I am not able to beat Monarch difficulty!

[kriss_no]

Hi

I have played Civilization 3 quite alot. I beat the computer on Regent difficulty, but once i start on Monarch I never manage to beat it, in any field. I am not able to produce enough military units to take them with might. I have fewer cities. And i am far behind on tech. No matter how hard i try, i have read lots of posts, but still it dont help. I managed though just now to build the Oracle which the computer always manages to beat me to.

But what is the trick to manage to win on Monarch difficulty? How can i speed up my tech for instance?

Should i switch to Republic/Monarchy once i get it? It seems to me depotism is cheaper, and just as fast.

Any hints? Please...


Thanks in advance

K

 

[Godwynn]

Never, ever stay in despotism. Go for Republic ASAP to get the commerce bonus and try to take the lead militarily. Once you reach the middle ages, reserch everything on the bottom part (Invention/gunpoweder/etc.) Once you have chemistry, they will pay lots for it an Military Tradition.

 

[Ville]

Expand, Trade, Build Military, You can get to a tech lead even before middle ages on Monarch if you play your cards right

 

[dozenlong]

This is true. I play a very "builder" style game (I am probably somewhat obsessive compulsive), but even on Monarch I typically initially expand faster than any AI civ, or stay right at the top. My first opportunity for war usually doesn't present itself until Metallurgy -- I am a large fan of stacks of artillery, and while they drag out a war, when it's over I have an intact army, a bigger empire, and it doesn't take long to prepare for the next one.

Your initial build strategy is key -- I am using one written about here before, warrior/warrior/warrior/granary then going spearman/settler until the continent is filled (using my capital city). I also build about two workers per city -- by the time my first war comes around, I have a pretty good infrastructure.

Trade techs -- I never try to keep a tech away from an AI -- as soon as I get one, I trade it to everyone. Additionally, at about the beginning of the middle ages I can start trading excesss luxuries and resources (remember -- using the above expansion I am usually one of the biggest civs in terms of land area, so statistically I have a shot at a few bonuses). I either keep my folks happy, or use the resources to get techs -- the AI seems to think that 20 turns of horses or something is worth a tech or two sometimes. Of course I sell those techs to everyone else if I can.

The biggest impediments to this style of play are early AI initiated wars. An AI war in the early middle ages will definitely slow expansion, but I usually put two spearmen in each city so the AI's attacks often take several turns to accomplish anything then.

Late game wars are big and ugly. Multiple stacks of 25-50 artillery, nearly one hundred bombers, and as many infantry units and tanks (Eventually) as I can muster. While the AI initially has more shields invested in military resources, proper use of bombardment, artillery eventually give me the advantage. Once their initial army is destroyed, its a fairly quick manner to hop from city to city, annihilating it and any units in my path.

Usually by this point, when I have beaten one civ, I decide whether to go for space race, cultural, or conquest. As the biggest civ, you have to watch out -- the AI likes to pick on number 1, so even if you go for cultural or space race, prepare for cionquest because it may come for you. Use defensive artillery/bombardment tactics, and take a few cities if you are attacked in this situation.

Monarch is about the lest level my style of play really works -- beyond that the AI has too many advantages, so alterations are necessary -- there are many articles and posts about how to win at higher levels.

 

[JazzToucan]

Some things that have worked for me:

- Research the "Monarchy" branch -- Mysticism, Polytheism, etc. I find that the AI rarely goes down that branch so if you dedicate enough resources to science, when you discover those techs, you'll be able to trade them for the others you aren't researching yourself.

- As said above, always trade when you discover, the AI will get it eventually unless they are in a poor start location. Also, be sure to trade before your next turn starts. That is, when you get the discovery pop up, go right to "look at the big picture" and to the foreign advisor screen to trade.

- Use your Golden Age to build a military. You don't need an overwhelming military if you're content to build and occupy your space, just one of a respectable size to keep the AI off your back.

- Play as a seafairing civ. This does two things that will help you in tech research. First, it gives you an extra gold when you build on the coast. Try to combine that with a good coastal start location (rivers, shielded grassland, spice or silk, a gold hill) and build the Colossus to double the gold output. Second, you will be able to traverse the seas with greater ease to find more civs to trade your newly discovered techs to: this will give you more money to fund research.

 

[Gogf]

Trade techs for gold per turn. You get twice the gold you should get, so you increase your science, trade for more GPT, increase your science, trade for more GPT, etc., etc.

 

[Bob1475]

Mine is a question. What is the opinion on building barracks at higher levels? I have tried with "military cities" to generate the spearman for the early expansion but feel this may slow me down. Do you really need barracks early?

 

[JazzToucan]

I only build barracks if I know I'm going to fight. Even on Monarch level I build a "paper" empire... I only have one spearman per city and that's it... no offensive troops whatsoever. I can get by quite a long time with this and not have the AI hassle me in any major way. Later, when my cities have filled out, I go and build barracks and use my Golden Age to build up an army quickly. I usually only do this with either Knights or cavalry.

 

[JazzToucan]

Double post.

 

[microbe]

Originally posted by Bob1475
Mine is a question. What is the opinion on building barracks at higher levels? I have tried with "military cities" to generate the spearman for the early expansion but feel this may slow me down. Do you really need barracks early?

I usually build Barracks first in cities that I want to build military forces. Not sure what everybody else does.

 

[Ision]

An early barracks in city number 2 or 3 is essential. There is a significant difference in your units offensive and especially defensive survivability when fighting as a veteran or above. For those of you keeping small defensive militarys - this is even more essential.

In my opinion each one of your CIVs fronts (borders with other CIVs) should also have a city with a barracks. If war comes unexpectantly, this city will be crucial as a rallying point for your wounded units to recuperate at a much faster rate. This city will also serve as a place to pop rush/ of money hurry veteran units near the front lines of the conflict.

No you do not need - nor should you build - a barracks in every city. BUT, they are essentail buildings that must be built at least in some minimal quantity, and in key strategic locations.

Ision

 

[Ision]

kriss,

Move back down to Regent level - win 3 straight games without building a single wonder - then move back up to Monarch. Trust me, I can smell what's wrong with your game a mile away.

Ision

 

[cgannon64]

Go to Monarchy if you want to keep a standing army and fight wars.

Go to Republic if you want to bring in lots of gold and techs.

And expand as fast as you can. I can't stress this enough. Read up on how to expand quickly...

 

[kriss_no]

I read all your replies. Thanks alot! But dont you people build wonders at all? I see the Oracle as essential. If not, the AI will swallow my cities culturally.

I try to use 100% of income on tech. Is this wrong path?

I use greece, build hoplites. Works well to defend. My major problem now is that both horses/salpeter are sparse. Never have them on my continent.

But like i said, what about wonders? You dont care.. Not essential to win at monarch and above?

 

[Beam]

Just even don' t think about wonders in the opening phase. Expansion and tech research / trading are the main goals to go after. Connecting to luxes is key as well because it reduces the pressure on building temples to control happiness. Keep city size low and build enough workers. The main ingredients in brief, have fun!

 

[kriss_no]

May i ask, why i should keep city size small?

(Right, but sometimes i get a leader, it is nice to hurry a wonder with that).

Do you make all your new cityes produce settlers as well, or just the capital?

It went ok now, but i was attacked by byzantines. They didnt have iron as i captured them all, but still they managed to give me a beat! They have so intensly many units..

..

 

[Beam]

Originally posted by kriss_no
May i ask, why i should keep city size small?

(Right, but sometimes i get a leader, it is nice to hurry a wonder with that).

Do you make all your new cityes produce settlers as well, or just the capital?

It went ok now, but i was attacked by byzantines. They didnt have iron as i captured them all, but still they managed to give me a beat! They have so intensly many units..

..

In C3C only Sci Leaders can be used to rush great wonders.

You should keep city size small initially because of happiness issues. Best achieved by building settlers in cities with a lot of food and shields, workers in cities with less shields.

Yeah, you get attacked sumtimez in Civ , be prepared or attack yourself.

 

[Fanny Brice]

Pick a civ that is going to give you an advantage... I would suggest military/religious. Or Rome is good with miliatry/commercial.

For my capital-- I usually pop out two settles with spearmen and then concentrate on building a temple in order to position myself to build a wonder. Your capital has no corruption or waste, so I usually try to have a larger population which produces commerce/science.

Expand quickly -- don't worry about scouting the seas right now.

For Wonders -- Great Library is good. Oracle OK, but I usually don't build it. My other favortie Ancient is the Colussus... great for your Capital or major coastal city with good commerce. Lasts a long time.

Place cities on borders in good defensive positions... on hills... on opposite side of river from other civs. Avoid giving the enemy a hill or mountain to attack your city (makes counter attacks difficult for yourself).

Connect your cities with roads ASAP in order to move units to endangered areas.

Build workers -- at least 3 or 4 when you have three cities and keep up. Commerce with roads is important.

My understanding is that you need some offensive units in addition to defensive units to pose a risk to other civs... and get some respect.

 

[Frostyboy]

To win on Monarch you also have to be a good player - making the right decicions and priorities all the time.
I find military conquest a lot easier on Monarch - trying to finish off the other civs in a rush. Like now I play the Perians on Monarch. At first all the civs are in lead of me. But after settling and building libs in all towns - the only thing I do thereafter is producing immortals. I am still on Despotism, but prefer Feudalsim (with forced labour - which you can milk your useless towns)
By sending a horde of your UU against the enemy - the AI will struggle to defend.
But essentlial as well is the expansion in the beginning. Try to expand as much as possible. As long as you are not in the lead (which you not often are on Monarchy in the beginning) the AI will not neccessarliy try to crush you. It often demands tribute for not attacking you, so paying 20 gold for waiting with a war till later is by far worth it.

Good Luck

 

[Fanny Brice]

Regarding expansion... I do expand as much as possible within reason. On a larger continent, if I'm lucky to be on a larger point or peninsula, I try to block off this area from wandering settlers. I expand outward (toward the other civs) while leaving the rear area to settle last. Once I have reached other civs borders I settle the "reserve." (Watch out for gallies sneaking behind you).

By now I should have a few boats exploring the rest of the world. I'll be on the look out for luxuries and resources along the coast where I can plant a settler. Outside of my core area, I only grab territory that is worthwhile. If there is a vacant island, I'll take it. But if there is a spot for a city far from my core, I'll let it pass if it brings no value.

Even if there is a single unclaim luxury right next to an AI city, take it. If these are is far from the AI's capital, you should be safe from a flip for a while. Eventually you will get a harbor there and connect it to your civ... or benefit from the AI's harbors if you have a road connection.