List of Things to Do in Civ IV [so that the game doesn't go stale]

[omglazers]

Hey everyone. I realized that Civ IV offers so many types of possibilities in terms of playing and so many types of economies that I want to start a list of things 'to do' in Civ IV that can take those type of people who have been playing since Civ I and rely on cottaging everything. The game gets boring if you just pick Darius every time, regen to find a floodplains and then go nuts.

So lets start a list of things you've done or would LIKE to do that you think can keep the game fresh

1. Try every economy possible. Cottages are run, but read up and try running a Specialist Economy

2. Take the SE even further and run only one type of specialist. Engineering, Merchants, etc.

3. Use espionage more! Try running a game with your main focus being espionage. Some mods have added traits like 'Cunning which makes leader have bonuses towards spies. Try to tech up as much as possible by only stealing stuff.

4. Play varied maps! Sure Big and Small and 'Earth' maps are fun but why not try some 'Maze' or 'Rainforest' maps

5. Try for a victory you've never won before. Domination and Cultural seem to be the two that most people never win or try for.

 

[mystyfly]

6. Play an SG.

 

[CivFan202]

In regards to number 5, I think I only win cultural victories now. I love building wonders too mcuh to focus on anything else...Yeah its sorta pathetic how small my military always is.

 

[omglazers]

6. Play an SG.

I won't lie. Whats an SG?

 

[cFccFc]

Whats an sg?

 

[mystyfly]

SG = Succession Game.
They have a Subforum here (Civilization Fanatics' Forums > CIVILIZATION IV > Stories & Tales > Succession Games)

It works something like this: ~2-6 Players play ~10-15 turns each, so called 'rounds'. In between rounds they decide their strategy. Now a speciality is that you add "stuff" (dont know a matching word ^^) to get more of a challenge/make it more interesting. For example never open borders and leave your waters (Islationists theme ^^) or help an AI (female usually) win (Big brother theme ^^) or hire Merchants only or don't plant any cottages only or build your cities so that they cost as few as possible or ... or... or...
there are just sooooo many possibilities. they are quite fun to read too (both entertaining and educational)

 

[sav]

5. Try for a victory you've never won before. Domination and Cultural seem to be the two that most people never win or try for.

They're the ONLY victories I've ever had, haha! Good list otherwise. I like playing classic, single player matches, I haven't even got to the scenarios yet, and I hear they're awesome...

 

[mystyfly]

come to think of it, have you ever achieved a Time Victory??

 

[troytheface]

load a real simple mod. 1 new civ, or 1 new unit.

There are many detailed/complex mods but i suggest keeping it simple so as not to worry about complication and balance.

 

[Amask]

all the mods would be so much fun if only they did these simple things:

1. if meant for SP, teach AI to use all the new functions
2. if meant for MP, MAKE IT GODDAM BALANCED

I tried playing FFH I and II, and it kept me entertained for three SP games.

Then I got tired of seeing AI cities with 21 farms each giving 6 food with agriculture and 0 commerce/production, got tired of seeing the AI run 10 "citizen" specialists in such cities, tired of seeing them go for ******ed techs and tired of them not being able to use anything at all - heroes, spells, religions.

if you want a challenge, not just a flavour experience, mods probably aren't the right thing for you

 

[mystyfly]

if you want a challenge, not just a flavour experience, mods probably aren't the right thing for you

you're right. mods are for diversity I think.
want a challenge? play a SG

 

[PibbZ]

come to think of it, have you ever achieved a Time Victory??

I always went for time victory earlier in vanilla and warlords, as i enjoyed the modern warfare there, and usually had much more sucess in the modern era.

Lately, I've been more into medieval warfare, and usually only win by Domination or Culture. Ill try a new victory condition in my next game, honestly!

 

[mystyfly]

I always went for time victory earlier in vanilla and warlords, as i enjoyed the modern warfare there, and usually had much more sucess in the modern era.

I always like modern warfare, if a game gets so far. But once a war gets started, there's no way out, I just keep on warring ("One down, who will be next?"), until dom vic

 

[cabert]

I've played cIV for more than 2 years now.
I've had a few moments when I thought "that's it, it's not fun anymore".

Then a GotM, a SG (otM), a mod, an idea brought me back to the game.

I've won every victory condition for vanilla and warlords, On varied maps, with various leaders, with various settings.
I can tell you different levels are almost like different games.
Sure immortal is harder than noble, but noble is different. A totally different feeling.
I can also tell you that some leaders on some maps have such a unique feeling it would be a shame not to play them.
I've played a good deal of the GotMs.
Nowadays, I'm submitting games for the HoF.
Different challenges, different games...
I guess I will be playing for another pair of years at least

 

[Draknith]

I recently developed Royal Houses in my latest game.

Each new city was run by a Royal Family named after friends of mine. I would roll dice to see how long their ruling would be, traits (warmonger/peacemonger, good/evil, etc) and then compiled a royal tree. Sort of like in Total War. Therefore each time a new leader rolled around there could be differences in how i would play the game. Ended up with about 6 families, and roughly 20+ different rulers before I adopted a republic. Gave quite a bit of difference to the game, although it was tedious figuring out each family leader every 40 turns or so.

 

[omglazers]

I recently developed Royal Houses in my latest game.

Each new city was run by a Royal Family named after friends of mine. I would roll dice to see how long their ruling would be, traits (warmonger/peacemonger, good/evil, etc) and then compiled a royal tree. Sort of like in Total War. Therefore each time a new leader rolled around there could be differences in how i would play the game. Ended up with about 6 families, and roughly 20+ different rulers before I adopted a republic. Gave quite a bit of difference to the game, although it was tedious figuring out each family leader every 40 turns or so.

I want to hear more.

This is interesting to me

 

[Draknith]

I want to hear more.

Well here's the basics...

My first city is called Huber. Since it's a Despotism Huber is the First household.

I then roll dice (d20) and a coin to see how many years plus or minus the family leader will live. The median point is the actual average life expectancy on the demographics screen.

I will then flip a coin for foreign strategy- warmonger/peacemonger

Then a coin flip for domestic build policy- infrastructure/military

Then a flip for alignment- good/evil

Finaly if it's a house leader who is also leader of the nation I role an heir flip... whether or not the leader has an heir. If yes, then the same family controls but the name is changed (i.e. Lord Huber II becomes Lord Huber the III)

At this point you can play along and follow the path set before the leader, or devlope some inner strife that kills off the leader... remember at the begining though there is only one house... if it dies out without another house to take control you have to forefit the game.

Now lets say I build another city during the rule of Lord Huber the IV. I then create the next household.

City name Dankis. Leader Sir Frankis of Dankis.

Now let's say Lord Huber the IV dies without an heir. The Frankis family can pick up the throne, and can develop their own dynasty.

What makes it cool, is that you can do whatever you want, and your play style should change based upon your leader. Plus factions can fight internally, and you can represent that in your playing style. For example. The Huberian civilization is controlled by King Frankis the III, but you really want to go to war and King Frankis is a peacemonger/builder/good. You can say that Huber VII warmonger/military/evil rose up in a bloody strife and killed the King and installed himself as King.

Just made my games a little more interesting, and I had a cool history to go back on and say, "See Shaka it wasn't me who did that. It was the Frankis'"

After I adopt Representation though I'll usually kill off a couple houses and leave it a tighter group incase I was to re-establish the monarchy, or grant a certain household dictator for life status... or whatver you want to do!

 

[praktik]

"List of Things to Do in Civ IV [so that the game doesn't go stale]"

Wait a minute - this game gets stale??

lol

 

[Draknith]

Just as an addition... just because a ruler doesn't have an heir does not mean the house is killed off. I usually will have the house wait one ruling period (life of the current King), until it can regain the throne.

 

[MarkM]

5. Try for a victory you've never won before. Domination and Cultural seem to be the two that most people never win or try for.

People never win domination or cultural?

You're joking, right?

What is the "common" victory? SS? Time? Conquest?

I can't even remember the last time I won spaceship (or even started to build one!). I think not since I got over my "builder only" fixation after having the game a couple months. Never went for spaceship in warlords or BTS ... though I'm thinking I should go out of my way to try once, since they've changed it now in BTS & I'm curious to see how it works.

I'm not sure I've ever won time (since I may have never played to the end of time).

I can't believe very many people win conquest (that would be my guess for rarest).

Diplomatic is the only other one ... but I'm not sure I believe many people win diplomatic.

Maybe I'm just odd in how I play?