going backwards

[tombeef]

I would really appreciate some help. I got CIV IV for Christmas and have gotten to the point where I can defeat the AI regularly on Noble, and sometimes the next difficulty, and I have won my last three MP games in a row. Since I figured I was OK at it, I decided to pick up CIV II since I have heard so many good things about it. Now, in CIV IV the typical strategy is chop down trees to get production, then take down the AI's through war. Now, since you cant chop trees in CIV II, I was wondering what are some easy ways to go about CIV II.

For instance, I tried a game on a fairly easy difficulty (can't quite remeber what). By like 400 A.D., I had like 10 cities. I thought this was ok, until I encountered an AI who had about 15. Wow, was that a surprise. They also had completed more wonders.

So, I guess I need some help. I'm so used to the strategies in CIV IV that CIV II seems kind of foreign to me. Again, I would appreciate some easy ways to go about a game, and some simple hints. I'm not expecting a full blown guide by any means, just something to get myself started. So far I have enjoyed the game, and I hope to help contribute to the CIV II forums, since I post a lot in the CIV IV forums. Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[Peaster]

Welcome to Civ2, Tombeef !

Since Civ2 has been around a while, we have had lots of time to hunt for its secrets and write strategy guides. One good place to start is the thread at the top of this forum "Tips and Tricks for New Players". For much much more, see the Great Library at Apolyton or the War Room here at CFC.

10 cities in 400 AD is not bad, and some experienced players will build less than that. But I have found that building maybe 50 cities by 400 AD makes everything else easier. If you want more cities, it is simple.... you just have to build settlers, settlers, settlers. No improvements, minimal army, minimal roads, no boats unless the settlers need em. No wonders either, until you have approx 10 cities.

By the way, 15 cities by an AI seems high - maybe you had a little bad luck there.

 

[TimTheEnchanter]

One of the great things about civ2 is that there are many ways to approach things, but I would say the following might get you started in the right direction.

1) Expand and build new cities, particularly early. A good early strategy is like peaster said: to pump out settlers as fast as possible to get a big city base for better production. You don't have to have 50 cities by 400ad, but more than 10 helps.
2) Defend minimally. And remember that often the best defense is a good offense. The best defensive units are at a disadvantage to the best offensive units in just about every era.
3) Probably not unlike your "chopping trees" one of the best bits of advice I picked up is that gold is meant to be spent. Use it to rush production of stuff. Learn about incremental rush buying.
4) Focus on trade and particularly science to gain an advantage.
5) Trade, Trade, Trade! Unlike civ 3 (and i assume 4 is the same) you actually have to deliver goods for trading. Build caravans and deliver demanded goods to distant foreign civs for trade delivery bonuses of gold and science beakers as well as additional trade in your cities from ongoing trade routes.
6) For longer, space race games read about the Super Science City (SSC). For conquest do as peaster said: Get lots and lots of cities quickly, then have them focus on building an army of fast (2 movement) offensive units (attack of 4 or higher) and go slicing through the AI cities like butter.

Most importantly, enjoy the best strategy game ever!

 

[tombeef]

thanks much for the advice, I will put it to good use.

 

[MikeLynch]

Having played some Civ 4 myself, I'll throw in a couple tips for stuff you might not anticipate:

- Beeline for Philosophy. It gives you a free advance if you're the first to discover it.

- You actually have to discover or otherwise acquire every science, and they don't get cheaper the longer you ignore them -- although your discovery rate should increase.

- Your choice of government is drastically more important in Civ2 than in Civ4, where civics are basically little bonuses to choose from. I usually go for Monarchy ASAP, then Communism (or, if I feel hedonistic, Fundamentalism), and work toward making my own civ safe for Democracy.

- Don't expect to get much from the AI in diplomatic talks. Depending on the level you're playing at, you'll be lucky to get them to trade technologies, and you'll have to give them your shirt to trade maps. Generally, the more superior your civ is to anyone else's, the more cheesed off they get.

- Because it does not automatically provoke war to do so, the AI will violate your borders constantly. Be prepared: shore up gaps in your city radii with units, and keep one or two speedy units at the ready to oust visiting diplomat/spy units, which can do a lot of damage if you let them.

And before anyone jumps on me for using Fundamentalism -- which is so much of an advantage, admittedly, as to be practically cheating -- I should point out that Incremental Rush Buying pretty much IS cheating. We all cheat in our own special little ways.

 

[#1 Person]

You can chop down trees though ("I" key), although you get no production bonuses. How sad