21-11-2004 22:52									#211
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

I like hexes better. They more accurately calculate distance, and of course, this is *actually important* in the game because of things like distance from the capitol, city radius, and so on.

6 or 8 directions, so what? Really, what difference does it make? A few people have said they feel strange without an E-W N-S combination; but that's just because they're not used to it. People said the same thing about isometric maps because everything was "tilted", guess what? They got used to it.

I can see just a single practical argument against hex maps, and it does concern me somewhat: keyboard interface.

Has anyone given any thought to completely alternate systems, like using provinces? That would greatly reduce micromanagement but I'm not so sure about it myself.

Last edited by frekk on 21-11-2004 at 23:12

	22-11-2004 00:56									#212
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Provinces have been discussed ad nauseum many a time. Soren has already announced that the game will be tile-based.

And besides, with provinces you're talking about "a whole new game."

	15-01-2005 10:50									#213
	Full PM-box? Change here!

it hink we should do civ 4 on a 2d map!

	15-01-2005 11:25									#214
	Tired of ads?

quote: Originally posted by Trip And besides, with provinces you're talking about "a whole new game."

Which is better than the same old game again and again, as has been done in the past (civ series included). It's time for some major changes to the Civ series. There is no getting past that. If they continue to ignore it, they'll loose out to another developer. Period.

quote: Originally posted by paramir it hink we should do civ 4 on a 2d map!

I agree 100%, but it's already done. 3d graphics are here to stay, so I guess we who actually enjoy quality over fads are going to have to cope. I have yet to see a 3d game that comes close to looking as good as a 2d game (speaking about an individual piece of artwork - not the quantity that can be produced) can look. While the Civ3 artwork wasn't the best I've ever seen, it was far better than any 3d game I've ever seen.

	06-02-2005 05:19									#215
	Increase the size of your Attachments

[In reply to: The OP]

I would much prefer the following scheme:

* Square Grid, and
* Floating point unit coordinates.

By "floating point unit coordinates" I mean that the actual position of a unit or entity is held to a much higher degree of accuracy than the grid.

When the program displays the unit, it would display in its most accurate position, ignoring the grid.

The square containing the unit would be known, however, and it would be used wherever it is needed, for example when seeing which units can attack each other, or when computing the effect of roads and railways.

I think we could get the best of both worlds that way:

* Simple visualisation and 8-direction movement, and
* Accurate movement and range calculations.

Obviously, there would be other ramifications of doing this, but hopefully nothing insurmountable.

(Note that this is really a proposal for a hybrid system where movement is tileless but combat is grid-based.)

	08-02-2005 12:07									#216
	Put an end to popups!

I think a gridless coordinate system is the best.

When you move a unit, the game uses a path finding algorithm with modifiers (your preferences) to see how long it will take. When you accept a route, the unit moves there by itself automatically.

	16-02-2005 02:51									#217
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

There are only three polygons that tile:

1. Equalaterial triangle.

2. Squares.

3. Hexagons.

Regular Octagons collide with each other.

Proof:

Place one regular octogon. Check
Place another regular octogon of same size east touching the original. Check.

Now try to place a regular octagon of same size NE of orginal one. overlaps with the one east.