Help for a new(ish) player

[Guybrush!]

Hi, I love FFH, and I use FF aswell, but I'm not really any good at it. I generally play noble, or the one below noble with agressive AI (really seems to make them much harder). I want to improve, so I'd like some general advice, because I don't really play and specific civ, though I generally lean towards Good ones. I also usually play large / huge maps. Anyone get any tips / tricks / advice?

 

[Yarnosh]

What is "FF"?

Are you any good at vanilla Civ IV? Knowing this might help us determine what kind of help you need.

Is there some aspect in particular you are not good at? Economy? Research? Magic? War?

One thing about FFH is that you have to specialize as a civ. There are whole branches of the tech tree that you can usually just ignore for a given civ/leader. Unlike vanilla where you eventually get all the techs, it is just a matter of priority.

 

[cIV_khanh93]

FF. Fall Further. The biggest modmod for FFH. Has its own subforum.

 

[JonathanStrange]

Hi, I love FFH, and I use FF aswell, but I'm not really any good at it. I generally play noble, or the one below noble with agressive AI (really seems to make them much harder). I want to improve, so I'd like some general advice, because I don't really play and specific civ, though I generally lean towards Good ones. I also usually play large / huge maps. Anyone get any tips / tricks / advice?

It's hard to offer any particularly useful advice without knowing where and what you think might need advice on.

There is a Quick Guide (I think last updated 12/2007!) that gives a bird-eye view of the Civs; still useful though for jumping into a new civ even though things have changed, sometimes quite a bit.

Since you're playing huge (pangaea?) maps with many civs, then you're probably going to have quicker and bloodier contact with your neighbors than you would with fewer civs, multiple continents or islands - that means an earlier focus on military, building several warriors right off is generally wise. It depends on the closeness of your neighbors and raging barbarians.

I usually start with researching basic economic techs that lead to farms and cottages and immediate exploitation of resources or new civics. Education, for example, gives cottages and the Apprenticeship civic (+2 XPs for new units).

Although focusing on certain research paths for certain Civs is a reliable strategy most times, I usually avoid early lengthy paths unless it fits my goals. If I play the Ljos, for example, I'm less likely to start spending early on Crafting==> Mining==> BronzeWorking because getting swordsmen for them isn't a priority at the point. It may be for another civ though.

Expand quickly but watch your city maintenance costs; you'll cripple your economy and research if you've don't have the right civics or techs handy. God King civic helps early economies with a strong production capitol, Aristocracy/Agrarian combo for farm economies, City States for large mixed economies.

Try to focus on techs that play to your Civs strengths rather than attempting to get them all; it's easy to be sidetracked by inexpensive techs that add up to a big detour.

 

[loffenx]

My first tip would be to specialize in a few Civs, since they are so distinct. I atleast find it very hard to play with the ones I don't know much about. Strategies, religions, they are all extremely civ-dependandt in FFH.

 

[Guybrush!]

For clarification, I havn't really played Vanilla Civ much, and I'm generally to peace / builder focused. I usually try to get commerce rescources early for reasearch, and my real problem area is being militaristic. Is it usually worth investing in a standing army? And is it worth making one town with many military focused buildings, or should I spread them out? And some of my favourite civs (for specific advice) are:
Lanun, but the AI isn't really good at sea warfare, so I don't usually have trouble
Grigori,
Calabimcius (I only really play Calabim as Decious, though I'm open to change)
Sheaim
and Archos (FF only, obviously)
Also, early on, what kind of improvements should I be getting? Usually I get farms and mines, but would early cottages help?

 

[psychodation]

if willing to expand, there is hardly any way around early cottages. the only other option ist aristocracy and farm-spamming (which i personnaly dont do, it just looks ugly on the screen. cant help myself). nevertheless education is a tech one should aquire quite early on, at least in my book. but it all still depends on the civ your playing. I would advise you to concentrate on the grigori (for getting a hang on fighting) and sheaim (magic and priests as you will have to get Ahsen Veil for obvious reasons). as tHE civs use these systems almost exclusivEly (grigori and magic being an option not a necessity at levels your playing) you learn both and afterwards con tackle civs that combine the aspects. just an opinion though.

 

[Yarnosh]

As far as building troops go, your primary unit producing city is going to be your capital early on. So make Mysticism a priority to get the God King civic. That'll make your capital a powerhouse while your new cities can concentrate on support buildings like Monuments (if you're not a Creative leader), Elder Counsels, Markets, etc. If you're not actively waging war, your capital should be able to output enough to defend.

As for economy, you should decide between Aristocracy or City States. If you go with Aristocracy (along with Agrarian to offset the loss food), you'll be getting your commerce from farms. So spam farms. Get Construction so you can spread farms. If you are going City States, then spam cottages. The earlier you can start building cottages the better.

Basically you just don't want any worked title to be unimproved. So every time a city grows have a tile ready for it to work. It is the little things that count. If your city is using a forest, build a lumbermill. If the city has enough food, build a mine or two. It is good to have approximately one worker per city.

 

[loffenx]

A classic with the Calabim is playing Flauros and using Aristocracy for a nice amout of gold from your farms (though it is, as with everything, deabted wether this *really* is the best strategy).

I also agree that an early mysticism is a good choice, especially if the barbarians keep you from improving during the first 20~ rounds (which they always do for me on FF / immortal). then build an elder council, an assign a sage specialist if possible.

I personally prefer farms and specialist, and find it easier to manage, but that's a matter of taste. If you do go with farms, mysticism and festivals are important early techs.

 

[JonathanStrange]

I knew there was a Newbie Learning - Asking for Advice Tips thread - a year and a half ago (!) that I used. I thought it was pretty good. Some details have changed alot but their general tips are really useful. I think these tips pretty solid. Check it out.

 

[Guybrush!]

In a recent game, I had a large amount of resources within the reach of one city. Something like 4 gems, 1 cows, 1 pigs, 1 wheat and 1 copper. Should I build a few cities, and share it, or 1 super city with all of it?

 

[Yarnosh]

If it is your capitol, keep it all in one city and run God King indefinately. Otherwise, you probably want to gauge how long it will take to actually be able to work those tiles. It may make sense to spit it between two cities just to get the commerce from all those gems right away. I wouldn't split it between more than two though.