"Americans Discrimination!" Civilization 2: Multiplayer Patch 1.1 - old bugs fixed, new bug ADDED!
January 10, 1999
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First of all - one interesting thing: several days ago (on December middle) I walk through 38 sites - "magazines". All of them say: "All about games - news, reviews, previews ... - everything". Only 3 of 38 say (said earlier) about Civ II: MGE. What does it mean?
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Now about MGE and me.
Two days I'm testing MGE. I am forced to use HotSeat mode: it is the simplest multiplayer mode for me today. Bad phone connection with Internet, broken local network in office and none friend-civer with modem. And no much time. So HotSeat :(
By today I've found "friend-civer with modem", and now I'm trying to understand HOW we can launch "dial-up networking" mode. If someone made it by practice - please tell me.
January 20: Ok, we with my "friend-civer with modem" started the first Dial-Up Game and now if YOU need some help about this mode - I'm ready to help you - just ask me.
Installation - no problems.
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Start - it is very pity that game requires CD-ROM presence in drive during starting. I didn't see it in previous versions. I have two computers - one without CD-drive - so I can not use it for playing even if I install MGE there.
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Playing - by now no crush.
And only one "bug" (as I consider it):
When I (on my turn) sent emissary to the second human player (who at this moment was far from computer - HotSeat mode) his Foreign minister talked with me! We with the minister can sign peace, exchange knowledges - all without my human opponent. I first found it, and when I showed it to my friend he said : "I hope my minister don't give you tribute..." Unfortunetly for me the minister didn't pay tribute when I demanded it :(
Though I could get tribute as science advances or removing units from my cities.
Of course I can understand that it was difficult - to make human-to-human diplomacy mode for HotSeat. But in any case it would be better not allow diplomacy between humans than to have SUCH diplomacy - when your foreign minister do something you don't wish.
By now I've tested HotSeat for two humans plus five AIs. It was more difficult for playing. All diplomacy which is not on my turn - with other human as well as with all AIs - is out of control! My breeding does not allow to repeat what my friend (the second player) said about such game...
Other thing (maybe for all modes): There are no messages like "The Celts completes Pyramids". Why it was deleted? I think it was not bad thing.
Of course now I understand why it occurs. Such messages you can see only if you seat in front of computer when AI (or the other human) make it turn. So in HotSeat you can see the messages of AI which are between you and next human. For all other modes besides HotSeat you see them (as I think).
Another thing different from previous Civ:
When some AI is near from completing Wonder you get message about it: "The Celts is near completing Pyramids". Playing previous Civ2 you could bought Pyramids yourself, then Celts on their turn don't complete it, so you get Pyramids on your next turn. Playing MGE - if you bought Pyramids, Celts complete it on their turn - of course it is more honestly IMHO.
Though it is not such bad as the following: When Celts build Pyramids (on their turn) YOUR domestic minister change production from Pyramids to PHALANX. So you get turn and what you see - you have builded phalanx - for 200 shields!
One question which we with friend didn't check by the moment: We set "two players", we have no AI civilizations. How do you think (or perhaps you know it) - will Great Library work in this situation?
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Americans Discrimination
There is one bug that was not in original Civ2:Multiplayer but that is in patch v.1.1.
So run Civilization (with patch 1.1 installed). Then choose:
Multiplayer Game - Hot Seat - Start a New Hot Seat Game - Small - Deity - 7 Civilizations - Villages Only - Use Standard Rules - Unlimited - Two (2) Human Players - Male - Americans.
Then enter your name, for example John.
For second player - Male and English.
And second name, for example Paul.
What You think You'll see after buiding world? I bet you says : "JOHN, you may now command the Americans". You loose! Really You'll see "ABE LINCOLN, you may now command the Americans". Where is YOUR name? You are not ABE, you are JOHN.
Now You think You'll see for English something like "HENRY VIII, you may now command the English". You loose again. You and your human opponent will see "PAUL, you may now command the English".
Discrimination :) As English you MAY use your own name, as American you have no choice. Of course You can firstly go to Rules.txt and change ABE to JOHN.
Though if you choose Seven (7) Humans Player you get no bug for Americans. I think there are many sets of settings with and without this bug.
You can mail me if you'll find more.
I hope you understand that I really don't consider it is discrimination. It is just bug, no more.
It's all by now. See you later. Any your help or comments are welcome!
