Towns and villages as build options

[gunnergoz]

I like new city paradigm and it got me to thinking that it would be interesting to have an option to decide from outset if settler was founding a city, a town or a village. Difference would obviously be size of city ring and number of districts it could control. This would allow for greater diversity of expansion styles and better accommodation of terrain features & limitations like small islands, mountain chain gaps, etc. The towns and villages would be expensive to build since a settler would be required, but the payoff might come over time.

A variation of this idea would be that a settler begins by founding a limited entity (village) that has to grow into a town and then a city, with all the capabilities that go with a full-blown city. This could also play into a scheme of immigration and population flow within the game that reflects economic and other conditions (war, famine, etc.)

 

[jsciv69]

Interesting idea. But how about this? Have the towns and villages spawned from a portion of the total population. In other words when a city reaches a certain total say 5-10 citizens, that number forms their own encampment within the city. And over time these camps become villages and finally grow into towns. And the housing styles can change with each passing era. And the player can choose where to place the camp(like with the districts) where it will have the most benefit. And on the map it would certainly give the cities a more realistic visual.

 

[gunnergoz]

Sounds worth considering. It also seems a bit like defining residential districts, which is yet another concept to look into.

I realize these are pie in the sky musings, but they would be interesting if they could be modded into the game somehow.

 

[jsciv69]

I think there are various aspects of SimCity that Civilization can adopt and make work. Such as a highway system that connects each Civ. Roads and streets within the cities. Commercial aircraft and cruiseships. Freight trains and aircraft as trade units for faster exchanges. Random crime and random fires erupting from time to time. Add that to the concept of towns and villages and we increase the realism of everyday life in the cities experience to the Civilization series.

 

[gunnergoz]

I'm looking at a way to simulate a civilization that starts out as scattered small villages or tribal camps and eventually clusters into towns then cities. We do it the other way around, which is traditional for the game but backwards from history. Possibly a different game entirely, but it is fun to think about it.

 

[jsciv69]

I'm looking at a way to simulate a civilization that starts out as scattered small villages or tribal camps and eventually clusters into towns then cities.

That's how Civilization started in the first place about 10000 years ago. it looks like once again the Civ game starts at 4000 BCE. it would be more realistic to start things at 8000 BCE or even 10000 BCE. And it would be better if they cut down the time that elapses between turns during the Antiquity period. That way we're not stuck with Swordsman units when we reach the Modern Era.

 

[gunnergoz]

Yep, time to kickstart a new civ-style game all right.