Anyway, I think the CTP system of the "forbidden city" was bad simply because it was so linear. The CivII system was much better, enabling you to combine different looks and feels. I can't really judge Civ1 since I didn't play it much, but I think overall the system that allows the most freedom of choice is the best system, unless it makes me design my own graphics and such. Most players would be too lazy for that!

And the great Firaxis gods heeded, and it was so.

And Civilization begat Civilization 2, and civilization 2 begat SMAC, and Cain begat CTP, and Civilization begat again, this time bringing forth the holy one, the messiah, Civilization 3. And there was much rejoicing.

And it had a palace.

Hey Mark G why don't you post a pic of the Civ 1 Palace so people who don't know it can get to see it in all it's beauty and grandeur!

I vote for a long list of age-related improvement, from gardens to castles, from statues to paintings, from city renamed to your leader name to special buildings (highest tower of the world, longest bridge, new modern hospital or university, etc.).

You can see it as lot of icons (easy to customize, you MOD fans ) in a interactive part of civilopedia that show them as they progress, with a bit of descriptive text.

It will be like a "The Great Book of your leader name here Dinasty" or "The Great Book of your civilization name here Civilization".

Add a "Save Book as Html" and you get a Permanent Diary to proudly show to friends and players.

quote: Originally posted by BRENNANonTHEmoor on 02-15-2001 01:52 PMI think there is alot more pressing issues to most of us civers that could be polled on.

Well, okay... what's your idea then?

Anyway, I think the Throne Room is an excellent part of the civ ambiance that just makes the game that much richer.

In my not-too-humble opinion, I bet you won't be working for them in your life time, if you're narrow minded!

quote: Originally posted by Chaos Warrior on 02-15-2001 10:21 AM What do they have in CTP2 instead?

Chaos, CTP2 doesn't have anything (no throne room/palace/what not) nor does it have the counsel/advisors screen.

quote: Originally posted by skywalker on 02-17-2001 09:12 PM This is kind of off topic, but I found out in Civ2 when I was "waiting" some of my units I accidentially pressed "q" and it makes the throne room upgrade thingy whatchamacallit automatically and you can do it over and over until it's fully upgraded.

You mind describing that in more detail? I tried to do that but it didn't work.

quote: Originally posted by Chaos Warrior on 02-15-2001 10:21 AM What do they have in CTP2 instead?

CW, they have nothing.

quote: Originally posted by Theben on 02-18-2001 05:14 PM You mind describing that in more detail? I tried to do that but it didn't work.

I've seen it as well-you need to be in cheat mode for it to work, at least with my version.

At the end of SMAC they show an incredibly low res map that plays out the spread of your empires colour over the world (I don't remember if Civ II does the same thing and my father in law has my disk so I can't load it up to find out). Well, I just love that feature (as crappily done as it is).

What I would like to see is some sort of documentary that plays out the history of your civilization. They could have various short mpegs for each epoch and a voice-over generator to provide the narrative. Something like:

"Your empire was spawned in a peaceful world [clip of peaceful explorers/farmers] ... a beautiful garden was built in your capital [hanging garden wonder] ... but war soon came to your land [battle scene appropriate for epoch of your first big fight] ... unable to make peace with your enemy, your artisans threw up massive fortifications on the frontier [great wall wonder] ...
etc. etc."

The narrative would be decided by what happened in your empire and once in a while when enough new scenes were added you would see another clip.

And live Civ!!