Overall my experience with Civ 5 was good. I was able to accomplish my main goal of having my civilization/society become an Autocracy and I even took over the world once. I didn't finish second play through though, but that is okay. Overall I think that the game portrayed the nature of historical change in a so-so way. Some historical change was actuate like politics and war (sometimes) but others just weren't portrayed. In a broad sense however it does do a good job at showing the rise and fall of civilizations. However, this is in a broad general sense. But, given the fact that the game was marketed for entertainment value and purposes the fact that it does not get to accurate or inaccurate at times, is in my opinion to be expected. Despite this, it is still a good game.
Veni, Vidi, Vici
I came, I saw, I conquered.
Official Post 5
Technology, the Environment, Spiritual Life and Moral Codes
Environment really ended up playing a minor role overall in Civ 5. Other than the fact that were you started could either be a grassland, desert, tundra, etc. Environment really didn't play a big role,which the game does fail on this point. As we have seen throughout history the environment has always played a big role. For example there are no diseases or natural disasters in the game which in real life has weakened or even destroyed entire civilizations. The Black Plague would be one example of disease weakening a civilization or Mt. Vesuvius destroying the city of Pompeii would to two good examples of when the environment had a big effect on civilizations.
Technology is important in the game in terms of advancing civilization through the ages and in getting better units. However, it mostly serves as a way to gain an edge over over civilizations. Especially in war. Needless to say at this point I focused a lot on technology for the sake of war. However, one thing I think the game failed to account for when it came to technology was the fact that with advances of major social changes have tended to occur. One real life example that comes to mind is the advent of the printing press, which helped Martin Luther spread his message and kicked off the Protestant Reformation. Such major changes to not occur in the game, rather your civilization simply advanced to the next historical age.
Finally religion and spiritually did play a big role in the game. As I felt the game did a good job in accounting for missionary activity and the spread of religion. Of which later became important because you could gain influence with the city-states and other civs through the use of your civilization's religion. However, despite this being said my civilization never developed a religion. I still don't know how this happened. My civilization never got past the worshiping of the God of War. Which actually worked out for me. However, I was unable to do missionary activity or influence city-states or others civs through religion. Which later became a concern when I noticed that Russia had brought Eastern Orthodoxy to several city-states close to me, which is what led to the policy change mentioned in an earlier post in an effort to stop Russia from gaining influence over the city-states.
Germanic god of war Teiwaz or Tyr to the Norse
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Official Post 4 Society Its Categories and Artistic Endeavors
Societies I think really did not play too big a role in Civ. 5. In fact in my opinion the closest we get to "society" in Civ 5 is just by playing as our civilization. As far as the basic societal categories like family, gender, and class are not mentioned at all in the game. As far as "communities" go your different cities might fit in that category. Race also is not mentioned but you may be able to argue that your civilization represents the societal category of race, however I think this is a bit of a reach. However, when it came to the group known as "Nation" Civ 5 did get that right because the civilization you play as usually represents a nation. For the must part however, Civ 5 is not accurate when it comes to society and it's categories, in fact it is not even close. Which is totally inaccurate because there have been families and other such units since the dawn of humanity.
Now the issues of art, music, literature, theater, and architecture are represented (and well) in Civ 5. This is evident in many different ways from the historical building you can build to the historic works of music and art that you can create/acquire by getting a great musician or great artist respectively. In Civ 5 the issues of art, music, literature, theater, and architecture contribute to the possibility of a cultural victory. Which makes all of these subjects important in the game due to the fact that victory is the end goal. That is essentially the role culture plays in this game. The role of being able to increase your culture thus increasing your influence and prestige with other civilizations or city-states. This I think is historically accurate. Like for example people still value the art of ancient Greece, thus ensuring in a way that ancient Greece is still remembered/lives on.
As mentioned above art in the game helps a civilization by contributing to the possibility of a cultural victory. As for art "harming" a civilization in the game I really don't think that it does it in anyway. However, my personal opinion is that art can harm civilization in real life. I think that certain art can be classified as degenerate, and that it is this kind of art that can harm civilization by influencing our values in a bad and negative way causing society to deteriorate. However, this is just strictly my opinion as I am no art critic.
Victory! Followed with a change in Foreign Policy
Once again the armies of the Great German Empire have prevailed! Our rival France is no more. During my last game I went to war with and beat France. the first French city to fall was the city of Orleans. At first I tried to annex the city, however upon deciding it was to much trouble I had it burnt to the ground. After that, the other cities of France fell, with the end result being the formation of a new puppet state in what is now formally the French empire. Now the only rival that remains is Russia.
The creating of puppet states in France has led me to reevaluate (slightly) my foreign policy. In the past when I took over a city state it was immediately annexed into my empire. However, on discovering that I don't have to feed puppet states, any city-state conquered from now on will be made a puppet state. Now, I realize that I do not receive votes from my puppet states, however since they are now my puppet states Russia will not be able to influence them. This realization combined with the alarming fact that Russia is beginning to have influence on my continent (through their use of religion) has led to this new policy. From now on any city -state that is conquered shall immediately be turned into a puppet state. Long live the Great German Empire!
German Imperial Flag
Also, this is what it will look like when my troops invade your territory
(Yes, this is my attempt at humor)
Song = Panzermarch by the Swedish Metal band Raubtier
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Required Post 3
Politics and Power
The role that politics plays in my civilization is very important. Practically everything that I do in the game involves politics to some extent. My first real political achievement (and the one I am most proud of) was the enacting of the social policy of Tradition. This was soon followed by the enactment of the Honor social policy. After these two social policies, I will confess I am not interested in the other social policies really. However, I continue to pass social policies because the game forces me. What I am really looking forward to political wise (as mentioned before) is when I can get to the stage where I can adopt an ideology, in my case Autocracy. (Which is an ideology that is personally close to my heart)
Diplomacy also plays a huge role in the game as well. As much of the game deals with your relations to other civilizations and city-states. Now as far as my diplomacy usually goes, the doctrine of blood and iron are used a lot. Similar in a way to how the ancient Assyrians dealt with their Imperialism. Only my version is much more hands on then the Assyrians were. The implication here that I usually conquer cities, however this is not always the case. One city state very close to some of my major cities I have allowed to keep their autonomy and independence, preferring to make them my allies instead. For which they give me military units as tribute, which is why I have allowed their independence. In a matter similar to ancient Rome and Persia being that if you pay tribute you will be allowed to keep your autonomy. However, this was a very special case because I knew that if I conquered this city state their military tributes would stop. Another city state close to my civilization I gained as an ally unintentionally. It was a city state that France had actually told me not to have any influence on, to which at the time I agreed. However, the French eventually lost influence with this city while I gained it. So, given this the French left the city to be under my influence. I have left this city state independent as well. Gaining them as an ally instead.
Power struggles also play a huge part in the game, as the point is to win over the other civilizations. Here once again I practice a lot of blood and iron. I am almost constantly at war, either with a city state or another civilization. This of coarse has caused other civilizations to be weary of me. (I totally conquered Poland) However, I am still able to deal diplomatically and peacefully with the other civilizations, though it is harder considering they are weary and guarded against me. As of now I have plans to end the game by employing a mixed strategy. After I defeat France, I plain to gain influence on the city states on the continent. (France and I share a continent) After which I hope to gain enough influence to win diplomatically. However, if the need should arise and I am forced into war with Russia, then I will gain victory by domination. I would however like to avoid war with Russia if at all possible, because they seem to be as powerful as I am. A war with them would drag on for a while. Either way I am confident my civilization will prevail. The Fatherland will triumph!
Deutschland Uber Alles
Germany Above All
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Official Post 2
Economics and Networks of Exchange
Civilizations in Civ 5 for the most part seem to prosper by trade with other major civilizations or by trade with the small city states. I however, will admit that on my first play through I really did not focus on trade. I did to a very limited extent send trade (food) caravans between the cities already in my empire. I also engaged in trade by sea (again to a very limited extent) with a one city state that I had chosen to make my ally and not take over as I did with the others. Also, occasionally the 2 other civilizations in my game (as referenced in an earlier post) would send me a proposal wanting some of the luxury resources that I had in my territory. I would usually accept for a certain amount of gold. So, I guess I may have engaged in trade more than I thought and didn't really realize it. As I said, at the time trade was not a priority for me. The only real relation I saw between trade and food production was when I sent the caravans with food to help out other cities within my empire who needed it.
As for trade and technology being related I really didn't see a big relation. I suppose it is possible to trade and exchange technology between your civilization and the other civilizations. However, in my first play through I was so far technologically advanced that it did not benefit me nor would it have to exchange technology. This is not an exaggeration, during my conquests the civilization of Indonesia literally send knights against my riflemen and Gatling guns. The overall role of trade networks and other networks in the game are to make you more powerful and spread your civilization's influence which I suppose could lead to a diplomatic or cultural victory. Despite my success in my first play through I recognize that this is an a nominally and not historically accurate. Civilizations in history that tended only to focus on war and neglect trade tended to fall apart quickly. For example this is exactly what happen to the war-like Hittites and Assyrians, who focused so much on war and very little on trade that that they quickly fell apart once they ran out of people to conquer and thus take their resources for their own. Without really having an expansive trade network in place, which may have delayed their downfall.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Victory!!!
For the first time I have claimed victory in Civ 5. It happen on 9/24/15, and it happen exactly how I wanted it too, Military Conquest. Victory was achieved over the two other civilizations in my game, Indonesia and India. What gave me the edge over these two civilizations was that I was more technologically advanced then they were. I also had the edge when it came to military size, as I had built up my military in preparation for military conquest. (Which is what I had planed to do from the start) I even accomplished my other goal of getting my society to become an Aristocracy! I was very happy about that. However, by the time I my civilization became an aristocracy, India had already been conquered and the war with Indonesia was in its final stages. So, sadly I did not get much time to enjoy being an aristocracy. Obviously, now that victory has been achieved I must start over from the very beginning. I will still play as Germany (for reasoned mentioned in an earlier post) and I will still pursue an aggressive research policy so I can become an Aristocracy as soon as possible. Also like last time, I will aim for victory be military conquest. Indeed the only thing that will really change will be the size of the map and the difficulty level. Also, I think I shall have 3 other civilizations (not counting my own) to fight against this time. I will also make sure that the 3 civilizations are all European in origin this time. Other then the above mentioned changes my goals and my overall imperialist strategy shall remain the same. Long live the Great German Empire! Long Live the Chancellor!
