|
Trip
|
 |
Hunt Valley
Apr 2002
time: 00:29
|
|
I typed this up since 'Poly has been down lately and because our explorations should find something soon (hopefully, anyways). I've decided to do an analysis of what we know about the geography of our continent, and what can be assumed of the geography of the rest of the world.
What we know about the average Civ 3 world:
Every Civ 3 world shares a variety of characteristics. Some worlds can be unbelievably fertile with regards to terrain, while others can be shockingly barren. The PTWDG is an average world with regards to fertility. While no map is the same, there are a few things that are ALWAYS the case in every game.
In every Civ 3 continents map, there is without exception at least two large continents for most of the civs to be placed upon. An average world contains 11 rivers of no definitive size, and 1306 land tiles. Sometimes a civ will start on an island by itself, but these starts are uncommon. Legoland's start is more similar to a continent than an island. The PTW DG contains 3 continent-sized landmasses, which is uncommon in a continents world.
The average Civ 3 continents world has a range of 3 to 12 landmasses of any size, with an average of 7. There is always 2 large continents, usually of similar size unless there is a rather large island for another civ to be placed on. There is an average of 1.56 smallish-sized islands (around 50 tiles) which are worth colonizing and usually possess 5 or even 6 resources. In addition, there's very often a scattering of small, relatively worthless islands placed throughout the world. 80% of all islands are accessible from at least 1 large landmass via Galleys.
The number of resources is the same in every game based upon the map. Across the entire planet there will be 12 sources of iron and horses, the majority of which are placed on two main continents. Sometimes these sources can be scattered on small islands, but it's very rare to have more than 2 of these sources off of the main landmasses.
Luxury resources can vary in number from 4 to 8 depending upon the map. The average is 6, though a world can be particularly fertile (closer to 8) or more barren (closer to 4). Usually about half the luxury types are clumped together, while the other half ais more scattered about. Luxuries will not cross continents, and it's almost impossible to find luxuries on small islands. 99% of the time all of the luxuries are on the main continents.
What we know about our continent:
To be blunt, our continent is absolute crap. An "average" large continent is many many times more fertile than the rock we've been planted on. CFC and GCA's starts can be considered "average." CDG and our own starts are below average (by a fair margin, as well).
Out continent contains 8 sources of iron, 4 horses, 5 rivers, 3 whales, 4 game, 2 cattle, 1 wheat, 7 gold, 4 furs, 6 dyes, 5 incense, 7 silks and a total of 569 land tiles. This includes 4 luxuries in slightly below-average quantities.
What we can guesstimate about the rest of the world:
With 569 tiles on our continent that leaves an approximate 737 land tiles for the rest of the world. Assuming that all four civs are on one large continent (since they all have contact), and deducting the average 80 tiles for smaller islands, that leaves the other continent with a rough 660 tiles. Thus, we can assume that the other continent has around 100 more tiles than our continent.
The rest of the world has 8 horses and 4 iron. If 1 or more of those iron resources are on a small island or bunched near each other that means that there is likely at least 1 civ without access to iron, though its likely they all have horses just as all civs on our continent have iron.
The other continent has wines, spices, ivory and gems. The quantity of each cannot be determined from what we know.
The rest of the world possesses 12 cattle, 13 wheat and 10 game (compared with our 2, 1 and 4, respectively). It is most likely the vast majority of these are concentrated on the other continent and not scattered on islands. The other continent likely has ~6 rivers. Rivers do not occur on islands unless they're very large.
Based upon the massive scores of CGN and GWT, the incredible rapid rise of Firaxis and the steady growth of Grenouille we can assume that the other continent possesses a massive terrain advantage over both us and the rest of our continent. It is likely that the other continent will become much stronger than our own shortly, partially due to our terrain and partially due to the large war which is raging.
Last edited by Trip on 17-07-2003 at 06:32
|
17-07-2003 06:14
|
|