Which version do I want ?

[DukeNukem]

I have CivII classic and Fantastic Worlds CD

I understand thers a patch to upgrade to MGE. But then i also heard MGE changes some gameplay elements like making diplomacy useless.

But i also want to play new scenarios. Are there MGE only scenarios or will they work with Fantasic Worlds ?

 

[The Person]

I would say that you should use Fantastic Worlds. It has much greater scenario capabilities than Classic.

It is true that there is an FW -> MGE patch. Look around in the Civ2 downloads section at the main page for details. And you're right that diplomacy is changed in MGE. You see, in MGE the AI is much more aggressive, and it's as good as impossible to keep it happy. Diplomacy isn't useless, but you have to know your way around a little to understand how it works.

If you want to play scenarios, go for MGE. MGE scenarios don't work with FW.

Another reason to upgrade to MGE is for its multiplayer capabilities.

 

[DukeNukem]

thanks

Installed Civ II onto my laptop again wahay !

Couldnt find my FW CD though. Had to install Cedrics patch in the end. I dont really need multiplayer, so ill put MGE on hold for now. Although might have 2 installations so i can play the MGE scenarios.

 

[The Person]

Just happy to help. BTW I have one Classic installation, one MGE installation and one ToT installation. ToT for the increased scenario capabilities, MGE for multiplayer and scens, and Classic for no special reason.

 

[Sub]

I have all the versions as well. Out of all of them, I have to say the original is my favorite. When you play MGE, it's impossible to make the AI not hate you, no matter what you do.

 

[DukeNukem]

Did FW change any gameplay elements ?

 

[MikeLynch]

If you're into modding, get Test of Time.

Its out-of-the-box graphics suck, but you can change them back to Civ2 style. You also get more "extra" unit slots and event editing.

My perception is that diplomacy in ToT isn't totally useless, but that the AI's attitudes and behavior (war-and-peace wise) are a bit more random.

 

[rysingsun]

best i remember the FW disk has on it a patched version of civilization.exe (i think that is what it is called) that is different from the ones i've been able to find elsewhere. i happen to like that particular patch. it seems more stable to me than the previous version (which i DID find on this site sometime back). i remember getting a new machine and installing and playing the original game patched from (i think) this site and bombing out after getting something like 128 cities just like i used to with the unpatched disk. i copied the .exe file from my other machine that had been patched with FW and it allowed 255 cities. that's important to me. it's critical if you want to go for high scores. as for the MGE patch ... well if you like an aggressive ai you might like that although it will impact your high score efforts . as for the TOT version of the game that is something some will prefer and some won't. i hated it because the graphics to me were a lot more cluttered. some would say more detailed. i stick to the word "cluttered".

<edit> i checked the installation directory. the patched version i speak of is civ2.exe dated 10/14/96 and i *think* it originated on the FW disk.

<edit> you might want to try patching with MGE and then reverse patching the civ2.exe from FW to get the best of both worlds. i cannot guarantee it will work - but it very well might.