Introduction

Expansion packs come into two flavors: some just add units, scenarios and the odd bug feature while some can change the nature of play from the original game. Most of these packs typically sell for between $20 - $25, so gamers can’t use price as a guide for the “bang-for-the-buck” ratio. Although the Civilization series is both clever and honored, players become more skeptical each year and might raise eyebrows at another expansion pack to the series, this time with Civilization IV Warlords developed by Firaxis and 2K Games. How innovative is Warlords? Is it a “must buy” or bargain bin bait?

Folders, Subfolders and Disks

Most expansion packs merely add files and overwrite others in the original game directory. Warlords continues Civilization’s system of creating a sub-folder for the expansion and requiring the new disk to play Warlords and the old one to play the parent game. Loading the scenarios with the pack is also odd. These eight scenarios are actually mods, so starting them and reloading their saves requires the game to be reloaded. Such quirks are not game killers, just unusual. The good aspect is that players don’t have to do a reinstall to play the original product. Patch 1.60 for the original game is included with the new disk.

New and Refurbished Elements

Chris Massey did a fine job of describing the innovations in his Civilization IV impressions piece. The biggest changes in gameplay with Warlords, as described in the 150-page manual, is the inclusion of the Great General unit and the Vassal State diplomatic option. Great Generals are created when the player’s forces generate enough experience points. These units can do the usual things of creating city improvements or increasing the experience of units created in a city. They can also be attached to combat units to spread their twenty experience points throughout a stack. These points result in free promotions. However, generals attached to units can be killed. In some scenarios, these losses can be catastrophic.

Players can use vassals to obtain resources and have the vassal follow their diplomatic lead. The downsides are that vassals must be protected and cause higher maintenance costs in players’ own cities. Players can obtain vassals peacefully or through war. If an empire impresses another with its strength, culture and wealth, the impressed nation can volunteer to be a vassal. Such an agreement is guaranteed for ten turns but, if the stronger empire falters, the vassal can withdraw after that. Vassalage caused by surrender is forever.