Getting my ass handed to me.

[Ataxerxes]

I agree with the op and I am in the same situation as you. I recently started playing civ III again and I find it is the most addicting game there is. For the first time in a while I do not want to turn the game off. When I hit quit I feel bad to say "Yes, Immediately!" because its a lie. I need to go to bed sometime before 3 am more often. But I have also seen the game is a lot harder. In the first file I played I went as Russia (unaware that they are so awful) quickly invaded a neighbor (Monte) and then got my ass handed to me when my invasion force was killed and a few jaguars were parked outside Moscow. I didn't stick around for the last turn when Moscow would be burned to the ground my vicious Aztec Jaguars. Now I am going as Japan and having doing a lot better as I have grasped a little bit more of the strategy. I'm only on chieftain difficulty.

If you're Russia, as vmxa said, they're Expansionistic. On Chieftain that's actually a strong trait. With a couple of scouts exploring, tribal villages will get you most of the AA techs. With Scientific you should always have a tech lead. Even with Japan, Chieftain is where the villages are very nice to you.

Yes, the game is addicting. It also feels faster paced than IV.

Siege and Armies make war a lot easier. Getting that first army really makes the invasions easier. And the AI doesn't use armies at all well. And with Jaguars and Militaristic Monty isn't an ideal early war target. Before an invasion I'd check the Military advisor and make sure you have more power than the target does. With good tactics you can overcome a stronger foe but for now, just be sure you're stronger.

 

[jtb1127]

I enjoy the faster pace. Its one of the things that I like more about this game. Civ IV has things I like. I couldn't say which game is better, I like both.

A problem that occurred in my Japanese file was that I was on an island with only one other civ, the Americans. I took them over early, then settles the lands. The island is not very big and I built cities in every possible location. Now I have reached a recession where I have no where to build cities to make more money. I have began losing due to maintenance costs and I had to kill 1/2 my military so I didn't go broke. Now I'm making a little bit of money but still nowhere to go until I get astronomy. Any suggestions on how to avoid recessions like this?

 

[vmxa]

Well what form of government are you currently using? Once you know you are on an island that is not quite large, you have to think about invasions. This tends to mean Monarchy, unless this is an island map.

Then you can use Republic as war will not be that long. Second is to maximize the city count on the island. This means quite tight spacing and CxC any tundra or desert. Those tons get only the starting pop and it will be a specialist always.

Race towards Astro so you can get out and find land. Get lots of boats so you can ship troops as soon as you find someone. No need for temples and such on an island, especially at low levels.

Do not make structures, unless you can really use them in that town. Granaries are much less useful on an island.

 

[Ataxerxes]

What era are you in? If you're still in the AA the Great Lighthouse would be a good build. With the further range into the sea you might be able to find more playmates before Astronomy.

Maps where you are alone like that are harder.

 

[CommandoBob]

I enjoy the faster pace. Its one of the things that I like more about this game. Civ IV has things I like. I couldn't say which game is better, I like both.

A problem that occurred in my Japanese file was that I was on an island with only one other civ, the Americans. I took them over early, then settles the lands. The island is not very big and I built cities in every possible location. Now I have reached a recession where I have no where to build cities to make more money. I have began losing due to maintenance costs and I had to kill 1/2 my military so I didn't go broke. Now I'm making a little bit of money but still nowhere to go until I get astronomy. Any suggestions on how to avoid recessions like this?

Posting your latest save file would be a big help.

Aside from that, make boats and try to explore. You will lose a lot of them, but one should eventually survive long enough to see a distant shore line. Then you explore that area, find new civs and make tech trades. The Great Lighthouse and Magellan's Voyage increase ship movement by one. Since you are on an island, plan to build those wonders. It will help with AI exploration. And AI extermination, too!

If you build too many buildings you can kill your economy. Most of your core cities will need a barracks, library and market. Perhaps an aqueduct, if they are not next to fresh water. A few many need a courthouse, but not all. Temples and City Walls can be ignored (generally). Coastal cities may need harbors (veteran ships and more commerce). There is no great need to build everything in every city, though there is a great tempation to do this.

If you have any Regular units, replace them with the Vetaran units that your barrcks make.

Your government makes a difference also, both in commerce and unit support costs. I won't go into the details, except to say 'Get out of Despotism'.

 

[jtb1127]

Well what form of government are you currently using? Once you know you are on an island that is not quite large, you have to think about invasions. This tends to mean Monarchy, unless this is an island map.

I was using monarchy but I switched to republic. It is a continents map but I have conquered my continent (which is rather small).

Then you can use Republic as war will not be that long. Second is to maximize the city count on the island. This means quite tight spacing and CxC any tundra or desert. Those tons get only the starting pop and it will be a specialist always.

What would you say is the best number of tiles in between two cities?

Race towards Astro so you can get out and find land. Get lots of boats so you can ship troops as soon as you find someone. No need for temples and such on an island, especially at low levels.

I am going for it. I have built a lot of temples to stop the riots but I realized if I tell the governor to manage citizen's moods I can avoid the riots that way.

Do not make structures, unless you can really use them in that town. Granaries are much less useful on an island.

I have been building plenty of granaries. I guess I will stop wasting money on buildings that aren't helpful.

What era are you in? If you're still in the AA the Great Lighthouse would be a good build. With the further range into the sea you might be able to find more playmates before Astronomy.

Maps where you are alone like that are harder.

I am in the late medieval, the year is around 1200 something.

Posting your latest save file would be a big help.

I would but I am unable to locate the save files. Where can I find them? I go to the games files but I do not see the saves, just everything else.

Aside from that, make boats and try to explore. You will lose a lot of them, but one should eventually survive long enough to see a distant shore line. Then you explore that area, find new civs and make tech trades. The Great Lighthouse and Magellan's Voyage increase ship movement by one. Since you are on an island, plan to build those wonders. It will help with AI exploration. And AI extermination, too!

I have gotten very close to finding the other continent but my ship sank right before then! I found an island pretty far from the mainland which I was able to settle without the boat sinking.

If you build too many buildings you can kill your economy. Most of your core cities will need a barracks, library and market. Perhaps an aqueduct, if they are not next to fresh water. A few many need a courthouse, but not all. Temples and City Walls can be ignored (generally). Coastal cities may need harbors (veteran ships and more commerce). There is no great need to build everything in every city, though there is a great tempation to do this.

The only time I've built walls is when the city built it on it's own. I have been building temples but I will stop building so many if they are a waste of money.

If you have any Regular units, replace them with the Vetaran units that your barrcks make.

Done a lot of that. I think this is the major reason I have began to make a little bit of money again. I deleted all the regulars and left veterans and elites. I also got rid of some of the land locked city's spearmen because the protection seemed useless. Any enemy who tries to have an amphibious landing will have to deal with the army I already have and then the soldiers I whip out before they get to the unguarded cities.

Your government makes a difference also, both in commerce and unit support costs. I won't go into the details, except to say 'Get out of Despotism'.

Done that. I'm with republic.

 

[vmxa]

"What would you say is the best number of tiles in between two cities?"

I always use CxxC, unless it is tundra or desert then I use CxC.



"I have built a lot of temples to stop the riots but I realized if I tell the governor to manage citizen's moods I can avoid the riots that way."

There is no reseaon to use temples in more than 1 or 2 of the biggest cities. Use the lux slider or specialist. If this was Monarch or better you could maybe use a few more temples. On chief you start with 4 content citizens.

One or two lux and the slider should be fine for much of the game. Later a market and 3 lux or more is good for the whole game. I just played AWM on a large map and never ran my slider above 20% and we only had 3 lux on my continent.

"I have been building plenty of granaries. I guess I will stop wasting money on buildings that aren't helpful."

It is not that are not helpful, but they cost money and are not worth on a small landmass. I seldom make more than2 even on a 250x250 map. Now if you are going for culture or high score get the faster growth is more important.

 

[jtb1127]

At first I was unsure what "cxxc" meant and then I posted the question unknowing that you already gave me the answer.

 

[Aabraxan]

Oops. Lots of posts that I missed before I posted.

Never mind.

 

[CommandoBob]

I would but I am unable to locate the save files. Where can I find them? I go to the games files but I do not see the saves, just everything else.

It could depend on which version of Windows you have.

In XP, there is a folder under 'Conquests' named 'Saves' and the save files are in that folder. The file extension is DOT sav .

In Vista and Win7 user security may hid those files from you. I know that has been discussed in the Tech Issues section of the CivIII forum but I do not recall the details of how to work around it.

 

[jtb1127]

It could depend on which version of Windows you have.

In XP, there is a folder under 'Conquests' named 'Saves' and the save files are in that folder. The file extension is DOT sav .

In Vista and Win7 user security may hid those files from you. I know that has been discussed in the Tech Issues section of the CivIII forum but I do not recall the details of how to work around it.

I have 7 on this computer and vista on the other. Because I can't figure out how to move the files I started a second one as Persia. This one is a pangaea and I seem to be having even better luck at it. I'm steam rolling the Chinese with around 30 troops and still making about 36 gpt. Using many of the tips my economy seems a lot better (although I'm not on a lonely island with no room for cities) I think I'll have a conquest victory before the industrial age.

 

[Lanzelot]

I would but I am unable to locate the save files. Where can I find them?

Microsoft got that one messed up quite successfully...

The solution is here: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=8032403#post8032403

 

[jtb1127]

Microsoft got that one messed up quite successfully...

The solution is here: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=8032403#post8032403

Thanks much