Newbie tips (from a newbie!)

[cheshire_cat_sf]

I've been playing Civ III for a month or so now and I've learned a lot about the game (thanks to everyone who gave me tips, btw!) So now I'd like to share some things I've learned that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere. Feel free to correct anything that's wrong or add your own.

1) The key to real estate is location, location, location! This is also the key to Civ III. You don't want to get squeezed out of the prime real estate, and forced to build your cities in the desert. So when you start the game, if the map doesn't look good after a dozen turns I've found it better to restart the game and wait for a good map to come along.

2) Build early and often. I use my capital to crank out settlers. I'll worry about building units later. Right now I want to get as many cities built as possible before the AI occupies the land.

2a) Some maps have slender isthmuses(sp?) that can be blocked by a single unit. Park a warrior here and the AI won't be able to cross into your territory. Usefully for keeping the other nations at bay a while longer.

3) I like to research iron working as soon as possible so I can see where its at on the map. Once I see iron, I'll build cities as close to it as possible. True, you'll probably miss out on the Pyramids because you didn't go the pottery route, but I never seem to be able to build them anyways.

4) I am able to build the Colossus almost always. Get it cranking on a coastal city and enjoy the bonus to commerce.

Hmm ... I had a few more but I can't think of them right now. If anyone has any more tips, I'd love to see them added.

 

[Zouave]

Iron is too rare in Civ III.

Remember the Americans in Civ II? Usually when I played them I got stuck on some tundra at the bottom of the screen. Yes, better to start a new game when the terrain stinks.

 

[LaRo]

Come on guys, take it as a challenge so if you win, you'll be prod of you.
Try this: 3 billions years old earth, cold desert with archipeagelo.
Have fun!

 

[cat98]

With all due respect... Screw you! I live in Canada and the plains and hills are bad enough thank you very much! We spend most of our time freezing our butts off up here, I do not plan on doing so in a civ game, grassland for me baby!

 

[zebomba]

Envy me.
Here in Brasil we have so many sunny and SANDY beaches to visit I don't know which one shall I go this summer. Maybe you can help me decide .

Hope you don't get terribly mad on me .

And that map setting surely is a challenge. I'm gonna try it on deity and see how long I can survive.

 

[LaRo]

You live in Brezil and it's hot but I know you dream to touch snow. You probably never see snow.

 

[BigDog]

Nothing to do with Civ, but I feel it is my patriotic duty to point out there really is only one country where one can surf off sandy beaches then drive a mere 1.5 hours to ski on some of the best fields in the world (passing through vast grasslands and rolling hills on the way).
Yes, that country is Middle Earth, Land of the Long White Cloud...

 

[zebomba]

There are places here in which it actually snows during winters. Not every year, but it does. I'm gonna pay them a visit, but just between us, snow is cool but sand, sun and waves rock. Or shall I say no rocks?

Some countries and places have snow and beaches near to each other. France, Argentina, Italy, and wait, Brazil too. Those frozen mountains are just about 100 miles away from the coast.
Vancouver could count, but my guess is that its beaches are rocky.

And girl, envy me. Whenever I wanna feel snow or ice, I open my refrigerator.