From: d88-cbr@dront.nada.kth.se (Christian Beijner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Warlords, Civilization & Listings
Date: 7 Sep 92 13:48:42 GMT
Organization: Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

In article <1992Sep4.213843.2661@morrow.stanford.edu> AR.CHM@forsythe.stanford.edu (Chris Martin) writes:

>     3. Civilization by MicroProse.  Related in any way (other than
>thematic) to the Avalon Hill game by the same name?  I haven't seen
>anything on this in the last few months, although I was away for two
>weeks.  I'm a big fan of Railroad Tycoon, and I love Civilization
>the boardgame (Advanced version just purchased!)

The game is inspired by the AH game, but that is all.
However the game is excellent (I think) having played it seceral times on
a "PC".

A rough outline.

The game starts in 3000 BC and the goal is to colonize Alpha Centauri or
conquer the entire world. You have a time limit of no more than 5000 years.
You play the game in a random world or on "Earth". All movement is based on
a square grid. As you move units only adjacent squares are revealed.
You start the game with a "settler" (looking like a covered wagon).
This guy can build a city, a road, a mine, etc.
Of course you build a city, somewhere close to where you start or you will
waste a lot of time looking for the "perfect" site.
Cities have a population who till the earth, mine etc in the city square and
a number of squares up to 2 spaces away, equal to the number of the population
in the city.
Cities generate 3 things.
1) Food which are eaten by the population. If there is a surplus
    (there should be in the beginning, or your city will starve)
   it is accumulated. When a certain number is saved, it is lost and
   the city population increases.
2) Resources which are used to build military units, new settlers,
     city improvements and Wonders of the world.
     A good thing is that  resources used to build
     something arent lost if you change your mind during build.
3) Trade which are turned into Science, Tax or Luxuries.
     Science are used to advance your civilisation.
     Taxmoney is used to support city improvements, build units faster
      or bribe other powers.


Military units.
  You need military units to explore the world and fight any wars arising
   between you and any of the powers played by the computer.
   They are essential in defending your cities.
   How good a military unit is depends on how far your science has got.
   For example at the start you can build Militia Attack-Defense-Move of
   1-1-1.If you develop bronze working you can build a phalanx 1-2-1, horseback
    riding allows a cavalry unit 2-1-2, with more powerful units becoming
   available as your gain scientific progress.
Settlers.
   Settlers can build roads (and later railroads) to allow faster movement
   of units (Those military units arent going to do a lot of good in the
   wrong place). They can irrigate coastal/marsh areas to allow better
   agriculture (More food) for the city. They can build a mine so that
   the city generates more resources. Neither irrigation nor mining will
  do any good if the city isnt using that square.
   Settlers can also found new cities.
   However if you build a settler in a city, the population of that city
  drops by one.
Science.
  Science is the key in this game. It can be researched by your wise men
   over a period of time. Once enough science has been done you gain
  an insight which gives you some advantage. Very much like those civ
  cards in civilisation. Some examples:
    Ceremonial burial allows you to build temples.
    Writing allows you to build diplomats.
    Gunpowder allows you to build musketeers.

  However most of these advances requires another advance to have been done.
   Like Mettalurgy (which allows you to build cannons) requires ironworking
    and some other things.
  Usually you can choose in a list of 2-8 things. 
   Sadly you cannot change your mind on what to research once you made your
   choice.

   You can also gain sciences by spying (with a diplomat) in an enemy city
   or capturing it. (Hint! A maximum of 2 sciences can be gained by first
   spying then capturing it)

  Other Powers.
    At the start you choose the number of computer "opponents".
    I think one of the cons with these game is that you cannot have
    another human play one of these power. (Mac-wish)
    These vary from extremly aggressive Zulus to relatively peaceful
    Americans. The are picked at random and if one power is eliminated
    early it is replaced by another one in an unexplored square.

    With other powers you can have peaceful cooperation and exchange of
    science secrets. However much more common is war, because either
    the opponents think you are ahead and try to capture your cities
    to gain your sciences or they think they are ahead and try to
    capture your cities because they think they can get away with it.

    All in all I found this to be a really excellent game, but the later
    turns of the game are usually less interesting.
 
    Chris
    PS. If this comes out with Macinterface, B/W, I will most ceratinly
     get it.
     (I just wish it will allow multiple players)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games