Who actually likes the tech changes?

[Abaddon]

i mean by moving map trading and contacts to later in the game.

Doesnt it seem pointless? by the time i have either the printing press(contacts) or whatever allows map trading... ive explored everywhere and met everyone.


I much more prefered the old system.

 

[satchel]

With regard to having explored everywhere and met everyone by the time you get map trading ... that's your advantage and you should use it. Your world map is much more valuable that way, especially if you have explored using suicide runs, which the AI won't do.

Also, if you have explored more thoroughly than the AI, you can get a lot by trading contacts, especially if you watch what the AI is up to and sell your contacts shortly before the AI would make those contacts on its own. I always used this tactic pre-C3C; now I have to wait a little longer but it's still a useful thing to do.

I like the delay in map and communication trading because it has forced me to put more effort into exploring, something that I was a bit lazy about before Conquests. And it makes printing press more than just a placeholder tech.

 

[Doc Tsiolkovski]

I love it.
Note this was a concept always used for Mods before, and always appreciated there as well.
There simply is no need to explore without (contacts, yes; but not fog-busting).
Note also Explorers have been moved to Astronomy in C3C, so I indeed did build one already to be used as Explorer, mind you!

 

[punkbass2000]

Yes, I think they game lost something when you knew everyone and everywhere (except the middle of the ocean) before 1000BC. Not just for realism, it made game play too easy as well.

 

[bingen]

I too like the changes regarding map and communications trading. However, I think the new free tech with philosphy is hugely unbalanced.

 

[Longasc]

I prefer the new system. Gives Exploration much more importance and has a positive influence on gameplay.

 

[Abaddon]

However, I think the new free tech with philosphy is hugely unbalanced.

that is especially silly.


i guess its because i always play on tiny or small maps that i see little point... but on huge maps i imagine it makes big differences to game play.



i do enjoy howver i have to explore more... i jus wish i could contact those far away civs to get tech trading!

 

[warpstorm]

I like it a lot (but then again I was one of the ones pushing for it, so I am biased). It makes for games where I actually have to explore rather than trading my maps around till I have the entire world map in the BCs. On a multi-continent map, I often don't have the complete map till the middle/late middle ages which seems more appropriate.

 

[microbe]

Free tech in ancient ages isn't a big deal, except for the Republic slingshot.

 

[Bluetooth]

The problem I have found is that you don’t have much to trade early on when you can’t trade maps. I now and then give my neighbours a World Map to keep them happy and I miss that especially when I have hostile neighbours.

 

[Abaddon]

jus give them 1 or 2 gold instead

 

[bingen]

Free tech in ancient ages isn't a big deal, except for the Republic slingshot.

Which is the problem. The AIs will not do this or plan against it. They ought to at least research philosophy more aggressively, but they usually go for mapmaking instead. Although on higher levels they will usually pull of the Monarchy gambit. This can also be a problem as it helps create runaway AIs.

 

[classical_hero]

I like the tech changes. The free tech for the first one who researches Philosophy was a good cahnge from the first two installments, but is a continuation of Civ2. I think it would have been better to get it in the middle ages rather than the Ancient age, because it would have been more useful. As has been said before, the other changes make for a more interesting strategy.