Desperately trying to cheat... please help!

[73vwtodd]

Hey guys!

I just bought a two-pack game... Civilization 3 Gold and Civilization Rome (or something) on a DVD for $0.50 at MicroCenter in their clearance bin! I was pretty excited because the last Civilization that I played was the original one in DOS (LOVED!!! LOVED that game... also used to play Master of Magic all the time too which I think was like the same engine).

Anyway, even playing it on the easiest level, I've been an epic failure. I really let down America when I realized that it was 1979, and the best technology I had was gunpowder. I was cruising along with my Galley, and then saw what look like a submarine cruising my coast. I think it might have been the Mirimack or something... no idea.

Anyway... I pretty much blew my entire weekend playing the game... my family was pissed. I realized that I can't really play games like this, like I used to when I was younger. I really want to play this game, but it doesn't seem like there's any cheats for the game? I'd like to have a ridiculous amount of gold just so that I can max out my research.

I have Civilization 3 Gold / 1.27f (not 1.29 that I keep hearing about).

I haven't played the other Civilization game that came with it though.


Any idea if there are any cheats or anything I can do? I can use a hex editor, is there something I just need to search for in the save files?


Thanks!

Todd

[MysteryX]

Honestly, better than a cheat is taking a look at a few of the articles on this website with game advice. It would take just a few of the most basic strategy suggestions to help you trounce the AI opponents on the easiest levels.

If you really wanted to, you could use the map editor with the game, which allows you to change the game rules in addition to editing the map, so you can give yourself all kinds of rules and starting point advantages if you want.

[73vwtodd]

Originally Posted by MysteryX

Honestly, better than a cheat is taking a look at a few of the articles on this website with game advice. It would take just a few of the most basic strategy suggestions to help you trounce the AI opponents on the easiest levels.

If you really wanted to, you could use the map editor with the game, which allows you to change the game rules in addition to editing the map, so you can give yourself all kinds of rules and starting point advantages if you want.

Thanks, I'll take a look. I was playing one game (restarted a couple of time as I got better), where I started on an island that basically looked like Australia (I think it was random though). The entire island was completely under my power, and I had basically created at least 5 wonders of the world. What few people I had run into, all were humbled by my empire.

Then... something happened. The people started to get needy and I had to start providing entertainment and increasing the smiley face money, and reducing the research money. I saved through a few points, so I can always go back.

One thing I thought was odd though... there were only two cities that I was able to build Musketeers from... yet, the cities on my island (who were all VERY advanced) were completely unable to produce those. Any idea what that could be?


Thanks!

Todd

[73vwtodd]

Originally Posted by 73vwtodd

Thanks, I'll take a look. I was playing one game
Todd

Adding e-mail notification to this thread (for myself... sorry).

[Raliuven]

Your best bet is probably to post a save of your game. All sorts of players will take a look at it and give you advice on what you could do to 'up' your game.

If you have the technology (gunpowder) and the stategic resource (saltpeter) to build muskets in some cities and not others, the only reason I can see is that the cities are not connected to the trade network. You need to have roads or harbors (or eventually airports) linking your cities to share resources/luxuries.

So if the salt is within the cultural borders of City A and there is an unobtructed road connecting City B, then A & B can build muskets. If you have City C and there is no road or no viable sea route (via a harbor and coasts, sea or ocean tiles depending on your tech level) then the city cannot build muskets.

You only need one resource to supply all cities connected to that resource (so one source of saltpeter will supply any number of cities so long as they are all connected to City A). So if some cities can build muskets and others cannot, then the cities that cannot are not connected.

And if they are not connected to the salt, then they are not connected to any of the luxuries which will make it harder to keep the citizens happy.

[MPK]

Quote: 73vwTodd: ... "I really want to play this game, but it doesn't seem like there's any cheats for the game? I'd like to have a ridiculous amount of gold just so that I can max out my research."

_ Play around with the Editor,,, you can pack the money vaults with mega $$$$$ if you want to.
-Reduce Corruption level- Save a $$$ or two. ... etc.

_Editor is much better than 'Game Cheats'.


기 맹

[gps]

Originally Posted by 73vwtodd

One thing I thought was odd though... there were only two cities that I was able to build Musketeers from... yet, the cities on my island (who were all VERY advanced) were completely unable to produce those. Any idea what that could be?

Hmmm, maybe you did not build any/enough workers? Building workers, connecting cities and ressources with roads (as explained above) and also improving all the tiles around your cities is a key factor to success in this game - and it's a common mistake new players make in their first attempts to not properly use them.

[bigFRANK]

Originally Posted by 73vwtodd

One thing I thought was odd though... there were only two cities that I was able to build Musketeers from... yet, the cities on my island (who were all VERY advanced) were completely unable to produce those. Any idea what that could be?


Thanks!

Todd

Roads would be the simple answer, if your cities arent connected to each other only those with saltpeter would be able to build units needing it (such as muskets).

Key advice would be to read the War Accademy journals as they give you lots of tips for how to play the game http://www.civfanatics.com/civ3/strategy/

Of course if you really feel like cheating whos to stop you, start with the editor, give yourself a few cities, settlers, worker and some modern armour and you should be unstoppable.

[Kirejara]

Hi,

I am also at best a mediocre player. Most of the time I play on Chieftain or Warlord level.

However in most Chieftain games I reached the modern age, while most of my rivals still hang around in medival or even ancient ages.

My guess is(considering your musketman and salpeter problem ), that You have none or not enough workers (as mentioned before by other readers).

So connect Your cities via streets and/or harbours. Irrigate and mine as much as You can.

A thumb rule someone (Theov?) mentioned:

- Mine everything that is green (hills, grassland)
- irrigate everything that is brown (plains, desert).
- plant wood in tundras instead of mines (needs Engineering and give You two shields instead of one shield).

Cheating takes most fun out of the game. I have removed the excellent Civ3MultiTool from my PC, simply because it is to tempting ("What? I have lost the race for the great Library? But there are only 26 rounds left until mine is finished! Lets change it!").

If You have trouble at the start, think about an additional settler, worker or warrior as start units. This is possible to do with the game editor mentioned above.

Have fun!

[Theov]

Originally Posted by Kirejara

Hi,

I am also at best a mediocre player. Most of the time I play on Chieftain or Warlord level.

However in most Chieftain games I reached the modern age, while most of my rivals still hang around in medival or even ancient ages.

My guess is(considering your musketman and salpeter problem ), that You have none or not enough workers (as mentioned before by other readers).

So connect Your cities via streets and/or harbours. Irrigate and mine as much as You can.

A thumb rule someone (Theov?) mentioned:

- Mine everything that is green (hills, grassland)
- irrigate everything that is brown (plains, desert).
- plant wood in tundras instead of mines (needs Engineering and give You two shields instead of one shield).

Cheating takes most fun out of the game. I have removed the excellent Civ3MultiTool from my PC, simply because it is to tempting ("What? I have lost the race for the great Library? But there are only 26 rounds left until mine is finished! Lets change it!").

If You have trouble at the start, think about an additional settler, worker or warrior as start units. This is possible to do with the game editor mentioned above.

Have fun!

It's a rule of thumb that floats around here.
But get me one thing straight. Never in my life have I planted a forest in Civ3.

[Theov]

To the OT.
Do you want a cheat so you can run through a game (open the editor - maybe you can , or do you want to get better at it? Big difference.
Cheats I don't know - they're not there ASAIK.

I have 2 tips for their first 5 games and they sound counter-intuitive, but sex sounded gross too when you were 5 and look at you now... so trust me.
1: Play Regent as a start.
2: Play archipelago.
3: Don't build wonders.

Yes, that was 3 and not 2.

[73vwtodd]

Originally Posted by Raliuven

Your best bet is probably to post a save of your game. All sorts of players will take a look at it and give you advice on what you could do to 'up' your game.

If you have the technology (gunpowder) and the stategic resource (saltpeter) to build muskets in some cities and not others, the only reason I can see is that the cities are not connected to the trade network. You need to have roads or harbors (or eventually airports) linking your cities to share resources/luxuries.

So if the salt is within the cultural borders of City A and there is an unobtructed road connecting City B, then A & B can build muskets. If you have City C and there is no road or no viable sea route (via a harbor and coasts, sea or ocean tiles depending on your tech level) then the city cannot build muskets.

You only need one resource to supply all cities connected to that resource (so one source of saltpeter will supply any number of cities so long as they are all connected to City A). So if some cities can build muskets and others cannot, then the cities that cannot are not connected.

And if they are not connected to the salt, then they are not connected to any of the luxuries which will make it harder to keep the citizens happy.

and...

Originally Posted by gps

Hmmm, maybe you did not build any/enough workers? Building workers, connecting cities and ressources with roads (as explained above) and also improving all the tiles around your cities is a key factor to success in this game - and it's a common mistake new players make in their first attempts to not properly use them.

THAT'S IT!!!

I have TONS... I mean TONS of roads. I also produced a TON of workers.... at least 3 per city to make sure that everything was getting built. When things would die down (IE: they already did everything they possibly could within the scope of the land masses), I would re-integrate them into the city.

The BIG problem however, is that I had one island that was all to myself, and another island that I had colonized, but that several other people were also on. I DID have a few harbors on some of my coastal cities... at least one on each land-mass... but it still said they were un-connected. Is there something specific that I need to build (other than the harbor) or something that I need to do to ensure that they start trading? Do I need to build cargo ships and set transfer points or something? I seem to recall WAY back in the day that I maybe had to do that in Civilization 1 (the DOS one)... maybe it's the same in this one?

Originally Posted by bigFRANK

Roads would be the simple answer, if your cities arent connected to each other only those with saltpeter would be able to build units needing it (such as muskets).

Key advice would be to read the War Accademy journals as they give you lots of tips for how to play the game http://www.civfanatics.com/civ3/strategy/

Of course if you really feel like cheating whos to stop you, start with the editor, give yourself a few cities, settlers, worker and some modern armour and you should be unstoppable.

Yep... that's definitely it. I don't have them connected by harbors, even though I built harbors (not sure what to do there), but it must be the saltpeter. I don't /really/ want to cheat... I just wish I could get more of a tactical advantage... however, I think had I known (or know for that matter) how to connect land-masses in trading with the harbor, then I'd probably be doing a lot better. I had gun powder for some time, but only 200 years later did I realize I could build musketeers because it auto-created one at one of my cities after it created a worker.



Thanks for all the responses guys, I appreciate it.

[Theov]

Originally Posted by 73vwtodd

and...

THAT'S IT!!!

I have TONS... I mean TONS of roads. I also produced a TON of workers.... at least 3 per city to make sure that everything was getting built. When things would die down (IE: they already did everything they possibly could within the scope of the land masses), I would re-integrate them into the city.

The BIG problem however, is that I had one island that was all to myself, and another island that I had colonized, but that several other people were also on. I DID have a few harbors on some of my coastal cities... at least one on each land-mass... but it still said they were un-connected. Is there something specific that I need to build (other than the harbor) or something that I need to do to ensure that they start trading? Do I need to build cargo ships and set transfer points or something? I seem to recall WAY back in the day that I maybe had to do that in Civilization 1 (the DOS one)... maybe it's the same in this one?

Yep... that's definitely it. I don't have them connected by harbors, even though I built harbors (not sure what to do there), but it must be the saltpeter. I don't /really/ want to cheat... I just wish I could get more of a tactical advantage... however, I think had I known (or know for that matter) how to connect land-masses in trading with the harbor, then I'd probably be doing a lot better. I had gun powder for some time, but only 200 years later did I realize I could build musketeers because it auto-created one at one of my cities after it created a worker.

Thanks for all the responses guys, I appreciate it.

you need a tech (navigation?) to connect harbors over seas. It's in the civilopedia, I think it was navigation.
You need only one harbor per island if the other cities are connected with roads. Roads connect cities too.
Harbors also give you extra food on sea tiles, so that's why you build more of them.

You don't need a big trade system like in Civ1. You'd better build other things.
Check F1. There's an overview of where your money is going. Understanding this small part of the screen is a big part of the game.

But wait. There is more.
If you post a save we can help even better.

[CommandoBob]

Originally Posted by 73vwtodd

Anyway... I pretty much blew my entire weekend playing the game... my family was pissed. I realized that I can't really play games like this, like I used to when I was younger.

Welcome to my world!

I have Civilization 3 Gold / 1.27f (not 1.29 that I keep hearing about).

If you can Civ 3 Complete please try to do so. It has all three versions of Civilization (vanilla (which is what you have), Play the World and Conquests). Three versions, fully patched, in one installation. The game defaults to Conquests, the latest version.

Once you can do that, try to get involved in a Succession Game. In that kind of group game, you would play a set of around 10 turns (it varies from game to game and where in the game you are). SGs have a lot of discussion about strategy and tactics and how things work together. They are a great place to learn about the game and how the parts interconnect.

If you can't get involved in a SG, you can always download a save and try to match how the next turns were played in order to understand why they were played that way.

[Raliuven]

Harbors alone are not enough. Look at the water tiles. The white-blue are coastal, blue are sea tiles, dark blue are ocean. To trade via a harbor you need the tech that allows you to use the water tiles. No tech is needed to use coastal tiles. So if the harbors have an unobstructed path via coastal tiles they share resources and luxuries.

To use sea tiles you need astrology tech. To use ocean tiles either magnetism or navigation tech.

Regarding obstructions - think of the tiles as roads. If you can trace the tiles connecting each other from one harbor to another you probably have a trade route. If this 'road ' passes through enemy territory then it is incomplete. Likewise if a barbarian galley or enemy unit interrupts the path it is broken.

For these reasons coastal paths are usually delicate and easy to disrupt. It is nearly impossible to blockade a civ with access to oceans squares.

[gps]

Originally Posted by CommandoBob

If you can Civ 3 Complete please try to do so. It has all three versions of Civilization (vanilla (which is what you have), Play the World and Conquests). Three versions, fully patched, in one installation. The game defaults to Conquests, the latest version.

That's technically not totally correct. There are many versions of Civ III Complete around (especially the later single-DVD versions) that do not install the necessary exe-files to play Vanilla or PtW. The guy obviously does not have Vanilla but Gold, which (usually) is an installation of Vanilla plus PtW - but which also omits the Vanilla-exe.
And to be totally honest: with all the unfixed bugs and unbalanced stuff they added in Conquests, I am not quite sure if not PtW is actually the better version of Civ III...

[CommandoBob]

Originally Posted by gps

The guy obviously does not have Vanilla but Gold, which (usually) is an installation of Vanilla plus PtW

I thought the latest version of vanilla was 1.29f and that the latest PTW was 1.27 (something beside f). Old age creeping up on me?

[gps]

Originally Posted by CommandoBob

I thought the latest version of vanilla was 1.29f and that the latest PTW was 1.27 (something beside f). Old age creeping up on me?

Absolutely correct - but with the missing Vanilla exe-file in his Gold version all he can play is PTW 1.27f:

Originally Posted by 73vwtodd

I have Civilization 3 Gold / 1.27f (not 1.29 that I keep hearing about).

... which was exactly my point!

[CommandoBob]

Originally Posted by gps

And to be totally honest: with all the unfixed bugs and unbalanced stuff they added in Conquests, I am not quite sure if not PtW is actually the better version of Civ III...

I got dragged into Conquests when the Succession Game of the Month went to Conquests only; this was several years ago. Two things about PTW that I don't miss are the Ring City Placement strategy and the Forbidden Palace/Palace Jump. Conquests took a while to adjust to, but I haven't had any desire to go back to PTW for my solo games. But that is just me.

Fortunately, for73vwtodd, most of the Strategy articles work just as well for PTW as they do for Conquests. And I should know; I read most them when all I had was PTW!

[gps]

Originally Posted by CommandoBob

Two things about PTW that I don't miss are the Ring City Placement strategy and the Forbidden Palace/Palace Jump.

Correct, bad they didn't fix it properly. But to be honest I never really used the rank exploit on purpose - and I am also a bit sceptical about how usefull it really is. There's no doubt it drastically and quite obviously reduces rank corruption around the FP - but on the other hand moving the capital ridiculously far away to make this happen also raises distance corruption in all he cities located between FP and capital, whose reference moves from a close capital to a farther away FP. Should really make the effort to properly evaluate it some day. But that's a topic for another thread...