Frequently Asked Questions - (FAQ)

[AlanH]

You're a fast moving target. I was talking to you about GOTM 18 earlier today, via PM

Treasure chests were introduced as an extra unit to help Conquest class players in GOTM 20, which was a Deity game (and my first GOTM submission - a diplo loss ). A treasure chest can be moved around, so it can be used to explore, and it can be disbanded for 10 shields in a town.

For GOTM 20 you have to use the GOTM 20 resources.pcx and resources_shadows.pcx files instead of the standard ones, to avoid missing resources. You'll find these files in /Art/resources storage/GOTM20 xxxx/, where xxxx can be 'plain', 'w letters smilies' or 'w letters smilies and bonus', depending on what extras you like on your resource icons.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

thanks again alan. one of these days i'll have GOTM under my belt. i was thinking about buying civ complete though so everything i learn file manipulation wise i'll have to unlearn from the sounds of it.

 

[AlanH]

Civ3 Complete is well worth buying if you can afford it. You'll then have the choice of two games each month, plus the SGOTM, and none of the hassles with mod packs

 

[Taxpayer'sMoney]

How do I insert pictures into my spoilers?

 

[AlanH]

Detailed instructions are here

 

[Taxpayer'sMoney]

Thanks. A lot.

 

[Rurik]

Play COTMs in Conquests. No mods.

Play GOTMs in PtW - use the Civilization 3X executable. No mods.

Don't play GOTMs in Conquests. It'll all end in tears, as we reject your submission if it's played in Conquests.

Don't play GOTMs in Vanilla as you need to download a big mod with no obvious benefit.

AlanH, I'm a little confused about your remark. Is v.1.29 considered "vanilla"? I think so. So does that mean civ3 GOTMs are best played with PTW or C3C? Does the big mod have a big memory rqmt. or in anyway negatively impact gameplay? I'm thinking of doing a GOTM with my v.1.29 but don't want to invite problems with my reg. solo play, etc.

The confusion is that you have the GOTM installer for v.1.29 to make it as easy as for Mac users but here you seem to be saying it doesn't have any obvious benefit?

 

[Rurik]

I used the link diathus gave me above. I used the english patch:

Civilization III Patch v1.29f (9.9 MB): Mirror 1 Mirror 2 Mirror 3

I think I used mirror 2

My Civ CD is ver 1.07 I think. It normally does not require me to have the CD in the drive to play it.

I had this same problem with my Firaxis distrib. copy of v.1.07 when I downloaded the v.1.29 patch. I tried the v.1.29 patch from various sources (Apolyton, Civfanatics, Atari, etc.) and each time the v.1.29 asked for insertion of the CD (which was already in the drive).

Solution: I gave up and kept playing v.1.07.

Fateful occurrance: Since v.1.07 didn't require the disc, w/ a full download, I didn't keep the disc there (shared pc, etc.). Anyway, I lost my Civ3 disc...found the case but no disc. I needed my disc after the Civ folder was accidentally deleted (shared pc, etc.).

Went to Wal*Mart, bought new copy of Civ3 (for $10.00) and loaded it. It was v.1.29!!! Problem solved. BTW, my WalMart copy is distributed by Take-Two.

 

[AlanH]

AlanH, I'm a little confused about your remark.

Sorry

Is v.1.29 considered "vanilla"? I think so.

Yes

So does that mean civ3 GOTMs are best played with PTW or C3C?

GOTMs are the Classic games (for vanilla and PtW) we release mid-month - next one is GOTM 55, out tomorrow
COTMs are the C3C/Conquests games released at the start of each month.

Play GOTMs in PTW, then you need no mods.
Don't play GOTMs in C3C/Conquests. We'll reject them.

I think that is what I said. Sorry if it confused you..

Does the big mod have a big memory rqmt. or in anyway negatively impact gameplay? I'm thinking of doing a GOTM with my v.1.29 but don't want to invite problems with my reg. solo play, etc.
Thanks.

It does have a big disk footprint - about 26 MBytes, but I doubt if it affects memory requirements significantly compared with PTW. It should have no effect on your ability to play standard games. It *could* conflict with other mods that add extensive changes to resources, units or civs, as vanilla doesn't keep separate scenarios in separate directories.

But why use Civ3, with the hassle of a 26 MByte mod if you have PTW and can play with that in its standard form?

 

[Rurik]

Okay, I see what you're saying. It was the "if you have PTW" part that I wasn't associating with your remark (btw...it *isn't in* your remark). Thanks. I don't have PTW so I will need the mod installer.

[Edited:Oh. I apologize. I wasn't paying close attention to what was being said and why, Sorry.]

Oh, I'm looking for upcoming open QS and GOTM's but aren't finding them. On the GOTM main page is the Civ4, closing games (submission deadlines), but I'm not finding "starting dates" for games. Would you point out where they are/ or what I'm not seeing right in front of me? Thanks

[Last Edit: (I don't want to add unnecessary posts to this thread) Thank you for the explanation. I appreciate it.]

[Edited: Today Classic GOTM54 closes and Classic QSC54 is closed already but I don't see a listing for when Classic GOTM 55 or Classic QSC55 will be avail.]

 

[AlanH]

My post was in response to:

I bought Complete - with all three, Vanilla, PTW, Conquests.

Can I submit GOTM? It says not to play GOTM in conquests, though when I tried playing 41 (the spanish one), it seemed to be set up as PTW (no seafaring, etc.)

It wasn't necessary to say "if you have PTW" in that situation.

 

[AlanH]

Oh, I'm looking for upcoming open QS and GOTM's but aren't finding them. On the GOTM main page is the Civ4, closing games (submission deadlines), but I'm not finding "starting dates" for games. Would you point out where they are/ or what I'm not seeing right in front of me? Thanks

The current Civ3 games are linked in the left hand menu column. We don't publish game links there ahead of release, so no point looking for starting dates there. Look for Sticky Pre-game threads in this forum, usually posted four or five days ahaead of each game. Classic GOTMs are released on the 15th of every month, and as far as I know that has been consistent for 15 games since we moved the Classic game to mid-month when we started the COTM competition.

 

[Marsden]

Are there limits on how long your game takes to finish or the amount of reloads during the game?

Note: I understand reloading to go back in time for any reason is not allowed, I just mean can I play ten minutes then pick up again tomorrow without disqualifing myself. Sometimes I really want to play and then life calls me away from my computer.

 

[AlanH]

The only limit on how long you take to finish the game is that it has to be submitted within a month of the start date.

We recommend that you should only start a session when you can reasonably expect to play for an hour or more. Clearly there will be occasions when you are interrupted, so the odd session might be shorter. But lots of short sessions make us suspicious. If you *are* interrupted you can reduce the reload frequency by leaving the game running, if you are prepared to leave your computer switched on, sleeping or hibernating.

 

[Marsden]

Thank you. You have answered my question exactly. I appreciate it as I really want to get this CoTM in. I just fell of the global ranking last month and I want to get back on.

 

[fat-mans-reveng]

Don't play GOTMs in Conquests. It'll all end in tears, as we reject your submission if it's played in Conquests. QUOTE]

I just found that one out the hard way in GotM 57... Used C3C Conquests.

Well, good things come to those that search, and I found my PTW.exe, thanks for this thread!

One question though. Since my quest into GotM 57 wasn't valid, am I still allowed to participate in the spoiler threads?

 

[AlanH]

One question though. Since my quest into GotM 57 wasn't valid, am I still allowed to participate in the spoiler threads?

Your experience running in C3C will not relate to that of the other players. Your corruption will have worked differently, worker rates are different, upgrade costs are different, any leaders you created would behave differently, there's no Philosophy slingshot ... the list goes on. That's why we have different games.

By all means post in the appropriate spoilers if you think it will contribute, but make it clear that yours is a different game. Please don't give any spoiler information here though, please. The game is still in progress.

 

[Luthor_Saxburg]

Where can I find the instructions for the barbarians 'patch'?

I know this must have been asked a million times but I've looked and justr can't find it.

 

[Beorn-eL-Feared]

You open your Civilization\Conquests folder and find the "conquests.ini" file. Make a backup.

Then, in it, you add the line Noaipatrol=0
Save the file right there.
All there is to it.

You can also have it keep your current screen resolution by adding the line KeepRes=1 (useful on LCD's)
Or make it skip the intro video, line is PlayIntro=0

So far as I know, none of this is case sensitive

 

[ainwood]

Where can I find the instructions for the barbarians 'patch'?

I know this must have been asked a million times but I've looked and justr can't find it.

...or alternatively, download a utility here that updates the .ini file for you automatically.