Help for beginner!!!

[sienna]

Hi all...

I am just getting started playing the magnificent game Civ3 and I am not sure I am going well. I have no problems dominating other nations to a certain point, but the production options seem to be lagging well behind!!!

That is to say for example, in my last game, I reached the year 2020 or so, had ALL of the scientific advances in the three ages before Modern, and as far as I know, enough resources - although this may not be the case (obviously).

I could build radars, mobile and fixed SAMs, tank busting TOW infantry, but no luck when it comes to Marines, Paratroopers, a single darn aircraft, and navally, I could build up to an iron clad or nuclear sub, but no battleships destroyers etc.

Anyway its been a bit frustrating... cause I really want to get the better units to cause almost unparalleled carnage on my planet!!!

Can anyone tell me where I am going wrong!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[Ginger_Ale]

You aren't going wrong, it's the normal path of the game on lower levels. The AI takes longer to research a tech, build a unit, etc., so other stuff (like techs) are slow. The higher the level you will play, the faster the game goes.

PS: Battleships require Mass Production and Destroyers need Combustion, so I'm assuming that you had those techs since you had Radar Artillery. You would need oil to build them.

 

[stachnie]

Just three words: increase your... err... get some oil

S.

 

[IbnSina]

... and Welcome to CFC!

 

[rajwhitehall]

Just three words: increase your... err... get some oil

S.

Yup! The Resources system is one of the VERY best parts of CIV3 but it is quite subtle. Afaik there is nothing that tells you explicitly you're missing a resource that prevents you from building a certain type of unit.

Use the Science advisor screen and find out which units you should be able to build based on the Techs you've obtained. If you have the tech level for a unit but can't build it, check which resources those units require. Then, determine if you have a source of those resources or need to trade for them (or make war for them).

Obviously to take most advantage of the techs, get them right away after researching the tech. If you have to trade for them, that's putting you in a vulnerable position and conquering a source of that resource should be a high priority.

 

[braclayrab]

Is Flight an optional tech? I know Advanced Flight is, perhaps you never researched it? Although, I think you probably did, it's still good to realize that some techs are optional it's actually often good to skip some techs intentionally. I almost always skip chivalry, at least in Vanilla.

 

[Ginger_Ale]

No, Flight is a required tech.

 

[Jon Shafer]

Yeah, definitely sounds like he doesn't have oil.

 

[sienna]

Thankyou all so much for your valuable advice!!! I thought it might have been something like that although I wasn't sure.

Hmmm.... now to sally forth and find me some texas tea

Cheers!!

Sienna

 

[sienna]

ps - this site rocks!!!!!