How to get started?

[Robert FIN]

Hi mates! I'm active forum member, though I play mostly Civ IV. However I found my father's old, old, old, old Civ II from box of old stuff. I got interested of course, and finally managed to make it work on 64bit. I played one game already but I felt like I missed so many things. I don't understand throne room. I don't know how I should improve my tiles, or what buildings and wonders do and are they good. I'd like to get help to get started. Thanks.

 

[Major Advantage]

Welcome to the living fossils!

I have only played civ I and II, so I can't point out any differences between II and IV. Maybe there is someone else who can.
As for your questions, the throne room doesn't have any effect on the actual game, it's just a little reward if the game thinks you are doing well.
Improving tiles is something you should only do, if you intend to actually work that tile, otherwise, it is just a waste of settler turns. Except for roads maybe, if they are used for transportation.
The effect of buildings and wonders is described in the civilopedia (with some errors though, Copernicus doubles the city science, Newton college doubles the effect of science improvements, Bach cathedral works on all cities) that you can open in the game.

A great overview about general strategy is the "tips & tricks for new players" in the strategy section that should do for a start, but there is plenty more stuff to read for people drawn into the game.

 

[Robert FIN]

Okay, that helps a bit ! Thanks! So my next question is: How to change the tiles you wanna work in city X?

 

[Major Advantage]

It seems you didn't happen to find the manual along with the cd? In the city screen, you can click on a tile being worked on and the worker turns to an entertainer, making people happier. Now you can click on a tile not being worked on and the entertainer goes back to working.

The manual is available here: http://www.civfanatics.com/content/civ2/reference/Civ2manual.zip

 

[Robert FIN]

Yeah, that sounds logical, its very similar to IV then. In Civ IV, you can switch between specialists (in this case entertainers) and tiles just by clicking the object you wanna work. I didn't know that you must turn the selection off first. And yes, seems like my version (infogrames) didn't include manual or it has been thrown to garbage accidentally. I'll read the manual in your link, thanks !

 

[Prof. Garfield]

I haven't played civ 4, so I don't know how similar the games are. Here are some points (in no particular order) that I can think of that you may need to know.

1. In civ 2 it is usually better to have as many cities as possible. The main penalty for too many cities is extra unhappines, but that penalty is not usually enough to warrant a smaller civ size. In the early game, having lots of small cities is better than a few large ones because you get to work the city square for free.

2. Don't build the Great Library. If you plan to become somewhat skilled at the game, the GL will eventually start to outright hurt you, instead of help. Best not to get hooked.

3. Be mindful of the diplomacy difference between Classic and Multiplayer Gold Edition. Most of the players here prefer Classic because the AI is less hostile. I think in MGE you can get what you need from the civ only the first time you make contact. When using Marco Polo's Embassy, spend your treasury to below 50 gold (unless you'd rather pay gold than give a tech), and then when you contact, make sure to get their map (they must have map making, so be sure to give it to them first) even if you have to give them a lot of technologies. Also try to trade for any needed techs.

4. Caravans are the game breaker. Make sure to send them as far as possible from the source city, to a different island, and to a rival civilization. The commodity doesn't have to be demanded, although the delivery bonus will be larger. If you send the caravan to a nearby city on the same continent and to one of your cities, you will only get a small payout.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

Welcome Robert FIN. By far the best way to learn the game is to join the rest of us in the Game of the Month. GOTMs 145 and 146 are active right now.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Re: the Throne Room. Personally, I find it fun. I love making the room nice and fancy, and leaving the actual throne as the broken column or the plain little chair.

There's an option to turn it off, so it won't interrupt your game play if you find it annoying.

 

[Robert FIN]

@Ali: Okay, thanks, I see if I wanna join GOTM. @Valka: OK, so throne room is just like little reward. Then I see no reason to remove it. @Prof.Garfield: Thanks for reply. 1. Ok, Civ4 rewards early expansion too. In that game cities cost maintenance not happiness. 2. Why not build Great Library? Why is it bad? 3. Oh, how to get the non-hostile AI patch? 4. Ok, caravans are good, but what do you gain from it? Commerce or science? And does it cost anything but production?

 

[Prof. Garfield]

2. Why not build Great Library? Why is it bad?

The Great Library gives you technologies when you don't need them. If you are interested in getting to a specific technology, the Great Library has the potential to slow you down because each technology you get increases the cost of researching other technologies.

In Civ 2, there are 3 "technology cycles," and each technology is assigned to one of the cycles. Except for scenarios (and I think the Chieftain level), every time you select a technology to research, the technologies from one of the cycles will be hidden. This means that as you try to get to a certain technology, you will sometimes have to research technologies that are "off path." So, for example, if you have to research an off path tech and then you get 2 unneeded techs from the GL, you will then have to research off path again.

If you go to the trouble of planning out when you will research technologies, the GL will ruin your plan with any unwanted technology.

Sometimes, you can even get a technology that will hurt you. The best example is feudalism, which makes the warrior obsolete. If you are in Monarchy, you won't get the benefits of a cheap martial law unit, and the warrior is nice to have for cheaper Incremental Rush Building/Buying (look it up, or ask about it).

Also, if you play Classic, you can use the cheaper Marco Polo's Embassy to trade for a technology that only one other civ has.

4. Ok, caravans are good, but what do you gain from it? Commerce or science? And does it cost anything but production?

When you deliver a caravan (or freight) you will immediately get a delivery bonus. The game will tell you that you got a certain amount of gold, but you will also get an equal amount of science "beakers" added to your research.

You will also get an ongoing bonus of some extra trade arrows in the participating cities.

Caravans only cost the 50 shield production, and the ship and time to take them where they will make a profit.

Note, don't send food caravans don't pay money, but are used to move food around. I usually use them when I earmark a caravan for contributing to a Wonder of the World.

3. Oh, how to get the non-hostile AI patch?

I don't use it, so someone else will have to answer. I spent money and bought a copy of Windows XP 32 bit so that I will be able to virtualize the environment forever.

 

[gps]

Oh, how to get the non-hostile AI patch?

Try this link:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=267552&d=1286502869

But I am not sure you really need it. It's only required for the Multiplayer Gold Edition, to put AI levels back to what they were in the standard version.