i want a mentor

[shyuhe]

the HOF doesn't record everything. It just keeps track of the in-game log that's built into Civ. So you can't see individual builds like when an axeman is built etc. But you can get a pretty good idea of when settlers are built etc. based on founding times. I've always wanted an HOF logger but it's just not practical so you have to break down the HOF games yourself to figure out what they're doing...

 

[ParadigmShifter]

The HOF mod does record all the info (in the autolog), it just doesn't all go in the logs in the HOF tables.

For example...

Turn 131/320 (1265 AD) [29-Jul-2007 11:50:58]
Moscow begins: Maceman (4 turns)
Novgorod begins: Work Boat (20 turns)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Tlatelolco, Trireme defeats (1.20/2): Aztec Trireme (Prob Victory: 50.0%)
Horse Archer promoted: Combat III
Archimedes (Great Engineer) born in Moscow
St. Petersburg grows: 9
St. Petersburg finishes: Galley
A Hamlet was built near St. Petersburg
A Hamlet was built near Rostov
While defending in Russian territory at Zhou, Spearman defeats (0.64/4): Ottoman Chariot (Prob Victory: 83.8%)
Attitude Change: Saladin(Arabia) towards Louis XIV(France), from 'Pleased' to 'Friendly'
Attitude Change: Montezuma(Aztec) towards Isabella(Spain), from 'Pleased' to 'Cautious'
Attitude Change: Isabella(Spain) towards Montezuma(Aztec), from 'Pleased' to 'Cautious'

Turn 132/320 (1280 AD) [29-Jul-2007 11:53:03]
St. Petersburg begins: Maceman (3 turns)

 

[shyuhe]

oh my bad I just know what you can get out of the logs posted in the HOF.

 

[xanadux]

But what if you can't read?

 

[Cer]

xanadux, if you can't read, stop posting on the forums! [/silly]

 

[jake2007]

its stupid to read all of that . .. .. .. . when someone can just show you. anyway a picture is worth a 1000 words videos probably 100000

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I think the point is that it is better to work some stuff out on your own.

Why not try some of the easy minor gauntlets in the HOF forum (try the BtS one from 2 weeks ago, quickest space win on settler level with any map type and leader, dual map size [1 or 2 opponents], quick game speed), then look at the write-up/discussion thread (I think it was BtS beta 4). You don't need to actually use the HOF mod to try them out but the threads are full to the brim of helpful advice, and everyone is trying the same game settings.

EDIT: The nice thing about the gauntlets is that you are told what victory condition to go for (most of the time), which focuses you on the winning condition from the get-go. Plus there is a discussion forum where you can get tips and advice. You can always play at a lower level, the tactics are going to be pretty similar. It also makes you think what leaders are going to be good for the victory/map you are going for (e.g. current minor gauntlet is a continents conquest challenge at monarch difficulty at epic speed, so Ragnar might be a good choice, or the Romans, or any civ with an early UU [to clear your continent], or one with a late UU [to clear the other continent], etc.)

 

[stuttrboy]

its stupid to read all of that . .. .. .. . when someone can just show you. anyway a picture is worth a 1000 words videos probably 100000

Then you need to find someone in RL to show you, not us, because that's the best we can do, and more trouble than it's worth when you think "it's stupid to read it". Guess you are SOL bud.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

SOL? Statue of liberty? He could use the free specialist to mentor him I suppose

 

[jake2007]

haha everyone i know in real life is too stupid to like this game

 

[IDave]

My suggestion would be to take it down to warlord and play there until you can pull of any victory condition you like in comfort, then move up to noble.

I started out playing vanilla Civ 4 at chieftan and just worked my way up, it's a learning curve, you can't just jump in half way up.

As you get higher you have to streamline your strategy.... every time you build something or attack something or improve something you have to ask yourself.... 'why am i doing this?' and there has to be a good reason. Thats what makes you a better civ player, only doing things which will help you acheive a goal.

If you can't win on noble, then you need to take it down a bit and learn the basics first, you can't run before you can walk...... and asking a sprinter to show you how to sprint is not going to help u learn to walk.

 

[Refar]

and asking a sprinter to show you how to sprint is not going to help u learn to walk.

While this is true i would not go below Noble. Playing on very easy levels you can collect some "bad habits" since it si possible to win, without actullay learning the basics. Below Noble you can be very slappy about economy. Any research path will do. Wonder spaming does actually work.

Bad habits are hard to shake, once you have them.

Play on Noble or right away. Decide on your goals/strategy very early, set objectives and if you fail them adress the particular issues in the next games. Perhaps make notes, at what turn you started important tasks and what tech path you took. Keep your Start save (and perhaps some intermediate saves as well) so you can "replay" the same conditions trying a different approach.

Kind of - just for example - You lost a important early wonder ? Perhaps you was late starting it. Try being faster next time. AND Ask yourself IF this wonder is actually that important, since to be faster on it you probaly will sacrifice something else.
You lost Liberalism ? Obviously you was to slow. Ask yourself if there is room for improvement in your economy. Maybe more cottages more early (if you run CE) ? Or perhaps you can skip some techs that are not that important on the way ?

Also - if you did not already - try the guides below - it is a long read, but probably as close as you can get to a 'personal mentor'. Orion and Xanadux go in much detail not only as to WHAT they do, but also as to WHY. And there are savegames provided, which you can not only use to "sniff around" but alos to try and replay parts of the games - perhaps trying something different, to see the difference.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=246889
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=245549
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=247514

 

[LlamaCat]

game recording is a must for the next generation of the game I've always thought (like Age of Mythology)... I agree with him that the learning process would be quicker and easier if you watch others actually playing the game because you see what sequence things are done in, and frankly I find most of the game reports on here very, very lacking in detail.

It's understandable though because it is very tiresome to play and then post reports and screenshots, so kudos to everyone who bothers to go that far. Recorded games would make it easier for everyone. And game logs are just tiresome to read through as well. It's kind of like trying to read chess notation and move the pieces vs. just watching a chess program or video. The process of reading and translating the notation can take more energy than anything else and is really distracting to the learning process.

 

[mice]

game recording is a must for the next generation of the game I've always thought (like Age of Mythology)... I agree with him that the learning process would be quicker and easier if you watch others actually playing the game because you see what sequence things are done in, and frankly I find most of the game reports on here very, very lacking in detail.

Recorded games would be an amazing learning tool. A bit like the replay at the end of the game bit with actual gameplay,maybe slimmed down a bit and pausable. Great idea.

 

[madscientist]

I am late posting here but the way I see it there are several ways to learn how to play this game

1) Experience: Lose alot of games. Start on settler, after you win move up a level until you get games your happy with.
2) Follow the posted games on these forums, particularly the ALCs. Play it yourself and see if you can get the same results.
3) Post saves and screenshots of your own games, asking for advice.
4) A combo of the above (that's how I did it).

I really do not think having someone play along side will help much. You may win that game, but will be at the starting point again as each situation is different.

 

[xanadux]

I think someone helping you hand in hand would help a lot. But frankly, it's not going to happen. This is because those of us who spend a lot of time trying to help players (myself, Orion, Sisuitil, Unconquered Sun to name a few) are not going to single out one player to help when we spend so much time on the time consuming write ups of our games. A real recording function of the game would be awesome, but it doesn't exist right now. The best alternative is what we are doing already ... posting games with details and helping those that post their own games. If you could honestly say you have exhausted the forums vast supply of information and still didn't get it, I would probably be willing to mentor you. But from what I have heard, it seems you just don't want to spend the time to read so much. So go read some more, or find something else to do than play Civ.

 

[Gr8scott]

I can't play a game for you, but I can give you what I think is the most imporatant piece of advice for success in CIV...

Don't do anything in this game unless you can explain WHY you are DOING it.

-Build the city here...why?
-research this tech instead of the other 6 choices...why?
-start building a worker over a warrior...why?

For example:

-Build the city here because it is one square away from iron and I can't wait for my borders to pop...I need iron now!

-Research hunting because I need camp and pasture improvements. Hunting allows the camp improvement and offers me a discount on animal husbandry research (which I need for pastures)

-I really need to build a settler and a warrior, but instead I start on a worker first. I have a bunch of nearby forests, and my plan is to build a worker while I research mining/bronzeworking. Once my worker is done, I plan on converting all of these forests into settlers and warriors.


To learn, stop yourself from just randomly making game choices and force yourself to have a reason for each choice.

My guess is you will smoke noble if you make this one change in your gameplay.

GS

 

[pholkhero]

My guess is you will smoke noble if you make this one change in your gameplay.

that's just stupid. why should I make this one change when someone can just show me what to do? maybe even push the keyboard for me?

 

[xanadux]

Gr8 post Gr8scott.

 

[Jastrow]

Indeed! Great comment Gr8scott, and not just for civ4, but for any strategy game... I use to teach chess to begginers, and that was the point I kept hammering at the most. NEVER make a move unless you are ready to answer the question "Why did you do that!". It makes a huge difference.