Hello,

I recently played CivProject with a group of 6 players (including me). All players were completely beginners meaning nobody had played Civilization before.

I printed the map on 40 A4 sized standard copy paper sheets and sticked them together. The trade cards have been printed on light cardboard.

We played in the Near East area with Egypt, Nubia, Saba, Persia, Babylon and Assyria as suggested in the handbook. I marked out the not in play regions using the walls of the german game Löwenherz (lionheart). As population tokens we used the ones of Risk and the wooden chips of Vinci for cities.
Photo 1
Photo 2
If you want to see more pictures, just let me know.

Playtime was about 10 hours and up to ca. 20 rounds. Nobody achieved the Iron Age, but Assyria and Persia were close to. Egypt and Nubia suffered in the beginning building their first city to early. When we ended the game (only because of a lack of time), Assyria had the most victory points followed by Persia (both owned 6 adv. cards).
I detected, that almost all players except of me concentrated on craft advances cards. Is this the same with experienced players?


We were a bit confused about the meaning of the AST order. Is it meant from top to bottom (meaning, Egypt drags last) or from right to the left side (meaning the one with the fewest AST points draws last)? I personally think, it is the first option.

Another question: Are there any hints dealing with a player leaving the game after a few hours?


We all enjoyed the game and are looking forward for the next time we are able to play it. So thanks for all the work you have done here!

Regards,
Michael

Nice to hear from complete beginners. As stated before we have always aimed to allow novices play this game as well as Civ veterans, trying to keep it simpler than Advanced Civilization while still with more strategic options.


Nice improvisations for playing pieces. How did they work out?


No, though you seldom get along without some of the cheaper crafts cards, so with only 6 cards each that is no big surprise. Personally I usually go for Science or Art/Science, or just for as many cheap cards as possible, which is a problem when you hit the second Iron wall (e.g. the 3 cards over 200 you needs to enter late iron age). Civic/Religion is another potent combination, especially in the endgame, but has fewer decent cheap cards, so is hard to start out with. However the strategy that is easiest to play is probably Craft/Science (as you almost automatically gets lots of Crafts card early in the game), followed by the lots of cheap cards strategy (as you don't have to worry about colour that much).


A.S.T. order is from top to bottom, with Egypt last (as stated in Core Rulebook §11.4 and §1 of the Scenario Handbook). [i]A.S.T. progress[i] is how many steps a player has moved forward (eg from right to left) on the A.S.T.


Get a replacement player! That's about it, unfortunately. Usually works out on conventions (which is where I play most), but I imagine it can be hard when a group of friends meets as someone's place to play.


Thank you for the praise, that (and the ability to play it ourself ) is why we do it.

Thanks for your clarifications.

The risk tokens worked very well. I think there is only one disadvantage: Risk supports only tokens for up to 6 players...
Photo 3


A new question which occured: When may players reduce their cities? Only when they can't support them in the CHECKING FOR CITY SUPPORT phases or also in the MOVEMENT phase, if they want to?

Regards,
Michael

There are basically three times.

There are two phases that are labeled "Check for City Support", one after "Build Cities" and one after the Resolve Calamity Cards (I don't remember its exact name). Then, during a couple of the calamities (any that refer to "Unit Points" and Slave Revolt).

That is it. They aren't responsible for support, and they can't reduce cities at any other point.