Newbie gets beaten constantly - Please advise

[crotonmark]

Hello All

I am playing Civ III one level above beginner (because I am stubborn). I have continents and have played with different world ages, weather, etc.
I try to start by building workers, warriors, and settlers. I tend to explore the world around me, minding my own business, growing my cities and keeping everyone happy. Sooner rather than later an army of horses attack and destroy or a boat will show up in my water.
I have no idea why I stay so backwards when all around me are getting so advanced.
What do I need to do to compete?

I have played different leaders to the same end.

Any advice is appreciated.

TIA

Mark

 

[Sloaf]

Howdy! I'm a newb here too, but I can give you one great tip... visit the War Academy. There isn't one single step-by-step guide to play better, but there are dozens of articles that will help you improve specific aspects of your game. I started reading those and got hooked, and my gameplay has really kicked up.

Also, you may like reading some of the SGs (Succession Games) in the sub-forum below Stories/Tales. These are games where several players take turns passing around a save game, playing 10 or so turns, then handing off to the next player. They post a record of their turns and discuss their next moves, so you can learn a lot by following their thought processes. They're also usually pretty entertaining.

I know those aren't actual tips on playing the game itself, but hopefully they're a nudge in the right direction. Good luck to you!

 

[Mursi lives]

Welcome to the CFC forum.

I try to start by building workers, warriors, and settlers. I tend to explore the world around me, minding my own business, growing my cities and keeping everyone happy

Sounds right. Maybe you are waiting too long to build up your military. Can you post a save of your game when it goes wrong?

 

[AutomatedTeller]

it's probably this line:

...minding my own business...

You don't have to go to war, but you may not be trading enough.

The AI is trading techs around - unlike chieftain, where you have a huge advantage, you need to trade techs on warlord. It's very difficult to self-research entirely and keep up, even on warlord. I know I never even try, except on an AW game, and even then, I try to use the GLib.

 

[megistatos]

I have no idea why I stay so backwards when all around me are getting so advanced.
What do I need to do to compete?

If you're getting behind on research then perhaps you're not trading technologies with the other civs? Another possibility is you're not putting much of your income into scientific research.

Do you get conquered completely when you play? If you're having problems with defence, build more barracks then plenty of troops.

 

[crotonmark]

First of all, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

To answer yours:

I do get overwhelmed and taken over
I never trade and I really dont know how
I have never built barracks
I let the City Governors run production (i was losing constantly before so I figured what the hell)...

 

[MikMilaKiks2Kil]

Never, ever use the governors. Always take matters into your own hands.

Shy away from trading techs and you are effectively fighting on your own against all the oppositions combined. You see, if two of your opponents exchange techs that took them 20 turns to research each, they have basically got done in 20 turns what you would need 40 turns to do on your own.

Always expand, don't stay in your shells. Barracks depends on the circumstances, but granaries at carefully selected locations is a must.

And the War Academy, its importance really cannot be over-emphasised.

And welcome to the forum! I am sure you'll soon be thrashing, conquering and wiping out your opponents...

 

[crotonmark]

ok - so how do you trade?

 

[Aabraxan]

Go into the diplomacy screen. There's a little "D" in the lower right corner. Or you can hit F4. That brings up pictures of all the leaders that you've met. Double-click on one and the diplo screen will open up. Look at what they've got to offer, and click on it. At the bottom you'll see something like, "What do you want for Warrior Code?"

 

[crotonmark]

Not to be stupid - but what if I havent met any yet
How do I meet them

 

[scoutsout]

ok - so how do you trade?

There are a couple of different ways to open up diplomatic talks with an AI:

• You can hit F4 (foreign advisor) and double click on the "leaderhead"
• Use the hotkeys [ctrl]-[shift]-[D]
• Double-click an AI unit and you'll get a "Take me to your leader" dialog.
• Go to the lower right hand corner of your screen and hit the small "D" button next to the little window thingy.

Here are some really basic tips for tech and trading.

• If there is a tech known by an AI - but not all AI - try trading for that one first. Then trade that for other techs you don't have.
• In general, you want to research techs that aren't already known by the AI... buy what is known, research what isn't.
• In the early game - research a "second-tier" tech. Start with Alphabet? Research Writing. Trade for the first-tier techs.
• Keep an eye on the expansionist civs in the early game. Their scouts tend to pop a lot of techs out of goody huts.

As for the war fighting bit... check the War Academy.

And oh yeah - welcome to CFC!

 

[scoutsout]

Not to be stupid - but what if I havent met any yet
How do I meet them

Cross-posted w/ Abraxan...

When your units are wandering around scouting about...and they spot an AI unit, you've made contact. If a unit makes it to the tile next to a border, you've made contact. Once contact is made it is not lost. From that point forward you can open up diplomatic talks.

 

[12 Bar Blues]

Don't keep every one happy, keep them content. But I guess that's what you meant.

At warlord, with a few granaries, you should be able to beat the AI in settling. You should be able to do most of the research by yourself, but don't waste time researching ceremonial burial and warrior, never ever. You'll either pop it from a hut or get both of them with gold for any other tech (I have already gotten Pottery, WC and cerem. for masonry and a few gold)

Start by researching pottery, and after your first settler, build a granary. Settle aggressively.

And using the governor is more a variant than a strategy.

 

[gmaharriet]

Not to be stupid - but what if I havent met any yet
How do I meet them

More on how you meet them....

Make some of your very first builds either warriors or (if you're an Expansionist civ) scouts. Send at least one...better yet two...out exploring and looking for other civs. If you're on the coast, build a boat or two and explore with those.

I'd suggest you play either a standard or small map (at least while you're learning) and be sure to have the default number of opponents. If you try playing a huge map with only one or two opponents, it will take you forever to meet anyone, and it also distorts the game in other ways.

Good luck and welcome to CFC!!!

 

[Aabraxan]

The War Academy has been mentioned several times, but nobody has pointed you to specific articles. There are lots of great articles there, but here are a few that I found (& continue to find) very helpful:

• Cracker's Opening Plays;
• Bamspeedy's Deity Settlers;
• Warmongering 101: A Tactical Primer; and
• The Four Rules of Wonder Addiction.

Some will make lots of sense immediately, and some may require more than one reading before they really start to sink in. Don't worry about that. I still go back and read some of them from time to time.

 

[The Professor]

You really do need to check out the War Academy. Aabraxian already mentioned two articles that deal with early expansion, and the creation and use of a settler factory:
Tutorial: Babylon's Deity Settlers and
Cracker's Civ3 Opening Plays Site
For your trading troubles, I will also recommend this one:
Trading Tips for Beginners
A few specifics: before making any trades, go to each of your neighbors, and see what tech's they have available. It won't hurt their feelings if you say "never mind" and leave, even though they will make rude comments. I find it helpful to write down everything, so that you can spot what tech's are known to only one civilization. I also write down what they are willing to offer me for any tech's that I have, so I can make the best deal first--they will be willing to offer less once more civ's know the technology.
Hope this helps, and as everyone else has said, Welcome to the Forums!

 

[CommandoBob]

I have found two ways to learn C3C.

One: read the theory in the War Academy. Think of the War Academy as describing various tools you can use to make your C3C experience more enjoyable. Some tools are easy to handle and grasp (The Four Rules of Wonder Addiction by Ision); others don't make sense right away (The Role of the Specialist Citizen by Bede).

Two: learn by doing. Join a Succession Game (SG) and play a game with others, where you can see and discuss what is going on. Your exposure is only 10 turns at a time, and then someone else picks up the game where you left off. With the proper help, even 10 turns at Diety isn't that scarey. (Nerve-wracking, yeah; petrified with fear, nyah.)

Part of an SG is discussing strategy and options as the game progresses. That helps in learning, too.

Your current level at Civ isn't that important in an SG, except for the monster-map all 31 civs AlwaysWar SGs. Those are a special case. Lots of fun, but it is a specialized style of game. Right now, that is probably not what you want or need. If you do try to join an SG, just state what level you are playing at and the others on the team will adjust (explain better) because of that.


If you can't wait to join an SG, then perhaps you could start a new game, play to 2000 or 1000 BC, and post a save here on the forum and allow the resident experts to review your work.

 

[Ringo Kid]

Most important thing, I think, is to expand as rapidly as possible in the early game. Build the towns two squares apart from each other, near grassland (green squares)so they will grow quickly. When you have twelve towns- build some barracks, strongest attackers for your civ, and some workers.

Have the workers build roads in every worked square.

Send some explorers out.

When you have a dozen strong attackers built, send them out to take cities from your weakest neighbor. Attack in force, all twelve units attacking one town at a time. Dont send them running around in ones and twos chasing stragglers.

Try playing the Iroquois , they have the best early unique unit.

Switch to monarchy or republic as soon as possible.

Adjust your science slider every turn up or down, so you get the next tech asap without wasting any gold.

 

[Gosnork]

Do you know about the scientific and lux sliders?
You should build barracks in your best shield-producing cities, and build your military in these cities.
Make sure you expand as fast as possible, build roads to give let your settlers move faster outwards.
Connect Lux/Strategic resources ASAP.

 

[marineman]

I believe that if you expand enough in the early game have each city defended by the two best units and are using your income on improvements you can win also try to use defensive units to defend (like spearmen) and offensive units for offence (swords men) and always make enough workers to work every tile.That should work.