What happened to the rivers?

[Bronso]

On every screenshot I have seen so far, rivers seemed to flow between tiles, not through them, as it has been the case in all previous civ-games. What purpose could this serve? I cannot see how rivers can still work as roads when they pass, not cross, squares. Also the trade bonus they used to generate must be out. Or will every adjecting tile get a bonus? I have got no idea why Firaxis did this. Will the good old river become mere decoration, eye-candy? I hope not.

Can anybody answer this question (or at least make reasonable speculations)?

 

[Hammanu]

I am going to make two speculations.

1- The city view screen on the second page of <a href="http://www.civ3.com" target="_blank">www.civ3.com</a> shows squares adjacent to the river as having extra trade. Perhaps this is a coincidence- perhaps not.

2- I hope that they keep the defensive bonus if the unit being attacked is attacked across a river. That would make a lot of sense. I dont think you can really assume circular defence around a river and have it give you a bonus from all directions, like in civ 3.

It's a pity if they did away with the movement bonus. I cant see how they could make it work like this. Maybe there will be river ships?

 

[Serg]

I think the river ability still work in Civ3. Simply the river's image dislocate at the edge of tile. This is not good because the player may not understand what tile have it river. I hope Firaxis will correct this misunderstanding.

 

[Serg]

The river gives extra commerce for both tiles between it lies (Babylon picture). In result, the river affects on tiles around it, not under it. May be now unit moves along the river not over it.

 

[poppert]

I'm no military expert, but isn't bridges very important in a war? At least they are in every WWII movie ;-)

Suppose some units, like the Tank, can't cross a river without a bridge. That would make bridges very important to defend.

Oh, well, just speculation...

 

[Serg]

Au, Firaxis! The river ability question is the serious.

 

[Jaybe]

Rivers are between tiles and enhance trade on both sides
Movement along rivers has not yet been revealed by Firaxis reps though I doubt that bridges are specified.
How about movement ACROSS rivers?

Instead of having a combat advantage from being ON a river tile, now it's having a defensive advantage when being attacked from ACROSS a river!
This is much better!
Better still would be if the river defense is in ADDITION to all other terrain advantages (e.g., forest, hills, etc.).

 

[Robespierre]

I think the changes are definitely for the better. No longer will a unit be parked sprawling over a river, but it will be on either one bank or the other, and the effect of rivers on commerce will span a greater number of tiles.