SMAC better than Civ3?

[earthguido]

Definetly SMAC has things that CIV3 doesn't: first of all incredible depth in units management, the way you can create paratroop probe teams, naval resource crawlers, you can create!, besides it has better music (i can't get off my mind the "eternity lies ahead"), two distinctive kind of units (human - mind worms), and some other great stuff, like water colonies and special abilities for units.

But it also has its drawbacks, the tech tree is excessively complex (at least for me) and I find it difficult to relate techs to what they really do. And the same depth I like makes me mad when I just want to build a defensive unit and I have 30 different with almost all the same names, and I have to go to the workshop and "obsoletize" the units I'll never build.

CIV3 has other good stuff, the culture thing is just great, the negotiation with other factions... I mean countries is excellent, small wonders.

I agree that is somehow easier to play in some strange kind of way. I think you can play CIV3 even though you do not like it very much, but in order to play SMAC you REALLY have to be fond of it (I am). In every case, I am really glad I have both games.

 

[LesCanadiens]

CIV3 has other good stuff, the culture thing is just great, the negotiation with other factions... I mean countries is excellent, small wonders.

Huh, are you out of your mind? It's common knowledge that the diplomacy in SMAC is light years ahead of Civ3.

 

[earthguido]

I don't think so. Though you could "trade" knowledge for money in SMAC it was not possible for you to have a complete negotiation table where you offer and receive multiple items at a time.

 

[roidesfoux]

There are 3 things that Civilization 3 has that SMAC doesn't (or rather, 3 things that I like). These are strateigic resources, culture dependant borders, and a much better interface for trading tech, money, etc. with other nations. Although I'd like to see the third feature in SMAC, I think the former two would not fit in.

There are two major reasons that I prefer SMAC over Civ3. The first is that the faction leaders have much more detailed and differentiated personalities. The national rulers pretty much all blend together in my mind, and except for mildly differing aggression levels, I noticed no difference in behavior. The second reason is much more idiosyncratic than the first. Although I find history to be a facinating subject, I am much more interested in humanity's future than its past.

-RdF

 

[Lucius Sulla]

To resume my feelings about the matter:

Civ 3 Vanilla sucks ass. A big disappointment after I bought it.

Civ 3 + Conquests (C3C) is great. As good as SMAC. The unnerving feeling of rush with Civ 3 Vanilla, with the lack of advancement in game depth was just too much, but in C3C this factors have been lessened, and its advantages greatly developed and corrected.

C3C + SMAC gameplay advances (unit handling, social engineering...) would be the promised land.

 

[roidesfoux]

Oddly enough, although I prefer the SMAC method of being able to design your own units, I'd much prefer that Civ4 have premade units. It just feels right that way.

I also prefer the social engineering in SMAC, but am not so sure I want it in Civ4. All in all I'm ambivalent about it.

-RdF

 

[YNCS]

Making custom units in Civ3 or Civ4 would nullify the concept of the Unique Unit.

 

[crystal]

Making custom units in Civ3 or Civ4 would nullify the concept of the Unique Unit.

Yep, another reason for predesigned units is that the units in Civ should be somewhat historical, while in SMAC they are only pure science fiction.

 

[The Last Conformist]

The units workshop was one of the few things I actually disliked in SMAC.

 

[Yiannis]

I 'm still playing SMAC and all I have to say is this: If SMAC had better graphics and didn't make you dizzy from it's colours, it would be much better than Civ3, having very little disadvanteges (like not having draft).

 

[Yiannis]

The units workshop was one of the few things I actually disliked in SMAC.

What? That was what I LOVED in SMAC!

 

[Yiannis]

Making custom units in Civ3 or Civ4 would nullify the concept of the Unique Unit.

I think not. It wouldn't be possible to have unique armors, abilities, or weapons that replace the standard and are better?