I am at my wit's end with this game, and the series

[Karmah]

If you want to get better , i d suggest to watch a let s play video. It will give you a feel of what you are missing.

 

[Novalia]

After reading thru more and more of the OP's 1100+ posts it's obvious he's not really looking for answers but simply venting his frustrations. There are a few of them in this forum.... They open a thread asking why this why that... bashing the game. We take the bait and try to help. They'll post one or two times in the thread then never look back while the thread goes on and on without them.

 

[sendos]

I recommend continuing with Emperor. I've managed to beat it using a liberty start and a semi-wide strategy of 6 cities, as Germany and managing to win a cultural victory with autocracy ideology on pangaea. Managed to get a decent sized army and get Terracotta army, as well as both Petra and Colossus. I also managed to win a trad-liberty game as Portugal, producing 7 cities, on emperor on continents, winning a diplo victory with autocracy (and also not far from cultural victory too). The main aim is explore, get as many ruins as possible, choose starting policy very early and act accordingly. Choosing between tradition and liberty very much depends on the amount of available land near you, as well as proximity of neighbouring civs as well as the type of civs. The higher gpt you have, the more units you can build and the easier you can facilitate expansion and defence.

 

[YertyL]

I think my biggest mistake, when I was new to the civ series, was playing this game like an RTS (Starcraft II). I had this idea that every game I could come in and do the same thing and my strategy would out-right win me the game, but it is not so. Every game you have to adjust how you are playing based on the situation (what civ bonuses you have, UU, UB, UA, what civs are around you, resources available, etc...). In civ it is also important to understand the game mechanics. If you are going into each game and don't have an understanding of happiness/science/faith, then you are just making decisions on bad knowledge. If you play through a game slowly and try to learn the game mechanics you will have a better chance of success later on.

You know, this is how I wish it were. But as it is, does the optimal-in-every-game strategy not exist in the form of tradition, food and science techs?

 

[Wodan]

After reading thru more and more of the OP's 1100+ posts it's obvious he's not really looking for answers but simply venting his frustrations. There are a few of them in this forum.... They open a thread asking why this why that... bashing the game. We take the bait and try to help. They'll post one or two times in the thread then never look back while the thread goes on and on without them.

what's interesting though is that the threads turn into quite positive endorsements of the game as well as show the OP as nothing but a troll and not really interested in getting help. it's like:

OP: waaaah! help me!
Response 1: why don't you X?
Response 2: you could do Y!
Response 3: hey we're glad to help, give us a game save or screenshots, and summary
OP: nobody will bother to help me (reprise: waaaah!) or open a game save
Response 4: yes, we really will help
Response 5: you didn't answer the screenshots or summary, do them
Response 6: the game isn't like OP at all
Response 7: I do Z and it works great

As one of the people who would actually have looked at a game save / screenshots / game summary and given some thoughts, it's just kind of annoying. But I'm also encouraged by the show of support the community has offered in response to the OP.

 

[Browd]

Moderator Action: Please do not accuse others of trolling -- that is also trolling. As to the complaints about the OP's posting habits, Wodan has the right long-term view -- even if the OP (any OP, in any thread) may not benefit from the advice offered, other readers will benefit. So please keep the advice flowing.

 

[Wodan]

yeah, sorry about that Browd.

On topic, I was interested in dw0's post, but (though I didn't say so at the time), I thought it was actually poor advice. At least, in terms of the OP was asking for. Too much of dw0's advice was fine tuned to playing the same way every game... namely, getting the Great Library.

While that's a fine strategy, it's certainly not required to have a successful game. Nor is it along what the OP was asking for, that is: Where are the choices to have a successful game, because his impression was that there are "effectively few [choices], because if you don't do certain things, you lose. Yawn." And so, giving an answer saying that you really want to shoot to get the GL in every/most games, seems to be not what was requested.

Personally, I sometimes go for the GL, but I've always been much more interested in experimentation and trying and perfecting different strategies. And, without a doubt, it's certainly not necessary to get the GL, whether in SP or MP, to do well.

So, to me, a better list of "tips" might be along the lines of:

• An early scout (one of your first 2 or 3 builds, if not the very first) can help get ruins/goodies and find out what the possiblities of city expansion are (which will determine overall game strategy... if there are good spots, you'll want to plan to have an early settler or two, and location of nearby civs will affect timing)
• Don't ignore military... very early, barbs are the danger, not to take your cities, but to pillage improvements
• After turn 50+, other Civs WILL invade you if you ignore military... shoot for a military of 3 + 1/city units, approximately
• Keep your military up to date, or cash on hand to upgrade quickly
• "Settling forward" can be a good idea... have your 2nd and/or 3rd settler found a city on a forward spot to keep the AIs from claiming it (you can "back fill" with a settler later)
• Watch for AIs sending out settlers in your direction, simply by having one of your warriors or other military hanging about near their borders... sometimes their settlers will be unescorted and you might want to DOW (declare war) simply to get (1) a free worker and (2) stop them from settling a city near you
• Even if an AI sends an escorted settler in your direction, you may want to passively blockade it (with your military, to keep it from taking choice city spots), or even DOW and attacking (even if you don't attack, having your warrior in contact will prevent the settler from moving 2 becauze of ZOC / zone of control)
• Always look for luxury resources near your city expansion spots... a city without any luxuries needs a LOT of food and other resources to make it worthwhile
• etc.

 

[Novalia]

I agree GL is not nearly as effective as it seems. To test this out I played two games OCC up to researching civil service. The first game was focused on getting GL up ASAP then philosophy then NC. The second game I played normally focusing on growth and luxuries and units.

While the GL game finished civil service 5 turns faster I was only left with one spear one scout and two workboats (crab), a stable, a size 8 capital with no farms but 3 improved stable techs with stable.

The second game finished 5 turns later with size 10 pop, a spear, a scout (another was killed), 3 bowmen, a trireme, 3 additional farms finished, crabs worked, and a stable.

 

[dw0]

On topic, I was interested in dw0's post, but (though I didn't say so at the time), I thought it was actually poor advice. At least, in terms of the OP was asking for. Too much of dw0's advice was fine tuned to playing the same way every game... namely, getting the Great Library.

While that's a fine strategy, it's certainly not required to have a successful game. Nor is it along what the OP was asking for, that is: Where are the choices to have a successful game

My goal was to provide exactly one (of many) strategies that the OP could use... certainly one of the easier ones, IMO, because it is 1) doable at least in most non-Deity games and 2) flexible enough to branch into any type of victory and work with multiple Civs. It's not that I was advocating playing this exact same way every game; I just wanted to get the ball rolling by providing at least one concrete piece of advice for the OP and other readers.

However, you are correct that the OP asked about choices (just reread that myself) and so while my original aim was to provide only one of many possible strategies, that aim might have been a little misguided vis-à-vis the OP's request. Your tips are excellent as well, and more on point to the OP's request for multiple options, so cheers for that!

 

[kb27787]

My wife win the game regularly on Immortal, and she automate all the workers and let the cities themselves decide what specialists to run.

Just wanted to let you guys know that.

I can totally see that happening Immortal AI is still super weak. (I mean I've seen some completely peaceful AI civs who haven't been bothered all game still not have an ideology t260 on immortal... I also see a Montezuma who was stuck on one city for 200 turns.

Deity is the ONLY level where the AI is actually capable of kicking an average player's ass... but the free settler they get completely rewrites early game options...

I wish they'd have a demigod difficulty (same as deity, give them all the food and hammer as well as tech/culture bonuses but no extra settler)

 

[Magma_Dragoon]

I'm not sure if he could kick my ass, but immortal Atilla playing as a wonder-whoring science-monger is a truly frightening thing to behold. His capital is 20 by turn ~120, and had he taken tradition, he'd be playing just like a human.

 

[Wodan]

I wish they'd have a demigod difficulty (same as deity, give them all the food and hammer as well as tech/culture bonuses but no extra settler)

There are mods that do this and similar things, tweaking the game startup. Look in the steam workshop (probably here on civfanatics too). I've seen and experimented with a couple of them, so I'm sure there's one that'll do pretty much exactly what you want (removing the extra settler).

 

[General Tso]

My mod will do that for you. If you're interested the link is in my signature.

 

[White Out]

My mod will do that for you. If you're interested the link is in my signature.

Hey that's your mod I use! I just wanted to thank you for it. It's a truly fantastic mod in its simplicity and yet very powerful. Good work!

 

[soprof]

Besides, obviously, playing better with more calculations, higher difficulties are designed for you to abuse AI in any possible way. It starts from selling embassies, stealing workers from CS'es and never-ever stops.

Believe me, there's space out there what can you exploit. There're decisions you didn't make simple because you didn't see them. You probably know about stealing an early worker from CS; but did you consider, for example, getting like 5 workers and highly promoted units to turn 100 all in cost of one DoW to one CS which will not give you any penalties with AI's?..

Even direct AI's advantage can be used to gain own benefits. AI starts with free techs or is generally ahead in science? Great, scout them out and you'll decrease the number of beakers you need for techs.

Fighting the AI at the same tech should be possible even with moderate production disadvantage, probably that's the problem.

It kinda sucks that gameDevs have to balance the game in this perversive "unfair vs. unfair" way, but it's not currently possible to make a competitive AI in such a complicated setting. Try multiplayer, challenge yourself.

After reading thru more and more of the OP's 1100+ posts it's obvious he's not really looking for answers but simply venting his frustrations. There are a few of them in this forum.... They open a thread asking why this why that... bashing the game. We take the bait and try to help. They'll post one or two times in the thread then never look back while the thread goes on and on without them.

/=

didn't notice that

 

[goodolarchie]

Sounds like OP is looking for more of life advice (how to enjoy a game that can only compete with human brain by giving severe AI handicaps) than in-game advice.

I would argue that being put "on your toes" when stepping into a less-than-ideal start in a Deity game and being able to walk away the victor with your choice of victory types is the most fun and reward anyone can have in Civ, but that's just because I've played the series for so long and I like to be tested on my mastership. However, the difference between a Deity player and a King player isn't intelligence or creativity, it's the mastership over the many nuances required to be omniscient about everything going on in the game from turn 0 onward. This is a serious, serious time commitment, and that probably doesn't translate to fun for most Civ players. I don't think Firaxis intends for everyone to get there either. The quickest way to "level up" your understanding of the under-the-hood game mechanics is to watch let's plays. You can go from Warlord to Emperor in a sitting if you emulate successful (i.e. deity) players' strategies. That's not very inventive though, Emperor and up is where the more formulaic grand strategies rise to the top. i.e. If your idea of having fun in game is building every wonder, you won't be happy playing at Deity or Immortal.

I happen to really enjoy the difficulty tuning of V: BNW because I think it's significantly less so than IV: BTS and that leaves room for a lot of creativity while still punishing human error, and occasionally just kicking your ass for being caught off-guard.

My advice to OP and anyone else in his/her shoes is to try the Communitas mod suite, very different experience in the same vain, and a bit more balanced for the player v. AI.

 

[Horizons]

Hello chaps,

Sorry for the delay in responding. Sadly I do have a life outside of Civfanatics!

Couple of points:

Some of you are really helpful and great but a couple are really nasty bully types... why do the bully boys take things so seriously, so personally?

A few have said they read my other posts. Did you miss the ones where I posted saved games and nobody responded? Or are you just being selective in your choice of memories?

I can win easily on monarch on island starts precisely because military is less important and I was looking for advice specific to continents/pangaea

Last time I was here I was told to get N.C. asap. Are you now telling me that's not the case?


Love,
Your favourite bullying target

 

[Fabio1701]

My wife win the game regularly on Immortal, and she automate all the workers and let the cities themselves decide what specialists to run.

Just wanted to let you guys know that.

Seriously tho, I do find that OP has a point that higher levels than King pretty much require the same starting strategy which is not a lot of fun. I stay playing on Emperor and give myself the challenge of limiting to one or two victory conditions at the start of the game.

 

[LoneRebel]

Hello chaps,

Sorry for the delay in responding. Sadly I do have a life outside of Civfanatics!

Couple of points:

Some of you are really helpful and great but a couple are really nasty bully types... why do the bully boys take things so seriously, so personally?

A few have said they read my other posts. Did you miss the ones where I posted saved games and nobody responded? Or are you just being selective in your choice of memories?

I can win easily on monarch on island starts precisely because military is less important and I was looking for advice specific to continents/pangaea

Last time I was here I was told to get N.C. asap. Are you now telling me that's not the case?


Love,
Your favourite bullying target

Why do you keep calling it Monarch? Which difficulty is that? Prince? King? Emperor?

 

[Novalia]

Last time I was here I was told to get N.C. asap.

This right here pretty much proves MY point.
You wasted your valuable time posting here and besides your rant this is all you got out of the thread?
3 pages of advice....

(First ignore)