Mister Nooobie = ME!

[Civguy]

Hi all!

I am a Civ III noob! Ive been playing steadily since I purchased the game in December, but since this is first time I have played any of Civilation games I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that has to be done to be succesful.

I have a few questions for all you Civ gurus out there.

1.) In the early part of the game I try to space my cities close enough to each other so that when the culture expands I have the one unified culture line. But the computer always seems to find that little space that is not under my control and plop a settler there right in the middle of civilazation Worse than that, his little city starts expanding and eating away at my cultural boundaries Why is that!!!

2.) Should I be building all the improvements in all my cities, IE Marketplace, Library, Courthouse, Cathedrals or should I only build them in a few cities since they cost gold every turn?

3.) When should I turn my populations into scientists or taxmans?

4.) People keep saying that you should mine everything? But when I put my workers on Auto, they destroy my mines and start irrigating. Doesnt the computer always no best?

5.) I always try to trade for all the advances that other Civs have, should I not do this?

6.) Is it better to Raze a city or Install your own governer?

7.) After playing for awhile I always have to set my scientific reserach rate at or around 40-50% Other Civs are several techs ahead of me How can increase my income???

Im sure I will plenty of more ?'s, but I will stop annoying you with my Noob questions now

 

[eyrei]

1. Place a unit in the empty spaces until your culture expands to fill them.

2. Build improvements until there are none left to build. I generally build cultural improvements first to help fill in my territory quickly.

3. Very, very rarely.

4. Mine everything except plains(irrigate) and special food bonus squares(irrigate) until you get out of despotism. You will never get more than 2 food out of a non-bonus square under this government.

5. Keep doing that.

6. Depends on your culture relative to the enemies and how close the city is to the enemy capital and yours.

7. Make sure you build roads everywhere, and, if you should get a tech that does not allow a wonder before everyone else, trade it to everyone on the same turn for gold/turn. Then you can set your science rate much higher for 20 turns. Also, sell extra luxuries and resources to the highest bidder. You only need one for your entire civ. Every twenty turns you should be able to up the price.

 

[WOPR]

1) First rule for the early game: Expand before THEY do. I'm not sure which difficulty level you're using, but on the lower levels, at least, it IS possible to out-expand the AI.

2) No. In the early game, expansion comes first. Build improvements (especially Temples -- for happiness and culture) as they are needed, and in those times when you have a Pop 1/2 city that can't yet produce settlers. A city with high Corruption (low trade revenue), with no luxury resources available, does not need a Marketplace. After the expansion phase, build improvements as needed.

3) You generally shouldn't. You'll probably start seeing Taxmen and Scientists once your cities exceed size 12, though.

4) Mine grasslands and plains in Despotism. You can usefully irrigate under other governments, but I find the mines more useful for building Wonders. You may also have long periods of no growth (size 12 cities, Sanitation not yet discovered) in which mining is superior to irrigation.

5) This is good. As another hint, try trading the same tech to multiple civs on the same turn; this prevents them from trading it to each other. You can also haggle (i.e., try to get more money out of the other civ for a trade), often with good results. I seem to have gotten a reputation as a "tough negotiator," though.

6) Depends on Culture of your target and their proximity to their capital. Eventually you get a feel for this. Note: If it's the civ's LAST city, even if it's the capital, you won't get resisters when you conquer it.

7) To get ahead in tech, choose an Expansionist civ (large maps are best for this). Scientific civs can also help. Trade for tech. For money, keep trading, raid barbarian camps and goody huts, and consider marketplaces in your capital and nearby cities once the city size makes it profitable. Also, don't forget to build roads around your cities.

 

[Padma]

4.) Notice everyone is saying mine - they don't say automate.

Remember, the AI is NOT smarter than you!

That said, I am not one of those who must micromanage hundreds of workers each turn. I manage my workers thru the Ancient Age, and gradually start turning more and more over to automation. An important point here is to understand and USE the keyboard shortcuts for automation. The key is: NEVER use the automate icon or press just 'a' to automate. As a minimum, press 'SHIFT-A' to automate. That way they will not undo you previous work.

 

[Civguy]

Thanks guys for your replys, it will come in most helpful.

Just FYI, I am playing on the default difficulty level.