Help for a Total Newbie?

[Pablo Sanchez]

Hi. I just picked up Civ3 recently. I played a bit of Civ 1 on my old computer back in the day, but I always sucked.

I just played through a game as the Romans, and I was apparently far more cultured and advanced than the others, mainly because I was playing on Cheiftan

Anyway, I advanced at a steady rate until about 1600, whereupon Hammurabi decided that I should contribute about half my treasury to the cause of world peace. I refused. I suddenly found myself at war with every civilization on the planet, even ones I had not yet heard of.

Since you people know more than me, I am asking for advice. What Civ would be the easiest for a newbie to play? What strategy should I use to win?

 

[Sman]

Well it all depends on what type of games you want to play. You said that you had a good culture so i don't know if u want to win that way or win through conquering other civs or space race, diplomatic victory, and there is 2 more but my brain is fried and I can't think of them. If u want to go and beat the sh*t out of everyone in the begining then I think you should try the persions, if you want to win culturaly then try the babloyians. As I said again, it all depends on how you play and how u want to win.

Hell you can just pick your favriot color.

 

[donsig]

How did the war go? Did the other civs pound you or did you hang on? You must have a good defense. Sometimes it is good to give up the gold and go on with life...

Sounds like some diplomacy would help you as well - try to get some mutual defense pacts. Also, once you meet another civ (and have writing?) you can trade them something for contact with still other civs. Get to know as many as you can as quickly as you can. The AI in Civ III is much more willing to trade maps than in the old Civs.

Sman makes a good point. If you know how you want to play a game then certain civs may fit your style. If you want to fight alot then get a militaristic civ. If you want culture play a religious or scientific civ. Page 17 of the instruction manual details the different attributes of each civ.

 

[Pablo Sanchez]

Originally posted by donsig
How did the war go? Did the other civs pound you or did you hang on? You must have a good defense. Sometimes it is good to give up the gold and go on with life...

I actually had loads of gold and some good units, but I had been locked in by my peaceful ways. I had the oceans on the east, and the Indians on the west. I fought an early war against the Indians to capture Iron reserves, but I worked relations back up to a good level.

Then everyone went crazy on me.

I was outnumbered pretty badly, and the other Civs refused contact for deals . So I killed scores of enemy units, but my inability to obtain Saltpeter was my death. I had gunpowder ready and waiting, but I just couldn't get the resources.

nds like some diplomacy would help you as well - try to get some mutual defense pacts. Also, once you meet another civ (and have writing?) you can trade them something for contact with still other civs. Get to know as many as you can as quickly as you can. The AI in Civ III is much more willing to trade maps than in the old Civs.

Sman makes a good point. If you know how you want to play a game then certain civs may fit your style. If you want to fight alot then get a militaristic civ. If you want culture play a religious or scientific civ. Page 17 of the instruction manual details the different attributes of each civ.

I'll probably go with a more diplomatic and cultural approach, because I suck with military matters.

Thanks.

 

[Shotocan]

Hey Mate,

Well depends like the other guys said how you want to play. My best advice is when you first start the game build another setler then set your warriors off to look for another civ. Start attacking that civ straight away. Always try to take out one or two civs before the game really gets underway. That way A) you get more land, B) the civ doesnt get to tell the other civs what you've done therefore the other civ's wont be against you from the start, and C) Even if you dont kill them they will be crippled for the rest of the game and will offer just about anything to let them survive.

Thats my advice apart from that focus on culture and defense, always listen to your advisers when negotiating with another civ, they will tell you what they fear i.e "The Chinease fear your long bowmen", "Our forces outnumber theres, thats good". Stuff like that is handy to know as to weather or not you can dominate the other civ. Set up good tradeing, make the population happy by building stuff like library's....always focus on Temples as soon as you can too.

Happy gaming!

Scott

 

[ukrneal]

Agree with all the posts here. The Japanese would be good in the mid game war part. Those samurai are really nice! Especially if you can golden age around that era. A nice combo.

Otherwise, I like the Persians and Babylonians as a starting place. I think I'll try China next - riders sound cool!

Ultimately, try them all!!