Hi everyone,
I just signed on to this forum after recently picking up a civ game (Civ 3) for the first time. I'm really digging this type of game and I love the complexity of it. When you have a 9 week old baby that simply wont sleep at 3AM, there's nothing better than the hum of the computer and being able to use one hand to play Civ while bouncing baby with the other hand.
Anyways, I'm playing the Ottomans (dont ask why, it was a random choice, although I wanted a civ that wasnt militaristic) and I have 7 cities with access a number of luxuries and a couple of strategic resources (iron and horses). I'm squeezed exactly between the arabians who are constantly annoyed with me, and the Persians who are polite but have been extorting money and techs from since the beginning of the game. I have 3 military units in each city plus I seem to be the only tribe with swordsmen. I've managed to deny every tribe the iron making tech and I dont think any of them have iron access.
But here's my problem. The Persian military outnumbers mine and I know if I piss them off at all they will wage war on me. Both Arabia and Persia have the same luxuries as me so even though Ive built roads to their capitals I cant trade with them and increase my diplomatic bonds.
How do I stop Persia from extorting from me without going to war with them (they've already demanded stuff 3 times and I have complied). If I pumped out a huge military Im sure they'd back off, but I dont want to play a military game. I want to develop and build. Which also brings me to another question. How does Persia outnumber me so badly and yet still manage to be 3 techs ahead? I'm constantly micromanaging every element of my production and yet it seems all the civs are ahead of me in techs.
Anyways, I hope I wasnt too long winded. I eagerly await anyone's advice.
Cleo
I just signed on to this forum after recently picking up a civ game (Civ 3) for the first time. I'm really digging this type of game and I love the complexity of it. When you have a 9 week old baby that simply wont sleep at 3AM, there's nothing better than the hum of the computer and being able to use one hand to play Civ while bouncing baby with the other hand.
Anyways, I'm playing the Ottomans (dont ask why, it was a random choice, although I wanted a civ that wasnt militaristic) and I have 7 cities with access a number of luxuries and a couple of strategic resources (iron and horses). I'm squeezed exactly between the arabians who are constantly annoyed with me, and the Persians who are polite but have been extorting money and techs from since the beginning of the game. I have 3 military units in each city plus I seem to be the only tribe with swordsmen. I've managed to deny every tribe the iron making tech and I dont think any of them have iron access.
But here's my problem. The Persian military outnumbers mine and I know if I piss them off at all they will wage war on me. Both Arabia and Persia have the same luxuries as me so even though Ive built roads to their capitals I cant trade with them and increase my diplomatic bonds.
How do I stop Persia from extorting from me without going to war with them (they've already demanded stuff 3 times and I have complied). If I pumped out a huge military Im sure they'd back off, but I dont want to play a military game. I want to develop and build. Which also brings me to another question. How does Persia outnumber me so badly and yet still manage to be 3 techs ahead? I'm constantly micromanaging every element of my production and yet it seems all the civs are ahead of me in techs.
Anyways, I hope I wasnt too long winded. I eagerly await anyone's advice.
Cleo