which civ 4 expansions to get?!

i want to buy civ 4. should i buy just civ 4, civ 4 + warlords, civ 4 + beyond the sword, or civ 4 + both expansions? i'm doing a bit of research before buying it, so any suggestions, recommendations would be helpful. also, do you guys think that the price will come down? it's currently $40 for civ 4, $50 for civ 4 + warlords and civ 4 + beyond the sword (steam), and $75 for all three. seen any other packages, better prices? also, better to buy it off steam or retail? do the patches get updated automatically via steam (i've never bought any non-valve games off steam)? ok, thanks ahead of time.which civ 4 expansions to get?!
it seems that warlords is basically useless if you buy beyond the sword, meaning that the new gameplay elements introduced in warlords is reintroduced in beyond the sword. it seems that the only thing new in warlords that's not in beyond the sword is the new leaders and civs and scenarios. is that true? if that's the case, it seems that it's just better to buy civ 4 + beyond the sword. anyone know anything about this?which civ 4 expansions to get?!
Download the demos and see if you like them or not? I have a problem with the current price of Civilization as well. I want it to drop down already so I can go out and buy it.
[QUOTE=''CommanderShiro'']Download the demos and see if you like them or not? I have a problem with the current price of Civilization as well. I want it to drop down already so I can go out and buy it. [/QUOTE]i've tried the civilization 4 demo, and it was good, so i'm definitely getting it in the near future. i just want to know, basically, which expansions (if any) to get. i'm leaning towards getting just civ 4 and beyond the sword expansion, because i read the warlords expansion and most of its content is replaced by beyond the sword. i'd like to get some verification of this before i decide though. anyone know anything about this?
changed header and added a poll in hopes of getting more input. :)
Well, if you plan on doing scenerios, get both expansions.
[QUOTE=''judog1'']Well, if you plan on doing scenerios, get both expansions.[/QUOTE]are the scenarios worth the extra $25?
There is a Civilization IV Gold package. It includes the original game and plus warlord expansion. You could get that for about $50 and if you want to wait a while you could get the other expansion. My guess there will be a Silver package that includes both expansions in one box.newegg currently have it for $48 and it includes with 3 day free shipping. something to consider.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832205911
I have both expansions and Beyond the Sword has sooooo much content it could be a stand alone game. Civ already provides COUNTLESS hours of replay value and BtS just adds layers of extra cheese to the whole pizza. I'd pay $100 for the game if required. Now on this computer I just have CIV IV + BtS installed and a quick count shows about 53 leaders so without looking at each one I'd have to say it includes the leaders from Warlords.
[QUOTE=''Krall'']I have both expansions and Beyond the Sword has sooooo much content it could be a stand alone game. Civ already provides COUNTLESS hours of replay value and BtS just adds layers of extra cheese to the whole pizza. I'd pay $100 for the game if required. Now on this computer I just have CIV IV + BtS installed and a quick count shows about 53 leaders so without looking at each one I'd have to say it includes the leaders from Warlords.[/QUOTE]ah, very helpful. many thanks. i'm definitely leaning towards getting civ 4 + bts for $50 via steam. i have some things to do in the next few weeks, keeping me busy for the moment, but i'm definitely picking one of the packages afterwards. i'm really excited. all the guides and reviews i've read make my mouth water. *drool*
I don't have Warlords, but I've heard that BtS has some of the stuff from Warlord. And I have to say that BtS is absolutely great expack. You could get the Gold version for $50 rather than just Civ4+BtS for $50.
[QUOTE=''RK-Mara'']I don't have Warlords, but I've heard that BtS has some of the stuff from Warlord. And I have to say that BtS is absolutely great expack. You could get the Gold version for $50 rather than just Civ4+BtS for $50.[/QUOTE]unfortunately, gold is just civ 4 + warlords. doesn't include bts. i guess i would have to wait for the platinum version or the complete version. lol. or for the prices to drop. if it's just the scenarios i'll be missing out on by not getting warlords, i can live with that. i heard in one of the warlords' scenarios, you get to play as barbarians. that sounds like fun, but oh well.
[QUOTE=''fireandcloud''][QUOTE=''RK-Mara'']I don't have Warlords, but I've heard that BtS has some of the stuff from Warlord. And I have to say that BtS is absolutely great expack. You could get the Gold version for $50 rather than just Civ4+BtS for $50.[/QUOTE]unfortunately, gold is just civ 4 + warlords. doesn't include bts. i guess i would have to wait for the platinum version or the complete version. lol. or for the prices to drop. if it's just the scenarios i'll be missing out on by not getting warlords, i can live with that. i heard in one of the warlords' scenarios, you get to play as barbarians. that sounds like fun, but oh well. [/QUOTE]Oh it doesn't? Then it should be called Silver :D
If you haven't gone to civfanatics.com then I would suggest browsing there as I'm sure you can find what the exact differences are. I thought the barbarian thing was part of BtS, but I'll have to check my game later on. I know that BtS really re-did the scenario part of the game to the point that a few of them are like playing totally separate games complete with added graphics. Shame you didn't pick up BtS when it first came out, they were practically giving it away at $15. It's not perfect, the way the changed how the spies worked needs some fixing and there's some balance issues, but on the whole it's beyond a great expansion. I'm actually still trying to figure out how some of the building improvements work and which forms of government are best and I've been playing it for 3 months ;)
[QUOTE=''Krall'']If you haven't gone to civfanatics.com then I would suggest browsing there as I'm sure you can find what the exact differences are. I thought the barbarian thing was part of BtS, but I'll have to check my game later on. I know that BtS really re-did the scenario part of the game to the point that a few of them are like playing totally separate games complete with added graphics. Shame you didn't pick up BtS when it first came out, they were practically giving it away at $15. It's not perfect, the way the changed how the spies worked needs some fixing and there's some balance issues, but on the whole it's beyond a great expansion. I'm actually still trying to figure out how some of the building improvements work and which forms of government are best and I've been playing it for 3 months ;)[/QUOTE]thanks for the info. i spent all day and night reading up on civ 4 and the expansions, so i have a good idea the differences between the two expansions (instead of studying for my finals. lol! i have my priorities straight!). it seems warlords is only good for the scenarios (and they only have a few, while bts has twice as many), so i'm definitely getting the civ 4 + bts combo via steam. anyone know whether the patches and updates get done automatically via steam? that would be convenient.
[QUOTE=''RK-Mara''][QUOTE=''fireandcloud''][QUOTE=''RK-Mara'']I don't have Warlords, but I've heard that BtS has some of the stuff from Warlord. And I have to say that BtS is absolutely great expack. You could get the Gold version for $50 rather than just Civ4+BtS for $50.[/QUOTE]unfortunately, gold is just civ 4 + warlords. doesn't include bts. i guess i would have to wait for the platinum version or the complete version. lol. or for the prices to drop. if it's just the scenarios i'll be missing out on by not getting warlords, i can live with that. i heard in one of the warlords' scenarios, you get to play as barbarians. that sounds like fun, but oh well. [/QUOTE]Oh it doesn't? Then it should be called Silver :D[/QUOTE]tell me about it. it includes a fantasy-themed poster and a tech tree poster. also includes a behind-the-scenes dvd and a manual. i guess those make it 'gold.' ;) i don't think i really need those. on the other hand, amazon has the gold version for $40, so maybe i could scour the earth trying to find a good bts price and secure the entire package for less than $60. i'm not buying it for another 10 days or so (i have to study like a dog that i am); hopefully, by then the prices will drop? wishful thinking, i know. :P
[QUOTE=''fireandcloud''][QUOTE=''Krall'']If you haven't gone to civfanatics.com then I would suggest browsing there as I'm sure you can find what the exact differences are. I thought the barbarian thing was part of BtS, but I'll have to check my game later on. I know that BtS really re-did the scenario part of the game to the point that a few of them are like playing totally separate games complete with added graphics. Shame you didn't pick up BtS when it first came out, they were practically giving it away at $15. It's not perfect, the way the changed how the spies worked needs some fixing and there's some balance issues, but on the whole it's beyond a great expansion. I'm actually still trying to figure out how some of the building improvements work and which forms of government are best and I've been playing it for 3 months ;)[/QUOTE]thanks for the info. i spent all day and night reading up on civ 4 and the expansions, so i have a good idea the differences between the two expansions (instead of studying for my finals. lol! i have my priorities straight!). it seems warlords is only good for the scenarios (and they only have a few, while bts has twice as many), so i'm definitely getting the civ 4 + bts combo via steam. anyone know whether the patches and updates get done automatically via steam? that would be convenient. [/QUOTE]Those are my kind of priorities :)With BtS it actually starts looking for updates when you install it which is a change from the other 2 where you had to do it manually.
Just get civ4 and BTS that is it, you get everything warlords has except some scenarios, BTS scenarios are better anyway