How to get the game to show me the odds before combat starts ?

[lolospace]

Sorry to raise this simple question but i can't find the answer anywhere.
I have done an Excel sheet to compute that with the formula's i found here but swapping between Excel and the game is really a nightmare.
Does anyone knows ?

 

[kirbystarfan]

If you are attacking, just hold the right mouse button over your target and it will show you the percentage odds and any modifiers.

 

[DigitalBoy]

I wouldn't mind knowing the odds when you're defending too (or when you're about to be defending, like if you want to see what how likely your scout will be killed by a lion/bear), but whatcha gonna do?

 

[CivDude86]

The combat log will tell you the odds when defending.

 

[Maydrock]

lolospace you can also hold down alt+leftclick on a unit to get attack odds. I don't know of any other shortcut key strokes, but it would be nice if say ctrl+click gave you defense odds if you held your ground on the active unit

 

[JimT]

The combat log will tell you the odds when defending.

But then it is a bit late

 

[civ4legs]

If you ask me, the inability to see what the defending odds are is one of Civ4's greatest failings, although close behind that is having no way to see what is in a city when you are trying to decide to raze or keep, as well as there being no way to see what the effects of a civics change will be.

I feel that since all of these things can be determined with patience and a calculator, there is absolutely no reason for the game to not do it for you.

 

[LlamaCat]

You can see what's in other cities by using missionaries, spies, and having the same religion as the target civ. Also the main map interface shows what buildings are in the city, right there on the map with the little graphics -- just zoom in and learn to spot the buildings. You can of course easily see wonders like the Pyramids, etc.

no way to see what the effects of a civics change will be? not sure I understand your comment -- of course right there on the civics screen you can see the effects of all civics! representation will add +3 science for all specialists, for example

for seeing the defending odds, isn't this the same thing as using Alt-left click for attacking odds? I thought the whole combat system in Civ IV was revamped so now every unit has the basic 1 number strength. Maybe I'm not sure what you're asking...

 

[Diamond]

for seeing the defending odds, isn't this the same thing as using Alt-left click for attacking odds? I thought the whole combat system in Civ IV was revamped so now every unit has the basic 1 number strength. Maybe I'm not sure what you're asking...

No, it's not the same thing. That just gives the attacking odds, using your attacking bonuses vs their defensive bonuses. Defensive odds would instead use, for example, your terrain, fortification, and/or city defense bonuses, vs their attack bonuses (ie: a Grenadiers bonus vs a Rifle, city raider bonuses, etc). There's no way to see it, that I know of. You just have to guesstimate.

 

[Bhruic]

no way to see what the effects of a civics change will be? not sure I understand your comment -- of course right there on the civics screen you can see the effects of all civics! representation will add +3 science for all specialists, for example

I think he's referring to the fact that you can't tell how much you'll end up paying under the various civics. Saying, for example, that Slavery has "low" upkeep is nice, but it'd be nicer if it told you before switching exactly what you'd be paying for it.

Bh

 

[cabert]

I think he's referring to the fact that you can't tell how much you'll end up paying under the various civics. Saying, for example, that Slavery has "low" upkeep is nice, but it'd be nicer if it told you before switching exactly what you'd be paying for it.

Bh

the maintenance part is displayed in the game (civic screen : check out the maintenance effect before quitting the game, it can be reversed).
What you can't do is a "simulation" of the effects : additionnal beakers (representation) or additional costs (pacifism) or additional happiness... aren't visible in the civic screen.

 

[DrewBledsoe]

Christ simple question, loads of bullfeathers.....your real safe sensible answer.....

Hold Alt and hover the mouse over a potential foe, this will give combat odds.

 

[civ4legs]

You can see what's in other cities by using missionaries, spies, and having the same religion as the target civ. Also the main map interface shows what buildings are in the city, right there on the map with the little graphics -- just zoom in and learn to spot the buildings. You can of course easily see wonders like the Pyramids, etc.

no way to see what the effects of a civics change will be? not sure I understand your comment -- of course right there on the civics screen you can see the effects of all civics! representation will add +3 science for all specialists, for example

for seeing the defending odds, isn't this the same thing as using Alt-left click for attacking odds? I thought the whole combat system in Civ IV was revamped so now every unit has the basic 1 number strength. Maybe I'm not sure what you're asking...

Good point about looking at the main map, of course, once the dialog pops up, there is no way to zoom the map in, so I guess it just takes a bit of planning ahead. Spies are a relatively late game addition, and before that you can see the units in a city, but not the city screen itself. Point taken on the map view though.

As for civics, I'm talking about what Cabert is talking about; there is no way to tell what your new beaker/gold/culture, etc output will be when switching civics.

As has already been mentioned, defending odds are going to be completely different than attacking odds...

 

[tycoonist]

if i remember correctly, you require the patch version of civ4 (1.61) in order to see attack odds