New to Civ IV

[jameshat]

Greetings all, I am new to Civ IV and just need some help on where to start. I bought the complete edition with all of the expansion packs. My question is, do I start with the regular Civ IV ? Or the latest expansion? Any info would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks, JH

 

[IAM]

Welcome to CIV fanatics!

I would jump straight into 'Beyond the Sword'. More leaders, civs, and other stuff.

 

[*Svart*]

start with beyond the sword, it's a sort of "complete edition", more funny. Read all the good strategic articles in war accademy

 

[jameshat]

Thank you very much!!

 

[BufordTJustice]

Hi and welcome to the forums!

As suggested, the War Academy is a must. There are many articles that help with the basic concepts. There are several good beginner guides.

Also, check the Mod section for the BAT Mod, that doesn't change the game but makes the graphics and interface a LOT nicer!

Regards,

Buford

 

[DarkMaster]

I would recommend the opposite: start with vanilla. First, the tutorial is only on vanilla, and if you only install BtS you won't get that. Second, everyone who is telling you that BTS is complete (and they are right) are already used to all the game mechanics integrated. If you are new to Civ, it only means you have to learn more stuff all at once.

 

[Tylerw16]

I would recommend the opposite: start with vanilla. First, the tutorial is only on vanilla, and if you only install BtS you won't get that. Second, everyone who is telling you that BTS is complete (and they are right) are already used to all the game mechanics integrated. If you are new to Civ, it only means you have to learn more stuff all at once.

Yes, I say play the tutorial and then use the internet when you have any questions.

 

[s.bernbaum]

I agree with DarkMaster and Tylerw16. After you feel comfortable with the vanilla game, switch to BTS for more features. Before you actually start playing BTS, read the section of the civopedia that describes the changes in BTS from vanilla.

 

[*Svart*]

I'm not agree. in vanilla espionage is really really dull.. There are some differences with bts and every single difference is better in bts. Vanilla is a sort of worse civ4 compared to bts.

 

[TM Moot]

i'm in the straight to BtS camp...

looking back now from the lofty viewpoint of BtS, Vanilla looks lacking in quite a few aspects (UB's, great generals, less Civs/leaders, AI)

get straight into BtS and read the forums...

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Also, check the Mod section for the BAT Mod, that doesn't change the game but makes the graphics and interface a LOT nicer!

Oh, you nice man, you. Thanks for endorsing our little mod.

I would jump straight into BTS, as well, but on a low level like Warlord. Play a few games while trying out different things and fooling around, and get a feel for how the game mechanics work. You probably won't win any of those games, but you'll learn a lot from your mistakes. When you're comfortable with how things go, stay at the same level, but this time play to win.

Just remember, the game is complex, and it isn't easy. It takes time to get good at it, but the rewards are many.

 

[DarkMaster]

Te be clear, I never meant that he should never eventually move to BTS. BTS is the complete Civ IV experience, there's no arguing about that.
Now, you are saying that it's better to install BTS because of espionage, Great Generals, more Civs Civs, corporations, random events, etc. But think about a newcomer. Think about someone who never played a civ game in his life. Think about all the things he has to learn at first: the roles of food / hammers / commerce, culture / gold / gpp / beakers, has to master the whole freaking combat system, religions, etc, etc.

Starting with vanilla is simpler.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Te be clear, I never meant that he should never eventually move to BTS. BTS is the complete Civ IV experience, there's no arguing about that.
Now, you are saying that it's better to install BTS because of espionage, Great Generals, more Civs Civs, corporations, random events, etc. But think about a newcomer. Think about someone who never played a civ game in his life. Think about all the things he has to learn at first: the roles of food / hammers / commerce, culture / gold / gpp / beakers, has to master the whole freaking combat system, religions, etc, etc.

Starting with vanilla is simpler.

It is more simple, yes. At least it features a tutorial.

When I started to play, I was someone who had never played a RTS game in her life. I don't count Civ2 because I was bored after two games. I started with Vanilla to get the feel of it, and after a week or two, I bought BTS. It was a bit of a jolt, really. It felt like too many of the rules had changed and I was rather confused for a while.

BTS is more challenging, but I think it's better to start with the "full" game for a few reasons. You learn the game the same as you do for vanilla, but you don't have that little bout of confusion when you upgrade the game. Also, most of us here at CFC play BTS, and assume others do as well. A new player scanning the posts might get confused trying to apply BTS concepts to vanilla, or we could give him/her bad advice, or wrong advice if we assume that they are playing BTS.

IMHO, I just think it's a little too much effort to learn the game, and then have to relearn most of it when you buy an expansion pack. If you have BTS, why not just learn BTS and be done with it?

 

[Gehn]

Also, most of us here at CFC play BTS, and assume others do as well. A new player scanning the posts might get confused trying to apply BTS concepts to vanilla, or we could give him/her bad advice, or wrong advice if we assume that they are playing BTS.

This is very much the case.

I play vanilla only (having received the game from a friend) and have a tough time finding information that pertains only to Vanilla.

It seems to be quite a different game once you install the expansions.

Not good or bad (because I am enjoying vanilla very much), just different strategies from what I have read.

BTW...Thank you all for the great community here.

 

[BufordTJustice]

Oh, you nice man, you. Thanks for endorsing our little mod.

[...]

You are very welcome! I coudn't play without it anymore.

By the way for new players, especially if they decide to start with Vanilla... I got addicted to Civ just last year and it was mainly caused by somehow stumbling over this
walkthrough:

http://www.garath.net/Sullla/civ4intro.html

I immediately bought the game... I started with BtS by the way.

This guide is excellent for newbies:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=165632


Have fun!

 

[Lemon Merchant]

BTW...Thank you all for the great community here.

You're welcome. And welcome to CFC!

You are very welcome! I coudn't play without it anymore.

Heh heh heh. I'll make a BAT junkie out of all of you. And your little dog, too. Just you wait.

Btw, Buford, those guides are probably good reading for experienced players, as well. I tend to forget things now and then, and it's nice to have a refresher.

 

[BammBamm]

Welcome to CivFanatics, JH (and Gehn).

Also, congratulations on entering the "Hotel California" of PC Gameville! What I mean by that, is, if Civilization ends up affecting you like it has many of us here, you will soon become amazed at how effective this game is at making time fly completely out the window!

Having started out w/ good ol', plain ol' Civ4, dabbling in Warlords, then throwing myself into BTS, I tend to agree with Miss Merchant, in this case. On its face, Civilization IV is fairly complex to folks unfamiliar with the series (like I was), and you might think Beyond the Sword would add yet another level of complexity (and you'd probably be right), but if you're committed to delving into this most excellent time sink, you may as well dive in headfirst, right!?!

And don't get discouraged if at first you don't succeed in victory; just try to take something away from every game & apply it to the next. We all wish you well, amigo.

 

[mechaerik]

I'm with straight to BtS.

I had never played a civ game before either, but I jumped straight to BtS. I would, however, suggest you play the tutorial in vanilla first, then go to BtS. So not completely straight.

 

[bestrfcplayer]

I started on Vanalla, then moved to BtS, then back to Vanalla (comp. crashed, no internet, other comp. is really slow sometimes ect.) BtS is a lot better than Vanalla. You also might want to start on Settler.

 

[Default]

I'm new here, and to CiV 4 as well.

I got it of the Steam summer sale a few days ago for 10 bucks. Anyways, I went ahead and installed Beyond the Sword, and figured out most of the basic gameplay elements from reading Sisiutil's guide.

I'm trying to develop a proper strategy and stuff, but I always get distracted by my units. I seem to have an itch to wage war, no matter the reason or the logicality of war at that time.