That way, they will be able to better coordinate the messages players will receive with the best possible outcomes in actual, carefully tested gameplay, incorporating all the major strategies.

For example, when most of us get the game, the Resource model will be new to us, so it would be nice if the Trade Advisor would give us genuinely helpful advice in that area.

Or perhaps the Foreign Relations Advisor could suggest that we attempt to trade gold or technologies to acquire a specific enemy city, instead of just advocating "build more spies" or "explore" or whatever. The Negotiation Table will be new to us, and the Foreign Relations Advisor should try to give us realistic tips on how to use it wisely.

The Science Advisor advise you to trade technologies if you've established embassies and he notices techs you don't have. Sometimes Civ players forget about that sort of thing. He may advise stealing techs from civs you're at war with.

The Military Advisor is the hardest of all. In the early game, when you haven't met any other civs, he should counsel for City Walls, defending units, and explorers. When we encounter a hostile civilization, he should advise a military campaign against them. He should advise more naval or air units if appropriate. He should advise military pacts against common enemies.

The point is, sad but true, the High Council in Civ II, amusing though it was, wasn't helpful at all. Sometimes the Foreign Minister would advise "trading technologies" in the late game, when the player already had every single tech in the tree.

Back to the King, though:

Like I stated in the thread dealing with "all white male advisors" in CIV3...Give Firaxis it's claim to glory folks!

IMO, by seeing Sid and Jeff in the positon as the Advisors has led me to the conclusion that the creators of CIV3 (Sid and Company) will have their likeness in the game as the games advisors...and I totally, and full heartedly agree! They created the game, give them their just reward! They SHOULD be ones to advise you during the game play.

And concerning the "King", I don't want to sound cold hearted, but he's DEAD - get over it. I ask you, what role did Elvis play in the creation of CIV3? Give the Atitude Advisor's slot to someone who actually had a hand in the game's creation. Firaxis is creating this game, so IMHO, I feel the advisors slots SHOULD go to the hard workers of Firaxis.

Oh, and I too agree that this is an actual a form of an "ego trip" for the creators of CIV3. But I have no problem with it and fully indorse their actions - after all, if the game is ANYTHING like we expect it to be, then I say they've earned the right to "pat themselves on the back." I know if I was in their place, I would do the same thing.