General help...

[CenturionV]

ok i'm kidna new to civ 3 i got it quite awhile ago but kinda forgot it tell recently, any way my problem is that i'm usually playing on regent (the 2 bellow it are to easy) and i usually end up in a war with the other race(s) on my continent. i've started to figure out how to actually win the wars just once i'm done i usually start more new cities and then go searching for others and when i find them there atleast a few researches ahead of me and generally have units that are 1 up from mine so i end up fighting frigates with galleys and knights with swordsman and generally lose. is there some secret to keeping up your research even when your fighting for you life? also whats the best govornment for keeping research updated but still having plenty of troops?

 

[KDan]

When you meet the others, make peace with them, and pay money and/or world maps for their techs. If they won't trade, make sure you stay at peace with them and start gearing your empire towards research (ie build up your cities, build the improvements, etc). Then beeline for one tech which they don't have, ignoring all the others. Chances are you'll be able to gain tech parity by trading that one tech for all the techs you missed on the way. If not, it will only take a couple more techs to get there.

Daniel

 

[nullspace]

Trading or buying techs from the other civs can be effective. Also, if if you're fighting one civ and winning, you can sue for peace. Contact them, start making a deal and put peace on the table. Then see how many you can get from them for free. This guarantees 20 turns of peace, so don't attack again or everyone else will hate you.

To do your own research, you'll need plenty of marketplaces, libraries and universities to have a good economy. Despotism can be good if you have lots of units and your cities are size 6 or smaller. Monarchy is better for fewer units and larger cities. Republic is nice if you have all the infrastructure for a good economy and ways to keep your citizens happy.

That's a pretty quick explanation (that might already be obvious). Look at the War Academy part of CivFanatics for some really good strategies. Or read the Succesion Games forum if you've got lots of time.

 

[Beamup]

Originally posted by nullspace
Also, if if you're fighting one civ and winning, you can sue for peace.

Of course, this only works if they're willing to talk to you - I typically find that even if I'm smashing them and they are close to utter elimination, they will refuse to talk to me. Apparently they're offended that I'm ending the war they started.

 

[CenturionV]

yes i get the same thing everyoen is at best anoyed with me (i dont know why) and when i try and trade techs they always ask for massive amounts of cash even when i'm winning (i really love civ 3 but the diplomatic ai is somewaht lacking they shoulda made it more like alpha centauri it seemed to be better)

 

[Beamup]

Actually, it's less "they always ask for massive amounts of cash even when I'm winning" than "they always ask for massive amounts of cash ESPECIALLY when I'm winning." The AI plays to win, essentially, so if you're winning they are not going to like you, and will in fact do whatever they can to bring you down. Just like most humans would do in the same situation.