The Capital Of A Civilization

[Shane Hodgson] · January 4, 2004, 16:38

I have noticed something very interesting regarding the capital of my civilizations every time I play Civilization III Gold.

Sometimes the star next to the name of the city will be white, and other times it will be yellowish-gold. What does this change in color mean?

I cannot seem to find any documentation on the feature anywhere on the web. Any help is appreciated.

MattPilot · January 4, 2004, 17:36

probably means if there is an embassy or not. Also, once a shield is behind the star, it means you got your intelligence agency in that city.

PeaSoup · January 4, 2004, 21:22

Matt is right, a yellow star in your oppoent's capital means there's currently an embassy setup.

A white star in your own capital means you haven't researched writing and cannot setup embassies.

Going to war with every known civ after writing may also cause the star to go white since you can't establish embassies when at war.

Kuciwalker · January 4, 2004, 23:24

Also, a grey pentagon in a capital indicates that you've planted a spy in that civ (in one of your own cities it indicates that that city has the espionage center or whatever it's called).

steven8r · January 5, 2004, 18:46

Star = Capital
Star + Dot = Embassy
Star (+Dot) + grey pentagon = Intellegence Agency.

Quote:

Originally posted by skywalker
...it indicates that that city has the espionage center or whatever it's called).

the Intelligence Agency.

Steven

Theseus · January 6, 2004, 20:25

Not to be a spelling nazi, but the capital of a civilization is it's gold supply.

Kuciwalker · January 6, 2004, 20:30

AND the seat of its government

Washington DC is the capital of the US. Congress meets in the Capitol building (the only instance I know of where it's spelled that way).

Theseus · January 6, 2004, 20:39

Holy cr*p, you are right! I just looked both up, and realized I've had it wrong forever.

My apologies to all, and thanks for the correction, sw.

Kuciwalker · January 6, 2004, 23:45

I had the same problem. I was disillusioned in a similar manner

asleepathewheel · January 7, 2004, 00:19

/me points at Theseus

Plotinus · January 7, 2004, 06:17

Yup, I had been getting very annoyed by the constant misspelling of "capital" in these threads, but I was too polite to mention it! As bad as "Napolean", "facism", and "raising cities", all of which I've seen depressingly often too...

Oh, and when he was being a spelling Nazi, Theseus said "it's" when he meant "its". Pronouns never take an apostrophe in the genitive. So there!

MattPilot · January 7, 2004, 08:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Plotinus

Oh, and when he was being a spelling Nazi, Theseus said "it's" when he meant "its". Pronouns never take an apostrophe in the genitive. So there!

so i guess that makes you the punctuation nazi?

steven8r · January 7, 2004, 12:27

Thanks Skywalker. And thank you Theseus for the attempt. At least I know you're not

.

perhaps even

, but not

Here's what one of my teachers told the class many years ago about "Capital/Capitol":
'Capital' is money, or the seat of government.
'CapitOl' is a Building w/ a dOme. (note the 'O' in each).
(of course this analogy is totally lost on any 'civ' that doesn't use a Classical Archetectural Style)

Quote:

Oh, and when he was being a spelling Nazi, Theseus said "it's" when he meant "its". Pronouns never take an apostrophe in the genitive. So there!

Another word from that same teacher:
"it's" ALWAYS means, "it is".

Steven

steven8r · January 7, 2004, 12:32

Quote:

Originally posted by skywalker
AND the seat of its government

Or the 'Head' of a government.

The 'Head' of government, and the 'Seat' of government are actually One And The SAME!!!
That explains much!!!

Steven

Plotinus · January 7, 2004, 12:40

[steven8r] Really? I'm intrigued. A glance at Collins English Dictionary reveals that "Capitol" means either another name for the Capitolene (one of the Seven Hills of Rome) or the main building of the US Congress, or of any of the US state congresses. Would you call St Paul's Cathedral in London, or St Sophia in Istanbul, a capitol?

steven8r · January 7, 2004, 12:53

Plotinus, in that example, (in a US classroom) when the teacher used that analogy, it was implied that it was 'specific' buildings, ie. the 'US Capitol Building', and/or ' Capitol Building(s)'.

It was not to imply 'just any' building with a dome'. (and NO, I'm not saying that St. Paul's Cathedral, et al are 'just any buildings'.)

The analogy was meant to be specific not general.
Sorry for the confussion.

Steven

Plotinus · January 7, 2004, 13:08

Ahhh, fair enough! Still a good way of getting you to remember it. I approve of this teacher - although of course "it's" could sometimes be "it has", as in "it's got...".

Your flag reminds me of the time I visited Austin and was proudly informed that the Texas state capitol is actually taller than the federal one in DC. I wasn't in the least bit surprised!

steven8r · January 7, 2004, 13:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Plotinus
Ahhh, fair enough! Still a good way of getting you to remember it. I approve of this teacher - although of course "it's" could sometimes be "it has", as in "it's got...".

Could have been that she said something more like, "It's is ALWAYS a contraction, never possesive." Or something to that effect. Anyway, it's a good way to remember certain grammar rules--she had several of them. The fact that I can still recall them (whether completely or not) is a testiment to her abilities. Just goes to show that sometimes one can get a decent education in spite of the US Educational System.

Quote:

Originally posted by Plotinus Your flag reminds me of the time I visited Austin and was proudly informed that the Texas state capitol is actually taller than the federal one in DC. I wasn't in the least bit surprised!

Yeah, and our flag is the only state flag that can be flown at the same height as the US flag. It all came from the negotiation between the United States and the Republic of Texas. The early Texans felt that they were giving-up thier soverenty to become a 'mere state' so they should be compensated in some way. We've never forgotten that we were once a nation!

Most Texans consider themselves to be first, Texans, then Americans. I would imagine that it's not too unlike the Scotts in that respect.

So yes, our Capitol is taller than the US Capitol and our flags fly at the same height.

Steven

Plotinus · January 7, 2004, 14:19

Ha, yes! I have a very good friend who is a patriotic Texan, and I'm reliably informed that the mighty Texan empire will once again rise. In fact, I have a sudden urge to try out a Texan civ...

I must admit I was a little thrown by the sheer number of Texan flags on display there, as well as the general enthusiasm for flags in America in general. We don't generally fly flags in Britain, except in places like Northern Ireland! What happens if you try to fly another state flag at the same height as the US flag? (Stop me if I wander off topic here...)

Arrian · January 7, 2004, 15:05

Goddamnit. Laugh at me too, fellas. I've been using "capitol" for, oh, my entire time here at 'poly. For the same reason Theseus did.

That irritates me. Blah. Capital it is, then (old chap).

-Arrian

Theseus · January 7, 2004, 15:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Plotinus
Yup, I had been getting very annoyed by the constant misspelling of "capital" in these threads, but I was too polite to mention it! As bad as "Napolean", "facism", and "raising cities", all of which I've seen depressingly often too...

Oh, and when he was being a spelling Nazi, Theseus said "it's" when he meant "its". Pronouns never take an apostrophe in the genitive. So there!

Dear god, I am an idiot.

I really meant to say "I am it's speling facist."

steven8r · January 7, 2004, 15:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Plotinus What happens if you try to fly another state flag at the same height as the US flag? (Stop me if I wander off topic here...)

Beheading!

Then they tear-down the offending flag and trample it in the dirt?

Honestly, I don't know. Since I haven't had to worry about it, that's one piece of info that I haven't bothered to learn. However, I am now currious, and will endeavour (spelling in honour of Plotinus) to find out.

Steven

Kuciwalker · January 7, 2004, 16:40

this has become

steven8r · January 7, 2004, 18:53

They ought to have Flags for the Capitols in Civ!!!

That way, when your forces take an enemy capitol

(or the other way around)

, the conquered civ's flag could be lowered (and trampled in the dirt)

and the conquering civ's flag could be raised. That could be a cool little animation that they could incorporate into the game.

However, since they haven't even drawn the graphics for the new Wonders, this idea is probably a little ways off.

As is, the only flags in the game (other than some leaderheads in various Conquests) are the ones used to tell how many units are in an Army. Those flags change w/ every age.

Flags for Capitols in Civ!

There, back OT.

Steven

MattPilot · January 7, 2004, 21:45

I heard that any US flag on display must be clearly lighted at night or taken down. Some people were complaining in Tulsa, OK about this after 9-11 happened where everyone had flags sticking everywhere. I thought that was kinda odd. I guess if you don't plan on being 100% patriotic, dont be it at all

Btw, Do Texan's consider themselves living in Tex-'ass' ?

steven8r · January 7, 2004, 22:50

Quote:

Originally posted by MattPilot
I heard that any US flag on display must be clearly lighted at night or taken down. Some people were complaining in Tulsa, OK about this after 9-11 happened where everyone had flags sticking everywhere. I thought that was kinda odd. I guess if you don't plan on being 100% patriotic, dont be it at all

Btw, Do Texan's consider themselves living in Tex-'ass' ?

Why do you think we smell so bad? 'cause we're full of Bull****!

If you want to know about (US) flag etiquete, check this link:
US Flag Code

Steven

MattPilot · January 7, 2004, 23:39

Thx, its all i never wanted to know

btw, i guess i was right:

"The U.S. Code states, “…when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.” (U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 6(a)) "

Elias · January 8, 2004, 00:00

Hey while we are talking about confusing graphics in the game whats with the (10.10.0) that is shown next to you civlization name in the lower right corner of the screen you know its by where you click for diplomacy and to end your turn. the number changes during the game but i have know idea what it is.
Btw: wow you spent most of the page talking about correct grammer and spelling

just thought id mention it.

MattPilot · January 8, 2004, 00:22

there ya go about the numbers:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...hreadid=105516

Plotinus · January 8, 2004, 07:21

Quote:

Originally posted by steven8r

endeavour (spelling in honour of Plotinus)

Steven

Huzzah! You've made my day. You even managed "honour" too... ;-)

Fabulous stuff from the Flag Code people (although I'm a little disappointed to find that it's not enforceable by law... that would have been very amusing). It's another world.

Oh, and I'm not going to mention Elias' use of "grammer", so don't worry...