I played two games and after that great disappointment of the discontinuation of Activision's support I moved back to Civ2. I'm sad that this could-be great game didn't get properly finalized. (due to those greedy Activision managers I'm not blaming the programmers here!)

I get my joy of playing if I have decent opponents. I need challenge! The total incompetens of AI really kills this game, IMHO.

CTP2 still has some hope, in form of mod makers. AFAIK a great lot of things can be altered via editing text files and doing some SLIC (?) programming. So, if the mod makers can make a smarter AI, I might give it one more go!

I hope that everyone here who still plays the game would reply to my three questions. Thanks!

quote: Originally posted by Marko Polo on 03-21-2001 03:57 AM I'm just curious to know (1) how many of us still play CTP2? If you do, (2) do you use any mods? Further, (3) why do you play? I mean, what are you able to get out of this game? [This message has been edited by Marko Polo (edited March 21, 2001).]

1) I've only had the game for 5 weeks... still playing.
2) No mods yet... I tried Diplomod, but I kept getting a "Global Warming" message every 2 turns after 4000 BC, so I re-installed the game. I'll give Diplomod another go after our succession game.
3) Well, I've played enough CIV2 to choke a Chieftan. There is nothing more that CIV2 has to offer me since, you name it, I've probably done it. Therefore, CTP2 is all that's left until CIV3. Despite the bugs and problems of CTP2 it's still a relief to use Public Works instead of engineers, and Trade Routes instead of Caravans. (Ug! I hated those Caravans in CIV2! Except for when I surrounded a town with them to speed up a Wonder).

To really make a long story short: Call to Power 2 is total FILLER until CIVILIZATION III comes out in 2002 (yeah, they say 4thQ 2001, but get real).

I love cities. I love to found them. I love to conquer them.
I hate to be penalized for it. I hate messages like: To many cities! like in Civ2, and my action to build an city was canceled. That was the end of playing Civ2. And the city administration of Civ2 slowed down my computer. Therefore CTP2 is an better game than Civ2.

Answering...

1) Don´t even imagine. Probably few.

2) No mods, for now.

On the other hand.
A small swedish company called Paradox made a game called Europa-Universalis.The complaint Ive had is the computer is too good.They are also helpful.Get this,when you have an Allaince with the AI. Ok Say Im France and at war with spain. If I call my english allies too help me, They will send there navys out and blockade Spanish ports. Then they will send army over and attach them under your command or keep them independant! There even smarter when you fight them! There very good when besieging a Province or city. And they can Churn out a nice military. Best of all there not afraid to ATTACK! they will amass an army for months and then suddenly, will declare war. Wars often end up a disaster in my case . The AI routenly burns citys to the ground before you enter them. And they constantly counter-attack with available forces.They also know when to witch over from "attack mode" to "defense mode".There isnt a single flaw in the AIs conduct that I can think of. Except for AI Genius .Sometimes Its just fun to watch the AIs duke it out they really, really go at it

Anyway enough of my Babbling Go to there Site and check it out !
Go Read the AARs! This is an excellent game worthy of our purchase. We need to support these kind of games.
www.Europa-Universalis.com

2. When I do play I use diplomacy mod (naturally ) only. Frenzy is good at all-out attack, but there's no defense left afterwards.

3. See 1.

here goes,

may the Civ Gods have mercy on me

Europa-Universalis is Better Than Civ2 !

that said

Go out and buy the game.

Unlike Ctp2, I am telling you. Player to Player that this is an amazing game. Unlike CTP2 with all the paid reviews.This is coming from the mouth of someone who is drueling,thinking about loading up an EU game.

I have yet to finish a game, I've got 2 games kind of hanging in the air...mainly because I've been busy with other things.

I spend most of my game-playing time with the CtP1 PBEMs these days, though.

2)I do use "Mods"..but not ones made by the greats here..although I commend theeir efforts and hard work!..no I use my own modifications to please me..and...

3) I plaay because this is still a great game despite some glitches and bugs that I have learned to overlook!

The way I look at it is this ..My God created me and well..I am so far short of where he wants me to be and he still loves me and still doesnt discard me, he works in my life to transform me, so I am so far from being perfect, so I need to follow what God does, forgives me for my imperfections and still loves me and wont turn his back on me!

I try to play this game and work around a few minor inconveniences!

BTW I play 2+ hours a day as I am real busy at work, and have some other interests such as SWAT3, Rogue Spear Series and of course AOE!!!

Hope you folks enjoy!

Yours in Civin!

Troll

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Hebrews 11:1

When I do decide to play again (and I will at least try again, because I want to get something for my money) I'll definitely give the mods a RHG.

It's inevitable though, that CTP2 will be on the shelf when Civ3 comes out, but until then, its my civ builder of choice

It was fun up until about 1000AD. Before then, as the americans I was sandwiched in between the nigerians, the vikings and the russians. All of us were slaving, the vikings and the russians both tried to extort gold out of me and the nigerians were the only ones I accepted a peace treaty from. (mainly because I was expanding in their general direction and didn't want them enslaving my settlers or attacking newly founded cities.)
The reason the game stopped being fun by 1000AD was that it was too easy. I held off on conquering the russians hoping they'd at least make a last ditch effort to save themselves. They never attacked even though our cities were right next to each other. The vikings constantly threatened me but did nothing while I took their cities. Defenses were good, but still I overwhelmed them. Oh, yeah, the vikings did attack Baltimore a few times with one catapult at a time. (Why didn't they stack the catapults? They could have crushed the one measely pikeman in there and took the city!)
From then on it was a turkey shoot. I started a war with the nigerians just to have something to do. I built every single wonder available with no challenges. The japanese went to war with me, the french stood by and did nothing. The japanese actaully stacked some units! They had two wolf packs of 4 subs each that went after any of my ships. They landed a few spies and one or two fascists every so often....and got spanked, because they would send these units in ONE AT A TIME! They even developed air power but didn't get a clue to use bombers even after I bombed Kyoto five or six times. It was so easy to crush them it wasn't even a challenge. I was too bored to continue so I threatened the Frnech into an alliance and quit.

I know this is a long post, but I needed to rant that out. I'm sure its been said a dozen times already. But I was so disappointed in this game I regret the time I spent playing it. Too bad...it really could have been great.

When CTP2 first came out I gave my civ2 cd away, Dec last year, but then I found as many others have that the AI sucks. I got bored with trying to make the modifications, and decided that it was better to go back to civ2 and wait for civ3. I gave CTP2 away. In reality CTP2 should not need modifications after all the time and money spent on it. The AI really is so bad.

Not to get too much off topic here, but How is the SimCity genre, anyway? As much as a CIVer that I am, I must admit to never actually playing any of the SimCities!

Also, if I were to start playing now... would you recommend going right to SimCity 3000 or one of the earlier versions?

quote: Originally posted by Skeeve on 03-27-2001 01:36 PM Dave, Not to get too much off topic here, but How is the SimCity genre, anyway? As much as a CIVer that I am, I must admit to never actually playing any of the SimCities! Also, if I were to start playing now... would you recommend going right to SimCity 3000 or one of the earlier versions?

Hello,

Well, I'll reply just now, but if you like we could continue the conversation over email or in the OT forum if required.

The SimCity genre is doing pretty well...SimCity 2000 was an all-time classic, but seeing as how you've never played a SimCity game before I recommend you go straight for the "SimCity 3000 Unlimited" (known in Europe as SimCity 3000 World Edition) version. It has extra things in it that SimCity 3000 doesn't, and overall is a huge improvement on SimCity 2000. The first time you play, you will be amazed at this game. However, for me, the magic wore off pretty soon...perhaps because I'm a veteran of the SimCity 2000 days and the 3000 version isn't as different to 2000 as it *should* have been...but I would say that if you like the idea of managing a city, and want to play a game that will keep you amused and challenged, go for SimCity 3000 Unlimited. The AI is excellent.

Hmmm ... I'm really suprised to read that you have purchased CTP2 (or did you simply borrow it?). You appeared as one of the forerunners in stressing caution before purchasing this game.

Chronus, I was one of the few who actually liked the original Call to Power I game. I was a lurker back then from the CTP1 forum, and I never posted there because everyone was complaining about the game and I just couldn't understand why they didn't like it (and I didn't understand any of that slic stuff). But things changed with experience!

But even little old me...usually so passive and not quick off the draw to complain...has got a sick feeling in the gut over CTPII. I recommend you buy an all-time classic like SimCity 3000 or Red Alert 2, I don't know about Europa Universalis (I personally prefer to play the board game version of Risk ) but I definitely, definitely, definitely would recommend NOT to buy CTPII unless big things happen with the MedMod...but that looks unlikely. The MedMod at the moment does absolutely nothing to improve the AI and various bugs and ommissions are still glaring in this game.

quote: Originally posted by Skeeve on 03-28-2001 11:31 AM Not to answer for David, but I think if the game is selling for under $20 than it's still worth it. Maybe I'm just saying that because I paid $50!

I would probably buy it for $15 if I was bored.

quote: edit: By the way, Dave, thanks for the info on sim city 3000. I'm going to check that out.

Just make sure you check out SimCity 3000 Unlimited. www.simcity.com SimCity 3000 is on the bargain basements now, but the unlimited version has more buildings, bells and whistles in it.

As you know, I have great respect for your work. I will do my absolute best to give it a sincere effort. But I warn you that I ordered 4 computer games...this month! ...and even more honest, I haven't even thought about CtP2 in a while.

Wes, I always like to encourage the type of work you and many others regularly do for games. I guess I'm willing to give it one more time. Maybe it will lessen the feeling of being ripped off on this one.

I tried to download the frenzy mod and the diplo mod but could only find instructions on the diplo mod. So I gave up. I even posted looking for more help on the frenzy mod, but the traffic here has been kinda slow.

Just point me in the right direction and I'll give it a shot, and If I'm successful, I'll even report back on how it went. But please keep in mind that the two biggest things that ruined the game for me was having to starve/disband 40+ cities and the wuzzy AI.

RAH
I wish I had more time to tweak also. I'd probably be good at it after 30 years of programing and designing decision trees.

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Evolution does not work in straight lines, but the minds of some scientists do.