First Experience of Civilization IV
I am enjoying playing the game Civilization. I am nowhere close to mastering the gameplay yet, but I am doing the best that I can with my little nation island of Japan. I feared attacks from other countries because I am easy accessible because I am an island, so right away I built a fleet of ships so I could protect myself from the water. And if my ships failed I had a whole arsenal of catapults and Bowmen. I built up such a defense because felt I was so vulnerable, but I have not gone to war with anyone yet and it is 1837 AD. I believe that no one will declare war on me because of my great defense system; all four of my cities have a defense of 80% or higher. But the fact that I have only four cities is my problem.
The people of my cities have not been very happy over the past 300 years because the cities are overcrowded. Just like Jared Diamond said in his book overcrowded populations cause terrible diseases, and that is exactly what is happening to my empire. I do a lot of trading of livestock with other countries, so to add that to overcrowded cities has not helped my cause. The diseases cause a delay in the improvement or movements of societies. I have not yet mastered the way to obtain land nearby that has not yet been claimed by other countries. When I do I can build cities on the other land so that the cities I have now will not be so overcrowded with diseases. In the game Germany has an abundance of cities. They have expanded greatly and in doing so they are the superior power, dominating in the technological process as well.
Another way to increase sickness and overpopulation on my island would to be go to war so I could take over cities of the countries that I conquer. The death of some of my people will also reduce the population. That is exactly what China did to the Mongolian empire, and now China is extremely prosperous. I Know I have the army to conquer a few other empires, but it is a gamble that I have to be willing to make. Next time I play I am going to find out how to get more land, so I can expand my empire. If it is going to take war to do it that is a chance I am willing to take. I feel if I can expand my empire I will be able to increase technologically, and become one of the dominate powers.
posted by Johnny Anderson @ 3:22 PM
3 Comments:
Johnny, very thoughtful post. I can sympathize with you as far as having angry citizens. In my most recent game I am overwhelmed with the little, red, mean faces next to my cities' names.
One thing I'm not in entire agreement with is the role of diseases. Diamond attributes much of humanity's history to the roll that diseases have played. Germs aren't a researchable technology until much later in the game. Though population does continuously increase, epidemics are non-factors in the game.
I love you
i like how you connected the overcrowdedness of your cities to guns germs and steel. trading livestock with other empires would most definitely help the spread of diseases, and in turn, cause your people to become upset. try to keep up with germany...don't let them overtake you. create more cities and maybe try to find a way to trade less livestock to minimize the occurance of disease outbreaks.
i like how you connected the overcrowdedness of your cities to guns germs and steel. trading livestock with other empires would most definitely help the spread of diseases, and in turn, cause your people to become upset. try to keep up with germany...don't let them overtake you. create more cities and maybe try to find a way to trade less livestock to minimize the occurance of disease outbreaks.
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