Rewind the Podcast Celebration: PolyCast Evergreen, Season 10

By | December 31, 2016

Celebrate a decade of podcasting on [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast]PolyCast[/url] ([u]PC[/u]), the [i]Civilization[/i] strategy-centric bi-weekly show that was renewed for a landmark tenth season in 2016. Hosted by [u]PC[/u] recurring guest [url=http://www.ustream.tv/user/CanusAlbinus]”CanusAlbinus”[/url] and co-creator [url=http://apolyton.net/member.php/2-DanQ]Daniel “DanQ” Quick[/url], they count down ten selected [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast/season10.php]Season 10[/url] topics that most retain their relevance and ten moments that best represent delivery style on [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast/season10.php#evergreen10]PolyCast Evergreen, Season 10[/url]. The tenth in a side series of ten productions for each of PolyCast’s ten seasons running, it carries a runtime of 02h22m28s. Topics were chosen by [url=http://apolyton.net/member.php/2-DanQ]”DanQ”[/url], serving as lead co-host alongside [url=http://apolyton.net/member.php/22677-Makahlua]Stephanie “Makahlua”[/url], [url=http://forums.civfanatics.com/member.php?u=136315]Philip “TheMeInTeam” Bellew[/url] and [url=https://www.youtube.com/user/SBFMadDjinn]”MadDjinn”[/url]. Moments were chosen by [url=http://www.ustream.tv/user/CanusAlbinus]”CanusAlbinus”[/url].

Today and since 2011, [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast]PolyCast[/url] records [url=https://www.youtube.com/user/thepolycast/live]live every other Saturday[/url] throughout the year, in an ongoing effort to give the [i]Civilization[/i] community an interactive voice. Sibling show [url=http://thepolycast.net/modcast][u]ModCast[/u][/url] focuses on [i]Civ[/i] modding, [url=http://thepolycast.net/turncast][u]TurnCast[/u][/url] on [i]Civ[/i] multiplay.

One More Turn Season 5 Bloopers

By | December 28, 2016

Not as planned. All the outtakes from dramedy podcast [u]One More Turn[/u]’s Season 5 episodes’ recording for public consumption [url=http://onemoreturn.net/#s5bloopers]are now available[/url]. It has a runtime of 17m39s. A story set in the near future, [u]OMT[/u] features geeks deal with non-geeky problems. One can [url=https://twitter.com/onemoreturnshow]follow the show[/url] on Twitter and [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/onemoreturnshow]check out[/url] its YouTube channel for caption capability.

[u]OMT[/u] features the voice talents of [i]Civilization[/i] strategy-centric podcast [url=http://thepolycast.net]PolyCast[/url] regular co-hosts [url=http://apolyton.net/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=2]Daniel “DanQ” Quick[/url] and [url=http://apolyton.net/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=22677]Stephanie “Makahlua”[/url] among others; Quick is also the dramedy’s writer and creator. Selections of American music and soundtrack composer [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2228215]Kevin MacLeod[/url]’s work is included throughout the series.

The [u]One More Turn[/u] Season 5 Commentary is to be released in [i]January 2017[/i].

PolyCast 2016 Christmas Special: “We Wish You a Merry Civmas”

By | December 24, 2016

Much joy. The 2016 PolyCast Christmas Special, “[url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast/season9.php#christmas2016]We Wish You a Merry Civmas[/url]”, is now available for netcasting. Join regular panelists [url=http://apolyton.net/member.php/2-DanQ]Daniel “DanQ” Quick[/url], [url=http://apolyton.net/member.php/22677-Makahlua]”Makahlua”[/url] and [url=http://forums.civfanatics.com/member.php?u=136315]Philip “TheMeInTeam” Bellew[/url], with [url=http://forums.civfanatics.com/member.php?u=145352]Scott “AlphaShard” Dirk[/url] and a cameo by [url=http://forums.civfanatics.com/member.php?u=163829]Lisa “qnl” Bang[/url], as they give their take on questions and comments received from members of the show’s audience and otherwise in this hour-long plus (73m02s) production.

The summary of topics is as follows:

– [i]05m18s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #1[/b]
Annoyance over [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14590914]lacking “competent”[/url] Artificial Intelligence (AI) following the release of [i]Civilization VI[/i] turns to challenges and hopes.
– [i]17m19s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #2A[/b]
Speculating as to the [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14590881]timing and content[/url] of the first pieces of Downloadable Content (DLC) for [i]CivVI[/i].
– [i]24m24s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #3[/b]
The [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14591740]trifecta inquiry[/url] of having a human and AI-controlled civilization alliance/friendship lasting an entire [i]Civilization[/i] game, why AIs in its sixth iteration seem to end up always hating each other and favourite music from the title.
– [i]35m25s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #4A[/b]
For that which each panelist has been [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14592431]”most pleasantly surprised by”[/url] in [i]CivVI[/i].
– [i]43m36s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #2B[/b]
Symptom, not a cause, in response to a [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14590881]stated “loophole”[/url] in the game’s District costing.
– [i]49m45s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #5[/b]
Hinging views of “rushing” not in [i]Civilization VI[/i], but [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14593077]of its release[/url].
– [i]59m21s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #4B[/b]
If the North Pole were a [i]CivVI[/i] City State, its unique suzerain bonus is [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14592431]open for consideration[/url].
– [i]61m28s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #6A[/b]
Considering what [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14592143]additional mechanic[/url] one would (most) like to see added to the game.
– [i]66m30s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #7[/b]
On making Gold an [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14590831]in-game resource again[/url] in [i]Civ[/i].
– [i]67m59s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #6B[/b]
Contemplating what civilization should [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14592143]be added next[/url] into the [i]Civilization[/i] series, [i]VI[/i] in particular.
– [i]72m27s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #8[/b]
Would giving [i]CivV[/i] City States the [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14591452]Ancient Walls building from the outset[/url] be a good thing or a bad thing.
– [i]76m53s[/i] | [b]Forum Post #9[/b]
Qualifier quandary to fulfill a [url=https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/input-requested-for-polycast-christmas-special-2016.606772/#post-14591396]musical request[/url].

– [i]Intro/Outro[/i] | [b]Miscellaneous[/b]
Presupposing identities, real-life identification and gleeful extrapolation.

[url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast]PolyCast[/url] is a bi-weekly audio production in an ongoing effort to give the [i]Civ[/i] community an interactive voice on game strategy; the tenth edition of Evergreen, a side series on selected moments and topics that best represent the show, is set to be released in one week’s time. Fellow sibling shows also in production presently are [url=http://thepolycast.net/modcast][u]ModCast[/u][/url] on [i]Civ[/i] modding and [url=http://thepolycast.net/turncast][u]TurnCast[/u][/url] on [i]Civ[/i] multiplay.

Provide PolyCast With Feedback on 2016 Season

By | December 21, 2016

Episode recording frequency? Balance of [i]Civilization V[/i], [i]VI[/i] and [i]Civ[/i] series in general coverage? Favourite regular co-host? These are a few of the ten questions being asked of the 2016 [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast]PolyCast[/url] (PC) audience as its [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast/season10.php]tenth season[/url] nears its conclusion.

To provide your input on/by December 31st, 2016, follow the link below:

[url=http://thepolycast.net/polycastsurvey]http://thepolycast.net/polycastsurvey[/url]

Recording live every other Saturday, [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast]PolyCast[/url] has been renewed for a 28 episode eleventh season in 2017. The show’s first episode recording in the new year, [url=https://www.youtube.com/user/thepolycast/live]live[/url], is set for January 7th starting at 12PM ET North America ([url=http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=PolyCast+%23272+Recording&iso=20170107T12&p1=188&ah=1&am=30]timezone converter[/url]).

One More Turn Episode 513: “Answers”

By | December 21, 2016

Resisting change by confronting it head-on. The thirteenth episode, and finale, of dramedy podcast [u]One More Turn[/u]’s ([u]OMT[/u]) fifth season [url=http://onemoreturn.net/episodes5.php#episode513]is now available[/url]. Entitled “Answers”, it has a runtime of 09m17s. A story set in the near future, [u]OMT[/u] features geeks deal with non-geeky problems. One can [url=https://twitter.com/onemoreturnshow]follow the show[/url] on Twitter and [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/onemoreturnshow]check out[/url] its YouTube channel for caption capability.

[u]OMT[/u] features the voice talents of [i]Civilization[/i] strategy-centric podcast [url=http://thepolycast.net]PolyCast[/url] regular co-hosts [url=http://apolyton.net/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=2]Daniel “DanQ” Quick[/url] and [url=http://apolyton.net/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=22677]Stephanie “Makahlua”[/url] among others; Quick is also the show’s writer and creator. Selections of American music and soundtrack composer [url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2228215]Kevin MacLeod[/url]’s work is included throughout the series. The [u]OMT[/u] Season 5 Blooper Reel is scheduled for release on [i]December 28th, 2016[/i].

Civ6 DLC: Poland Civilization, Vikings Scenario Pack

By | December 20, 2016

In addition to the winter patch update, 2K Games and Firaxis have also released two DLC for Civ6, each costs $4.99:

POLAND CIVILIZATION & SCENARIO PACK

This premium DLC adds Poland and leader Jadwiga to Civilization VI. Jadwiga was an expert mediator, champion of Catholicism and protected the poor. You can learn more about her in our blog post here.

Also included is a new scenario, “Jadwiga’s Legacy,” that tasks players with defending Poland, Prague and Vienna from invaders invading forces comprised of the Teutonic Knights and Ottoman Turks. Gain glory in battle and prove yourself the greatest defender of Poland!

  • Includes the complete Polish civilization with Jadwiga, Winged Hussar unique Unit, and Sukiennice unique Building.
    • Poland’s “Golden Liberty” unique ability allows them to gain territory when they build a Fort or Encampment, even allowing them to steal territory from other civs! They also convert a Military Policy slot into a Wildcard slot, giving them extra flexibility in culture.
    • Jadwiga allows you to spread your religion to the nearby city when you gain another civ’s territory with Golden Liberty. Her relics provide bonus Faith, Culture, and Gold.
    • The famous Winged Hussar is strong on the attack and can push back defending units.
    • The Sukiennice, or Cloth Hall, gives bonus Production from foreign Trade Routes, and Gold from internal Trade Routes.
  • Play as a great Polish noble lord in the “Jadwiga’s Legacy” Scenario:
    • 60 Turn limit
    • Defend Poland, Prague, and Vienna from invaders including the Teutonic Knights and Ottoman Turks
    • Gain glory in battle and prove yourself the greatest defender of Poland.

VIKINGS SCENARIO PACK

Bring Europe under your rule as the mightiest Viking lord in “Vikings, Traders and Raiders!” – the most detailed scenario released yet for Sid Meier’s Civilization VI. The Vikings Scenario Pack includes:

  • Six new City-States added to the base game:
    • Auckland (Industrial): Additional production for Coastal tiles.
    • Antananarivo (Cultural): Culture bonus that increases with every Great Person earned.
    • Armagh (Religious): Builders can construct the Monastery improvement, which provides Faith and heals religious units.
    • Granada (Militaristic): Builders can construct the Alcazar improvement, which protects military units and provides Culture.
    • Muscat (Trade): Bonus Amenities in cities with a Commercial Hub.
    • Palenque (Scientific): Improved City growth for cities with a Campus.
  • Three new Natural Wonders added to the base game:
    • Eyjafjallajökull
    • Lysefjord
    • Giant’s Causeway
  • Play as a great ruler of the Dark Ages in the “Vikings, Traders, and Raiders!” Scenario:
    • 100 Turn Scenario, from 787 to 1087
    • Play as Harald Hardrada of Norway, King Canute of the Danes, or Olof Skotkonung of Sweden.
    • Launch a naval invasion of England, conquer Paris, find Vinland with an explorer, or sail through Gibraltar and raid the Mediterranean Sea.
    • Build a trade empire and profitable cities, or spread a religion and gain Faith for your people.
    • Includes special art assets for leaders.

Civilization VI ‘Winter 2016 Update’ Released

By | December 20, 2016

2K Games and Firaxis have released the Winter 2016 Update for Civ6 today. It will automatically install when starting the Steam client; if it doesn’t install automatically, try restart Steam.

Here are the full list of changes in this new update:

[NEW]

  • Added Earth map (Standard size)
  • Added “Alert” action for units
    • Put a unit to sleep until they spot an enemy unit
  • Scenario setup menu
    • Jump into Scenarios more easily within the Single Player menu. This only shows up when a single player scenario is available and enabled (as can be found in both of the new DLCs!)
  • Added new replay option to Wonder completion movies

[GAMEPLAY UPDATES]

  • Religious units may now Fortify Until Healed
  • Coastal Raids can now pillage districts in addition to the buildings within
  • Great Admirals are no longer allowed to spawn on wonders in water tiles (ex. Huey, Great Lighthouse) so they cannot become stranded in lakes

[BALANCE CHANGES]

  • Cities can no longer receive yields from more than one regional building per type; they take the highest (ex. production from multiple Factories)
  • Cities can no longer receive amenities from more than one regional building per type; they take the highest (ex. amenities from multiple Stadiums)
  • Decreased production costs of Wonders progressively
    • From the Industrial era (about -10%) to the Atomic era (about -40%).
  • Decreased production costs of all Space Race Projects by 40%.
  • Increased research costs of Technologies and Civics progressively
    • From the Industrial era (about +5%) to the Information era (about +20%).
  • Increased Faith from Mission
  • Increased Culture from Chateau
  • Lowered the minimum unit upgrade cost
  • Improved clarity on Warmongering penalties associated with taking a civ’s final city
  • Most Civilization unique districts now require population to construct (like normal districts)
  • Spaceport district no longer requires population to construct

[AI TUNING]

  • Improved AI Deal negotiations and analysis
  • Improved AI handling of Promises; including that they are more likely to agree if they like you, and also will consider how trustworthy a civ is by whether they’ve kept previous promises
  • Improved tactical handling of Great Admirals and Great Generals
  • Improved AI interest in Terracotta Army
  • Improved handling of leaf techs
  • Improved building of Forts
  • Improved resource grabbing in late game
  • Improved Last Viking King agenda’s analysis for who is in bottom percentage of navies
  • Improved handling of several complaint or kudo messages from AI
  • Rebalanced Catherine’s evaluation of the ‘no spying’ Promise
  • AI will not try to convert unconvertible cities

[BUG FIXES]

  • Fixed several unique buildings that weren’t getting their yields increased by various game effects (ex. Policies)
  • Fixed an issue that allowed the Goddess of the Harvest pantheon bonus to stack
  • Fixed it so loading screens now show the correct text and play matching VO
  • Fixed an issue that blocked certain relationship-based diplomatic actions
  • Fixed an issue where incomplete Encampment districts were able to attack
  • Fixed an issue where you could declare war on friends or allies by moving units
  • Fixed an issue where AI could declare war on a civ with whom they were already at war
  • Fixed an issue that caused a Multiplayer lobby to require joining players to have Additional Content that wasn’t actually needed
  • Fixed a bug that caused Apostles to run out of promotions
  • Fixed a bug where gaining policy slots mid-turn could block progression
  • Fixed issues caused by trading lots of Great Works at the same time
  • Fixed an issue where turn timers weren’t loading correctly from a save
  • Fixed an issue where Rome’s roads would connect to too many adjacent roads
  • Fixed issue where civs could get another civ’s exclusive agenda
  • Fixed multiple links to the Civilopedia
  • Fixed issue that could cause menu music to play twice and overlap itself
  • Fixed an issue that could cause private MP games to become public
  • Fixed multiple text & grammatical issues
  • Fixed multiple crashes

[VISUALS]

  • Added new art for National Parks
  • Updated Mines for several eras
  • Updated Swordsman
  • Improved city fading during combat

[MULTIPLAYER]

  • Hallowed Ground scenario is no playable on huge maps
  • VO now plays correctly when loading a save

[UI]

  • Resource Report now correctly shows resources from several sources:
    • Great People abilities
    • Diplomatic Deals
  • Checkboxes for toggle yields and grid now stay in sync with hotkeys
  • Improved differentiation in Government Lens hex colors
  • Added Defeat icon to the End Game Results screen

[AUDIO]

  • Added sound effect for Quick Save hotkey

>> Discuss the patch on the forum

PolyCast Episode 271: “Not Just a Lame Clip Show XX”

By | December 17, 2016

Taking to task. The two-hundred-and-seventy-first episode of [i]Civilization[/i] strategy podcast PolyCast, “[url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast/season10.php#episode271]Not Just a Lame Clip Show XX[/url]”, features regular co-hosts [url=http://apolyton.net/member.php/2-DanQ]Daniel “DanQ” Quick[/url], [url=http://apolyton.net/member.php/22677-Makahlua]”Makahlua”[/url], [url=http://forums.civfanatics.com/member.php?u=136315]Philip “TheMeInTeam” Bellew[/url] and [url=http://blog.maddjinn.ca]”MadDjinn”[/url] with five guest co-hosts in the twentieth compilation of segments archived from previous episode recordings and not released previously. With a 59m59s runtime, the summary of topics is as follows:

– [i]00m38s[/i] | [b]Miscellaneous[/b]
Original [i]Civilization[/i] Co-Designer Bruce Shelley on [url=http://venturebeat.com/2016/02/25/how-bruce-shelley-brought-a-board-gamers-view-to-designing-civilization]board game influences[/url] for the title, followed by fellow Co-Designer Sid Meier on being the [url=http://www.polygon.com/features/2016/3/4/11158134/the-man-who-made-a-million-empires]”man who made a million empires”[/url] (05m15s) and [url=http://venturebeat.com/2016/02/20/our-interview-with-sid-meier-on-the-next-25-years-of-civilization-games]offering “insights”[/url] on the series to date (14m16s; recorded for [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast/season10.php#episode250]Episode 250[/url]); then, [url=https://killscreen.com/articles/civilization-coming-classrooms-thats-bad-idea]critiquing the critic[/url] who claims [i]CivilizationEdu[/i] is a “bad idea” (21m21s; recorded for [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast/season10.php#episode264]Episode 264[/url]) and lessons learned from [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdBXksKoiAo]the story of[/url] one game developer [url=http://steamcommunity.com/app/461620/discussions/0/215439774862269688]using the[/url] [i]Civilization[/i] trademark (34m16s; recorded for [url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast/season10.php#episode270]Episode 270[/url]).

[url=http://thepolycast.net/polycast]PolyCast[/url] is a bi-weekly audio production recording [url=https://www.youtube.com/user/thepolycast/live]live every other Saturday[/url] throughout the year, in an ongoing effort to give the [i]Civ[/i] community an interactive voice; sibling show [url=http://thepolycast.net/modcast][u]ModCast[/u][/url] focuses on [i]Civ[/i] modding, [url=http://thepolycast.net/turncast][u]TurnCast[/u][/url] on [i]Civ[/i] multiplay. The 2016 PolyCast Christmas Special is to be released on [u]December 24th[/u].