Civilization VI

Well, there’s always 2018! ;)

Cranked Civ VI up just for the hell of it to see what’s changed, and what do I see? Turn 1, there’s a French AI settler next to my settler. What? Initial placement was bad enough before. Now they’ve managed to make it even worse somehow. Used to be at least the nearest AI civ was 8 hexes away. this time it built its capital 3 away. Come on.

Bug introduced in the last major patch that is gotten around with a mod or .ini change, until they fix it.

I have all kinds of cheap shots that I want to take. But mostly I’m just sad.

Good of them to fix it.

What is the latest Civ game with a decent AI? Is it Civ IV?

Yeah, pretty much. I don’t think an version of Civ with 1UPT has been able to get an AI to fully successfully navigate that construct.

What about Civ V with Vox Populi (I’m genuinely asking - I don’t know the answer)?

A fair question, and I honestly don’t know. Would be interested in hearing from anyone – especially 1UPT skeptics – on it.

This is what he did with Civilization Revolution. I really enjoyed it too. I loved the series going back to basics, and streamlining a lot of things, like the building of roads, etc.

I totally agree, and don’t see why road building should ever be handled differently.

Vox Populi provides a pretty solid AI.

Okay. Now that we’ve gotten past that little starting position bug…

Spain declares unprovoked war on me in 250 AD with a full tech level disadvantage and inferior force. It proceeds to run not one but two unescorted settlers at me along with a few silly warriors (nowhere near the settlers) and no other units of any kind, not even archers, much less the catapults it probably hasn’t figured out how to build yet. Russia declares war too, but it’s one of those “you and him fight” deals and they keep their even punier forces at home. To cap it off I’m playing Gandhi, so if the game is even bothering to apply war weariness to the AIs, they’re getting double the effect.

Come on now. What’s even the point of all this? Except perhaps to waste the player’s time. If anything the AI is even worse than at release, now…

I know that many people here do not like the game, but I’m looking forward to the Rise and Fall expansion.

Devs play Mongolia and Netherlands
(Includes an explanation of the new algorithm for placing civs on the map.)

It’ll never make a great war game to scratch that color the map itch, so they have really done a lot to make the builder game more interesting. Golden and dark ages that become a sort of mini-game in itself. The governors who add bonuses to cities and can be leveled up. The more detailed alliances which become more powerful with time. And at the center of it all a loyalty system that looks to become central to the game.

Count me in. :)

Oh, and the graphical representation of your civ’s history and all the additional civs should be fun, too.

You know, for as flawed as the AI is - I still enjoy playing this game if I spend more time focusing on what I’m doing instead of what the AI is doing. I’m tempted to get the expansion.

If nothing else, the Mongols are in the expansion. I do love me some rampaging hordes.

Yeah, the larger changes aside, the new playable civs offer some interesting play options. I was just watching the Cree preview, which empowers your trader to expand your land.

I’m definitely on board for the expansion (if I can shave off some time for more Civ play). Unlike most, I’m not bothered that much by the AI, since I prefer to build and leave wars to defense-only, and tend to play on easier difficulties that let me do so. More civilizations is a good thing (I really wish I could get an official Canada some day so North America isn’t so US-centric).

I’d love to see Canada, but in the meantime we are getting the Cree – and it looks like a very interesting civ to play, with an ability to claim land using a trader.