'd get an easy monopoly on them. It's been trioed and it didn't work. I very much disagree with clumping of strategic resources.

 

[sir_schwick]

Resources in Civ3 are based on the type of terrain that allows it. Luxuries 'clump' to allow monopolies and trading. During testing it was decided that strategic resources should not clump. Players didn't trade them and they'd get an easy monopoly on them. It's been trioed and it didn't work. I very much disagree with clumping of strategic resources.

Good analysis and conclusion. I surrender myself to your superior wisdom.

 

[Colonel]

Was it decided because the human test player wouldnt trade or the AI wouldnt trade strategic resourses

 

[dh_epic]

I think their heart was in the right place in Civ 3. Now if they want to make Civ 4 better, they shouldn't give up on resources ... they should enhance and balance the mutual benefits of trade (instead of making it an asymetrical benefit to the guy who controls the resource).

Trade, aside from techs and maps, is truly an afterthought in Civ 3. In real life, you can't be successful without international trade.

 

[sir_schwick]

I think it started to encourage the idea of a resource war, but I think they should bring back bonus commerce from sustained trade. This concept would at least make you want to trade with the same partners for a long time. This trade commerce would gain interest over time, discouraging war on trading partners.

 

[warpstorm]

Was it decided because the human test player wouldnt trade or the AI wouldnt trade strategic resourses

Humans. They're evil that way. Do you trade iron and horses to a neighbor who is anywhere near as strong as you? Those of you who play MP, do you ever trade iron to a player on your continent without a locked alliance or devious ulterior motive in mind? How about oil or rubber? Or (like me) do you horde it?

The AI in Civ3 will trade resources, but it usually shouldn't. You are just planning to screw it over at some point.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Humans. They're evil that way. Do you trade iron and horses to a neighbor who is anywhere near as strong as you?

It happens. Usually involves us both being at war with a strong third party.

 

[dh_epic]

I agree with warpstorm. As long as it's more profitable to keep the resource for yourself, trading a resource is a surefire way to make things harder on yourself.

There needs to be a greater benefit to trading a resource, so that way people actually TRY to become resource traders:

- cultural benefits from world famous quality: Chinese Silks, Indian Spices, American Entertainment ... trade them, and watch your Civ's culture go up severely ... watch other civilizations fall in love with your stuff and cry out for their great products

- locked alliances from certain kinds of trade: we've come to some kind of HUGE trade agreement (e.g.: free trade agreement), and this also makes it impossible for you to invade me... hence, trading resources as a strategic / diplomatic defence from ever having to fight a war

- unit limits based on resource supply (like RTS's): forces players to maintain trade of resources, bigger trades, and trade more often. otherwise you can build an infinitely large army from a 20-turn trade.

- possibility for economic victory http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=92201

 

[sir_schwick]

I agree. Sustained trade should generate culture, commerce, and research. Also, you shouldn't be able to trad resources directly to nations indefinitely, but dictate what can be traded and how. You would enact import tariffs and export restrictoins to certain nations. Still expect black-market trade to sell off small amounts of resources and goods(pirated games).

 

[Colonel]

this was in another thread but i think it would stop hordeing some what by human players, Stockpiles of material
So this would be the trade you generate X number of X resourse and you could trade the resourse but the deal would be broken if you run out

 

[SwitchbladeNGC]

I would like a way to tell how much of a resource you have on a map. I am new to the game (and my brother is newer) so we play on Chieftan level but all to often there is none of a resource or only one of the resource on a continent with 2 or 3 civs on it. Also, resources like oil run out and there are way to few of them on the map. That is just my oppinion.

 

[sir_schwick]

Colonel, does that mean you can sell all of the resource at once, or the generation rate and the expiration rate are different?

 

[Colonel]

no you could sell all your resourses, but you could also sell so much per turn

 

[warpstorm]

I would like a way to tell how much of a resource you have on a map. I am new to the game (and my brother is newer) so we play on Chieftan level but all to often there is none of a resource or only one of the resource on a continent with 2 or 3 civs on it. Also, resources like oil run out and there are way to few of them on the map. That is just my oppinion.

In general, there are roughly just enough for each civ spread out over the whole map. Specific maps may vary but that is the trend.

 

[thestonesfan]

I just wish the maps had more interesting landforms. Why can't a map be generated that is as varied as earth? You either get two big landmasses or lots of little islands.

 

[sir_schwick]

What i meant was, if you have 5 billion gallons of petroleum in a pocket under the ground, you can't extract all of it at once. Would there be a limit to how much of a resource was collected, thus your resource would automatically last at least x number of turns?