Originally posted by Zeromus
So maybe I should play with more ppl (i play with 6 ai civs) on a bigger map than standard?
Also, I'm pretty good at fighting wars with the ai civs, but their technology is too hard to beat with just numbers and strategy...
Hi
Not sure if I am one of the more experienced players, I've certainly spent a lot of time having my butt kicked by the AI but anyhow here's my ideas.
I can win at Emperor with an adaptation of my old strategies from CivII, however that has taken me since December! I still hit a wall at Diety and I am begining to think I may never get my basically non-aggressive strategy to work at that level.
Anyhow as to your question clearly a bigger map is more likely to give you a breathing space at the start of the game. This is of no use however unless you have a strategy to catch up with Ai's huge tech and production advantages. If not you are simply going to fall further behind and would be better off going for very early conquest on a small map. I have never actually tried this at any level by the way so have less experience than you about what happens then.
I go for the eight opponents 1 because I rely on the Great Library and you get techs which are known by two other civs you have contact with. No contact and the GL does nothing. Full contact and you get a slingshot into the second age and some wonders but you need to have half built palaces ready to change to Wonder production when you get the tech.
Also because I submit to the Hall of Fame and the rules require 8 civs. (Just got knocked off the top of the Emp. chart, but I shall return, unfortunately I cheated slightly in my current game, so cannot submit it)
To begin with and to get at least one victory why not look at the 4000BC situation and do not start until you have a promising landscape, preferably with a food bonus square or two. Cheating, maybe, but this game is hard enough and you learn things from winning that you cannot learn from losing. (its also more fun).
Think about what your strategy is and carefully choose the right civ. I think the civ benefits, militaristic, scientif etc are much more important than what Unique Unit they have. Not that one set of characteristics is better than the others just that you must find one that fits your style. Perhaps later on you can try and find ways of winning with random selection.
Develop cities for particular purposes. eg Wonders, Military, Workers/Settlers, research, maximising food or sheilds etc appropriately.
Scout for resources and build towards them once you have cities in that prime real estate close to your capital. These close cities are key, they are the only ones that will work close to max. efficiency, at least until you have the Forbidden Palace.
NB You dont need scouts to scout, I use whatever I can spare, Chariots/Horsemen are best if you have them. Mostly I just use Warriors, 5 at least and they sometimes survive barb attacks, unlike scouts.
Build roads and mines leave irrigation until it works under Mon. or Rep, even then concentrate on mines unless, a city is not growing.
Settle on river banks, whenever you can, even if this creates some overlaps and gaps.
Give yourself a break with a low Barb activity setting, but dont forget no barbs and you get no goody huts. Frankly unless you play an expansionist civ eg Americans, these huts in CivIII are more trouble than they are worth in my experience.
If you can build or capture Wonders, I would go for the GL and any that give a benefit or building in all your cities.
Finally dont put your precious workers on auto at least until late in the game, micromanagement is key.
Hope some of this is relevant to your play.
![[pimp]](/images/smilies/pimp.gif "Pimp [pimp]")
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Zeromus
