How do I stop playing like a beginner?

[jis2507]

This may seem like a strange question, but maybe some of your civ fanatics out there will be able to help me out.

I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO WIN!

I've read through all the guides, and almost every single beginner mistake they say beginners make, I MAKE TOO!

No matter how hard I try, I always end up surrounded by civs on all sides that are only turns away from flipping my cities over to them.

I just can't seem to get along with any of the AI civs (my diplomacy "stratergy" is very spare of the moment )

When ever I'm CERTAIN I can win a war, the AI comes along and thwarts my plans, kills my attakcing piles, and sometimes even gets one or two of my cities in the process.

HOW CAN I STOP THESE THINGS FROM HAPPENING??

Basically, I'd love you guys to give some tips that can help me (and others who come across this thread) to stop playing like a beginner, and actually start winning a game or two

Thanks in advance people

 

[vranasm]

make shadow game with slow progress. We will comment on every save you provide and tell you what did you wrong from the last save you provided.

Take your time with playing. When I play I usually get into some "civ trans" and then I wonder what I did there .

Just play each evening 20-30 turns and let few hours come by to analyze a bit what you did and formulate new plans based on what happened.

 

[lymond]

I've read through all the guides, and almost every single beginner mistake they say beginners make, I MAKE TOO!

Well, stop making them. But really, Vranasm is right that posting a game from the start is the best way to learn. Civ is a complex game and many strategies/moves are situational, so adapting to eventually is important. We can help you do that.

Another approach that helps is to practice the first 50 to 100 turns of a game and then replay it. Focus first only on certain strategies presented in the articles like Sisitiul's guide - maybe even a single one like building more workers and not automating them and see where that gets you. Once you get that approach down, replay the same 100 turns and add a new piece to it. Eventually, some of these things will become second nature to you and you will see improve results with each playthrough. Oh...and the first 50 to 100 turns are the most important in the game and usually where games are won and lost.

 

[fathertuck]

As Lymond wrote, stop making the mistakes.

You didn't tell us what difficulty you're playing, but I guess you're trying to gain in levels and are now going for your forst victory? Well, guess what. The first victory on a higher level is always the most difficult one, so try not to get desperate because that will affect your gameplay in a negative way. Your first victory will eventually come. You just have to get better so keep on reading the forum and/or watching some YouTube Let's Plays.

 

[jis2507]

Thanks for the tips/encouragement guys!

I didn't know there was a place on the forums to post your game saves and get people to comment on what you did wrong.

Which section do I post these in?

 

[BornInCantaloup]

Don't hit "End Turn"

There is a well spread addiction to ending turns in turn based games : the faster you hit the key, the faster the game seems to progress. Seems to progress. Seems to.

Or hit "End Turn" with moderation.


@ Forum games :
That's the right forum Open up a thread. Indicate its specifics (map type, size, difficulty, etc.) and play short rounds, waiting for advice between them.
Better read some of those threads before starting one. It will give you an idea of how it goes...

 

[Cam_H]

Which section do I post these in?

jis2507,

Metzi did an article; A Guide to Posting that addresses uploading images and attaching games.

VoiceOfUnreason developed (in consultation); The Everyone's Guide to Getting Advice! that talks about 'approaching' the Forum with the intent of asking for help.

Hopefully these are of assistance. I'd encourage you to keep scratching around this Forum to pick up ideas, and (as per above) do 'shadow' games of the many community games here, such as The Nobles' Club.

 

[jis2507]

jis2507,

Metzi did an article; A Guide to Posting that addresses uploading images and attaching games.

VoiceOfUnreason developed (in consultation); The Everyone's Guide to Getting Advice! that talks about 'approaching' the Forum with the intent of asking for help.

Hopefully these are of assistance. I'd encourage you to keep scratching around this Forum to pick up ideas, and (as per above) do 'shadow' games of the many community games here, such as The Nobles' Club.

Thanks for those links I'll check them out

 

[Higher Game]

Get writing just after animal husbandry, get a capital library, make 2 scientists, and never, ever get rid of them. Works like a charm. Bronze working first is only good for rushing.

Those scientists mean precious beakers early in the game, the biggest problem most beginners have. Get sailing next for the trade. After writing, get to currency ASAP (or aesthetics, if lots of trade partners), and you'll have more trade and the marketplace slots mean you have plenty of specialist slots, even for the most food-rich sites. Bulb and trade mission to liberalism first and you should be established enough to pick apart the AI in the midgame.

 

[mrjacksplat]

Get writing just after animal husbandry, get a capital library, make 2 scientists, and never, ever get rid of them. Works like a charm. Bronze working first is only good for rushing.

Those scientists mean precious beakers early in the game, the biggest problem most beginners have. Get sailing next for the trade. After writing, get to currency ASAP (or aesthetics, if lots of trade partners), and you'll have more trade and the marketplace slots mean you have plenty of specialist slots, even for the most food-rich sites. Bulb and trade mission to liberalism first and you should be established enough to pick apart the AI in the midgame.

Thanks!

 

[Capellan]

If you have BTS, join some Noble's Club games. That will let you compare what you did to what other people did. The current game is NC71 Churchill.

 

[oranje willem]

Get writing just after animal husbandry, get a capital library, make 2 scientists, and never, ever get rid of them. Works like a charm. Bronze working first is only good for rushing.

Those scientists mean precious beakers early in the game, the biggest problem most beginners have. Get sailing next for the trade. After writing, get to currency ASAP (or aesthetics, if lots of trade partners), and you'll have more trade and the marketplace slots mean you have plenty of specialist slots, even for the most food-rich sites. Bulb and trade mission to liberalism first and you should be established enough to pick apart the AI in the midgame.

Actually, Bronze Working is one of the best early techs there is, because it allows slavery and chopping which both increase your production by a LOT. If not for rushing, it allows you to get monuments/graneries/libraries much faster in new cities and you can also use it to get out workers and settlers faster.

 

[Higher Game]

Actually, Bronze Working is one of the best early techs there is, because it allows slavery and chopping which both increase your production by a LOT. If not for rushing, it allows you to get monuments/graneries/libraries much faster in new cities and you can also use it to get out workers and settlers faster.

It's map dependent, and starting tech dependent, but bronze working is often a great way to overexpand and throw away a chance at wonders like the Hanging Gardens, Great Library, or grabbing Taoism if you have a no-religion start. What's really annoying is that it often doesn't even help rushing, because the lack of commerce and calendar can hold you back so much. Mass axes aren't so hot in high difficulties; catapults become much stronger relatively.

 

[Capellan]

Mass axes aren't so hot in high difficulties; catapults become much stronger relatively.

oranje willem made no mention of axes. BW is an important tech for any kind of early rush - it'd be much harder to pull off a horse archer rush without it, for instance. Plus slavery and chopping are good for other things - like getting those wonders you mentioned.

That doesn't necessarily mean you want it first, as you said in your post ... but it's generally nice to have sooner rather than later.

 

[Higher Game]

oranje willem made no mention of axes. BW is an important tech for any kind of early rush - it'd be much harder to pull off a horse archer rush without it, for instance. Plus slavery and chopping are good for other things - like getting those wonders you mentioned.

That doesn't necessarily mean you want it first, as you said in your post ... but it's generally nice to have sooner rather than later.

IMO picking up bronze working after writing isn't early, just normal, and not really rush territory. Getting it before is, but it hurts tech pace badly, and is a sort of gamble.