Sadly, Grade "F" for Civ IV: Colonization

[Hardin]

That's what I meant with giving Col some time.

But still, the REF issue is being blown out of proportion, from my point of view. They come in waves, not all at once, and your troops are superior due to rebel sentiment and terrain bonuses, both of which royal regulars completely lack. You've time to heal your men inbetween waves, so if you hold the line, killing 500 is the same as killing 1000.

I'm guessing some people are getting intimidated solely by the REF's numbers and quit without actually trying to fight it. Then they come to this thread and fuel the potential exaggeration. Then some others get intimidated by these complaints and don't even bother with getting that far, as they assume the King's forces will inevitably own them no matter what they do.

I fought them several times and they always kill more of my troops. There ships and cannons bombard my colonies until it has no defense bonus left so defense doesn't really work, but I can't attack them either because the odds are always extremely low.

 

[odalrick]

It's really frustrating to see how a city (with a Fortress) with 7 dragoons and 8 Canons is captured by the motherland which only lost 3 or 4 units in the process.

Both dragoons and cannons have the "Doesn't receive defensive bonuses." ability. Maybe they were defending at only strength 4? Or does that only apply to terrain modifiers?

 

[Gliese 581]

Fighting the king's army by conventional means (open field fight or sieges) is a bad idea just like in the historical WOI. The european armies were far better trained and experienced than non-military colonists, so you need to fight a guerilla war. One example is that the americans developed some of the worlds first sniper regiments during this conflict which some british officers with a misguided sense of "fair play in war" found cowardly and abhorrent (even more so because they were the primary targets).

 

[misterslack]

Fighting the king's army by conventional means (open field fight or sieges) is a bad idea just like in the historical WOI. The european armies were far better trained and experienced than non-military colonists, so you need to fight a guerilla war. One example is that the americans developed some of the worlds first sniper regiments during this conflict which some british officers with a misguided sense of "fair play in war" found cowardly and abhorrent (even more so because they were the primary targets).

I disagree; dragoons with a high rebel sentiment will absolutely annihilate anything the king can throw at you. I just finished a game where I had about 100 dragoons and 20 cannon compared to the king's 250 soldiers, 150 dragoons and 80 cannon. I won with maybe 15 casualties in about 20 turns. All I did was attack with my dragoons as soon as the kings men landed. They never even got an attack off on my settlements. 90%+ combat percentages were the norm. 100% rebel sentiment turns your troops into REF killing machines.

Edit: I also had Dom Pedro; he helps a lot.

 

[Gliese 581]

I disagree; dragoons with a high rebel sentiment will absolutely annihilate anything the king can throw at you. I just finished a game where I had about 100 dragoons and 20 cannon compared to the king's 250 soldiers, 150 dragoons and 80 cannon. I won with maybe 15 casualties in about 20 turns. All I did was attack with my dragoons as soon as the kings men landed. They never even got an attack off on my settlements. 90%+ combat percentages were the norm. 100% rebel sentiment turns your troops into REF killing machines.

Edit: I also had Dom Pedro; he helps a lot.

Well then all the better. That should offset a huge REF nicely; If you go for early bells make sure you build an elite army to balance it.

 

[Jeckel]

Fighting the king's army by conventional means (open field fight or sieges) is a bad idea just like in the historical WOI. The european armies were far better trained and experienced than non-military colonists, so you need to fight a guerilla war. One example is that the americans developed some of the worlds first sniper regiments during this conflict which some british officers with a misguided sense of "fair play in war" found cowardly and abhorrent (even more so because they were the primary targets).

Yea, but something tells me that my colonists aren't going to spontaniously develope sniper skills.

 

[Dom Pedro II]

Yea, but something tells me that my colonists aren't going to spontaniously develope sniper skills.

No, that's true. Many of them were excellent marksmen after years of hunting in the woods.

 

[tenkk]

Just wanted to login again to say as a big fan of the civ series I feel no joy playing colonization. This is no fault of the producers, it is a short span game (the colonising period of the americas) but the reason it gets to me is that the graphics and sound seem so much better than the current civ IV. I wish that civ IV could look like that and indeed incorporate the more complex trading system of colonization.

 

[Dale]

Rebel dragoons RULE! Attack in the open and concentrate on giving them withdrawal increasing promotions. That way, the chances are high if you don't kill the unit, you'll withdrawal to be able to retreat and heal. Then one of your soldiers can easily kill the elite royal unit.

Seriously people, STAY OUT OF THE CITIES! If you read the pedia you'd see royal artillery get +150% attack city bonus or something horrendous. Give up that city, and reclaim it when he leaves.

 

[Dale]

Just wanted to login again to say as a big fan of the civ series I feel no joy playing colonization. This is no fault of the producers, it is a short span game (the colonising period of the americas) but the reason it gets to me is that the graphics and sound seem so much better than the current civ IV. I wish that civ IV could look like that and indeed incorporate the more complex trading system of colonization.

I'm confused, you don't like play Col2, because it LOOKS better than Civ4??

 

[tenkk]

I'm confused, you don't like play Col2, because it LOOKS better than Civ4??

It looks better than it but misses out on what Civ IV has in the longer (and earlier) run. I also mentioned the trading system in the message you quoted. Read. I wish the good things from colonization were in an update to CIV IV, or alternatively that this seperate game was adaptable to CIV IV in modding. Dunno if it's legal but it should be to save CIV IV from further obsoleteness.

 

[BakingTheArt]

Just wanted to login again to say as a big fan of the civ series I feel no joy playing colonization. This is no fault of the producers, it is a short span game (the colonising period of the americas) but the reason it gets to me is that the graphics and sound seem so much better than the current civ IV. I wish that civ IV could look like that and indeed incorporate the more complex trading system of colonization.

So you don't play C4C because it's BETTER than civ 4?

EDIT: I didn't see your other post. Still, my point stands.

 

[tenkk]

So you don't play C4C because it's BETTER than civ 4?

EDIT: I didn't see your other post. Still, my point stands.

Still stands? Alright, I need to repeat. It has aspects that are better, but also worse, compared to CIV IV. I prefer the longer stretch through eras, so I wish the good things from colonization came to CIV IV and the bad things stayed with this naff title.

 

[Modfather]

F is just about right...

 

[Prebral]

I have just lost to king of Spain.
I had a small colony (3 close settlements) superior military force, large reserves, fortified settlements, lowest difficulty. I was able to destroy any royal force deployed with acceptable loses.

However, the king did not deploy all his forces - they came in waves, but most of the time, his man-o-wars were bombing my settlements. They did not return to Europe for more troops too often.

So, I was unable to destroy all land units belonging to the king, because they never got deployed (the possibility, that there were some forgotten in jungle is low, i had my neigbourhood under control and I suppose he was not deploying them on the far side of American continent).

After 50 turns of revolution, the time ran out. King won an Europe Victory. Probably good name, because he won by keeping most of his troops in Europe so I was unable to kill them :-/

 

[Jeckel]

The more I hear people complain about it, the more I'm begining to hate it... TURN OFF EUROPE VICTORY!! The game is about building your colonies and preparing for the War. Some arbitrary time limit is rediculous and currently not properly balance on the easy levels.

Turn it off and save yourself the headache.

 

[obsolete]

I have just lost to king of Spain.
I had a small colony (3 close settlements) superior military force, large reserves, fortified settlements, lowest difficulty. I was able to destroy any royal force deployed with acceptable loses.

However, the king did not deploy all his forces - they came in waves, but most of the time, his man-o-wars were bombing my settlements. They did not return to Europe for more troops too often.

So, I was unable to destroy all land units belonging to the king, because they never got deployed (the possibility, that there were some forgotten in jungle is low, i had my neigbourhood under control and I suppose he was not deploying them on the far side of American continent).

After 50 turns of revolution, the time ran out. King won an Europe Victory. Probably good name, because he won by keeping most of his troops in Europe so I was unable to kill them :-/

Gah! That's terrible!

But look on the bright side. Had he not kept those forces in Europe, you would have probably been over-run anyhow

 

[warroom]

There is no reason to buy this game and then rate it "F". It is exactly what it is titled. Ever play Col1 ? Ever play Civ4? Well, merge the two together and this is what you get. So if you didn't like one of those games, don't bother. But don't complain that it's an "F" if it's exactly what its titled.

 

[Quueg]

I'm really amazed at the venom in some of these posts. I'm having a great time with the game, but then I had a great time with the original. A matter of taste, I guess.

I'd give it a B+.

 

[Gliese 581]

I'm having a good time with it but I feel I'll lose interest unless it's patched and soon since it seems to be so exploitable.