Can you help a struggling player get his feet on the ground?

[vertigofm]

I'm having a lot of trouble, and perhaps if you could help me it would help lots of other players too!

1. Map size, type, etc... I do a huge map and epic game, I usually do continents but just seem to be surrounded by too many people. and for a newbie (well someone that hasnt played a good civ game in 4 years). It's really overwhelming for this to happen... I mean, working around deserts and jungles is hard enough without being surrounded. What could I do to ease this? Pangea maybe? How many players on a map? Climate? etc... Please help in any way you can!

2. Civ type- I was pathetic with Saladin, maybe because I tried to get too many religions. I need a Civ leader that will help get my feet wet... someone thats good for newbies, that lets you really get a good foot start on the core mechanics of the game and wont leave you struggling behind!

3. War- I just, I can't seem to strike this balance. I always spend time developing, researching, founding religions- but I can never seem to fit time in to build units or where to station them... What units do I build? Should I be building barracks off the bat or wait? Help please

I hope this helps other players too, thanks Civ Vets for helping a struggling "Chieftan" get into the Civ series again

Regards
Frank

 

[GenocideBringer]

Firstly: Do a map size with an amount of AI so that you have room to expand, but AI neighbors. I usually do a large map with 15 AI. I usually do temperate, but all world types work. Remember, a disadvantage for you is also one for the AI

Secondly: Civ type really can't help you. Just learn to play the game. Make sure you're on Settler difficulty, and you'll get a bunch of helpful advice.

War: It depends on your situation. If you have, say, the Aztecs or Mongols next to you, you should get a barracks pretty early. Garrison your cities with archers ASAP, and longbowmen later.

 

[jar2574]

Here are two suggestions that might held...

1. Don't play huge, epic games. The extra turns make things more complicated for a player getting his feet wet. I played about half of a epic game. Very long...

2. Don't forget to research defensive military techs. Archers, spearmen, longbowmen, etc... When you research it, spend the money to upgrade your units.

 

[Iplay4FUN87]

If you are going to play a huge or epic map you shouldnt aim for all religions. There are so many ai players that could beat you to em. You should just be happy if you get one. Alls you need is practice. If you havent played alot of civ 3 like the rest of us you're going to have to learn alot. It just takes time to learn. Once you figure out how the system and AI works you will know what to do better.

 

[huang di]

I think that barracks are pretty valuable, more so than in Civ3, because of the promotions you can have. Try building one early on, and using that barracked city to produce defensive units for other towns. Also, to defend, use two different kinds of units, an archer and an axeman, or something of the sort.

Don't try to take over the whole world by 300 BC, just get yourself a group of solidly defendable cities and expand carefully. The above advice about religion is right on, you're best off just founding one, especially in a big game.

 

[woodelf]

I agree with jar about playing smaller games at first. I went right to the largest map and was overwhelmed by too many choices. Smaller maps tend to focus your attention depending on who your neighbors are and how close they are. You'll learn war easier if going against one opponent.

 

[elderotter]

I'm lucky my computer won't let me play the huge maps it just bogs dowwn quickly. However tho epic games are much longer I am playing them so as to research long term strategies...am newbie of course to civ 4 but played alot of civ3. Strategies are somewhat different between the two games tho. The diplo changes, and religion really changed how I planned things out. Good luck and God blees.

 

[AceChilla]

Have you read Sulla's walktrough? It might give you some usefull tips about the basics.

 

[fishlore]

When I was starting out I tended to play more archipelago maps. They should consist of more landmasses with smaller size for each. In an ideal situation that menas that you usually have fewer civs to contend with early on. It lets you get your civ valuable upgrade and tech time before you take galleons through the oceans and to other continents.