Civics - need more info

[fung3]

I am well into my second game of CIV 4, I am the English ruled by Elizabeth I. The map is of standard size and there are 5 other civs. I am now in the modern age. The game is set at Cheiftan level.

In the beginning the English shared a very large island with the Greeks and some roaming Barbs. Now the English have the island to themselves. Removing the Greeks was easy. Tech was so advanced that the Greeks stood little chance against Cavalry and Redcoats.

I have now met all the other Civs and I am hugely ahead on points, tech and everything else.

A win is in the bag, it has been very easy, in fact far too easy because to be honest I don't feel like I know what I am doing. I have tried to make intelligent choices but there are a number of concepts that leave me groping in the dark.

CIVICS

I can choose any combination of civic I like now but I don't know what to choose or how to make that choice. I bought a Brady strategy guide (chocolate teapot). Can anyone out there advise on the pros and cons of each type of civic choice.

I need general advice for future games. I prefer to play a defensive/ builder strategy. I like larger empires with a very strong focus on science and cash. Military needs are a secondary issue for 80% of the game, however for 20% of gameplay the military come sharply into focus to solve a problem with a neighbour, usually to remove that neighbour and gain more land and resource.

The trouble is I feel clueless about civic choices and changing needs.
A civic for empire builder/ cash/ culture/ science/ trading.
A civic for war.

GREAT PERSONS

I never know what to do when great scientists/ artists/ engineers appear. They seem very cool but I no not what to do with them. By default I add them to my best city (the capitol London) as a superspecialist, is this a waste of a great and versatile asset, I dunno.

 

[Bast]

I always use Great Artists to produce a Great work which produces a culture bomb. I usually send them to small towns and do that.

 

[fung3]

Can you explain the benefits and pitfalls of your strategy. Do you have a specific reason for doing this? Maybe putting a foreign neighbour under cultural pressure or whatever?

 

[spiceant]

please use the strategy & tips forum, this subforum is for articles that answer questions, not ones that ask questions.

 

[fung3]

Spiceant, I have now posted my appeal for advice in the correct forum.

 

[dh_epic]

Generally, you want to use civics to enhance what you already have rather than making up for a deficiency.

If you have lots of cottages, look for civics like universal sufferage and free speech that get more out of them. This is killer with financial.

If you're philosophical, you'll want to emphasize farms and food to feed specialists -- and use pacifism, representation, and mercantilism to get the most out of your specialists. Combine this with the Parthenon, the Great Library, and the Statue of Liberty and you're sitting VERY pretty.

If you're organized, you'll want the pyramids to take advantage of high cost civics -- and then use them! High cost civics tend to be warmongering civics too.

An aggressive civ with barracks and vassalage, or barracks and theocracy will be able to promote their units with any defence (vs archers, vs melee, vs siege, vs mounted, vs guns, vs armor...). Barracks and both vassalage AND theocracy is surprisingly less valuable, but don't count it out if you know how to use it.

Again, there are many playstyles that work in the game. The key is to see each civic choice and say "what would I need to do to get the most out of this civic?"

 

[fung3]

Thanks Epic

How do you know all that? Where is that information to be found?

 

[dh_epic]

It's just from a bit of playing and really just looking at the civics.

Aggressive gains combat 1 -- which is more than just one promotion. It's a gateway promotion that opens up other promotions. The barracks gives everyone the same XP, but because of combat 1 it helps aggressive civs the most.

I recommend you go through the units, the wonders, and so on... and decide "who would build this?" "who needs this?" "how can I best use this to my advantage?"