Thoughts/Information on Start Bias?

[Giant Dwarf]

My understanding (from The J's recent post) of the Start Bias option in Civ 5 is that when the game starts, each civ spawns close to terrain that suits their UA and UU's. So England starts closer to water, etc. I think I read somewhere that Start Bias was in Civ 4 but whether or not it was, I love this option for Civ 5.

Do we have any idea how Start Bias will work for other Civs? Will Rome be placed nearer to Iron (for it's UU), Greece to horses (for it's UU), and so on? Do we know this information yet?

Edit: Oh yeah, any thoughts on this option?

 

[imperialman]

I don't know but I think you're on the right track, someone here probably will be sure though. My hope is that England sometimes gets placed on an island (yes yes I know irl England is part of Britain not the whole island)... although with unit naval transport the way it is now, that may not be as secure as before.

 

[ruskyandrei]

I don't think this was the case in Civ4 and i'm quite happy to see it in CiV , always wanted something like this.

 

[caglejsc]

This would be great news. I wonder if there will be less tundra starts?

 

[flamingzaroc121]

It could get redundant if you play with the same civ over and over again, that's why im glad the put an option o turn it off

 

[Semmel]

I absolutely love that feature because it makes the special abilities of the civs realistic. If England wouldnt be on that tiny island, they would never have developed the navy they had.

 

[Sonereal]

I absolutely love that feature because it makes the special abilities of the civs realistic. If England wouldnt be on that tiny island, they would never have developed the navy they had.

*cough* Like Japan *cough*

 

[generalwar]

There was written that all leaders have flavours. If England starts in the middle of Pangea, they will be looking for horses, iron or something else. Can't remember where is that thread, but I haven't heard for that civ spawns near resources that they need the most. That soundsstupid to me. England alway near sea, Monty in the hearth of Pangea, August near iron, Alex near horses... No, I think this doesn't exist. It's apsurd.

 

[theis81]

There was written that all leaders have flavours. If England starts in the middle of Pangea, they will be looking for horses, iron or something else. Can't remember where is that thread, but I haven't heard for that civ spawns near resources that they need the most. That soundsstupid to me. England alway near sea, Monty in the hearth of Pangea, August near iron, Alex near horses... No, I think this doesn't exist. It's apsurd.

http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=998293#post998293

It's there and it makes sence if it is not too strong a bias. For instance the horses for Alex shouldn't always have to be within 3 squares of the starting location, but they should be around for a second city. Anyway as with the rest of this game we have to wait...

 

[Earthling]

It's all right as an option but I probably do not plan to use it much, and would be disappointed if civs/AI leaders depended too much on certain types of starts and playstyles. I don't think they have civs quite different enough to make real flavor starts fun and I rather they wouldn't go that way anyway.

 

[Polobo]

Hoping for the ability to disable start bias for the player while leaving it in place for the AI; or maybe even have start bias a per-civ option. Would be cool as well, extending this, to be able to pick which bias you want to start with. So you could have england start with a "inland-hill" bias or Iriqouis start with a "desert-plain" bias.

 

[helpless_writer]

I don't think this was the case in Civ4 and i'm quite happy to see it in CiV , always wanted something like this.

In Rhye's mod it was... I don't think it was in an un-moded Civ4 or its expansions though

 

[Semmel]

*cough* Like Japan *cough*

I never said that all civs starting on a small island develop a large navy ;-) (at least thats what I think your post implies)

 

[bjbrains]

I never said that all civs starting on a small island develop a large navy ;-) (at least thats what I think your post implies)

Well, Japan *did* develop a large navy after its reformation up til WW2. They didn't have a strong reason to build a large navy before that (unlike England, who faced the constant fear of continental invasion).

 

[12agnar0k]

Japan's Navy was nothing compared to the legendary British Navy,

 

[Sonereal]

Japan's Navy was nothing compared to the legendary British Navy,

Japan had the third largest Navy in the world by 1920. By the beginning of WW2, Japan had the largest carrier fleet in the world and third largest fleet overall. Saying that the IJN was "nothing" compared to the RN, especially during the late-20s to early 40s is off.

 

[Celevin]

I'm very glad to see this, as long as it doesn't go beyond just making sure the unique abilities are all able to be used. My biggest fear about Civ5 is the English and the Ottomans would have a chance to have a totally worthless special ability. I'll always play with this option on.

Imagine being in a multiplayer game with 2 other friends. If it weren't for this, I'd be afraid to ever pick the Ottomans!

 

[SuperSmash5]

Sounds like a good way to make Russia overpowered.

 

[Celevin]

I strongly doubt Russia will be intentionally be put next to strategic resources the same as I doubt that Rome will intentionally be given more iron, or India will intentionally be given extra food.

The obvious intent on this option isn't to give some civilizations a boost, but to instead get rid of the random chance that they will be terrible.

 

[Churchill's Hat]

Yes, but the Royal Navy was around for 300-500 years as the premier navy in the world. Japan's navy was a force to be reckoned with for less than 100 years.