alt.games.civ2 Frequently Asked Questions Table of Contents -1- Documents 1.1 Where can I find this FAQ? 1.2 Where can I find this charter? 1.3 Which version of Civilization is discussed here? Civ 3 too? -2- Binaries 2.1 Can somebody post some program/scenario or other binary? 2.2 Can I post saved games, scenarios, etc.? 2.3 Not even small ones? 2.4 But does anyone actually care? 2.5 Where can I post binaries? 2.6 But can I post rules.txt and similar files? -3- Various Civ 2 FAQ's 3.1 What does this acronym stand for...? 3.2 What's this I hear about updating Fantastic Worlds for free? 3.3 Does the free upgrade include the Fanastic Worlds scenarios? 3.4 What are the rules for the OCC? 3.5 Does Civ 2 run under Windows 2000? 3.6 How can I build the fastest possible spaceship to Alpha Centauri? -4- Test of Time 4.1 What is TOT? 4.2 How do I get Ultrastring Theory in TOT - Extended Original Game? 4.3 I started a game with TOT 1.0. How can I make sure I get Ultrastring Theory? 4.4 How do I get units on Alpha Centauri, when I play TOT - Extended Original Game? -5- Multiplayer Civ 2 5.1 What is Civ 2:MGE? 5.2 What is the newest version of Civ 2? Civ 2: MGE? 5.3 What's this about simultaneous multiplayer mode?? 5.4 Where can I find multiplayer opponents for Civilization II? -6- Follow-up Games 6.1 What is SMAC? 6.2 What is CTP? 6.3 Are SMAC and CTP related to Civ and Civ 2? How? 6.4 Why is there so much controversy over the name "Civilization?" 6.5 What is the true sequel to Civ 2? -7- Civ 3: General & Technical Questions 7.1 Civ 3? Who's making it? 7.2 When is Civ 3 coming out? 7.3 What are the system requirements? 7.4 Where can I download offical patches for Civ 3? 7.5 What's inside the Limited Edition? 7.6 How do I stop Civ 3 from choosing refresh rates my system can't support and blanking out my screen? -8- Civ 3: Gameplay Questions 8.1 How do I create an army? How do I build new armies? 8.2 How do I use the Intelligence Agency? 8.3 How do I upgrade units? 8.4 Why can't I demobilize? Then how do I demobilize? 8.5 Which units can not be airlifted? 8.6 What're those coloured clouds doing on the map, above my cities? 8.7 How do you tell if a square will give you fresh water? -9- Multiplayer Civ 3 9.1 Does Civ 3 have multiplayer? 9.2 When will Civ 3 have multiplayer? -10- Related Websites & Contact Information 10.1 What web sites exist for Civilization II/III 10.2 I never got or lost my tech poster. Is there one online? 10.3 Who maintains this FAQ? -1- Documents 1.1 Where can I find this FAQ? The FAQ is posted twice a month to the newsgroup and is also available at http://civ2.watorrey.net/agc2faq.html. A text version is also available at http://civ2.watorrey.net/agc2faq.txt and at http://www.civfanatics.com/doc/civ2altfaq.txt, courtesy of Thunderfall. 1.2 Where can I find the charter? The charter is posted to the group occasionally and is also available at http://civ2.watorrey.net/agc2_charter.html and a plain text version at http://civ2.watorrey.net/agc2_charter.txt. 1.3 Which version of Civilization is discussed here? Civ 3 too? The charter expressly states that Civ 3 is on-topic for this newsgroup. As Rob Lancaster notes: "Regular posters mostly agreed to discuss Civ 3 here long before the game came out. Since the group started Civ 1 was also discussed here, and it doesn't seem unreasonable." It is important to note, however, that all of Sid Meier's Civilization games are considered on-topic in this newsgroup. -2- Binaries 2.1 Can somebody post some program/scenario or other binary? This question is unwelcome in alt.games.civ2 and depending on its content may be unwelcome in alt.binaries.games.civ2 too. In particular asking for the complete Civilization I/II or any other game is certainly unwelcome and bordering on illegality. Requesting a particular scenario in alt.binaries.games.civ2 is probably unwise unless you have made a good attempt at searching for it elsewhere (either using Google Groups, one of the popular search engines or by visiting the Civilization II web sites.) 2.2 Can I post saved games, scenarios etc.? No, alt.games.civ2 is a text only group. 2.3 Not even small ones? No, classifying binaries as small would create grey areas. It is much fairer to just disallow binaries altogether. 2.4 But does anyone actually care? Yes they do. The few times the issue has arisen a number have people have claimed that binaries cause a problem for them. Back to Top 2.5 Where can I post binaries? The predecessor to alt.games.civ2 is alt.binaries.games.civ2 and this is one place you can post binaries relating to Civilization II. Alternatively upload to one of the Civilization II scenario sites (see 7.1). In either case you may tell the readers of alt.games.civ2 about your file. 2.6 But can I post rules.txt and similar files? In general no, since it is a large file. However, posting a single or a few lines from this file is definitely acceptable and a good way of propagating new ideas for units. Top -3- Various Civ 2 FAQ's 3.1 What does this acronym stand for...? Civ2, of course, is short for Civilization 2. Here is a list of other common (and somewhat less obvious) acronyms: AFAIK - As Far As I Know AI - Aritificial Intelligence - the computer player(s) BTW - By The Way CP - Computer Player CTP - Call To Power E3 - Electronic Entertainment Expo GL - Great Leader GOTM - Game of the Month: one website's monthly challenge IIRC - If I Recall Correctly IMHO, IMO - In My (Humble) Opinion LOL - Laughing Out Loud MGE - Multiplayer Gold Edition NG - Newsgroup OCC - One City Challenge OTOH - On The Other Hand PBEM - Play By E-Mail (form of multiplayer gaming) ROTFL(MAO) - Rolling On the Floor Laughing (My Arse Off) RTFM - Read The [Flamin'] Manual! SMAC - Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri TOT - Test of Time UCC - Ultimate Classic Collection WoW - Wonder of the World WLTK - We Love the King (Day) State of your city when no citizens are unhappy, and at least half are happy. State of bonus depends on government type. Democracy and Republic give one free 'citizen' per turn, if there is a surplus of food. Monarchy\Communism\Fundamentalism gets extra trade (like in Democracy). Anarchy\Dictatorship loses food restriction (irrigation works). WTF - What The !uck? YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary TTFN - Ta ta For Now TTYL - Talk To You Later 3.2 What's this I hear about updating Fantastic Worlds for free? You can use the editors, extra eight unit slots and the events.txt file. If you want to try this patch, your biggest challenge if finding it (the FAQ's previous link to the patch is dead and a replacement has not been found. Please e-mail the FAQ maintainer if you find update 2.781). On a similar note, one user has hacked an upgrade for classic Civ2 to support multiplayer mode. Find it at http://www.civfanatics.com/civ2cedric.shtml Top 3.3 Does the free upgrade include the Fanastic Worlds scenarios? No. If you want the scenarios go out and buy the full upgrade. 3.4 What are the rules for the OCC? The OCC (one city challenge) is a different approach to playing Civ 2: you allow yourself only a single city, against the computer's hordes. 3.5 Does Civ 2 run under Windows 2000? Yes. If you experience difficulty when Civ 2 tries to play the movies, then you have a problem with the game's Indeo video drivers. You need to update them. http://www.ligos.com/indeo.htm If you can't be bothered to fix your video drivers, then play the game without the CD: assuming you didn't copy the movies to your hard drive, you should have no problems 3.6 How can I build the fastest possible spaceship to Alpha Centauri? Build it with 16 components and 33 structurals. It will take 5.7 years. You must launch it no later than 2014 to win. After that point, you must send out your troops to win. The following is a chart made in 1998 to answer this question (it assumes you only send 10,000 colonists *and* that the ship is fusion powered): Components, structurals, Years to AC 6, 15, 15.7 8, 17, 13.2 10, 21, 10.0 12, 25, 8.3 14, 29, 6.7 16, 33, 5.7 <--> This is the fastest ship you can build. For example, a 3 module ship that is fusion powered: 6 components, 15 structurals, 15.7 years to reach AC Only 33 structurals are needed for a 16 component 12 modules spaceship which takes 11.7 years to reach AC. This is the fastest time to AC for a ship with the most modules. Also note that years are rounded down, so if you are trying to reach AC before 2020, that takes 11 years, meaning a launch in 2008 will reach AC before 'the final buzzer'. Top -4- Test of Time 4.1 What is TOT? Test of Time is the latest release of Civ 2. Sadly, it lacks in-game movies. Gameplay has the new twist of 3 simultaneous maps. This is a re-hashed version of Civ 2. It is not Civ 3, see 7.1. 4.2 How do I get Ultrastring Theory in TOT - Extended Original Game? First thing: if you don't have the 1.1 patch for Test of Time, get it from http://www.civfanatics.com/ There is a bug in 1.0 which can make it impossible to get Ultrastring Theory. Also, the patch will not fix saved games started under 1.0. 1.1 fixes a lot of other things, so run right out and get it now! With the patch, when any civilization gets its spaceship to arrive, all civilizations have the Ultrastring Theory tech changed from unresearchable to available for research. The usual rules for research apply, including the random selection of techs which aren't on the list each time you advance. Despite what the Civilopedia suggests, you still must research it normally. Ultrastring Theory has one additional benefit. Once you get it, you can negotiate with aliens. 4.3 I started a game with TOT 1.0. How can I make sure I get Ultrastring Theory? The bug kicks in if you quit the game in between the time of spaceship arrival and successfully researching Ultrastring Theory. It will be switched back to unresearchable, and there is no way to get it back. If you have already passed the time of spaceship arrival, you may try reloading a save from before that time, and playing straight through until you get the tech. 4.4 How do I get units on Alpha Centauri, when playing TOT - Extended Original Game? The first spaceship to arrive will generate units on Alpha Centauri, based on the spaceship size (habitat/life support pairs). A minimum size gets one colonist, two marines. You can find the details in events.txt. Colonists can build portals, which let you move other units to/from the new world. Since you must research Ultrastring Theory and Quantum Transport in order to build more of them, it is wise to use your first ones to build portals, not new cities on the new world. If you happen to play the aliens, and successfully land a ship, you will get colonists on Alpha Centauri, not on Earth. -5- Multiplayer Civ 2 5.1 What is Civ 2:MGE? This is the Multiplayer Gold Edition of Civilization 2. For under $30 you get the add-on scenario packs and, most importantly, the original Civ 2, with multiplayer support! In the UK, Civ 2:MGE is called "Civilization II:Ultimate Classic Collection." The US and UK patches are now available at the Apolyton website. Newsgroup reader R魩 Denis-Courmont commented on the presence of both the MGE and UCC in France: "the Civ2 Multiplayer Edition [cost] 150FF with scenarios... That's strange, here, both versions were sold at the same time. Civ2 MGE was sold in a 'thin' package whose front picture was the same as the main manual one, whereas "Ultimate Civ2 Classic Collection" was sold for a twice more expensive price, in a large green box. If they offer exactly the same content (ie, the game, the multiplayer modes, FW, Conflicts in Civ, and the 'scenario' menu), I've spoilt 150FF :-(" 5.2 What is the newest version of Civ 2? Civ 2: MGE? Patches have been released to update both copies of Civ 2. The patches fix some bugs - details are available in the readme.txt files included with the patches. For Civ 2, the latest version is 2.42. For Civ 2:MGE, it's 1.3. Both patches can be downloaded from the Apolyton Civ 2 site, among other places. 5.3 What's this about simultaneous multiplayer mode? If you have Test of Time, go to CIV.INI and add the following (without quotation marks): "Simultaneous=1" Be advised that Microprose left that option hidden because it is flawed and open to cheating. Still, if you want to play simultaneous multiplayer, you can. 5.4 Where can I find multiplayer opponents for Civilization II? You can find opponents at the following sites. All links now dead (3-Dec-2004) -6- Follow-up Games 6.1 What is SMAC? Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is a new game designed by Brian Reynolds which picks up where Civilization left off: on a new planet. SMAC discussions take place in alt.games.firaxis.alpha-centauri. Ask your ISP to add the newsgroup if you don't have it! 6.2 What is CTP? Civilization: Call To Power is another different game from Activision which is essentially a very new version of Civilization. CTP discussions take place in alt.games.civ-call-to-power. 6.3 Are SMAC and CTP related to Civ and Civ 2? How? This is a topic of much controversy in the newsgroup, so here are the facts. SMAC is being made by Firaxis, not Microprose. The original creators of Civ and Civ2, Sid Meier and Brian Reynolds are, however, the creators of SMAC. As for CTP, Peter "Enjolras" Karpas of Activision has stated in the NG's that, "Civilization: Call to Power is absolutely officially related to Civ 1 and Civ 2.... It is officially licensed..." Activision's license allows it to legally call CTP, 'Civilization: CTP.' Nothing, however, besides the name was provided to Activision. The designers of Civ and Civ 2, like Sid Meier, along with other things, such as source code, were not part of the deal." (Note: The port of Civilization 2 to Playstation, however, did involve the original source code, but that is not connected to CTP.) Top 6.4 Why is there so much controversy over the name "Civilization?" Microprose didn't protect its rights to the word Civilization very well; Avalon Hill had a board game by the same name. Activision acquired Avalon Hill's rights to the name and began development of CTP. A lawsuit ensued; the eventual settlement granted Microprose exclusive rights to the name in exchange for Activision getting to use "Civilization" in the name of its game. It's important to note that "related" and "sequel" do not mean the same thing, a point which is sure to keep the controversy alive. 6.5 What is the true sequel to Civ 2? Civ 3 ("Civilization 3"), see 7.1. -7- Civ 3: General & Technical Questions 7.1 Civ 3? Who's making it? The plans for Civ 3 were announced on May 14, 1999 at E3. Brian Reynolds announced the game in alt.games.civ2 on May 15th, 1999. Development got underway in 2000. Civ 3 is the official sequel to Civ 2. It is a Sid Meier game, made by Firaxis, published by Infogrames. 7.2 When is Civ 3 coming out? The Windows and Mac versions are now in stores. 7.3 What are the system requirements? These are the official system requirements for Civilization III: Pentium II 300 MHz (500 MHz recommended) 32 megs of ram (64 recommended) 500 megs of hard drive space (+50 for swapfile) 4X CD-Rom DirectX 8.0-compatible video card (must be able to display 1024x768x16bit) DirectX 8.0-compatible sound card Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP 7.4 Where can I download offical patches for Civ 3? You can find all the patches at Firaxis' official Civ 3 website. Top 7.5 What's inside the Limited Edition? You can see the contents of the limited edition at http://apolyton.net/civ3/images/jf-civ3le.jpg It comes in a tin box and includes a letter from the creators, and a second CD with videos. 7.6 How do I stop Civ 3 from choosing refresh rates my system can't support and blanking out my screen? Here's a quick and dirty solution from the newsgroup: Ok, I also had (make that have) the problem that I get a blank screen due to civ3 using refreshrates my monitor doesn't support. Though I *can* choose 120hz with 1024x768, my Monitor doesn't support it, so I don't choose it. That sadly doesn't stop civ3 from using it. But if you switch to a higher resolution where there are no illegal choices ('cause your graphic adapter can't support them) Civ 3 can't screw up, either. So, even if you normally would NOT choose a resolution like 1200 or 1600, try it and then add the following line to your Civilization3.ini file: KeepRes=1 (not sure if necessary, but it worked for me) Not optimal, but lets you get your hands on this game till the first real fixes. -8- Civ 3: Gameplay Questions 8.1 How do I create an army? How do I build new armies? If an elite unit wins a battle (but not against a barbarian), there's a chance you will get a leader. If your civ is militant, this will happen more often. This leader can be used to create an army. If you have an army that wins a battle, you can build the Military Academy. The city that builds that can then build armies just like anything else. Note that units have to be added to the army (tell unit to Load as if the army was a naval transport) for it to be any use. 8.2 How do I use the Intelligence Agency? The city that built the Intelligence Agency has a little icon next to its name. Click on that, and you'll get the option to send spies to the other civilizations. You might not succeed. If you have a spy, you will be asked whether you want to use a diplomat or a spy when clicking the E in the lower right corner. The spy can do more than the diplomat, but the price is higher to cover the cost of James Bond leaving all his fancy equipment behind. When you are at war with another civilization, embassy options are suspended, but espionage options are still available. 8.3 How do I upgrade units? You need a barracks in the city the unit is (or airport for air units, or harbour for sea units), plus the resources you need to build the newer unit available in the city. Finally, you must have the minimum necessary amount of gold in your treasury to carry out the upgrade. 8.4 Why can't I demobilize? Then how do I demobilize? The game is designed to restrict you from quickly switching between 'normal' and wartime mobilization. The question of how to demobilize was best answered by the Civ 3 development team itself: "Whenever you sign a peace treaty, your mobilization will automatically return to normalcy. If you're still at war with another Civ (and want to remain mobilized for war), you'll need to go to the domestic advisor and reselect wartime mobilization. Needless to say, if you switch to a wartime mobilization when you're not at war with anyone, you will actually need to declare war on another Civ and then sign a peace treaty to restore normalcy to your empire." 8.5 Which units can not be airlifted? You cannot airlift ground units that have 0 attack/0 defense ratings, armies, any ships or any air units Also, only attack units with one movement point can be airdropped by helicopters. If you are not happy with this answer (or several others in the FAQ), you can edit this setting with Civ3Edit. 8.6 What're those coloured clouds doing on the map, above my cities? Those are fireworks. It is a sign that the city in question is celebrating a "We Love the King Day." 8.7 How do you tell if a square will give you fresh water? Right click the water. If it is a fresh water lake, it will have 2 food. The squares that won't require an aquaduct next to rivers already generate 1 gold with no road. Sometimes it is hard to judge which ones work. -9- Multiplayer Civ 3 9.1 Does Civ 3 have multiplayer? No. 9.2 When will Civ 3 have multiplayer? Multiplayer will be added in 2002, in either the form of a patch or an add-on disk. Expect similar multiplayer gameplay to that found in SMAC, plus special modes to help Civ'ers play relatively short games with others. -10- Related Websites & Contact Information 10.1 What web sites exist for Civilization II? Many web sites exist, this is only a short list based on a few postings to the group. Feel free to contact the FAQ maintainer to have your site added. The Official Civ 3 website Civilization Fanatics' Center Apolyton Civilization Site Civgaming.net More Civ 2 pages Top 10.2 I never got or lost my tech poster. Is there one online? Yes. Thunderfall's site has one. 10.3 Who maintains this FAQ? Currently William Torrey. Previously Andrew Krupowicz (to 11/2004). Originally maintained by Mike Crowe (to 07/1998). Various posters contributed to the FAQ, including Steve Frazer, Craig Tanswell, and Lee Griffiths, among others. Go Back to Top Webmaster Last updated: 05 Dec 2004