FAQ (For total newbs to Civ3)

[carmen510]

Note: I dont know/have Civ2 so, dont ask for changes! Now, ask any questions! I'll put frequent initial ones on.

Governments

Q: What government should I switch to?
A: Republic/Democracy in peaceful times. Monarchy/Facism/Communism in Wartime. Never switch to Feudalism.
Q: Why should I switch to ******** in peace/wartime?
A: Republic and Democracy have War Weariness. They also come with more commerce. Also, more unit costs. Monarchy/Facism/Communism have almost no unit costs or very little. Usually, corruption is high with these govs in War.

Techs

Q: Which tech should I go for in early game?
A: Try to go for Philosophy. Person who researches first gets a free tech. For warmongers, go for bronze/iron working. Religious, go for Ancestor Worship, Mystism, and Polythism.

Now, some statagies.
Always explore early. You'll eventually come in contact of some1 and trade good. Gonna finish!

 

[drakdan]

Awesome and very informative I like the big text try something that hasn't been covered already?

 

[Xenofungus]

the numbers next to the actual goverment in the status box (ie Republic (4.5.4)), what do they mean?


why is it bad to attack with defensive units? (like pikes) are there bonus / penalties to stats when attacking instead of defending?


thanks and excuse my poor english

PD.: im playing contest, if that makes a difference

 

[carmen510]

1. Have no idea.... I'll check..
2. The defensive units cannot really destroy offensive units, unless you have TOWs.

 

[Lord Emsworth]

the numbers next to the actual goverment in the status box (ie Republic (4.5.4)), what do they mean?

These numbers stand for the percentage of your commerce that goes into tax/science/happyness. So, 4.5.4 is impossible. 4.5.1 would mean though that 40 % of the commerce goes to tax, 50 % to research, and 10 % is used to make your citizens happy.

why is it bad to attack with defensive units? (like pikes) are there bonus / penalties to stats when attacking instead of defending?


thanks and excuse my poor english

PD.: im playing contest, if that makes a difference

A Pikeman has stats of 1/3/1 which means that it attacks at 1, defends at 3 and has a movement of 1. An attack on 1 is the lowest value that you can get, so of course it is bad to attack with such a unit.

 

[Tone]

why is it bad to attack with defensive units? (like pikes) are there bonus / penalties to stats when attacking instead of defending?

The battle system in civIII is quite simple; there are no bonuses or penalties for particular combinations of attackers and defenders. For example, a knight stands the same chance of defeating a sword or a spear (both have a defence of 2) if all other conditions are the same.

This next bit is done in a hurry so please excuse any omissions:

The only attacking bonus that I'm aware of is late in the game when Radar Towers give a +25% attacking bonus when you are within range. This can also be awarded to defenders.

terrain gives a defending bonus. +10% on flat terrain, +25% for defending from an attack across a river or if defending in forests/jungle, +50% if defending on a hill, +100% on a mountain,. IIRC marsh is similar to forest and volcanos similar ro mountains but not quite the same.

Other defending bonuses: fortified units get a bonus (+25%?). Units in cities (or towns with walls) get +50% and metros get +100%. Fortresses +50% and barricades +100% IIRC.

These benefits are cumulative so a unit defending on a mountain behind a river gets a multiplier of x2x1.25 i.e X2.5.

Please check the civilopedia for the ones that I'm not sure of and can anyone give the definitive figure for being fortified?

Hope this helps.

BTW possibly being picky but ...

2. The defensive units cannot really destroy offensive units, unless you have TOWs.

...is not quite true. Units that have been redlined are vunerable and many offensive units have poor defensive stats. Eg a longbow can normally be beaten by an attacking pike if it has already been redlined and I'll take on a pike with a rifle if I have to. The rifle's attack of 4 is as good as a longbow or MDI's attack. I agree that this is only when you have to but defensive units can attack just as much as offensive units can defend; they're just normally not first in the queue!

 

[Turner]

Moderator Action: Thread closed. There's already a Quick Answers thread in Civ3:GD.