critique on my first complete game?

[Rock_Strongo]

I just finished my first game.....i got my butt kicked, but i got through to 2050 AD.....my last advancement was steampower, so i was obviously pretty far behind. I am playing on chieftian as the Romans and i had my science funding pretty low so I could make money, so I think thats when i didn't get very far technically?? Any thoughts? Should I try starting with a race that is more scientifically inclined? Also, by the time I got later in the game, my map was so cluttered with soldiers and the such that I could see what was building.......any advice?? And, sometimes a picture box came up saying that the 'soothsayers' had come figured out an advancement that I wasn't even working on....how do I get that to happen more often?

 

[Andropov]

Romans aren't bad. What kind of governments did you use?

 

[Rock_Strongo]

started with despotism, and then went to monarchy and stayed there cause things were going really well....except for tech.advancement

 

[Nad]

very difficult to do a critique without a full report and a save file. What I would suggest, however, is for you to have a look at the succession games forum; not many SGs are played on chieftain, they tend to be regent + in difficulty, but you will be able to have a look at full games, with detailed reports and pictures from start to finish. That way, you can compare the kind of things you were doing with what the players in the SG were doing at similar times, and thus analyse your own strengths and weaknesses. IMO, the SG forum is the best place to improve your Civ 3 gaming ability.

 

[Stop Killing Me]

Im new here but I hope I can help you out a bit

Firstly science funding is critical you want to have your science funding as high as you can either at breakeven or having a slight deficit which you can make up in 1 turn by doing max tax incoming. A race which is scientifical inclinded isn't realy that much of an advantage you only recieve 1 science when you go to a new era.

For the 'soothsayers' Im assuming that you had built a great library in which case if u know 2 civilisations with a technoligy which you don't have you aquire it from them for free

For government ideal you want to go to republic/democracy unless your in a war where democracy is a very bad idea. In democracy you get more commerce which means you get more science. I only use monarky when I go to war if thinks get real bad other than that I never touch it.

If you play romans its nice to use those legionaries for a war early on as their good in attack and defence. Hope that helps a bit

 

[Rock_Strongo]

great advice thanks.....how do I max taxes? i don't even know how to increase/decrease the levels......i did have a library yes........whats the advantage of building wonders? Does it just keep the poeople happy or does it serve another purpose? How can i build them quicker then other races?

 

[Doshin]

Having a 'scientific' civ doesn't help you research at a faster rate, it just gives you one free tech at the start of each new era (so three in total throughout the game). Make sure you check the succession games forum to see what people do in certain situations. A few tips that might help:

- Check trades every turn. On chieftan you don't have to do this every turn, but try to see what your rivals have every so often. Trading makes sense, and the AI always trades amongst themselves. Say there are four AI civs, for example. One researches bronze working, one alphabet, one ceremonial burial and one pottery. They then trade amongst each other so that each one has each tech. At the same time, you might have researched pottery. You don't trade, which means you then have to research alphabet, ceremonial burial and bronze working by yourself.

- Don't build 'far flung' cities away from your capital. Try to have a good core of cities surrounding your first city. This helps minimise waste and corruption.

- Build marketplaces/banks/stock exchanges for gold, and libraries/universities/research centres if you want to research.

- Switch to Republic as soon as you get it (unless you're in the middle of a war). Democracy generally isn't worth going in to, unless your a 'religious' civ.

And most importantly, perservere! Practice makes perfect, although civ can be quite daunting to begin with

 

[Doshin]

how do I max taxes? i don't even know how to increase/decrease the levels......

Press F1. Towards the top of the screen there are two bars. The top one is for science, the bottom for happiness. The higher the %, the more money you put into that particular area. If both are at 0% you effectively have 100% tax

whats the advantage of building wonders? Does it just keep the poeople happy or does it serve another purpose?

Each one does a different thing. Read the manual or check the site to see the effect of each one

How can i build them quicker then other races?

You'll never get all of them, and it isn't necessary to. It can just be benefiticial. Build them in your biggest cities- the ones that produce the most shields per turn. That way you stand the best chance of beating other civs to them

 

[wilbill]

Originally posted by Rock_Strongo
.....how do I max taxes?

In addition to the science/luxury sliders, be sure to build roads on every square that your citizens are working. Roads produce extra gold and by the modern era, if your civ has expanded adequately, that's a lot of squares being worked and a lot of extra gold.
And trades - trade your techs, luxuries and extra resources to the AI civs for gold per turn. At chieftain, they won't have much, but it helps.
And the commercial civs help produce extra wealth. It doesn't kick in until a city is size 6, but at that point commercial civs get a bonus.
Gold from these sources will allow you to push up the science slider, speeding up your rate of discovering new techs.

 

[Bacon King]

and don't forget: if you need to know what something is/does/requires/ect, look in the civilopedia (middle button in top right of the game screen)

 

[Andropov]

I'd have to agree...I get into Republic early and stay there as long as possible. Roads are important, and trading is very important (especially as you move up difficulty levels). Or at least I assume so...lol...I haven't made it to Emperor yet.

My advice, especially on Chieftan is go crazy in the early game. When you get swordsmen (or maybe before) build military units and expand like a mad man. Once you carve out a good-sized empire, concentrate on growth and fight your wars more selectively. When you reach that peaceful growth state, you'll see that your empire size will help your technology.