# Things we learned from Civilization IV
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [November 12, 2009, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295 "2009-11-12T07:46:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/41 "2009-11-13T20:36:33Z")
Has anyone else here ungraded to 3.19 and run the Rise of Mankind mod? I did 3 months ago and haven’t looked back.
---
### Author:  [@badlyburnttoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badlyburnttoast)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/42 "2009-11-13T21:01:10Z")
Helicopter gunships are surprisingly vulnerable to pre-gunpowder armies.
Using atomic weapons against primitive civilizations will NOT, in fact, cause them to worship you as a god.
Global warming is inevitable and will turn the whole world into a desert no matter what you do. Forget cold parts of the world suddenly becoming habitable - it’s only bad for everyone period and it can’t be stopped.
---
### Author:  [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/43 "2009-11-13T21:14:19Z")
> [@badlyburnttoast](#):
>
> Global warming is inevitable and will turn the whole world into a desert no matter what you do. Forget cold parts of the world suddenly becoming habitable - it’s only bad for everyone period and it can’t be stopped.
Sure it can. A small edit to an XML file will end this ridiculous and unrealistic threat permanently. 😉
---
### Author:  [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/44 "2009-11-13T21:17:28Z")
> [@GESancMan](#):
>
> Sure it can. A small edit to an XML file will end this ridiculous and unrealistic threat permanently. 😉
I demand an elaboration.
ETA: **DEMAND**
---
### Author:  [@badlyburnttoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badlyburnttoast)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/45 "2009-11-13T21:31:44Z")
> **[Global Warming!!!](https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/global-warming.145922/)**
>
> ok, I have posted a thread about changing the workers to change the terrain. That didnt seem to get anyone interested in doing that mod. The real reason I want workers to change the terrain was I made the game a lot longer. Well towards the end of...
Edit: of course you can change it with modding, but in vanilla… it’s unstoppable and inevitable.
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/46 "2009-11-14T02:19:11Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I learned that you can learn to write before you learn the alphabet.
What’s wrong with that? The Chinese, for example, still write without an alphabet. What would be really impressive would be an alphabet without writing.
---
### Author:  [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/47 "2009-11-14T04:17:34Z")
> [@Sitnam](#):
>
> Has anyone else here ungraded to 3.19 and run the Rise of Mankind mod? I did 3 months ago and haven’t looked back.
I haven’t heard of that. What is it?
---
### Author:  [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2009, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/48 "2009-11-14T10:05:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> What would be really impressive would be an alphabet without writing.
Would that be runes, “written” with a hammer and chisel?
---
### Author:  [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/49 "2009-11-14T15:30:16Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#):
>
> I haven’t heard of that. What is it?
The [3.19 patch](http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=12576) is for Civ 4’s expansion Beyond the Sword. After patching (which fixes a lot of bugs found in the vanilla game) you can play a mod called [Rise of Mankind](http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=238801).
I can’t recommend it enough.
---
### Author:  [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/50 "2009-11-14T17:40:21Z")
I tried that mod out some months back (before 3.19, I think), and never could get very far before getting a CTD. I guess it must be better now?
---
### Author:  [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/51 "2009-11-14T18:32:29Z")
Rise of Mankind is an absolutely great mod-when it doesn’t CTD or somesuch. A build I played last year was much more stable than the current one. Shame as it really does have everything and the bathroom bidet.
---
### Author:  [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/52 "2009-11-14T19:37:51Z")
[QUOTE= Rand McNally]
I’ve learned that if you use a lot of nukes the Earth cracks like a donut, which I hate with a passion and wish they would take out of the game.
[/QUOTE]
How MANY nukes, exactly?
… as I now have a new goal.
---
### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/53 "2009-11-15T01:35:45Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#):
>
> Rise of Mankind is an absolutely great mod-when it doesn’t CTD or somesuch. A build I played last year was much more stable than the current one. Shame as it really does have everything and the bathroom bidet.
Skimming over it, it doesn’t appear to have chemical warfare options. Phooey. :mad:
---
### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2009, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/54 "2009-11-15T12:16:17Z")
Dangit, the conversation _always_ dies as soon as someone brings up nerve gas. What the hell, man? I mean, [Fall from Heaven](http://kael.civfanatics.net/) uses plague carriers, don’t they?
---
### Author:  [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/55 "2009-11-15T15:24:52Z")
> [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](#):
>
> How MANY nukes, exactly?
>
> … as I now have a new goal.
Maybe 14 or so? I’m randomly pulling a number out of the air. But if you use enough it will happen.
---
### Author:  [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/56 "2009-11-15T15:56:22Z")
Montezuma ? Screw that. Don’t trust Ghandi. That smiling little bastard is three turns away from a Cultural victory as we speak.
Archers in a walled city on a hill will ruin your day.
Free market is nice and all, but State Property’s where it’s really at.
---
### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/57 "2009-11-15T20:34:55Z")
> [@Athena](#):
>
> Nah. In the beginning of the game, they are great - move much faster, and get better goodies out of the goodie huts. I just assume they’re expendable, since you’re right, they don’t upgrade into anything good.
>
> Bronze or Iron is the must-have for me (must… have… axemen…). I don’t think I’ve ever gotten to the point that I needed horses that I haven’t had them yet, either through expansion or war.
Oh, I’ll use a scout for exploring, but I don’t consider them valuable enough to choose an Expansionist civ over one with Industrial or Scientific strength. I tend to send out mounted warriors instead of scouts, as even the first level mounted warriors (not chariots) are fast and strong enough to defend themselves, though of course they don’t get the favorable results from goodie huts that scouts do.
I tend to build a lot of mounted units early in the game. They’re fast, and they can withdraw, and Cavalry is a very, very effective unit until you get to late modern military.
---
### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/58 "2009-11-15T22:19:40Z")
i always play indian, they don’t go on strike when they have a revolution =) and they get fast workers
---
### Author:  [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/59 "2009-11-17T02:00:46Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#):
>
> Rise of Mankind is an absolutely great mod-when it doesn’t CTD or somesuch. A build I played last year was much more stable than the current one. Shame as it really does have everything and the bathroom bidet.
Your criticism is fair and I thought I was the only one this happened to (I like large maps and 20+ civs), apparently I’m not and it’s a large problem, however, the recently released 2.8 version is supposed to fix this. When I get some time I’ll play it and see if I can get passed the 1800’s without it locking on me.
---
### Author:  [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295/60 "2009-11-17T02:53:21Z")
Appreciate the game details and learning a few new things! But I was also thinking in terms of “life lessons”, such as:
- Everybody will be “pleased” as punch with you as long as you’re small and weak, and then they’ll come along and take what little you have. If you start getting big enough to make them “annoyed”, that’s not necessarily a bad sign.
- At some point conflict is inevitable if you want to make progress. Building peaceful settlers will only get you so far: sooner or later, if you want to build on that prime tract of real estate, you’re going to have to grab it from someone else.
- Don’t futz around on the edges: expand _toward_ your rivals and take the center ground if at all possible.
- You may have a great idea (research) you’re working toward (e.g., Machinery, to enable those Chinese crossbowmen), but don’t spend an inordinate amount of time devoted only to that goal (like, say, 40 turns) while neglecting the mundane stuff that is giving your rivals an incremental edge (drama, philosophy, whatever).
I think all of these are worthy of pinning up on your own private bulletin board at work.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295.md?page=2)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-we-learned-from-civilization-iv/517295.md?page=4)