Quick Answers / 'Newbie' Questions

[ori]

It was something like "DXXDDXX." I'm installing DirectX, but I'm not sure that's it...

it definitely was d3dx9_32.dll it could not find - that is the common problem of 1.74 and due to bad communication on Firaxis' part.

Now I am getting a cryptographic services error stating that the cabinet file is not "valid" and can not be accepted. My services are ON, I varified that but I can't figure out what to do.

If the Web Installer doesn't work try this link (for the June version that the patch wants) or this link (for the August version - which is newer, though I don't know if it works with the patch ).

 

[ggganz]

Well, probably because if you lose the Caravel your troop capsules don't fall into the water, get rehydrated, take human form, and drown.

EDIT: He already said it, didn't look at the next page.

 

[Roland Johansen]

I just think its rather a cheesy exploit. For instance, lets say its the modern era, and I invade civ "x" with 15 transports. Now they have battleships, destroyers, subs and carriers, and I don't want to get my smaller equiv "modern" navy damaged or destroyed.

So I just keep the 12 caravels I build hundreds of yrs ago as sacrificial escorts. As long as the ai doesn't have 13 individual ships at my point of attack, all my 60 troops land, which is the point. The transports are invulnerable, and my "proper" navy is safe back home. Just seems, well a little wrong to me.

Mwah, I don't find this to be that exploitive because for it to be exploitive, it has to be somewhat efficient. In this case, you've paid the maintenance for 12 caravels for a very long time only so that you can sacrifice them in the modern age (which will result in war weariness if it occurs within the enemies sphere of cultural influence). I rarely even build 12 caravels in a game.

I do fully agree that the combat system in civ4 sometimes feels wrong. A way to solve your problems above would be to allow 1 vs many types of combat or more generally stacks attacking eachother and fighting eachother as stacks. A stack of 3 battleships attacking 12 caravels + 5 galleons should probably result in the loss of all the ships of the age of sail. And the same should also work for stack combat on land. But that's maybe something for civ5.

In the meanwhile, there might be some rough solution coming in the 3.13 patch for BTS as it will allow ships to get the blitz promotion:

Blitz promotion available to ships

 

[DrewBledsoe]

Mwah, I don't find this to be that exploitive because for it to be exploitive, it has to be somewhat efficient. In this case, you've paid the maintenance for 12 caravels for a very long time only so that you can sacrifice them in the modern age (which will result in war weariness if it occurs within the enemies sphere of cultural influence). I rarely even build 12 caravels in a game.

I do fully agree that the combat system in civ4 sometimes feels wrong. A way to solve your problems above would be to allow 1 vs many types of combat or more generally stacks attacking eachother and fighting eachother as stacks. A stack of 3 battleships attacking 12 caravels + 5 galleons should probably result in the loss of all the ships of the age of sail. And the same should also work for stack combat on land. But that's maybe something for civ5.

In the meanwhile, there might be some rough solution coming in the 3.13 patch for BTS as it will allow ships to get the blitz promotion:

Fair enough, I think I was getting wound up by the fact that I was miles ahead in tech, yet couldn't attack these galleons, I'll drop the matter

Blitz sounds nice for ships, but it requires at least 4 promotions, which in my games doesn't happen too often with boats......

 

[Roland Johansen]

Fair enough, I think I was getting wound up by the fact that I was miles ahead in tech, yet couldn't attack these galleons, I'll drop the matter

Blitz sounds nice for ships, but it requires at least 4 promotions, which in my games doesn't happen too often with boats......

It's a good reason to get wound up. I could easily see myself being annoyed in such a situation. The combat system has been the part of civ that I want to have improved for ages (since civ 1). There have been some improvements but they were just minor changes, not a radical improvement.

And about the blitz promotion: that's why I called it a rough solution. I can see ships getting the blitz promotion against a far inferior opponent who keeps spamming ships. But in general, it won't be used often.

 

[Rambuchan]

If I am to attack a vassal state, can I expect its Master to declare war on me too?

If I am at war with someone else's vassal state, will they cease to be their vassal if they lose enough land and population? Can I switch them to become mine?

 

[Samson]

If I am to attack a vassal state, can I expect its Master to declare war on me too?

Yes, it is automatic.

If I am at war with someone else's vassal state, will they cease to be their vassal if they lose enough land and population? Can I switch them to become mine?

They can CHOOSE to cease to be their vassal, and in that case they could then become yours. It is up to the vassal.

 

[Rambuchan]

Thanks Samson.

 

[_alphaBeta_]

If the vassal loses more than 50% of its original land area, then it can break off from the master. Samson is saying the vassal has a choice at this point whether or not to actually break off. I was under the impression that it was automatic.

I'm talking about capitulated vassal here, ones that would not ordinarily have the option to leave every 10 turns. Is that what you were referring to Samson?

The only other way you could cause them to seperate would be to inflict heavy loses on the master. Once the vassal's population AND land area are greater than 50% of the master it can also break off.

 

[Samson]

If the vassal loses more than 50% of its original land area, then it can break off from the master. Samson is saying the vassal has a choice at this point whether or not to actually break off. I was under the impression that it was automatic.

That is what I am saying. This is the way I thought it worked and I had had it happen that a vassal did not split, but I am not sure now you question it.

 

[Aamto12]

I've seen the term WFYBTA thrown around a lot (typically on the BtS forums).

Can someone tell me what that means? Thanks.

 

[ori]

I've seen the term WFYBTA thrown around a lot (typically on the BtS forums).

Can someone tell me what that means? Thanks.

We Fear You Are Becoming Too Advanced - it is the response you get from AIs if you want to trade techs and have exhausted your trade limit.

 

[Samson]

I've seen the term WFYBTA thrown around a lot (typically on the BtS forums).

Can someone tell me what that means? Thanks.

"We Fear You Are Becomeing Too Advanced". It is when you have traded a certain amount of techs a civ will not trade techs with you.

 

[Che_1928]

it definitely was d3dx9_32.dll it could not find - that is the common problem of 1.74 and due to bad communication on Firaxis' part.


If the Web Installer doesn't work try this link (for the June version that the patch wants) or this link (for the August version - which is newer, though I don't know if it works with the patch ).

Where do I put the files??!

 

[ori]

Where do I put the files??!

they are executables - just doubleclick and it installs automagically
(just use one of those though )

 

[Che_1928]

It worked! Thank you so much!

 

[ggganz]

Did you mean to say automagically?

 

[ori]

Did you mean to say automagically?

Spoiler :

pun intended

 

[Walrath]

Hi Everyone!

I don't play Civ 4 to much but I always get to the same problem in the end with finaces.

My Inflation just rises and rises what do I do or should I do more importaintly? And what are the factors that calculate inflation (like trade with other civs)? Know that with big country it sucks if you have 300% inflation = 4x normal expenses. Mostly having problems in 1 v 1.

 

[ori]

Hi Everyone!

I don't play Civ 4 to much but I always get to the same problem in the end with finaces.

My Inflation just rises and rises what do I do or should I do more importaintly? And what are the factors that calculate inflation (like trade with other civs)? Know that with big country it sucks if you have 300% inflation = 4x normal expenses. Mostly having problems in 1 v 1.

Inflation just progresses with time - there is no way to change that (you can mod it out if you want). In BtS its even worse but should be cut back a tad with the patch due out soon.