Do you guys cheat to the computer?
- Thread starter larry999
- Start date
weasel77066
Prince
No. PLay however you like. Sometimes, no iron anywhere, other than that its a good even game. Just plop some down for yourself and have fun. Civ is a game, not a lifestyle, so just have fun.larry999 said:I cheat to the computer, most frequently is save load method.
In the worst situation, I use the world builder mode, to prevent compter raze my city. Am I so dirty?
Aussie_Lurker
Deity
Actually, I find the computer tends to cheat more towards me. There is nothing more infuriating than when I have combat odds of greater than 80%, yet frequently lose combats-once, twice or thrice I can handle-but it seems to happen more often than this (especially barbarians). This marks the ONLY time when I will go back and load a previously saved game. If I have merely been dumb, then I simply wear it on the chin (this is something you learn to do when you play a lot of MP games-those guys WON'T let you cheat 
)
Aussie_Lurker.
)Aussie_Lurker.
drkodos
Emperor
Cheating makes the game boring.
willpax
Warlord
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2006
- Messages
- 209
I must say that, since I started lurking around here and playing the GOTM, I've found that I've lost my taste for restarts. The posters around here have convinced me to love the joy of unpredictability.
Of course, if it seems hopeless, I can always quit. The computer doesn't have that option.
Of course, if it seems hopeless, I can always quit. The computer doesn't have that option.
I have cheated exactly twice in my three dozen or so games:
1) I reloaded after losing a battle while having 99.6% odds with a .3% chance of retreat (that was my ~60 some odd experience cavalry GG). Now I've thought obsenities directed at the AI before, but that was the first time I actually screamed at my computer as my troops fell.
2) There was a great city location. Really great. And I was angry, because there was a mountain there. I was having a bad game so far, so I went into world builder and turned it into a hill. Only time I ever altered the game in world builder.
Generally, I agree with drkodos--cheating just to see what will happen is fun for all of a few minutes, and then I just lose interest. The only reason I reloaded that one time is because I really think that was an unfair combat result (cavalry with tactics and flanking on top of other promotions vs. wounded muskets in the open). The only reason I changed that mountain...is...because...well, I felt like it. I really didn't have to. But I figured what the hell, I might as well change the mountain into a hill.
I've started locking the modifiable assets, though, or whatever that option is. I don't want that to become habit--Civ4 is too good a game to be ruined by my desire to cheat, so I just disallow it now.
There, my rant is done.
1) I reloaded after losing a battle while having 99.6% odds with a .3% chance of retreat (that was my ~60 some odd experience cavalry GG). Now I've thought obsenities directed at the AI before, but that was the first time I actually screamed at my computer as my troops fell.
2) There was a great city location. Really great. And I was angry, because there was a mountain there. I was having a bad game so far, so I went into world builder and turned it into a hill. Only time I ever altered the game in world builder.
Generally, I agree with drkodos--cheating just to see what will happen is fun for all of a few minutes, and then I just lose interest. The only reason I reloaded that one time is because I really think that was an unfair combat result (cavalry with tactics and flanking on top of other promotions vs. wounded muskets in the open). The only reason I changed that mountain...is...because...well, I felt like it. I really didn't have to. But I figured what the hell, I might as well change the mountain into a hill.
I've started locking the modifiable assets, though, or whatever that option is. I don't want that to become habit--Civ4 is too good a game to be ruined by my desire to cheat, so I just disallow it now.
There, my rant is done.
catchsomezzz
Life is recursive.
I find the Warlords Prince level to be at my 'competitive level' - but I really don't like the detailed thinking & micro-managing required to stay with the 'Jones'. It's a game, it's supposed to be fun.
Whereas, at Noble, I usually start pulling away in the medieval ages.
So, as a compromise, I have scaled back to Noble level, but at the start of the game I 'cheat' by giving each of the 17 AI Civs in my game free Barracks and Military Academies in their capital cities.
In my current game, I have the misfortune of having Monte as my neighbor... and man, did he ever 'fully use' his free gifts... on me!!! I did manage to held him off as Arabia (the protective trait really really helped fighting off those endless waves of Combat II Jaguars), but when we finally declared peace, my economy was in ruins and I had lost 2 border cities (out of 6).
I am now way behind in tech... but now the comeback begins. Monte will pay... dearly.
Whereas, at Noble, I usually start pulling away in the medieval ages.
So, as a compromise, I have scaled back to Noble level, but at the start of the game I 'cheat' by giving each of the 17 AI Civs in my game free Barracks and Military Academies in their capital cities.
In my current game, I have the misfortune of having Monte as my neighbor... and man, did he ever 'fully use' his free gifts... on me!!! I did manage to held him off as Arabia (the protective trait really really helped fighting off those endless waves of Combat II Jaguars), but when we finally declared peace, my economy was in ruins and I had lost 2 border cities (out of 6).
I am now way behind in tech... but now the comeback begins. Monte will pay... dearly.
Aussie_Lurker
Deity
Oh, thank goodness I am not the ONLY one who occasionally screams at his computer when it cheats . Everytime some dicky little barbarian archer defeats my heavily promoted skirmisher (you know, the one with +20% strength, and a +25% attack strength vs. archer units ) I will hurl obscenities at the computer for not being able to play fair! Of course, if it has only happened once, I will persevere (seething all the way, of course), but if it happens a few times-or if that one time costs me a hugely valuable city-then yes I will CHEAT (oftentimes, however, I will simply turn the game off in disgust!)
Aussie_Lurker.
. Everytime some dicky little barbarian archer defeats my heavily promoted skirmisher (you know, the one with +20% strength, and a +25% attack strength vs. archer units ) I will hurl obscenities at the computer for not being able to play fair! Of course, if it has only happened once, I will persevere (seething all the way, of course), but if it happens a few times-or if that one time costs me a hugely valuable city-then yes I will CHEAT (oftentimes, however, I will simply turn the game off in disgust!)Aussie_Lurker.
I reload now and then; I think you can learn a lot about how the game works by reloading and trying a different strategy. That way I have learned, among other things, how important it is to have a strong military power.
I also must admit that I find it tempting to have a look in the World Builder
so now I always play with lock modified assets checked. 
I also must admit that I find it tempting to have a look in the World Builder
so now I always play with lock modified assets checked. 
carl corey
Deity
About the computer cheating in battles: some people around here have made tests for lots of combats and found out that a large number of battles tend to have the predicted results. For example 3 out of each 10 70% battles are lost. Nothing was close to cheating. It's our selective memory again.
When playing on lower levels I used to save/reload a lot. A lost battle? Reload, try something different. Missionary failed? Reload. Lost a wonder race? Reload from an earlier save. Soon it started to get really long and really boring.
So I decided to try a different approach. Lose a lot of battles? It means that I didn't plan my attack well or my troops aren't appropriate. So I'm trying to think what other combo would work better, or wether I could choose another attack path. And use all this for the NEXT battles. The current game gets a little more challenging, but hey, where's the fun if you win everything easily? I expect to lose around a quarter/one third of the battles anyway, so I'll bring in more troops to compensate.
Lost missionary? Well, why exactly? Too many religions in the city? Shouldn't have used it there in the first place. The religion's influence isn't strong enough? Look for closer cities next time.
Lost wonder race? You know, not every wonder is an absolute must. So I tried to plan my wonders a little better. Going for a wonder means I prioritize that tech. I'll also look at what the other AIs have to offer. If they've already researched the tech a long time ago I consider the wonder lost. I've even played a game with the special rule of not building any world wonder. Quite painful since my Ironworks city was surrounded by flood plains and had 6 Engineers in it and could get Eiffel Tower in 5 turns!!
I'm not saying that reloading is cheating. Hey, whatever floats your boat! But I think without reloading I've learned more about how to manage my army, when to stop attacking like a mad-man (lost two good odds battles? maybe the remaining troops aren't up to the task of taking the city anymore), when to build a wonder and when not to. So reloading feels more like cheating yourself out of learning these things, than cheating the computer. Trust me, he doesn't care.
Plus, eliminating reloads gives me more civ, so more fun.
Reloading to try another long-time strategy falls into a different category for me. As Bluetooth said, you can learn a lot from this. It's like in chess when you try different lines. In an over-the-board game you might go for the calm one, especially if you're in time trouble, but later you could analyze it to see if the risky sacrifice could actually pay off. Right now I'm in the process of perfecting the Great Wall/Pyramids gambit in Warlords. Instead of restarting every time to try a different approach I'd rather play the same start over again to see what would get things done the way I wanted. By no means do I consider this a "serious" game, and will probably quit most of the tries when I achieve my objectives anyway.
When playing on lower levels I used to save/reload a lot. A lost battle? Reload, try something different. Missionary failed? Reload. Lost a wonder race? Reload from an earlier save. Soon it started to get really long and really boring.
So I decided to try a different approach. Lose a lot of battles? It means that I didn't plan my attack well or my troops aren't appropriate. So I'm trying to think what other combo would work better, or wether I could choose another attack path. And use all this for the NEXT battles. The current game gets a little more challenging, but hey, where's the fun if you win everything easily? I expect to lose around a quarter/one third of the battles anyway, so I'll bring in more troops to compensate.
Lost missionary? Well, why exactly? Too many religions in the city? Shouldn't have used it there in the first place. The religion's influence isn't strong enough? Look for closer cities next time.
Lost wonder race? You know, not every wonder is an absolute must. So I tried to plan my wonders a little better. Going for a wonder means I prioritize that tech. I'll also look at what the other AIs have to offer. If they've already researched the tech a long time ago I consider the wonder lost. I've even played a game with the special rule of not building any world wonder. Quite painful since my Ironworks city was surrounded by flood plains and had 6 Engineers in it and could get Eiffel Tower in 5 turns!!
I'm not saying that reloading is cheating. Hey, whatever floats your boat! But I think without reloading I've learned more about how to manage my army, when to stop attacking like a mad-man (lost two good odds battles? maybe the remaining troops aren't up to the task of taking the city anymore), when to build a wonder and when not to. So reloading feels more like cheating yourself out of learning these things, than cheating the computer. Trust me, he doesn't care.
Plus, eliminating reloads gives me more civ, so more fun.
Reloading to try another long-time strategy falls into a different category for me. As Bluetooth said, you can learn a lot from this. It's like in chess when you try different lines. In an over-the-board game you might go for the calm one, especially if you're in time trouble, but later you could analyze it to see if the risky sacrifice could actually pay off. Right now I'm in the process of perfecting the Great Wall/Pyramids gambit in Warlords. Instead of restarting every time to try a different approach I'd rather play the same start over again to see what would get things done the way I wanted. By no means do I consider this a "serious" game, and will probably quit most of the tries when I achieve my objectives anyway.
FeelGood
Emphatic Diplomat
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 351
I do cheat when playing by reloading when something really bad happen - like Warlord died in combat 
. I never use WB to cheat; it really takes the enjoyment from the game for me.
Sometimes when I know, I`ll lose the game like when attacked by 3 civs; or will lose an important city, WB is a fun way to go before restart. After all it`s a game. It`s supposed to be for fun. So, my opinion is whatever makes me enjoy the game, I`ll do it
. Just don`t do it in tournament.
. I never use WB to cheat; it really takes the enjoyment from the game for me. Sometimes when I know, I`ll lose the game like when attacked by 3 civs; or will lose an important city, WB is a fun way to go before restart. After all it`s a game. It`s supposed to be for fun. So, my opinion is whatever makes me enjoy the game, I`ll do it
. Just don`t do it in tournament. 
cthom
3,011,451,295
in all the time i've had civ iv, i don't think i've even looked at world builder. rather than cheat i'll just restart, though i used to use the 'back to last save' option.
Cookie Crumbs
Emperor
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2006
- Messages
- 485
I am a reload-save WHORE. I even do it to make sure I get a Wonder that I could've built a hundred years ago, but didn't. Like in my last game, when I got the Liberalism race but missed the Hagia Sophia and reloaded onlyto get the HS but miss LIberalism, so I reloaded and micromanaged to get both .
I am a reload whore, and proud of it.
.I am a reload whore, and proud of it.
rockereins
Chieftain
....these whole computer games are THAT scared, that THEY cheat on ME...!!
...so schaut´s aus.....
...so schaut´s aus.....
I didn't even know there might be cheat codes for civ4/civ4w.sebastien said:
Except from using the worldbuilder. If you find any, post them so I can take revenge at the so freakishly cheating AI.
Recently I used spies to check something.
I attacked a nation with 3 cities, with 1 on an island.
I defeated all the units they had, but by some miracle, they always ended up with more units than possible. Seeing how the spies noted the current city production. I'm also wondering if the AI has the ability to put certain units on adreline. "cause I had to attack almost any units with 3 units that where 5% stronger then the attacked one ...
I'ld like to cheat the AI, like it cheat on me !
ThomasHardy
Chieftain
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2006
- Messages
- 46
I do save and reload sometimes...
