[Freeciv-Dev] Re: Fixing ICS (simply)

[Hellen Claggett <hellen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 2003-12-19 at 04:35, Per I. Mathisen wrote:
> On 18 Dec 2003, Hellen Claggett wrote:
> > If I ever get the time (after New Years earliest), I'd like to try to
> > create a patch to play test this proposal (removing free terrain
> > improvements) to see how it impacts the ICS strategy.
> 
> Wouldn't this make terrain specials a lot more important, making
> the random starting position more determining for who wins the game?

I think so. But I'm also hoping that the starting position would have
more of an effect on what kind of strategy the player has to employ to
compete. I think it would be great if a player had to choose between
different strategies (e.g., largepox vs. smallpox) that would best
utilize the local tiles and local neighbors. Basically, playing the
cards you were dealt and responding intelligently to the situation.

If it really is game unbalancing, maybe some kind of fitness test could
be created that would try to place players in comparable regions. Maybe
such a fitness test could become the basis for a handicapping system
where the strong player start off in a weak spot.