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Civ4: Colonization

lowlylowlycooklowlylowlycook Registered User regular
edited September 2009 in Games and Technology
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So anyone else buy this? I was a big fan of the original and picked this up for cheap on Amazon.

For those that don't know the main differences between this and Civ is that:
  • You don't lead a civilization, instead you are a vassal of the King
  • The economy is much more articulated with various inputs (furs,ore,sugar,etc.) and various outputs (coats,tools,rum,etc.)
  • Instead of just population you have regular colonists and specialists (fur trappers, ore miners, etc.) that do their particular jobs more efficiently.
  • Eventually you will have to fight a war for independence against the King's forces.
  • Instead of wonders, you have founding fathers which provide bonuses.

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This is how each city is run in Colonization. Gathering goes on outside the city and processing inside of it.

Anyway, this game is a remake of the original using the Civ 4 engine. Lots of stuff seems very similar, but others like borders, how founding fathers work and combat have been added/changed.

A fairly large problem with this version is the fact that the size of the Kings forces is determined by how many liberty bells you produce. This narrows which strategies are worth pursuing.

Nevertheless this still has the ability to force me to spend entirely too much time working out how to produce the goods and ship them back to Holland.

Discuss. Or not.

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(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
lowlylowlycook on

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    ChewyWafflesChewyWaffles Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Bought it. Got drowned by a ton of other great releases. Haven't had time to play it yet.

    ChewyWaffles on
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    rayofashrayofash Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    How does the soundtrack compare to the original?

    rayofash on
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    AroducAroduc regular
    edited December 2008
    Purchased it, but could never really get into it. Thought about making a succession game thread a few times, then realized that I don't like it enough. So much stuff is just so arbitrary and random that a bad start or just the king being a dick can make it nigh impossible to win.

    Aroduc on
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    The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    One of the best games released this year. Though I've tried to drum up some following here and there on various forums and you just wont get it. Like 3 people in the world played the original and are alive today its that ancient. It was so good though.

    The_Scarab on
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    tofutofu Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    Bought it. Got drowned by a ton of other great releases. Haven't had time to play it yet.

    Same, but it's waiting there, patiently, on my steam list.

    tofu on
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    TheGerbilTheGerbil Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I intend to give this a go.... right after everything else because I know civilization will totally dominate everything I play once I start.

    TheGerbil on
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    AroducAroduc regular
    edited December 2008
    TheGerbil wrote: »
    I intend to give this a go.... right after everything else because I know civilization will totally dominate everything I play once I start.

    It's really not like Civilization at all.

    Aroduc on
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    piLpiL Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    One of the best games released this year. Though I've tried to drum up some following here and there on various forums and you just wont get it. Like 3 people in the world played the original and are alive today its that ancient. It was so good though.

    I played the original, and I totally loved it. I just can't bring myself to buy it. Not any real good reason, but if I had a ton of disposable cash, it would probably be bought.

    piL on
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    HearthjawHearthjaw Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I bought it as I'm a massive Civ3/4 fan and I was looking forward to a twist. I liked it but it was quickly taken over by other releases.
    Maybe I'll get back into it after I get over Rock Band and Left 4 Dead.

    And I want to bitch slap King George, damned bloody ring.

    Hearthjaw on
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    neophilusneophilus Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I keep starting new games and then quitting halfway through my war with the King. I love exploring, starting new cities and trading to get more people and more wealth. It always seems like I get bored a few rounds into the actual fighting part of the game. The rest of the game though is surprisingly fun.

    neophilus on
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    LlyLly Registered User regular
    edited December 2008
    I'm scared to get this, as the original was one of my favourite games and I just can't imagine this living up to it. Also that town view is so soulless compared to the original. I guess if i can find it for cheap I might pick it up. Just for old times sake.

    Lly on
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    Igpx407Igpx407 Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    So I'm in the mood for a 4x game with a colonial setting and was wondering what the verdict on this was. From the reviews I read it sounds good, but I hear the end game is just terrible. Any opinions?

    Igpx407 on
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    SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    Igpx407 wrote: »
    So I'm in the mood for a 4x game with a colonial setting and was wondering what the verdict on this was. From the reviews I read it sounds good, but I hear the end game is just terrible. Any opinions?

    You need to ask yourself if you liked the original. Because it's pretty much the same game, with better graphics and that horrible end game balance.

    If you don't have Civ4, get that instead. Or better yet, the Civ4 complete pack, which includes all the expansions as well as this game. Or even better, if you have steam, get the 2k pack they just released

    Spoit on
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    RainbowDespairRainbowDespair Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    I bought it and liked it, but didn't love it. The main problem I have with it is the competition: Civilization 4 is a better single player game and Civilization Revolution is a better multiplayer game.

    RainbowDespair on
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    Igpx407Igpx407 Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    Spoit wrote: »
    Igpx407 wrote: »
    So I'm in the mood for a 4x game with a colonial setting and was wondering what the verdict on this was. From the reviews I read it sounds good, but I hear the end game is just terrible. Any opinions?

    You need to ask yourself if you liked the original. Because it's pretty much the same game, with better graphics and that horrible end game balance.

    If you don't have Civ4, get that instead. Or better yet, the Civ4 complete pack, which includes all the expansions as well as this game. Or even better, if you have steam, get the 2k pack they just released

    I've never played the original, but I do own Civ4 and GalCiv2. I don't know what it is, but the era of colonial adventure just appeals to me for some reason. I'm looking at this East India Company and 1701 AD.

    Igpx407 on
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    SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    If you're interested in colonial adventures, I'd seriously consider getting empire: total war. Colonization is all about resource management and trading.

    Spoit on
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    PsycohedPsycohed On a Fool's ErrandRegistered User regular
    edited July 2009
    It was a fun diversion for about a month. Then I got tired of the AI and discovered some of the tricks of the engine to help you guarantee a win. Then I went back to Civ 4.

    Maybe it's better in multiplayer? I also haven't played it in a while, so maybe some patches have hit that retooled some of the hinky game balance? Either way, it was neat, but Civ 4 "proper" quickly called me back.

    Psycohed on
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    Kris_xKKris_xK Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    I enjoy Colonization, but I'm hesitant to call it a 4X game. It's focus is more on trading and resource management (as others have said) and war in this really is a chore.

    I too tend to play up to Independence and then just restart. Founding father, I am not.

    Kris_xK on
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    lowlylowlycooklowlylowlycook Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    Heh, long time no see, Mr. Thread.

    Some of the info on the latest (March 09 lol) patch from the civfanatics forum:
    Enhancements

    Released PITBOSS executable
    The end of the game is extended once a colony declares independence
    100 turns on Normal speed
    Missionaries now have a chance of failure to establish a mission.
    A failed mission angers the native chief
    Added the ability to sail from Europe to the west edge of the map
    Changed text for when natives abandon their settlements to be less confusing
    Missions now always send converts to the player who established them
    Added warning message for when a settlement needs more raw materials
    Added warning for when stored goods are nearing storage capacity
    AI tries to produce more defenders in their settlements
    AI tries to prepare better for revolution
    AI uses King to transport treasure if no Galleons are available
    AI knows how to pick up treasures without bringing them to a settlement

    Balance Fixes

    The Royal Expeditionary force increases less rapidly as the game progresses, depending on difficulty level
    AI colony leaders are less friendly
    AI native leaders are more likely to declare war due to proximity of borders
    Changed Europe width to be a percentage of the map size
    Europe plots are now at least four tiles from the near land
    AI gets some free money depending on difficulty level
    Satisfying the King's demands delays increasing his expeditionary force
    Great Generals are born more frequently on Marathon and Epic speeds
    Crosses levels required for immigration increase more slowly
    Education points required for graduation increase more slowly
    Enforcing a 20-turn peace treaty between colonies at the start
    Population no longer affects score – just Land and Founding Fathers
    Increased price of horses in Europe
    Natives change their desired good only when supplied with that good
    Military ships (Frigate, Ship of the Line, Man-o-War) cannot enter native settlements
    The price of hurrying immigrants never exceeds the price of buying them
    Starting location is now randomized every time you lose all your ships
    Domestic Advisor no longer available when the trade screen is up
    Exploration points no longer scale with game speed
    Converted natives can no longer be educated in native settlements
    Converted natives can no longer become missionaries
    Traded goods through warehouse expansion count towards tax raises
    Boycotted goods no longer count for tax raises

    Maybe I should give this another shot.

    lowlylowlycook on
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    RainbowDespairRainbowDespair Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    Sounds like some good balance changes. I'll probably give it another shot this week and see how I like it.

    RainbowDespair on
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    AroducAroduc regular
    edited July 2009
    Yeah. Those are some major changes, especially removing the stupidity of satisfying the king and then him hiking the tax immediately after. That it was totally random also didn't help. 13% hike! --reload-- 2% hike! Slowing down the growth of the expeditionary forces would also make the endgame much less stupid torture.

    Aroduc on
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    zilozilo Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    I'm digging this so far. I was a big fan of the original and this one is still very much a game of resource management plus a healthy dollop of controlled chaos in the endgame.

    zilo on
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    Mr.BrickMr.Brick Registered User regular
    edited July 2009
    I played this game pretty heavily for a few months straight. very addictive. And hard. I dont think i ever actually beat it. I would always start my revolution and then get my ass kicked.

    Mr.Brick on
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    firewaterwordfirewaterword Satchitananda Pais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Rise, ye thread! There's rum and coats to be made!

    So I picked this up on a whim yesterday to kill a little time - it worked and like 10 hours disappeared into a flurry of cotton farming and cigar making.

    Anyone still playing this? I'm really liking it - pretty hard so far though. I get a couple settlements up and running, then get in over my head and things get pear shaped.

    firewaterword on
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    MachismoMachismo Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    I am still playing it. Well, technically, I returned to it the other day.

    Training:
    I particularly like the Dutch as they allow for a pretty easy, lucrative game. Winning is still hard, but surviving and 'making it' isn't too hard.
    So a quick tip, if you are making a larger colonial power, make sure to get a good spread of experts from Europe. Rarely do you need more than one. If you have one expert silver miner, you just build a school where he works and train new ones. Take those indentured servants and such and get them well trained.

    Economy:
    I tend to have 2 main cities that make lots of a resource. Normally one is coats and one is rum and/or tobacco. Tobacco and sugar can be produced easily (sugar in marshes which are common and tobacco seems to be in any plain. Eventually, they get large enough to support level 3 factories. A level 3 needs 36? of each raw resource per turn (at least on my level i play at), but they produce 50 something of the product. Consequently, you can't go wrong with going that route.

    Revolution:
    Once your economic game gets good, you can start learning to win. Don't even try on your first game. In fact, many games, I don't even play to win, I just play to grow and become strong.
    When you play to win, get ready to make tools and guns. LOTS OF TOOLS. Supply all your colonies with guns. Build artillery and place it in cities. You need a lot.
    Alternatively, have fewer soldiers and more ships. Build frigates (and the anti frigate ship) and try to stop them at sea. You won't be 100% successful, but it can REALLY soften the blow.

    War:
    Also, i don't think war with the indians is ever worth it. Their cities can be useful for learning trades and skills. Treasure is normally only a hundred or so gold. You MIGHT get a converted native, but I doubt it. You'd be better off letting culture kill their nearby towns and just maintaining peace.

    Now when a European war becomes a colonial war, those rock. You can steal some GREAT colonies that way. You need to be fast though. Before you attack, plan which to take. If a city makes coats, can you supply the fur needed? If not, can you take a fur supplying settlement? Or maybe you make furs so the fur supplying settlement might be more useful. You cripple a big part of their economy since they lack furs and you can upgrade your production!

    Machismo on
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