# No Civ4 thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007 "2005-10-26T15:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/141 "2005-11-02T15:58:23Z")
Buddhism Judaism Christianity Islam Daoism Confucianism Hinduism ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/142 "2005-11-02T17:18:43Z")
[quote] 1. Yeah, the Civilopedia is horrible. The spiral bound manual is awful, too. The only useful parts in there are the following lists with appropriate details: terrain types, naval units, air units, early units, unit promotions. Why don’t they list the bonuses and stats of all units? Why not specify just what a certain civ-specific unit does? [quote] They do have a full list in the back in the appendix, which I missed for several days, being in such a rush to play. At least it’s there in mine, do you really have a spiral bound? Mine is normal book bound, which is kind of curious. And I do love Nemoy’s reading of the quote for the satelite; “beep beep beep”, hehe 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/143 "2005-11-02T17:47:34Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > They do have a full list in the back in the appendix, which I missed for several days, being in such a rush to play. > At least it’s there in mine, do you really have a spiral bound? Mine is normal book bound, which is kind of curious. I do have a spiral bound manual and an unfoldable tech tree and the soundtrack CD and all the doodads in the Collector’s Edition. The fourth section of the manual is “Advanced”, which begins with a rundown of terrain types and their food/production/commerce, and then has a list of only the units mentioned above. Sounds like this might be a difference in the two printing runs. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/144 "2005-11-02T19:03:00Z")
> [@lno](#): > > 1. Agree here too. I dislike giving construction orders inside the city screen and very much prefer doing it from the overland map after a city completes its current project. You can change the orders from the overland map. Either right click or left click (not sure which) on the build orders circle next to the city name and it’ll bring up a list at the bottom of the screen. > [@](#): > > \*4) I haven’t run into any problems regarding that, but then, I’ve got a mildly beefy computer. Athlon 64 3500+, 1GB RAM, and a 6600GT. I’m on an Athlon 1800+ with 512GB and a 6800. The only problem I’m seeing is that the sound pauses during the wonder building videos. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/145 "2005-11-02T19:30:03Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > You can change the orders from the overland map. Either right click or left click (not sure which) on the build orders circle next to the city name and it’ll bring up a list at the bottom of the screen. As long as I don’t have to deal with those silly icons, I’ll be a happy man. Tonight I’m going to try my first co-op game of Civ4. I’m winning on Prince, he’s losing on Warlord, and we’re compromising and linking our civs against 2 linked AI civs on Noble. That guy’s gonna be an anchor around my neck, I swear. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/146 "2005-11-03T03:24:06Z")
I’d like to get it, but A) it costs $40-50, and I really don’t want to spend that much money right now, and B) I’m in school, and I can’t afford to spend that much time on a game unless I’m on vacation, especially since it’s junior year and I’m taking 4 APs. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/147 "2005-11-03T04:27:46Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > Yeah, AOE3 really hasn’t impressed me much. I played the demo, was very excited, but then immediately felt like I’d already gotten all of the good play out of the game. I think it’s going to end up being one I’ll buy a year from now, when it’s $40 and includes the (inevitable) expansion pack. > > **RickJay** , is that a 2800MHz Intel or AMD chip? I’ve got an Athlon XP-M 2400+, 1GB of RAM, and a GeForce 6600GT (128MB). I know I’ll be able to run it… but will it run well? Intel. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/148 "2005-11-11T19:36:05Z")
I’m liking the game. But what I really enjoy are the tips at the beginning of the game while it’s loading up. Two that I remember off the top of my head: “Never fight a land war in asia.” and “Snacks are best in moderation.” ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/149 "2005-12-31T03:31:29Z")
> [@dwalin](#): > > I’d like to get it, but A) it costs $40-50, and I really don’t want to spend that much money right now, and B) I’m in school, and I can’t afford to spend that much time on a game unless I’m on vacation, especially since it’s junior year and I’m taking 4 APs. Now I have it, as it was my present to my mom and hers to me. I’ve got one major problem, apart from the intro skipping like mad: all of the text is gibberish. I haven’t even seen most of the characters in there before. I’ve got an S3 ProSavage DDR, but I’m pretty sure everything else is fine. (Please tell me I don’t have to buy a new graphics card.) ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/150 "2005-12-31T14:33:58Z")
Have you downloaded the update? You can do it from the game’s advanced options(?) menu. That fixed up my cinematics problems, but don’t know about your text problem. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/151 "2005-12-31T18:40:34Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > Have you downloaded the update? You can do it from the game’s advanced options(?) menu. That fixed up my cinematics problems, but don’t know about your text problem. Which reminds me of a stupid question: I want to download some scenerios and such, so when I go to download them, which files do I have them extracted to? I’m totally computer inept so please use small words. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/152 "2005-12-31T23:35:52Z")
I haven’t tried any yet, but took a look at a couple out there for you. It looks like for most of them, you’ll want to just unzip whatever files to the PublicMaps subdirectory where you installed Civ4, so probably C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier’s Civilization 4\PublicMaps. I did see one scenario that needed to put files in both the PublicMaps and Mods subdirectories, so the zip file included those directories in the archive. In that case, you would just unzip to the Civ4 directory (C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier’s Civilization 4) and the files will be put into the appropriate subdirectories by the unzipping process. Be sure to read any instructions that come with the scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/153 "2005-12-31T23:39:19Z")
My PC is above the minimum specs but still struggles, so I’ve not been past the tutorial, quite an incentive for an upgrade! ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/154 "2006-01-01T02:01:36Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > I haven’t tried any yet, but took a look at a couple out there for you. It looks like for most of them, you’ll want to just unzip whatever files to the PublicMaps subdirectory where you installed Civ4, so probably C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier’s Civilization 4\PublicMaps. > > I did see one scenario that needed to put files in both the PublicMaps and Mods subdirectories, so the zip file included those directories in the archive. In that case, you would just unzip to the Civ4 directory (C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier’s Civilization 4) and the files will be put into the appropriate subdirectories by the unzipping process. > > Be sure to read any instructions that come with the scenario. Tried it and it works. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/155 "2006-01-01T08:08:14Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > Have you downloaded the update? You can do it from the game’s advanced options(?) menu. That fixed up my cinematics problems, but don’t know about your text problem. I’ve downloaded and installed the 1.52 patch, if that’s what you mean. If I have to do somethng within the game, I’ll need detailed instructions as to the location of the correct button to click, since I can’t read anything. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/156 "2006-01-27T17:07:01Z")
Ok, I’m resurrecting this. It’s not too old, and I’m sure more people have played. I picked it up a few weeks ago, and have been playing. I’m an idiot, and spent money on a video card (Nvidia Geforce MX 4000) that turned out to be less powerful than my onboard video card for my e-machine. The good news, is that the game runs. The bad news is that the game runs incredibly slowly. This I can only assume is due to the graphics issue, since I meet or exceed “recommended” for everything else. Anyways… I’m loving the game, despite the slowness. I haven’t quote got the city specialization down, and it seems to me that waging war is MUCH harder than before. I’m using musketeers and cavalry and still loosing against longbowmen and such. Not a lot, but I learned one doesn’t assault a city without catapults/cannons/bombers. Has anyone played on the Earth 20000bc map? I am playing on it right now and am loving it! ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/157 "2006-01-28T19:42:56Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > I’m loving the game, despite the slowness. I haven’t quote got the city specialization down, and it seems to me that waging war is MUCH harder than before. I’m using musketeers and cavalry and still loosing against longbowmen and such. Not a lot, but I learned one doesn’t assault a city without catapults/cannons/bombers. Hold down the \ key and hover the mouse cursor over the square you’re planning to attack. You should get a strength comparison down in the lower left corner. Really helps show how much defensive bonuses and such are helping the other guy. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/158 "2006-01-28T20:53:27Z")
I keep thinking about getting it, but I guess I’ll wait until they come out with a gold version or the like where hopefully they’ll have fixed all the problems without me having to download patches. For that matter, is it possible to get it on DVD instead of CD? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/159 "2006-01-29T00:02:23Z")
I downloaded the patch which took about 20 minutes even with broadband. The game takes a lot of getting used to, particularly if you have had all the versions from the original onwards. I have made the experience promotions automatic- there is plenty to think about without that. I do have problems with the graphics, but only when the broadcast about building a Wonder comes- the bottom half of the video seems blocked out or uninteligible. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007/160 "2006-01-30T16:35:03Z")
I have the same problem **Cicero** , but I’m on the lowest setting and such as well… I knew there was a way to get the battel calcs, but I couldn’t remember for the life of me… Question for the PC folks out here: I know that my PC is working pretty hard to run this game, even with reduced graphics. Would throwing in more RAM help with that, or would it really make no difference? I hate being at work, 'cause it means I can’t be rolling tanks against the evil Aztecs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-civ4-thread/328007.md?page=9)