What I would love to see in the Civ Series (advisors)

[Hanen]

Greetings to all! Let me start by saying I love the Civilization series. I have been a fan since 1999 (I was 9yrs old) when I first played Civ II on my cousins computer. Being 9 years old, the simple thing of building an army, and conquering other nations was a very "cool" idea. There were other games like Age of Empire, but I found civilization most interesting, because of the interaction between other nations were more vivid.

But what made it most memorable is the interaction between you and the advisors! The quirky comebacks and rabbling between disagreements, who could forget the Elvis Impersonator (I chuckled when i saw this) advocating for the culture of your civilization!? or the Scientist with a german accent advocating the advancement of science? or the military general that urges you to build more troops while other advisors disagreed with that idea??

Then the years rolled by until civ III came out, and I was blown away by the grahpics, and much needed improvements to the game. However, I was disappointed to see that the interactive advisor portion of the game was taken away. It didn't really detriment the experience however, it did make the single player experience (for me) harder for me to enjoy for the second time around. I always wanted to play that one extra turn always, as I am sure most of you do as well, but I dont feel the interactions between MY civilization and ME!!! They did great job with the interaction between other civs, but what about in our own backyard?

When Civ IV came out, I was again amazed by the gameplay. However, I was once again disappointed by the lack of interaction between you and your own civilizations through the advisors. I thought by now, someone has an idea how to improve on that and when Civ 5 came out, I was very excited but yet again, dissapointment.

SO! being silent for all these years, I have chosen to speak up now! Tired of expecting others to do, when I should be advocating for myself! Although I do not expect the game makers and designers to change anything, I merely want to get the idea across! and perhaps in the future, this idea will be integrated to the entire gaming experience.

My idea, is that there be a TRUE interaction between you and the advisors. Not just suggestions of what to build, or research, but an actual "meeting" like king arthur and his round table, or Greeks famous forums, or congress, Where ALL opinions from all advisors can be heard and interact with YOU! Like the throne scenes when meeting a civilization! This puts you in the position where you TRULY lead and is building a Civilization based on the period, and situation!

Now when I mean they give advice, I dont mean the regular advice (build this, need that), but a "dynamic" advice, where changing times, new research, and scouting reports, gives all information to each advisors, and they decide what could be the best course, for their individual interests for the civilization! Advising what techs to trade, what research is been discovered and how it affects your nation. Then in the council, much like the throne scenes, They argue, and interact with you, asking you what you believe to be the best course of action!

Basically, when you play, nothing would change, just how you interact with the game. So that is my idea, and I want to know what your opinions on this is like.
This has been from one fan to another.

[Archytus]

I'm completely with you on that and frankly have never understood why so little attention was given to the advisors after Civ II. They were one of the most memorable parts of the game! I took one or two looks at the Civ V advisors and never clicked that triangle again. You would think they would either integrate them into the various overview screens or do away with them all together. More and more I fear the people developing Civilization's successors have never actually played it or have only had a brief fling with Civ IV, obviously a great game but just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a series many of us have been playing for two decades.

[Takao]

Could not agree more! The advisors from Civ II were absolutely freaking AWSOME!

For those who don't remember or are unfamiliar with them
http://obsoletegamer.com/humor-civilization-2-advisors/

For me, they added an extra dimension of fun to the game and I have always missed it in III, IV, & V. Heck, I would probably still be playing V regularly if it had the live-action actors in.

Bring back Elvis!

[Marj]

Definetely loved the advisors, had to laugh when I was the only Civ left on the map and my military advisor told me that "any half baked revolutionary can whoop our army as it stands!". I wonder why they canned them??

[Belgarion]

I agree sire!

[Hanen]

WELL! glad to see I am not alone! but I fear that our numbers here are either a small representation to a larger community, or this is all thats left of those who remember. I'm glad to know that there are others who agree with me.
@Takao, I would also probably a more regular of the game if they had a more "interactive" advisor.
@Archytus, Yes, but I hope someone from the developer team remembers something about the advisors in Civ II.

[Davor]

I was so excited when I herd that Civ V had advisors. And guess what happened. Yeah, another thing that Civ V did very poorly.

Oh how I loved the Civ II advisors. Espically when you were so powerfull military wise, and you clicked on the Military Advisor. Oh that was classic. I almost fell off my chair laughing so hard. It's a shame they don't bring back the advisor humour espically with Elvis, and they try for other humor in the game.

Well there is alwasy DLC and or expansions to fix up this part of the game.

[jacypr]

Yet another proof that Civ 5 was badly created and done, not "simplified".

I was playing Civ 2 the other day, and was dismayed to see how much Civ 2 exceds Civ 5 and several areas. Not cos it's more complex (and it is, tons of complexity compared with Civ 5), but cos it's better thought and implemented.

And the foreigner advisor is cute.

[craig123]

[bring back advisors]

All of the world marvels at your superior intellect, sire!

I agree completely, advisors were brilliant - as was the throne room ... and wonder movies. For me, no game has come close to the feeling I got from playing Civ2 (maybe it was just because I was so young). I really hope that these things get brought back in the future.

My idea, is that there be a TRUE interaction between you and the advisors. Not just suggestions of what to build, or research, but an actual "meeting" like king arthur and his round table, or Greeks famous forums, or congress, Where ALL opinions from all advisors can be heard and interact with YOU! Like the throne scenes when meeting a civilization! This puts you in the position where you TRULY lead and is building a Civilization based on the period, and situation!

What would be great is combining advisors and the throne room. So at the start of the game you meet your advisors in a bare wooden hut. As the game progresses your "palace" gets upgraded and eventually becomes "fit for a king". As in Civ2, your advisors' appearance would change according to the era. In the modern era maybe you'd end up with something like the Oval Office, meeting the Secretaries of State, Defense, etc.

You could even go further and each civ could have their own throne room. Then when you meet other leaders you'd be able to see how well they were doing for themselves. I doubt it'll ever happen but it would be nice.

Oh how I loved the Civ II advisors. Espically when you were so powerfull military wise, and you clicked on the Military Advisor. Oh that was classic. I almost fell off my chair laughing so hard.

I don't remember that one (maybe because I played peacefully). What did he say?

[tfordp]

...


I don't remember that one (maybe because I played peacefully). What did he say?

If I recall, he was wondering around with a large drink, singing, saying everything was fine.

[craig123]

If I recall, he was wondering around with a large drink, singing, saying everything was fine.

Damn, wish I'd concentrated more on my military now. I just remember him shouting "Build city walls!"

[tfordp]

Craig, go and see them all, medieval. LOLZ guaranteed.

[craig123]

Craig, go and see them all, medieval. LOLZ guaranteed.

Thanks for the link - I'll watch it when I get home

[Hanen]

it doesn't necessarily have to be live action, i think they should be either animated or something

[Davor]

I don't remember that one (maybe because I played peacefully). What did he say?

You remember he was the chubby one correct. He came in the middle ages, was about to say something, then walks out. He was all drunk and giddy with joy. I can never get enough of that. See tfordp already put a link up, thanks.

[craig123]

You remember he was the chubby one correct. He came in the middle ages, was about to say something, then walks out. He was all drunk and giddy with joy. I can never get enough of that. See tfordp already put a link up, thanks.

Yeah I've watched the video - it brought back some memories. Don't think I'd ever seen some of them before but the one you mentioned was pretty funny.

[Kevik]

You remember he was the chubby one correct. He came in the middle ages, was about to say something, then walks out. He was all drunk and giddy with joy. I can never get enough of that. See tfordp already put a link up, thanks.

Man I really got to go check that video out, since I just borrowed civ2 from my friend I only got to see the advisors for a week before I returned the CD and the game without the CD was still fun but missing those advisors. ( thats was 5-6 years ago, but I still play civ2 from time to time, I even have it on my USB drive)

[Furball]

The advisors are again something which promised so much but has been left very lacking indeed. The advisors were meant to be a return to civ II or so they claimed but ended up pretty pointless. It would be a vast improvement if they actually made some announcement when they had something new to say rather than when you click on the advisor screen you find a huge list of messages which you have no idea at all how up to date they are.

"Last time i look China only seemed to have 1 unit which looked quite sad a lonely"...Is that so, when was the last time you looked i may ask? Oh i can't so i will have to guess for myself how up to date that information is.

Some simple interaction would be nice like having a list of question you can ask and they give answers to would be a vast improvement at least. How strong is my army, why does x civ hate me, what could i do to improve my relations with x civ?

[SamBC]

They do occasionally make themselves known for some issues, but I agree with the problem with the advisers screen.

[Hanen]

@furball
I agree about the question thing, I HAVE NO IDEA why other civs hate me or is "friendly" with me. They are either a sociopath or psychopath. In Civ IV, atleast they explained if you didn't have the same policies or religion, those civs would not like you. but in Civ V, im just walking around in the dark, trying to get their approval.
@samBC
the one problem i have is tring to read through all the previous messages to find WHEN a new information would come available. "you are producing XX amount of science for XX amount of population, Now that's efficiency!" you should Research blah to get this advantage rather than anticipating your opponents modernized army.

[crashtheparty]

Dang, I wrote an entire idea on a new advisor system and now I lost it.