I ve been playing Civ IV since its released date...yet still i am a bad player.

[Frigkas]

Hello to all CFC members.Throughout this post i m asking help , due to the fact that as the title says...i ve been playing Civ IV vanilla , with all its expansions yet still my gameplay sucks.Dunno why but i can play till Chieftain easily , but in Warlord and above i always lose.I try to specialize my cities as good as possible...but the terrain isnt always ideal for that.Till now i ve read some beginners guides but still i find gameplay difficult.I m asking help from you the pro players , cause this game its been always my favorite one..and i want to become a decent player.Also one question here...Should i start playing from Vanilla only , in order to understand good the game mechanics or this doesn't matters at all??Thank you so much for your time to read this post , and for your help.....

 

[jackelgull]

You've been playing for that long? Then why do you not know game mechanics? It's not game mechanics that are the problem here.

As for the specialization of cities, trying to specialize cities early on is a bad idea. Your earliest cities will by necessity be a mix of commerce hammers and food. Later you can try specializing, and with slavery, food cities can work as production cities too.

 

[Frigkas]

Game mechanics here was a bad expression.I meant that i am no good at all at specialization.But since you tell me not to specialize from the very beginning i understand.My problem lies in good city placement on the map.I ve read the ''Beginner Guide'' from this site.But generally speaking i think that this game is all about the more you play the more you know....Maybe i should try reading some tactics and tips , before i play again....

 

[lymond]

First of all, if you really want to get better you should be over in the Strategy & Tips forum.

Not sure what you mean by "play Civ IV Vanilla plus all it's expansions", but there is no reason for you really not to be playing BTS, which is the latest and greatest. Only time I play vanilla is for the GOTMs since the offer a game each month for each version.

Anyway, city specialization and city placement are important concepts, but there are likely a myriad of issues with your game that could be improved dramatically. The fact that you've played a long time but struggle on Chieftain or Warlord level is a clear sign of significant needs in your gameplay.

Probably the best thing to learn first are little but important micro tips like worker management, tech paths, tile improvements and such.

The best thing you can do is post a shadow/learner game over in the Strategy & Tips forum to get specific advice. This game will allow us to first gauge your understanding of the CIV IV while then offering advice on what needs changing (my guess is a lot).

Go into it with an open mind as my guess is that you need to significantly change your whole idea and approach to the game

I'm also curious which beginners guides your are reading. There some really bad ones out there on the interwebs, and even some guides on this site are a bit outdated or obsolete. If you have read some better beginner guides it may simply be an issue of translating those concepts into the game. Advice from players though can better help you with these adjustments.

 

[Lexicus]

Yeah, Civ isn't really a game where you can just play it a lot and get better, you have to play "smart"--that is, you have to actually understand the consequences of each choice you make in the game, and to do that you need to have a good understanding of the game mechanics.

I would suggest checking out War Academy, there're some good articles in there.

As lymond says, the best thing to do is start a game and post saves/screenshots on here (in the Strategy/Tips forum preferably) so that the very strong players can help you improve.

Oh, and don't play Vanilla, play BTS, no real reason to play Vanilla unless you're doing something like a GOTM.

 

[Mizar]

post a BTS save and overview screenshot from roughly turn 100/normal or 150/epic in the Strategy&Tips section.

 

[s.bernbaum]

Regarding what Lymond and Mizar said about posting in the Strategy&Tips forum:

Post your start (turn 0). Wait for comments and advice before making any plays.
Play for 10 to 20 turns. Post the save and again wait for comments and advice before making any further plays.
Repeat the process several times.

Always include screen shots of the game. Include a savegame if possible. Don't use any mods. Most commenters will want you to be playing at normal speed, so don't use Quick, Epic, or Marathon for this type of advice game.

The biggest mistake that people make who are looking for help this way is to keep playing while waiting for the comments and advice or to make too many moves between posts. Don't make any moves after posting until you see what you feel to be an adequate number of advice comments.

 

[lymond]

^^^this

 

[Macksideshow]

You are probably just selecting the wrong leader. Which leader(s) do you normally play?

 

[Seraiel]

You are probably just selecting the wrong leader. Which leader(s) do you normally play?

I'm pretty sure, that a "good player" , which he wants to become, should be able to beat Chieftain and even Warlord with every leader. I'd even extend that to any difficulty up to EMP / IMM. Being able to beat Deity with every leader, now that would make him something special, but imo one shouldn't make onesself dependent on anything before that level. Once one reaches it then, one will be greatly thankful for being able to play and win without being dependent on something like Mids, Oracle, GLH, War Chariots, Checkers or Immortals, because all of those aren't a garantuee for a win then anymore.

 

[Macksideshow]

I'm pretty sure, that a "good player" , which he wants to become, should be able to beat Chieftain and even Warlord with every leader. I'd even extend that to any difficulty up to EMP / IMM. Being able to beat Deity with every leader, now that would make him something special, but imo one shouldn't make onesself dependent on anything before that level. Once one reaches it then, one will be greatly thankful for being able to play and win without being dependent on something like Mids, Oracle, GLH, War Chariots, Checkers or Immortals, because all of those aren't a garantuee for a win then anymore.

Yeah, I guess you are correct Seraiel. This makes sense.

OP, you are probably using wrong game/map settings, which game/map settings do you usually use?

 

[Major Tom]

Expand sooner than later.
Pay attention to diplomacy.
Install the BUG/BAT mod.

Good luck!

 

[Frigkas]

First of first thank you all about your tips.As Seraiel said very wisely i agree that a good player in Civ must try every leader's traits to be able to play with everyone.Secondly i use Pangea or Terra maps on Normall or small size.To be honest i ve took a glance at War Academy about the 60% Rule of research , and also the Specialist Economy (SE) , over the Cottage Economy(CE).Personally speaking as a new player i prefer cottages even though if they pillaged by the enemy is difficult to re - built.Finally in the very beginning i used to play with the Spiritual trait ex. Ghandi (India) , due to the fact that there is no anarchy and i can switch easily through civics.After i read about traits , i will try Financial with Industrious for decent economy and wonder building.As other players suggested though in this forum the best of the best Leader is Elizabeth of England , or at least one of the very best...

 

[jackelgull]

Actually, the general consensus is that thinking of things in terms of cottage versus specialist economy rather in terms what is best for this city and my empire is a mistake. You're rarely going to run a non-hybrid.
And the 60% research rule is too narrow. Beakers are more important than percentages, and if you're still making money at 0% you're still fine.

 

[NeptunesNook]

I have found that watching some YouTube Let's Plays works best for me if I'm having a rough time with a game. Here's one of Quill18's Civ4 LP's from a few years ago --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMfGzPIFIMU&index=1&list=PLFB85335B2D2776A0

 

[elitetroops]

I doubt the problem has anything to do with CE or SE. I'm willing to bet that, just like everybody else struggling at noble or below, you are building too much unnecessary stuff and researching the wrong techs. Civ is a game that offers a ton of buildings, wonders and techs that distract you from winning. Learn how to avoid them and you'll be beating monarch in no time.

 

[Macksideshow]

I doubt the problem has anything to do with CE or SE. I'm willing to bet that, just like everybody else struggling at noble or below, you are building too much unnecessary stuff and researching the wrong techs. Civ is a game that offers a ton of buildings, wonders and techs that distract you from winning. Learn how to avoid them and you'll be beating monarch in no time.

This. And whip key buildings early then build/whip units and conquer a capital or two.

 

[Pangaea]

I doubt the problem has anything to do with CE or SE. I'm willing to bet that, just like everybody else struggling at noble or below, you are building too much unnecessary stuff and researching the wrong techs. Civ is a game that offers a ton of buildings, wonders and techs that distract you from winning. Learn how to avoid them and you'll be beating monarch in no time.

Indeed. Posting a learner game would be a great way to improve. You'll be amazed. When I started out, Noble at Earth 18 was a challenge, and I got my ass kicked. After posting some learner games over the years, reading articles and forum posts and watching AZ and TMIT on YouTube, I'm now trying my feet at Deity. The Willem video series by Sullla was also very good, and he explains things more than the likes of AZ and TMIT do.

Some tips, which may help you out.

• Place cities where they have food. No city without food, no food without a city. Try to have food in the "inner ring" (starting 9 squares), unless you are creative.
• Don't build all buildings everywhere. The most important building in the game, by far, is the granary. Often this should be the first building in cities. Lighthouses in coastal cities are crucial too. In the capital you'll more than in the others, but don't go overboard here either.
• Have enough workers. About one worker per city should be enough, but you can have more than that too, especially in the beginning. Improve food first, then other resources. In the capital you should build cottages, especially along rivers. When you get Bureaucracy, these will power your research.
• Specialise your cities, but don't go extreme. Most cities will probably be hybrid, so they will have decent amounts of both and . The only cities that truly have to be specialised is the capital (cottages along particularly rivers), the Heroic Epic city (you need many ) and the National Epic city (you need lots of to run many specialists). Some more cities doesn't hurt, but don't get too hung up on SE vs CE.
• Watch the diplo situation. Open borders early with everybody, unless you have a very good reason not to. Try not to choose a religion very early. It can greatly increase the risk of getting declared on. Check out how it pans out first, and then choose what makes most sense.
• Think about tech choices. The "default" play is to build a worker first and then tech worker techs. If you for example have access to wheat or corn, but don't start with Agriculture, tech Agriculture. Alpha is an important tech as it allows you to trade techs with the other AIs. This will be important, especially as you (hopefully) move up in difficulty levels. Currency is another key tech, and Civil Service third.

 

[Mizar]

I doubt the problem has anything to do with CE or SE. I'm willing to bet that, just like everybody else struggling at noble or below, you are building too much unnecessary stuff and researching the wrong techs.

This, +
probably not concentrating on food early
probably not enough workers
maybe not fast enough expanding

 

[Frigkas]

First of all thank you about your helpful advice.Also i m sorry i ve posted in the past in a related thread that Slavery civic is useless.On the opposite is very helpful and if used correctly it can eliminate unhappiness.
So after read the Sisiutil's Strategy Guide for Beginners and some articles in the War Academy i will post here my mistakes.One mistake is that without having the Mysticism as starting tech , i go for religion first thus for Budhhism or Judhaism.Second mistake is that i ve connected Civ in my mind with war...so 9 out of 10 times i play for Conquest victory which its difficult for me especially in bigger than normal maps.Last mistake till now was that i didnt give attention to traits.I mean that i had Spiritual leader without research religion first.
The good news is that from the beginner guide i ve improved many of my past mistakes..like initial unit - build order.I go for worker first , while i research first ex.Husbandry if there's a resource as sheep in my initial city's radius.Then the worker is ready to improve tiles.I then go for Bronze working , while i am building a warrior for garrison.Finally chopping a forest i quickly spam a Settler for further expansion.I use my initial warrior for scout cause he is more strong.
So now i have some questions...In this huge tech tree is there a logical order after Alphabet?I mean ok i am good till Alphabet is researched.And supposed i open borders with every rival Civ in the game.Then what??My problem lies after Alphabet , where research trading its occur.Second question should i found up to 4-6 cities or 6-9?
When all is said and done i will try again Chieftain lvl with Pangea map in normal size , with a leader that have Financial (for money) OR Industrious (production - wonders) trait , and i ll go for another Victory condition like Cultural or Diplo.Aw and not to forget the Cre trait which i think is good for rapid border expansion , thus in that way i ll gain more extra strategic or rare resourses within my borders.That's my opinion.Of course i ll stay in touch with CFC for extra articles.