I think I found a core problem people have with the game: Transition flow

[Tricking Trapster]

First off, I should say I like the game. It's absolutely not as bad as so many of the discussions want people to believe. I have a good time with it. But I think I narrowed down what the 'jarring' factor is that is turning people off, and this is basically some feedback for the developers as well to see if they can do something with it.

The problem is flow interruption. You start in the antiquity age, all is good. You set up your empire, work on the victory goals. It's a bit different than the last game, sure, but that goes for every civ game, right? Neat. So, the age progression meter keeps ticking, and the game goes 'hey the age will progress to the next phase soon'. Cool, that's fine. Every civ game has phases masquerading as eras in some shape or form. Progressing ages is fine. But then it happens, and... Score screen? Huh?

Not only a score screen, but a big loading screen as well. The new age having different objectives and requiring you to select a new civ to match the new era are all fine. I don't think people mind those aspects specifically all that much, it just feels all so... Segmented.

Requiring a loading screen every single time you go into a new era just... Interrupts game flow way too much. I don't know why the loading screen is necessary either, it feels a bit arbitrary just because the experience points can only be tallied up outside of a game or something. But I think if the transition was smoother and didn't require screens that made it look like you were loading into a new game every time it would mellow out a lot of people.

Again, I like the game. I just mean this as constructive feedback for the developers, so that the game will do better and they will get more money to make it even better. I would just like to not have to sit through a loading screen that feels like loading up a new game that loads in... The exact same map I was just playing on, with no real differences other than the army units being shuffled around.

[katzenkrimis]

Originally posted by Tricking Trapster:

The 'jarring' factor.

The worst thing is when you have to rebuild your army as a military player.

Just so you can continue attacking where you left off, minutes ago.

[Tricking Trapster]

There's actually a way to keep most of your units: Upgrade them to max tier.
Tier 3 units will be kept as tier 1 units of the next age if there's room in commanders. You may have to reorganize what units go with what commanders but you can keep most if not all fo your units if you have enough commander space.

[Dogoth]

So one of the new features of Civ 7 is "loading screens" lololol

[𝔓𝔲𝔰𝔥𝔶]

In other words, to summarise, it's like restarting a new game with every Era that changes...no no no, that would make me too angry, it's like running out of internet in the middle of an online battle...and then it takes a while to log in and when I do I don't see anything I've done and I forget what I've done, you guys saying that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ takes away all my hope of playing CV VII 😒😅

[Tricking Trapster]

It's just the loading screen that irks me. The actual age transition is not so bad once you understand it. I don't see the reason for the game to essentially boot me back to the main menu and then reload the entire map to continue.

[Ayscotty]

Originally posted by katzenkrimis:

Originally posted by Tricking Trapster:

The 'jarring' factor.

The worst thing is when you have to rebuild your army as a military player.

Just so you can continue attacking where you left off, minutes ago.

No you do not, you need army commanders and you units will upgrade into the next age. They will be housed inside the army commander.

[GrandMattster]

Originally posted by Ayscotty:

Originally posted by katzenkrimis:

The worst thing is when you have to rebuild your army as a military player.

Just so you can continue attacking where you left off, minutes ago.

No you do not, you need army commanders and you units will upgrade into the next age. They will be housed inside the army commander.

But again, the way this is handled is so jarring.

I had an army under a commander with 2 ranged units, 2 cavalry, 1 melee unit, 1 siege engine. When I transitioned to the modern age, that exact same army was composed of 4 mortars and 2 melee units.

Why not keep the units as they were? Let me upgrade them myself, or at the very least, upgrade them to the same class of unit. I ended up with 8 mortars when I transitioned to the modern age across my entire armed forces, but only had 2 siege units in the previous age...

I had two other army commanders, all their units spread themselves across my settlements upon age transition. Why? Struggling to get my head around the game design decision there.

[Skull]

It’s not so much the score screen and all that for me, it’s the fact that all of my cities turning into towns and my policy “cards” are lost except for traditions. I like starting with a new civilization and building on top of it but so many things could be useful in the next age. For example, the scout +1 sight and movement would be an amazing card to have in the exploration age but it just disappears.

[GrandMattster]

Can see myself playing this game for hundreds of hours, always a fan of civ games. But OP really hit the nail on the head with age transitions.

Beyond how jarring they are, there's a lot of work to be done on the reasons for these transitions. For example, I like the idea of the crises building up to a transition. Plague wiped out a chunk of Europe, Rome buckled under pressure from German tribes, The Mongols completely flipped the centre of power in the world at the time. It's an intriguing mechanic to play with, but come on... if you're gonna have this in the game you need to rock my world and not tease me. The crisis policies feel more like mild annoyances than actual problems to solve.

Make plagues wipe out towns or cause huge happiness problems for cities. The transition to the modern age should see some of your towns and cities revolt and become free states or new nations. So much potential, feels half baked.

[skunkno1]

I think the reset of your empire is more jarring to the flow of the game than a loading screen is.

[Tricking Trapster]

It's not really a reset though. It just feels like a reset because of the loading screen and then suddenly your military being scattered.

[iNSANE BUnNY]

Originally posted by GrandMattster:

Can see myself playing this game for hundreds of hours, always a fan of civ games. But OP really hit the nail on the head with age transitions.

Beyond how jarring they are, there's a lot of work to be done on the reasons for these transitions. For example, I like the idea of the crises building up to a transition. Plague wiped out a chunk of Europe, Rome buckled under pressure from German tribes, The Mongols completely flipped the centre of power in the world at the time. It's an intriguing mechanic to play with, but come on... if you're gonna have this in the game you need to rock my world and not tease me. The crisis policies feel more like mild annoyances than actual problems to solve.

Make plagues wipe out towns or cause huge happiness problems for cities. The transition to the modern age should see some of your towns and cities revolt and become free states or new nations. So much potential, feels half baked.

thing is all on timing , i totally got f over by a crisis. playing in marathon the whole age where i built to a point could finally do stuff but nope damn age already 70%. I should not have to tweak the age in options >< assumed it did it already

[Tricking Trapster]

I think what it's trying to do is keep the age progression consistent between game speeds. I don't get why myself, but it's an explanation I can think of. Just set the age progression to slowest in advanced options and you should be fine, though I agree the game needs to be more clear about stuff like that.

[Darkboss]

Originally posted by Tricking Trapster:

Not only a score screen, but a big loading screen as well. The new age having different objectives and requiring you to select a new civ to match the new era are all fine. I don't think people mind those aspects specifically all that much, it just feels all so... Segmented.

I do mind being forced to select a new Civilization. It means its not a Civilization game anymore

I think it completely breaks immersion for no real reason. I wouldnt mind the OPTION to change Civs, but all Civs should be eligible to be selected in every Age, and you should be able to continue with the same Civ during all the Ages

Of course, that would mean giving all the Civs bonuses for every Age. Its work, but needs to be done

[Mountain Man]

Much ado about nothing.