Information - Non-Gameplay Concepts
Map Types & Scenarios
Civilization IV comes with some 20 different map types, from Archipelago to Pangaea, from Hub to Inland Sea, Ice Age to Highlands. All these map types and their properties are explained here. It also comes with a number of pre-made maps. The default game has the following pre-made (but empty) maps:
- Earth Map: a normal Earth map in 4000 BC, with all ancient Civilizations (Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, etc) in their historic starting locations.
- Earth Ice Age: a map of Earth during the last Ice Age.
- Planet: set on the planet from Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.
In addition the game comes with a number of full-flegded scenarios (pre-made maps with cities and units on them):
- Greek World: Set in the ancient Mediterranean, based on the map of Hecataeus. Roughly starts in 600 BC, but a small hit was taken on historically accuracy to get more ancient Civs in (e.g. Celts, Germans, Macedonians). Only the Romans, Persians and Macedonians are playable. Those Civs also all start without Cities, whereas other Civs such as the Greeks, Egyptians, Carthagians, Babylonians, etc are well established. Also feature an interesting feature: Minor Civs. They are basically Barbarians with a colour: diplomacy isn't possible and they don't found new Cities, but they do have some starting Cities and their own flag and the AI behaves somewhat different differently from Barbarians. Full scenario (= WBS, XML, Python changes), designed by Rhye with help from Locutus on the scripting.
- Earth 1000 AD: An Earth scenario that has all the appropriate Civs from 1000 AD (including the Holy Roman Empire, Byzantines, Vikings), though again some liberty was taken to fill some gaps. Some civs start out without Cities (Mongols, Malians, Aztecs and Incans), while others are well established. The New World is mostly empty at the start, the Old World mostly filled (with Barbarian Cities where needed), though there's still some space for exampion in southern Africa and Northern Asia. Most Civs are playable, a few aren't. This is the only 'WBS-only' scenario, which means no XML or Python changes, made by Rhye.
- American Revolution: Depicts the US Independence War, on a map of the East Coast of North America. You can play as either the Americans or the British. Various events add to the historical atmosphere. Full scenario, designed by Trip.
- Desert War: A WWII North Africa/Mediterranean scenario. It uses co-opperate mode teams: an Axis team of Italy, Germany and Vichy France and an Allied team of Britain, Allied Nations (US + Australia + New Zealand) and Free France. The players are not balanced, the teams (more or less) are, so should be fun in MP as well (though the Allied Nations don't have terribly much to do at the start). Showcases some interesting modding features such as UI modding and custom victory conditions and covers the period 1941 - 1945. The most elaborate scenario, designed by Isak, Dale and Locutus.
Civilization IV: Warlords will feature another 6 new scenarios:
- Chinese Unification (350 BC): Take control of one of Ancient China's kingdoms in an attempt to unify the country by either the pen or the sword.
- Peloponnesian Wars (430 BC): Mighty Athens and Sparta struggle for dominance of Greece and surrounding territories.
- Alexander's Conquests (330 BC): Alexander attempts to conquer the world to the south and east of Greece, taking on the Persians, Egyptians, and Indians.
- Rise of Rome (300 BC): Battle as Rome, Carthage, Greece, Gaul, or Egypt for control of the Mediterranean.
- Vikings (800 AD): Become ruler of the Vikings and send your men out on numerous raids against Europe. Victory is decided by how much loot can be acquired.
- Genghis Khan (1206 AD): Relive the conquests of one of history's greatest military leaders and capture – or if you must, destroy – all of Asia.
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