Exploits that you use

[mnhockey]

I have to admit to a couple. Playing Emporer, using the default settings other than land mass, I want the bulk of the other civs not separated by water. I build 6 or so cities, barrack the 4 most productive and make nothing but warriors. I set research to Iron working, then turn it off after reaching it because I need all the coins for the next stage After I have a dozen or so vet warriors I connect to the iron and turn them into Immortals. Slam into the two closet civs and take cities, workers, and techs from them, then hit the next with the leftover units and newly produced Immortals. You should have severly weaked your closest competition, and be large enough to keep up with techs after building Libraries and Universities.
Second exploit that I use is with Carthage. I research Math, and will go untill I see if there is any Ivory nearby. If there is, I'm going for the Statue of Zeus, and both times I have done this I recieved a GSL from researching Math first. Use the GSL in my least productive city (build a barrack right away) for a long time supply of free, fast and very effective troops.

 

[Spoonwood]

I don't see how these qualify as exploits, but rather as strategies.

 

[Optional]

Still a good first post, though. Welcome to the forums, mnhockey!
I would also call this strategy, not exploit. The ability to upgrade units got programmed in to be used, and that's what you're doing. An example of an exploit would for me be: you're already building immortals, or swordsman, and then you disconnect the iron, so that you can build 10-shield warriors again, for upgrading to swordsmen if you're reconnected again. I don't think pillaging in your own territory is what you're meant to be doing, so that's why I would call that an exploit.
The upgrade strategy you're mentioning will help on any level, but the more you move up level, the less it will be a game breaker.

 

[Lord Emsworth]

Optional, don't you mean that the more you move up the more it will be a game breaker?

 

[Optional]

Yeah, any trick that works becomes more crucial to use if you move up level, of course, although on a really high level, where the AI is more advanced, an early unit upgrade might only suffice to keep you alive, and not yet cause you to waltz over the whole map. Have I put that a bit better now, Lord Emsworth?

And some things only work on the low levels.

 

[Elear]

An example of an exploit would for me be: you're already building immortals, or swordsman, and then you disconnect the iron, so that you can build 10-shield warriors again, for upgrading to swordsmen if you're reconnected again.

I guess that crosses me off YOUR good list. *Hastily disposes of his save game files*

 

[NickyH]

For some more info on what is generally considered exploits, check out the Hall of Fame rules: http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ3/rules.php?show=allowed (There are links for allowed, borderline and disallowed at the top of the page.)

I guess the exploit/cheat that I'm sometimes guilty of, is reloading. (However, once I've reloaded a game, I don't take it serious any more, so I usually avoid it.)

 

[Northen Wolf]

Exploit - Ai does not make naval assaults (countin' out Wikings w/ 'Zerks) on workers, so I often enough park workers near naval areas or let them work on tiles with sea access. Human player can get slaves by sacrificing old unit and making amphibious attack on AI "worker" unit.

Give ai a new government before declaring war.

Use artillery if I am falling behind in techs (ai cannot use arty or similar bombartment units.)