Starting Location

[Flexmaster]

It doesn't make sense when you start the game that you already know where on the globe you are located. For example, if you start on the left bottom corner you know that you need to go exploring north east. It's not realistic and an unfair advantage.

I propose that the starting location, that is, what you yourself see on the map is your civ in the center of the globe. All I'm saying is shift the map so that is looks like your civ is in the center. This would add some more realism.

 

[Philips beard]

Hmmm, not bad! Could be interesting in multiplayer!

 

[croxis]

it reflects realizsm too. I think this is one of those minor things that would make gameplay more fare.

 

[Bilko]

I agree with this, but should add one thing:
You should already have explored 3 or 4 tiles around your starting location, and the starting location should always be on a river. Every single Civilization on earth started somewhere on a river, where there was very fertile and productive land. It just doesn't make sense to start in the middle of plains: You would never find a city in a place like that in 4000BC, and not only that, but it gives too much of an unfair disadvantage to that player, as it is something completely random right now, and they will have very limited expansion capabilities.
Furthermore, before they actually settled into cities, these civs had been nomads, folowing herds back and forth for centuries, so I'd think they'd know a bit about what the surrounding hundred miles or so is like, at the very least.

 

[Shyrramar]

Umm, pardon me, but would the centering of the map have any effect? That would only shift you from being in the lower-left corner to being in the center, but down. (From south-west to south). If you are in south-west, that doesn't tell you not to expand to west, because the map is wrapped west-east-wise. Only way you can't expand is south - and that would not change if the starting location was centered, as there is no north-south-wrapping (you cannot go over the north or south border). That would mean that you cannot center the map south-north-wise.

So what I am saying is that centering the starting location would not do anything!

However, I think it should be centered anyway, as it is annoying to have your nation "flip" in the minimap - but it would have absolutely no effect on the problem you are trying to solve.

 

[Cuivienen]

Shyrramar -- Generate random maps in the editor. Look at them. Continents NEVER overlap the east-west line more than an insignificant amount. Thus, if you are in the southwest, you are virtually guaranteed to have ocean just to your west.

Every single Civilization on earth started somewhere on a river, where there was very fertile and productive land.

Two words: The Maya.

There are no major rivers on the Yucatan Peninsula. River starts should be more common, though.

 

[Bilko]

Nope: The mayans had cities on the Usumacinta and Montagua rivers. In fact, the Usumacinta is the largest river in Central America.

 

[King Alexander]

I don't think I'll agree. The AI knows where you are at the map, knows where the resources and luxuries are, you think that's fair?

I would agree only if the AI had the same disadvatages as the player.

 

[croxis]

Perhaps if the mini map was 'zommed' into all the terrain you knew.. So If you had a random world size you wouldn't even know how big the planet was.

(May an uber random button which would randomize everything, so the player wouldn't know what was what)

 

[Tventano]

Very good idea. Do not give information in an unrealistic way.

It is also realistic, till recently every other country put its own capital on their own zero meridian. Only recently Greenwich is accepted earth wide a zero degrees.

After we learn that the earth is not flat the north-south position may be corrected, before that moment: put out own great nation as the center of the universe.

 

[ShADoW^HawK]

Or, what we could do is have it be that the minimap is only functional after the discovery of MAPMAKING (which would make sence, because why would you have a minimap if no one knew how to make maps. By that time, you should have scouted around your land enough to know about it well and where the oceans, mountains, etc. are.

If you still want to, afterwards, you could make the capital be the center of the map.

 

[ComradeDavo]

I agree with you Flexmaster

Or, what we could do is have it be that the minimap is only functional after the discovery of MAPMAKING

Yeh, good idea
I think that would be the best way!

 

[ShADoW^HawK]

Yes. I always think MY WAY is the BEST WAY!!

JK!
Don't worry, I'm not THAT arrogant.

 

[akillias]

No it would be soo confusing for newcomers

 

[ShADoW^HawK]

What would be so confusing? Having the minimap not functioning before mapmaking?

But, remember the built in Civ help feature they have in Civ3. They just add that in there, and in the tutorial mission that you may play in the beginning, it explains that as well. I personally think that the minimap not functioning before mapmaking is simpler and more realistic than the map changing throughout the ages. Too much loading!

 

[ComradeDavo]

No it would be soo confusing for newcomers

Thats why we have a instruction manual

 

[ShADoW^HawK]

I concur, my dear Watson... I mean... ComaradeDavo.

 

[A_Nolan]

I agree with the idea of centering the capital in the world map and with adding the world map after map making. It wouldn't need much to add it to the tutorial help "once you gain map making you will notice a new window called the world map . . ." something like that.
And keeping the world map centered on a vertical axis you choose like capital, civilization, or world would be a boon for me; because, I always seem to be stuck in the upper left or upper right of the screen which made it hard for me to visualize my place on the globe.

 

[kulgan]

Centre the map on the unit or city currently selected.

Join the world at the north south as well as east west. A cool feature would be a 3D map view of the planet from an advisor page showing demographics and polical boundries. The world is round so in the beginning there might be a lot of black, or this feature is not availiable until certain technology is met.

 

[warpstorm]

Perhaps if the mini map was 'zommed' into all the terrain you knew.. So If you had a random world size you wouldn't even know how big the planet was.

(May an uber random button which would randomize everything, so the player wouldn't know what was what)

I like this idea. It is simple, yet achieves the purpose.