Old school Civ player needs help

[bloodzombie]

Hello everyone!

First off, I admit that I have not played Civ since the DOS version. I just got Civ 4 and I've now completed 2 games. I play Hot Seat games with my wife and 2-3 AI players. The first game I won a Space Race victory and the second game I won a Diplomatic victory.

Now, I had been automating my workers because I didn't feel like dealing with the now baffling array of stuff they can do - in the original civ you irrigated or built mines and then put railroads all over everything. That was it. Also, my wife and I don't want to wait around while the other person moves 20+ workers all over the map.

We just started a new game and I decided not to automate workers after reading on this forum that no serious player automates workers, they make poor choices, etc. So I have been trying to prioritize obvious things like resources and making a balance of farms, cottages, and mines. Problem is, for some reason it is suddenly taking FOREVER to discover technologies. I have my science at 100% and as of right now, it is taking 86 turns to discover Divine Right.

I can't find the source of the problem but I thought it might have something to do with my workers since that is the only thing I'm doing differently. Do I just not have enough improvements that produce hammers? I'm attaching the save game so people can look if they want.

 

[BrantleyL1]

I have my science at 100% and as of right now, it is taking 86 turns to discover Divine Right.

I can't find the source of the problem but I thought it might have something to do with my workers since that is the only thing I'm doing differently. Do I just not have enough improvements that produce hammers?

Haven't had a chance to check game, but hammers are NOT the source of the problem... Science is science. hammers have to do with production. And Cutlure with culture...

Sorry to sound so obvious, but I make the same mistake myself. You have to do things to promote science to increase that. If you were saying it was taking LONG to build a building, then hammers would be your problem.

Also, if you are in revolution, then everything takes longer. But this does not sound like that. Someone will check and answer this. Just thought you might appreciate a quicker answer.

 

[bloodzombie]

Don't worry about sounding obvious, as I am obviously a Civ4 noob. Once I read your reply I realized that it could not possibly have anything to do with hammers. I am not in anarchy either because I chose a leader that doesn't get anarchy when they change civics (Saladin).

I'm just baffled since this is the first game I've played where a technology took nearly that long to develop. Of course, I've had hoards of barbarians attacking from every angle so I haven't been able to develop much other than military units. No science! But I thought at least the 100% science would prevent that big a problem.

 

[FrancisMarion]

The science slider represents how much of your Commerce is converted into Beakers aka Research.

So if you don't have enough Commerce, setting the slider at 100% won't help much e.g. if you're using 100% of 1 commerce and I'm using 50% of 5 commerce I'm going to tech much faster.

You can increase your commerce rate by building cottages in your cities and working them. Poke around the War Academy link on the main page. You'll find some great articles on how everything works.

 

[Photi]

just checked the save...

the good news is you're one turn away from a great prophet and you founded hinduism, so build the shrine and you'll have additional gold (not commerce).

12 turns for alpha does not seem off, but i usually play epic speed and you are on normal so that would skew things. however, alphabet is a priority tech in almost any strategy so not having it by 520ad or whatever is a problem.

i was shocked to see general george washington so close, esp on a huge map, maybe that's a function of hotseat but look at all that empty land to your south. strange you two are so close. i am not even a warmonger and i would have probably dealt with him in the BC's. and so much fog of war, exploration should be more of a priority. given the same start, i would have been more aggressive in expanding south staying out of the mostly useless tundra until it was time to backfill cities. you did pick up the silver however getting the happy bonus, but you are not working that tile to get the $$ bonus. iirc, there were deer there that would give you enough food to work the silver mine. i would also suggest more workers, madrid esp that its you're captiol should have cleared most of that forest long ago (use the shields from the chop for whatever, but so many forests to clear in you're capital should immediately say to you "wonders!" like the pyramids or the great lib or whatever you like. the capital really needs cottages and madrid having the rivers would be great to cottage spam. once you get civil service and bureaucracy you get additional 50% shields and commerce in the capital, giving a great boost to your economy. when clearing forests, i usually chop first, then improve, that way you can better control what the shields from the chop will be producing in your build queue.

i played and loved the old school civ too, but the game has evolved quite a bit since then, it is much more layered and complex than it used to be. just keep playing and keep reading the forums, your game will fill out soon enough.

 

[bloodzombie]

And how much of a noob I am is now becoming especially apparent. Your comments made me realize that I attached a save from my wife's point of view and you cannot even see what I am talking about. She is Spain and I will definitely pass your comments her way. I have been listening to her complain about Washington crowding her out for the entire game!

I am Saladin and will post another save when I get home from my point of view. When I started reading your comments I was like, "Huh, I don't remember seeing silver?"

 

[Sisiutil]

Check out the site's War Academy and, if I might blow my own horn for a moment, my Beginners' Guide (link in my sig).