new player questions

[fast eddie]

I just bought Civ 3 about a week ago. I was a rabid Civ fan about 10 years ago, but haven't played since then. I have some problems with the game

(I am running the 1.29f patch on Window XP.)

1. I can't save a game in anything except the Auto folder that the install created. If I create a sub-folder with Windows Explorer under Auto and try to save the game in that, I get an error message. The save screen in the game itself has an icon to go up one folder, but no icon to create a a new folder. Every time I start a new game, it saves over the old game. I tried quitting and re-starting (as suggested somewhere in this forum), but it didn't work. This is very annoying.

2. The manual says all trade agreements expire after 20 turns. Mine never expire unless the AI player wants them to. I tried clicking on various icons under the "exports" and "imports" in the Trade Advisor window (as suggested somewhere in this forum) but this does nothing. I tried clicking on the "trades" lines between my ruler and other rulers I am trading with in the Foreign Advisor window (as suggested somewhere in this forum), but this does nothing. This is very annoying.

3. Is there any way to call a UN vote, or are you just subject to the caprice of the game deciding when a vote is called?

Civ3 seems great, but these are such fundamental problems that I am ready to shelve the game. Much thanks for any help.

 

[searcheagle]

I've been playing the civ series from the beginning too. Don't Shelve civ 3 yet! It's a great game!

1. I don't know what is causing this problem. Are you trying to save it on a CD? It doesn't sound like. Can you change the file you save it under? Click on the drop down arrow and try to save it to another folder. I've never run into this problem- I'm only guessing

2. start up negiations with the civ that want to cancel the agreement with. Click on the the words on the bottom: past deals. It will say how many turns till the agreements ends. When its expires try negiating then.

3. I believe you are subject to the games wimps. And one warning, if you lose the UN vote, you are screwed. If you lose there, you lose the game, even if you win another way.

 

[braclayrab]

In regard to trade deals: I believe that there is also an option in the preferences that reads something like, "Always Renegotiate Trade Agreements" or something to that affect. I believe that if you check, (or uncheck) this box then after 20 turns the trade will automatically have to be renewed.

 

[braclayrab]

Also, in regards to your saving issue, I don't know if you can save in another folder, perhaps it isn't possible. However, I'm sure that you could more your old saves to another folder instead, if you only objective is to prevent them from being written over. In my experience though, I have never actually gone back to an old game, no matter how great it was, so I don't worry about my saves getting destroyed.

 

[Frollo]

3. The game will first prompt you to call a UN vote as soon as you build the UN Wonder. After that, the question reappears every 11 turns.

Note that you don't have to call the vote. If you control the UN, you decide if there's a vote or not. That's why it's important that you do everything you can to prevent anyone else from building it.

 

[Turner]

Go to your civ3.ini file and add (or modify) the line "WindowsFileBox=1". This should give you the Windows Standard file box instead of the custom Civ3 one.

 

[Frollo]

1. For some reason, you may not be permitted to save in a subfolder under 'Auto'. Rather create a subfolder under 'Save' (so that the new folder is at the same level as 'Auto' in the folder tree, instead of one level lower).

 

[fast eddie]

Thanks for the replies!

1. I will just save my old game in another folder after they are finished. I guess braclayrab is right, though, I will probably never look at them again.

2. I found the "Active" link at the bottom of the negotiations window with the Civ I want to cancel the deal with. I can click on "Peace Treaty" and cancel it, but not the trades for silk, furs, etc. I made sure that the Preference to automatically renegotiate deals is unchecked. But there is no little number telling me how many turns left in the fur trade, and clicking on it does nothing. Any further suggestions?

3. Thanks for the info. I wish the Civilopedia mentioned some of this stuff.