Newbie Questions - ask here!

[RobOz]

I consult that graph probably every other or every third turn. It's an accurate determination of where you stand in the game. I am mostly concerned with the score, though. I do check the graph, though to try to get a general idea of my power and culture comparatively.

And Killer (about the automatic patch update with PTW) - I would assume so, but I didn't read anything about that specifically.

My friend has civ 3, but hasn't d/led the patches, so I was talking to him about getting PTW and having to get used to a few adjustments and then we started wondering if that was actually the case.

 

[Padma]

PTW is a different game, with it's own .exe file. As long as you own Civ3, you can play PTW. The version of Civ3 doesn't matter, as you are not playing with that executable file.

BTW, the graph has good data in it. It is rather hard to read accurately, though. I have heard of players holding a ruler up to the screen to compare things.

 

[Arathorn]

I've heard of players counting pixels on the culture graph....

Most use it as a rough guide of where they stand in various terms.

Arathorn

 

[Jeratain]

Thanks for all the replies. Those tips about increasing spending really did help. But the one thing that I did not realize was that I was still using the original game without any patches.

I was still stuck with version 1.07f or something like that. Once I installed the 1.29f patch I was kicking major arse on monarchy mode! Woohoo!!

Thanks again, and I'm sure I'll be posting more and more questions.

 

[Raijer]

Yeah, I do the same thing RobOz, but the only thing I look at is the score. I mean, the thing has a graph-like shape, but in order to be readable, it needs to correspond to some type of consistent X / Y axis. How do my peak and/or valleys on the graph compare numerically with the other Civs? I think Arathorn is right: it can only be used as a "rough" guide - although if you're the Civ to the far left, you can't even get that. In my opinion, it seems the thing exisists simply to look "cool."

Of course, I could easily be missing something here, which is why I posted the question here. Thanks for the input RobOz and Arathorn.

 

[Shabbaman]

This histograph denotes data relative to each other. So you've got to see the x-axis as a percentage scale. That is, if your color (let's say, red for babylon) is at 50% (that is, half the scale), and the remainder is divided over 2 other civs (each 25%), you've got twice as much points as the other two civs. But for the final score you receive a time bonus.

Through this system, your score can seem to go down, while in fact it remains the same. How? Because another civs score has gone up.

The score histograph is completely useless, the power graph is a lot of fun, but the culture graph is really useful. It gives you a better indication of where you stand than the stupid remarks of your advisors.

 

[Lt. 'Killer' M.]

Raijer:I use the trends in the graph (especially the culture part) as an indication. If for example a civs strength soars up while they do NOT expand the territory it means they build troops

 

[J-S]

How does air to air combat work? Does the planes attack-defend stat really affect it or is it just the 50% chance to kill or not kill the plane that overflies?

Is there a tutorial on how to add new city improvements? I want to add some, but can't make the icons appear etc.

 

[HrVaTsKa]

my allie civs wont trade with me becuaes i declared war on my used to be allies...
Is there a way to make an enemy declare war on your civ?

 

[HrVaTsKa]

my allie civs wont trade with me becuaes i declared war on my used to be allies...
Is there a way to make an enemy declare war on your civ?

 

[HrVaTsKa]

whoops accidently posted 2 times..sorry bout that all

 

[Jeratain]

Originally posted by HrVaTsKa

Is there a way to make an enemy declare war on your civ?

It's pretty easy. You can tick them off through diplomacy by continuously giving them insulting deals and refusing their offers.

The best way that I know of is to put one of your units in their territory, and they will tell you to move or declare war, just don't move it and see what happens.

 

[Aggie]

Originally posted by Jeratain

The best way that I know of is to put one of your units in their territory, and they will tell you to move or declare war, just don't move it and see what happens.

I don't think that's correct....
If you don't move the unit, YOU have to declare war and YOU will get a rep hit.

 

[Jeratain]

Actually you're right Aggie. My mistake.

 

[WillJ]

This isn't a Civ3 question, but instead a site question:

In Mac OS X style (I think it's this style only), when you click on someone's name and see his/her profile, there is a section called «-- User Stats --», and it always contains this info:

Thread views on threads by this user: %
User's Local Time:

Nothing seems to be different for each user; it is always these exact same words. I have never seen an actual % for "thread views," and I have never seen the user's local time listed. What is the point of this section?

 

[hbdragon88]

Originally posted by Jeratain


It's pretty easy. You can tick them off through diplomacy by continuously giving them insulting deals and refusing their offers.

The best way that I know of is to put one of your units in their territory, and they will tell you to move or declare war, just don't move it and see what happens.

Careful, careful. Only insult and refuse offers from aggressive civs (Germans Aztecs Zulus Catherine) because they'll be the ones that declare war on you if you refuse offers

If you have espionage and their really furious at you, attempt an espionage mission and get caught - they will declare war on you.

If you declare war on an enemy, make sure that you try to kill them, or else they'll be a liar and cheat on you and be underhanded if you talk with them again.

 

[JonathanValjean]

Here is the situation: I have just discovered mapmaking. I had already built a few harbors to improve my food production in coastal cities. Somehow, England offers some spices in exchange for gems. I accept. How is this happening, though? I thought that you could not trade over sea squares until you had discovered Astronomy, and over ocean squares until you had discovered Magnetism. England is on the other side of the world, with plenty of Sea and Ocean squares between us. Is this something new in PTW, a bug, or am I misinformed about the rules? I'm using patch 1.04 in PTW. Thanks in advance.

 

[Admiral Kutzov]

Better to end earlier or milk for city size/future tech when leading by 5-10 techs? I've been playing as Iroqouis and don't have a whole lot of trouble getting ahead, but my aggressive instinct kicks in and I try to beat everyone. Suggestions on war or peace?

 

[Yzman]

Originally posted by JonathanValjean
Here is the situation: I have just discovered mapmaking. I had already built a few harbors to improve my food production in coastal cities. Somehow, England offers some spices in exchange for gems. I accept. How is this happening, though? I thought that you could not trade over sea squares until you had discovered Astronomy, and over ocean squares until you had discovered Magnetism. England is on the other side of the world, with plenty of Sea and Ocean squares between us. Is this something new in PTW, a bug, or am I misinformed about the rules? I'm using patch 1.04 in PTW. Thanks in advance.

This is a good question, I have had this happen as well. There is 2 things I think it can be.

1. England has a city on your continent somewhere.
2. We can actually use other people's harbors and these people have the tech to be able to trade it.

 

[JonathanValjean]

Here is the situation: I'm in democracy, on monarch level, have 6 luxuries and a marketplace in a particular city (hence I have 12 happy faces for that city). Also, I have a cathedral, a temple, and a colloseum in this city. I'm not at war, but I do have 5 military units in the city. The size of the city is 12. Why do I have 2 unhappy faces in the citizen roster?
(I was thinking that with only 12 citizens, the happy faces would take care of each of them, with the other happiness contributors left over. Where is my logic flawed?) Thanks for your input.