Quick Answers / 'Newbie' Questions

[Gwynnja]

Well, I guess my first concern would have to be that when I play the scenario "Africa" (which is standard I think) I find myself clicking "end turn" 3 dozen times in a row.

I mean when a settler takes sooo man turns to come out and your little hole in the ground capital city is just beginning there is simply nothing to do in the way of actions other than scout the entire map.

Right now its "turn 163" which sets me in the 155 b.c age. Things are finally starting to pick up a little, but sheesh. Would it have something to do with the fact that I entered "epic" length game? Would that be the reason things are soo slow even up to this point?

Many thanks

I haven't played that scenario, but a settler as the initial build can set your empire back because your city can't grow or work improved tiles. Many players build a worker to start, improve 2-4 tiles and grow to pop 2-4, then build the settler.

 

[Oddible]

I haven't played that scenario, but a settler as the initial build can set your empire back because your city can't grow or work improved tiles. Many players build a worker to start, improve 2-4 tiles and grow to pop 2-4, then build the settler.

Ahh right, I didn't even read that clearly. Building a settler prevents your city from growing so you'll stay at 1 population until it is built.

 

[mechayaritai]

Hello,

I cannot find the button to buy city improvements or units when inside the city menu. Though I know this was possible in earlier versions. Can anyone held me out? Or has the option been abolished?

Mechayaritai

 

[Psimon]

It hasn't been abolished, but it's harder to get. You have to have the right Civics, either:

1. Slavery, where you can rush builds by sacrificing population
2. Universal Suffrage, the civic that allows you to spend gold to rush build.

The only way I know of to get #2 early is to build the Pyramids. Most experienced players seem to use Slavery a lot to not only rush-build, but to keep unhappy pop's in check.

Lastly, "chopping" is sacrificing nearby forests to give the nearest city a hammer boost. This is often used alongside slavery to push out units or buildings very quickly.

A more experienced player can be more helpful, I'm sure. I too looked for this option early on, wondering where it was.

 

[Psimon]

Speaking of which, could I get recommendations for a good Slavery guide?

 

[The Simple Mind]

I'm in organised religion, I have my state religion spread to most of my cities and most of these have temples and monasteries. I've built the Uni of Sankore and I'll probably be first to the Spiral Minaret. If I decide to change to free religion, do I lose the benefits of these two wonders?

I'm sure this this question had already been answered but as this thread is 620 pages long it could take sometime to find it.

 

[dalamb]

Speaking of which, could I get recommendations for a good Slavery guide?

There's Vocum Sineratio: The Whip; I think there's another to which I forgot to keep a link.

@The Simple Mind: Religious wonders like those depend on having a state religion. There's no problem repeating a question.

 

[Lord Parkin]

I'm in organised religion, I have my state religion spread to most of my cities and most of these have temples and monasteries. I've built the Uni of Sankore and I'll probably be first to the Spiral Minaret. If I decide to change to free religion, do I lose the benefits of these two wonders?

I'm sure this this question had already been answered but as this thread is 620 pages long it could take sometime to find it.

Yes, you do.

EDIT: Too slow - beaten to it.

 

[Oddible]

Hello,

I cannot find the button to buy city improvements or units when inside the city menu. Though I know this was possible in earlier versions. Can anyone held me out? Or has the option been abolished?

Mechayaritai

The buttons are to the right of the building list at the bottom of the screen. There is a small grid of buttons and Whip / Buy are the top two. The rest of the buttons may interest you too, they are the city governor buttons to specialize your cities. For those just getting into CivIV specializing cities is a significant strategy you will likely need to move up beyond Noble.

BTW, whipping comes with a significant trade-off. You want nice big cities near their happiness cap so be careful not to over whip.

 

[Oddible]

How can I see corporations that have been established in one of my towns? I just tried to establish Civ Jewelers and it wouldn't let me, which makes me think that there must be a competing corp there but I can't see which it is. If I am reading the strategy guide correctly, I will be able to displace the competing corp if I have the funds to do so right?

EDIT -

To answer my own question, the icons are on the upper right side of the city screen underneath the icons for the religions which have been spread to the city.

 

[r_rolo1]

There is a corporation screen, similar to the religious one, that shows what city has which corp and what are the benefits/demerits you are getting that city because of it if you want more detail ( look for a suitcase icon in the top right corner ). And yes, if you pay the fee, a corp exec can displace a competing corp of a city, except if it is a corp HQ

P.S Regarding the language discussion: the funny part is that it is quite hard to find a school that gives lessons of Latin in my country, that, by acident, has almost 100% of the inhabitants speaking a latin derived language ( both the oficial languages in Portugal are derived from latin )

 

[CivIVMonger]

There is a corporation screen, similar to the religious one, that shows what city has which corp and what are the benefits/demerits you are getting that city because of it if you want more detail ( look for a suitcase icon in the top right corner ). And yes, if you pay the fee, a corp exec can displace a competing corp of a city, except if it is a corp HQ

P.S Regarding the language discussion: the funny part is that it is quite hard to find a school that gives lessons of Latin in my country, that, by acident, has almost 100% of the inhabitants speaking a latin derived language ( both the oficial languages in Portugal are derived from latin )

Your country and langauge is an interesting one. What is life like there? Probobly little differance from America. Portugal is in a sence, the mother of my hemisphere.

 

[Ignorant Teacher]

When do you tech faster: on lower or higher levels?

Edit: r_rolo1, can you believe I've just learned about Mirandese today?

 

[Ignorant Teacher]

I always thought it would be kinda cool if Civ gave a bonus for having acheived enough cultural and trade dominance that your civs language became THE dominant language in the world. I just have never been able to figure out what it should be - maybe a +2 Diplo modifier?

Which would be an accurate reflection of the way it is in RL.

 

[Roland Johansen]

When do you tech faster: on lower or higher levels?

If you play with tech trading on (start game option), then a good player will tech a lot faster on the higher difficulty levels because of the huge benefits of trading with advanced opponents. A single researched technology can be traded with multiple opponents for multiple other technologies multiplying your research. But this only works when the AI is capable at researching at a decent level (compared to the player).

If you play without tech trading then the research penalties and other penalties due to high difficulty will likely slow you down a little (although the AI researches quicker). Although there are some advantages due to your opponents researching quicker. The quickened research will mean that advanced resources (like those available with plantations) become available earlier through trade which can be beneficial to a player who is good at trading.

 

[bestbrian]

Can we get a mod to change the name of this thread to "RoJo Explains It All".

 

[Sian]

not because it aren't interesting but shouldn't this convesation be moved to a seperate thread

 

[Turner]

Moderator Action: This is a thread for Questions and Answers for Civ4, not discussion of languages. That discussion as been split off and moved here.

Please keep the thread on topic.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Chris Rex]

More Newbie-ish questions

1- Are financial bonuses from buildings cumulative? Ie - Does a markets 25% Gold and a Banks 50% Gold stack, or does it take only the highest available bonus into consideration?

2- Same question with maintenance. If you have an organized leader at -50 percent and you build courthouses at -50 percent, are you effectively down to 25% total maintenance needed for that city?

 

[bestbrian]

More Newbie-ish questions

1- Are financial bonuses from buildings cumulative? Ie - Does a markets 25% Gold and a Banks 50% Gold stack, or does it take only the highest available bonus into consideration?

2- Same question with maintenance. If you have an organized leader at -50 percent and you build courthouses at -50 percent, are you effectively down to 25% total maintenance needed for that city?

In both cases they stack, Chris.

And I finally beat RoJo to an answer.