One thing that bothers me in Civilization is that it is first off, way too Eurocentric and doesn't acknowledge the diversity and unique characteristics of each civilization, or at least in practical terms, culture groups.

I don't know about you, but I find it really messed up when in Ancient China, I am using riflemen dressed in British Redcoats wearing a tricorn hat in the the middle ages, when in reality, the rifle men in China wore their "Chinese" uniform with the straw, conical hats. I also find it ridiculous to be using knights in China, when mounted soldiers were vastly different.

I realize this can cause a problem for non gunpoweder civilizations as the Aztecs for example, but say we looked into the general American Indians culture group, I believe a Great Plains Indian with guns would suffice. Other than that, I believe different skins can be used to represent cultures as unique.

Not to mention each culture should have a few unique units as well. For example, tropical nations would have elephant units where as other nations did not. Or the Japanese have exclusive use of samurais, and Europeans exclusive use of Knights.

Of course, there would need to be balanced of play, but overall, it would make a more enjoyable game.

A. European
B. Pan-Arabian (I'm thinking Morrocco to Afghanistan)
C. Sub-Saharan Africa
D. Eurasian (some amalgam of Slavic / Russian / Balkans (you've got to get onion domes in there )
E. North Asian (some amalgam of China/Japan/Korea)
F. South Asian (some amalgam of India / Thailand / Indonesia)
G. Native American (again, some amalgam of North and South American civs)

quote: Originally posted by N_A on 01-08-2001 11:42 PM For example, tropical nations would have elephant units where as other nations did not

And if these nations were expanding north, in example to Scandanavia or Greenland, would they still use these elephants(I think they would die in the cold weather!)

Remember this is all a generality. I don't exactly see aztecs or zulu flying helis or fighter jets. So? It's a generalization.

Civilization is about rewriting history, not replaying it exactly as it was.

This could be done for every weapons system, thus providing "unlimited" weapons variations, which is so clearly evident around the world today.

With an excellent editor, users could then create many new and different weapons' skins for a variety of units and scenarios.

quote: Originally posted by Zeevico on 01-09-2001 10:46 PM A good idea is to implement a buying and selling market for units that aren't available to you (or in general). That way, you could have a whole market where one civ offers 5 howies at 200 gold each in 5 turns and the civ could either deliver all five at one turn or space it out as long as it's in one turn, And another civ would offer the same unit in a different system depending on what they have, and their treasury (how much they want) and other factors like tribute and allies would offer reduced prices.

What?????

I have one choice, we can change the skins and the clothes of the units. Maybe could be Panzer tanks, with an African Shield, or F-15 with a Japanese Mark. Or a Northern Elephant, like Mammoths. Also, that every Civilization have the appropiate skin, the Chinese have to look like Orientals and English look like European. To make a difference between the civilizations.

Thanks!

Actually, the market idea is a really good addition to the unique civ idea because it allows the player to have access to all the units, even if they are culturally unique, and that makes sense in overall history. It also encourages players to think treaties over. A certain nation may provide an expertise at say calvary warfare, and you may need to depend on them to offer extra help in calvary since your calvary sucks. Or, you would have to rethink the offer of a treaty since your units are disadvataged in calvary while a nation asks you fight a nation which has powerful calvary.