Adrian
Chieftain
Writing as someone who has spent years playing Civ I and then II to the detriment of my social life and eyesight, but never until now discovered this website, I thought I might pen a few my tips on how to play CivII for you to mull over or ignore:
1. Never ever play Call to Power - biggest waste of time ever.
2. Always play at least at King level, preferably at Emperor as otherwise the game is too easy.
3. Placing a city correctly is probably the single most important decision to be made. I always go for rivers or grassland, both with shield. Anything else and you spend the rest of the game regretting it and having to subsidise it.
4. With my first city, I will always build a settler then immediately switch to The Collussus, which is one of the best wonders ever. Use the second city to establish more cities in that time.
5. Up until around 1000AD if not later (if possible) I never build anything that costs money to upkeep except libraries, temples and maybe colloseums. Barracks, city walls and so on are a waste of money as 99% of the early game when money is tight they are not being used. If enemies get close to cities early on then buy a military unit or two, kill the enemy and disband the unit to save the resources.
6. There should be an option to get rid of wonders - certain ones are just too good (Leonardos Wshop, Collossus, Adam Smith)
7. Don't let cities grow to the level where they need an aqudect until around 1300AD, again it's all to do with cost saving.
8. Ships are a waste of time - one of my major complaints against the game is that ships are too expensive to build, maintain and they affect happiness. In reality the Great Age of Exploration encouraged the English, Spanish, French, Dutch & Portugeuse to explore for riches - civ doesn't encourage that. As a consequence I never expand off my homeland unless it is too small.
9. He who gets to Mobile Armour first usually wins. Focus everything on science until late in the game.
10. Why is there no fascism government? I understand the risks of nutters but it did occur in the 20th century and speaking as someone who always maintains a democracy as the other forms of government are so useless, it would provide a change.
Just some tips / questions. I have loads more to say but not the time sadly!
Adrian.
1. Never ever play Call to Power - biggest waste of time ever.
2. Always play at least at King level, preferably at Emperor as otherwise the game is too easy.
3. Placing a city correctly is probably the single most important decision to be made. I always go for rivers or grassland, both with shield. Anything else and you spend the rest of the game regretting it and having to subsidise it.
4. With my first city, I will always build a settler then immediately switch to The Collussus, which is one of the best wonders ever. Use the second city to establish more cities in that time.
5. Up until around 1000AD if not later (if possible) I never build anything that costs money to upkeep except libraries, temples and maybe colloseums. Barracks, city walls and so on are a waste of money as 99% of the early game when money is tight they are not being used. If enemies get close to cities early on then buy a military unit or two, kill the enemy and disband the unit to save the resources.
6. There should be an option to get rid of wonders - certain ones are just too good (Leonardos Wshop, Collossus, Adam Smith)
7. Don't let cities grow to the level where they need an aqudect until around 1300AD, again it's all to do with cost saving.
8. Ships are a waste of time - one of my major complaints against the game is that ships are too expensive to build, maintain and they affect happiness. In reality the Great Age of Exploration encouraged the English, Spanish, French, Dutch & Portugeuse to explore for riches - civ doesn't encourage that. As a consequence I never expand off my homeland unless it is too small.
9. He who gets to Mobile Armour first usually wins. Focus everything on science until late in the game.
10. Why is there no fascism government? I understand the risks of nutters but it did occur in the 20th century and speaking as someone who always maintains a democracy as the other forms of government are so useless, it would provide a change.
Just some tips / questions. I have loads more to say but not the time sadly!
Adrian.
In the early game, money is never tight if you demand tribute and explore. I typically have 1,000s of gold before the switch to AD, even with extensive rush buying.
