I don't get this game-I'm still losing...

[vmxa]

Lets put it this way, I never use them, except in scenarios. I think The Great War had many of them already placed.

I prefer to attack. Of the three choices, build up defense would be my last one. Working towards another VC is ok.

 

[Hellfiredoom]

I am building barricades all around the coast of my homeland. Is this worthwhile? I figure if I place a musketman in each one, it will be very difficult for anyone to attack me.

To me that is a waste of worker turns. They are much more useful to your empire improving tiles.

Since it’s very difficult to take enemy cities, should I attack my rivals or just sit back, build up my defenses, and try to win another way? Am I on the right track?

It depends on your Victory Condition. As a war-monger (ie Conquest/Domination VCs) I never sit back. It's always move forward and expand my empire. If you're using a passive VC (ie Space Ship) then that makes sense. The best way to attack cities is with armies and/or artillery with appropriate defenders. I try to take 20 artillery, 4-8 defenders, and around 10 "fast" attackers for well entrenched cities. "Fast" meaning attackers with 2-3 movement points so they can retreat during battle if losing.

Good luck and keep the updates coming!

 

[ChaosArbiter]

I am building barricades all around the coast of my homeland. Is this worthwhile? I figure if I place a musketman in each one, it will be very difficult for anyone to attack me.

Not at all worth it. The AI almost always completely and utterly fails to land worthwhile forces anyway, so just keep a double-handful of Knights or Cavalry on hand to bushwack anything that lands.

Since it’s very difficult to take enemy cities, should I attack my rivals or just sit back, build up my defenses, and try to win another way? Am I on the right track?

*Hums "On the Right Track" from Pippin*
I tend to be fairly aggressive most of the time, but I also always play with Conquest VC and few others (Dom, usually, sometimes Diplo). If you're finding it difficult to take cities, and that's all that's keeping you from attacking, restructure your attack forces. Keep a few Defenders (Muskets, for example - say 4), a decent amount of Attackers (Knights, or Cavalry if you've got them - say, 2-3 times the number of Defenders, so 8-12), and a whole pile of Cannon/Artillery (Trebs are usually too weak unless you're dealing with inferior troops or have a positively gargantuan number - in any case, ~20 artillery units should do well).

Now that you have your miniature Stack of Doom, keep them all together and take cities one at a time. If you don't particularly care about *keeping* the cities, I'd say raze them, and send some Settlers and Defenders to found your own cities if you want to. Try to get other civs to go to war with whoever you're at war with, and don't panic. Even if they wipe out your strike force, you've hopefully destroyed at least a couple cities by that point, and two or three cities destroyed is usually a more-than-fair trade for ~40 units, especially when you add in the units you've destroyed in the taking of them.

One last thing regarding Culture Flips - if you really, really don't like them at all, I'm pretty sure there's an option to turn them off when you start a new game.

 

[joe6778]

Thanks to everyone's help here, I was able to win my game with a VP point total before 1900AD.

I quickly started another game and I only know who two of my remaining six rivals are (France and Sumeria). I wiped out the Mongols already (around 1400AD) but I'm way behind on VP points to the Sumerians.

I may try to build up my military and take them on.

 

[vmxa]

You can turn off the VP condition. It was meant for scenarios.

 

[bessecar]

Hello all. I'm bessecar, a new Civ 3 player. Like joe6778 I'm having difficulty as a learner - and that's on Chieftain I'm ashamed to say!

This is a great thread and I'll be reading carefully for some tips.

I'm determined to get the hang of this game.

Thanks.

 

[vmxa]

Welcome, you will running over the AI soon.

 

[bessecar]

Thanks for the welcome. vmxa.

Well, I've managed to finish my first game - just a one-on-one with me as the Byzantines ( a random choice;I have no idea about the different civs) against Japan.Also on a tiny world just to get the hang of things.

Loved the crusader swordsmen that Byzantium managed to spam mid game.

I'll try something a little harder, using the advice in the earlier part of this thread.

Thanks, too, joe6778 for this thread which has introduced me to the forum!

 

[need my speed]

Those Crusaders are spawned every 5 turns by a wonder unlocked upon researching Chivalry (which can be researched after researching Monotheism and Feudalism, which are together with Invention the first techs of the Medieval Era). The Statue of Zeus also spawns units every 5 turns, Ancient Cavalries. The Statue of Zeus can be built after researching Mathematics and having Ivory available. You see Elephants on the map? That is Ivory. Both wonders go obsolete and thus won't spawn units eternally though. I belive (but am nto sure) the Statue of Zeus obsoletes with Metallurgy and the other one with Steam Power.

 

[bessecar]

Thanks for the info. need my speed. Every bit of knowledge helps at this stage of my learning.

I was wondering why crusaders were being produced along with other things in the same city! The graphics and animation of those little swordsmen are excellent.

 

[need my speed]

Perhaps you should read the Civlopedia (the icon of the book at the top of the screen when in game)? Or some guides on this site, or other information?

And no thanks.

 

[Aabraxan]

Welcome to CFC, bessecar.

There are a few things you might want to check out around here. First of all, in General Discussions, there's a thread called "Quick Answers/Newbie Questions." Obviously, that thread is intended for little questions, and it's a good way to get them answered. On the other hand, if you want something more in-depth, like an analysis of your game, the best way to get good advice around here is to post a save. C3C is pretty complex, and posting a save will let some of the players around here get a look at what's really going on in your game.

Second, find the War Academy. It's here on CFC (go to the top of the page under "Civ 3"), and has some excellent articles. There's an awful lot of reading in there, and it may be helpful to visit there from time to time.

Third, down in Stories and Tales, in the Succession Games forum, there's an archive of training day games. I put that together a while back, and there are some good games to read. If you're unfamiliar with TDGs, those are games played with one higher-level player acting as trainer. There's lots and lots of discussion of the hows and whys of the game. Good stuff.

Finally, check out vmxa's signature and you'll see a link to a strategy article for Regent-level players. He's also written one called Warlord Roadmap, and they're both worth reading.

Good luck with your next game and keep us posted.

 

[Hellfiredoom]

In addition to the great articles Aabraxan already noted, here is an article by Cracker regarding Opening Moves, ie how to get your empire up and running fast. Most players will agree workers are your most important units, and this article is a great learning tool how to maximize your worker turns. It helped me improve my game dramatically when I first found this site last Fall.

Have fun!

http://www.civfanatics.com/content/civ3/strategy/cracker/civ3_starts/index.htm

 

[bessecar]

Great stuff.