Not sure where you got this idea that modding is the priority. They have said that bug fixing and balance patches are going to happen before they release the mod tools. Also, it isn't a single developer working on this stuff but a whole team. These things will all be worked on in parallel.

Melliores wrote:

It is not as simple as you think it is. The pollution system is intertwined with Technologies, districts, map features (forests) and more. Depending on how they programmed it, it might take a good few days till they simply add a simple IF THEN clause.

Modding tools would actually allow people to turn off or modify any feature they do not enjoy. So it makes sense they first launch those tools till they make profound changes to any of the systems.

Im a developper myself, yes i know its not that simple. 

It depends on how much modding tools allow us to tweak things, first. And then, there's a delay between release time and first big mod coming out.

It's always harder to gather people around a modded game than gathering them around the base game.

And last, they rushed the whole thing, and now we pay for an unfinished game. The solution isn't player fixing themself the game, but developper finishing the game and mechanics they rushed. 

About pollution, they could disable the end trigger condition (this is a "If pollution > x then ..") and malus triggering on pollution (if pollution > x then ...)

Im not asking a turn ON/OFF button hidding every pollution features. Just a button turning off the end trigger and malus trigger.

Karael wrote:

Not sure where you got this idea that modding is the priority. They have said that bug fixing and balance patches are going to happen before they release the mod tools. Also, it isn't a single developer working on this stuff but a whole team. These things will all be worked on in parallel.

Bug fixing and balance about what ?

We have a hint they'll balance culture.

Assuming they fix game-breaking bug i mentionned (like civic new spawning)

Nice, what kind of balance ?

Are civic going to be balanced too so they don't become usless half the time because they give flat value ? Are we going to see what are the triggers conditions so we can play around them and/or bugtrack ?

Is naval going to be viable at all ?

Are event going to be useful post turn 50 ? Because right now except the -50 stability event killing you for random purpose, they are almost usless (5 gold per turn for 10 turn when im earning 1k + yes nice event)

Are post-modern era going to be playable at all ? Like not being able to destroy the science tree in 15 turn or destroy the planet with a few airport ?

What's nice with "we're working on balance" is that you don't mention what you're working on and so you can avoid feedback while giving hope.

I don't know why but considering the immense amount of "balance" this game needs and the lack of communication around it we'll end.up with a small tweak for Khmer, a -1 strength for huns and NICE game is now balanced ! 

I agree OP, the ideological push on climate change (I'm not saying I disagree with the political message) seems to override basic rules for game design. They made a great game, they do such a good job with graphics and polish but unfortunately half of it was clearly untested. Pollution, culture balance, and last 2 eras are a joke.

canetoado wrote:

I agree OP, the ideological push on climate change (I'm not saying I disagree with the political message) seems to override basic rules for game design. They made a great game, they do such a good job with graphics and polish but unfortunately half of it was clearly untested. Pollution, culture balance, and last 2 eras are a joke.

I don't believe its a ideological push, previous games like sid meiers civ have had a pollution mechanic before to various affect,  But it is Definitely untested, unrefined and underdeveloped.

I agree, I would also like an option to simply turn off the currently broken pollution system.

It clearly needs a *ton* of work, but I don't really care if it ever gets fixed. I just want it to go away and stop prematurely ending games.

What I really care about is the horrible pacing of Industrial & Contemporary Eras. On a 600 turn game, I went from Industrial to Polymath victory in 75 turns as France & Sweden. I just built their EQ's in all my territories, upgraded my already overwhelming military, built all the wonders I could, and hit next turn 75 times, while ignoring all the pop ups, and boom, research victory. It was crazy, and a really unsatisfying conclusion to an really engrossing, fun, and challenging early game.  As many have said, France's ability to immediately rush Fusion Reactor is broken and ridiculous.

And, IMHO, the really sad part, is that if I *only* look at Neolithic to Early Modern, this is hands-down my favorite 4X game in recent memory. There are problems, sure, but the core gameplay in the early Eras is really fun.

My desire to play another game, though, is pretty low due to the end-game being so absurdly broken.