Quick Answers / 'Newbie' Questions

[ParadigmShifter]

They won't trade with people you are at war with though.

 

[DooMeeR]

Well, that's good to know.

 

[Silu]

Instead of gifting, you can also trade the techs in return for "stop trading with x", which makes them unable to trade crap with that Civ for a while.

 

[Samson]

I wanted to play a game I started in the mod MOO2Civ 5.0 at a different difficulty. I loaded the initial save, went to WB and saved it (attached). As soon as I load it it says I have been defeated. Is there a way to do this?

 

[qyll]

Another question

Has anyone found use for serfdom? I have never used it ever in any of my games, but it seems interesting. The 50% faster worker rate sounds decent except that slavery and caste system just sound so much better. I can see it being useful for spiritual leaders but that's about it.

 

[IAM]

Another question

Has anyone found use for serfdom? I have never used it ever in any of my games, but it seems interesting. The 50% faster worker rate sounds decent except that slavery and caste system just sound so much better. I can see it being useful for spiritual leaders but that's about it.

I us serfdom regularly to speed up rexing improvements. Under certain circumstances it's better than slavery. If you don't have good food resources to regrow cities quickly or lack happiness or working cottages. They don't grow if you don't work them.

 

[DooMeeR]

Instead of gifting, you can also trade the techs in return for "stop trading with x", which makes them unable to trade crap with that Civ for a while.

Nice trick! Do I get negative diplo points with civ "x"? I guess my vassal does, but I don't really care

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Yeah you get "you organised a trade embargo against us!" which is -1 each time I think. I don't think they go into refuse to talk mode though.

 

[DooMeeR]

Ok. I will use it when plotting war against them, then. We have enough on our hands right now, you foolish "x" civ! And we fear you are becoming to advanced. Haha.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Bear in mind they could trade it to someone else who then trades it with your target though.

If I have a monopoly on a military tech I'll hang onto it until other civs start getting it most of the time, then trade it away.

 

[Lord Parkin]

I wanted to play a game I started in the mod MOO2Civ 5.0 at a different difficulty. I loaded the initial save, went to WB and saved it (attached). As soon as I load it it says I have been defeated. Is there a way to do this?

You're unlikely to find an answer in this thread, because people here are unlikely to have the mod you're using. You'd probably be better off either posting in the forum/thread for the mod (if there is one), or messaging the mod creator(s) directly.

From a complete guess though, it sounds like you've somehow deleted your starting units or advanced the game turns a long way past the starting point (the only ways I'm familiar with in regular civ that can get you a defeat without doing anything). But that might be completely on the wrong track. Again, I'd advise talking to the people who know the mod best.

 

[qyll]

Thanks, IAM.

Another question.

I know that if you make a ridiculous demand (for say, a moderately expensive tech like civil service), you will almost always be rejected and get a -1 diplomatic modifier, and you can do this 10 times in a row for a -10 diplomatic penalty. Is it possible to piss off the AI enough to have them declare war on you so you avoid the -1 diplomatic penalty for "You declared war on our friend" with the more important AI civs?

 

[Lord Parkin]

Thanks, IAM.

Another question.

I know that if you make a ridiculous demand (for say, a moderately expensive tech like civil service), you will almost always be rejected and get a -1 diplomatic modifier, and you can do this 10 times in a row for a -10 diplomatic penalty. Is it possible to piss off the AI enough to have them declare war on you so you avoid the -1 diplomatic penalty for "You declared war on our friend" with the more important AI civs?

Nope. You can do a similar thing with Spies (indefinitely letting them get caught and scoring large negative diplomatic points), and indeed I did this in one game a while back and got to something like -25 or -30 with Mansa Musa. But no matter how angry you make an AI (even if you get them to -100, which I believe is the hardcoded limit), it will only make them bitter towards you. They might be more likely to start a war if the right circumstances are in place, but they will never just immediately declare war at any diplomatic level.

 

[millahnna]

Somewhere on these boards I have seen reference to editing out certain civs/leaders so you don't get them in in Random. Am I completely making this up or is this possible? If so, tell me that's it's just an XML change and that there is a link somewhere on how to do it (I've searched, I swear). I think I can bork my way around tweaking the XML.

 

[r_rolo1]

It is half true

You can edit easily civilizations out from human use via XML, but not leaders ... namely via Sid Meier's Civilization 4\(expansion folder if appliable to the civ in question) \Assets\XML\Civilizations\ CIV4CivilizationInfos.XML , by changing the civ in question <bPlayable> handle to 0 ( in fact, there are already civs edited out by default , like the minors and the barbarians )

In fact, the XML allows you to do a even neater trick, that is disallowing the AI of getting some civs That is done in a similar way, but using the <bAIPlayable> handles in the same file ... and, as above, there are stock examples of that , the barbs and the minors

 

[Lord Parkin]

In fact, the XML allows you to do a even neater trick, that is disallowing the AI of getting some civs That is done in a similar way, but using the <bAIPlayable> handles in the same file ... and, as above, there are stock examples of that , the barbs and the minors

Ah, awesome. I've been thinking that would be neat for a while now. It's just a shame Firaxis didn't make it a customisable option from in-game. So often I want to start a game with random AI's, but have an assurance that I will not see (for instance) Monty/Shaka/Alex in a particular game. Ah well, I guess I can do it myself now, but it'll take a while to figure out (I'm a bit slow with this stuff).

 

[bky333]

Civilization IV: Quick Answers

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Hi everyone!

In this thread, feel free to ask basic questions about Civilization IV. This should make it easier for you guys to get answers quicker, and it should also separate discussion threads from more basic questions. With time, this will make it possible for us to put together an official Civilization IV FAQ article as well. If you aren't in a rush to post any questions, make sure to read through the available information, which is likely to answer a lot of questions itself.

Just post your questions here without worrying about if it's already covered somewhere else, and hopefully some of the experts will answer them.

I encourage everyone to participate here, answering questions they can. Thanks!

I am not sure if i am doing this right but i cannot download my civ 4 game, i have windows 7, i keep getting not vaild win 32 appl. please help..

 

[r_rolo1]

Ah, awesome. I've been thinking that would be neat for a while now. It's just a shame Firaxis didn't make it a customisable option from in-game. So often I want to start a game with random AI's, but have an assurance that I will not see (for instance) Monty/Shaka/Alex in a particular game. Ah well, I guess I can do it myself now, but it'll take a while to figure out (I'm a bit slow with this stuff).

Well, take notice that you can't block Monty/Shaka/Alex just like that You can block the Zulu/Mongolia/Greece civs , a thing that will throw away Pericles and KK out in default settings ... and will will be of nil assurance if unrestricted leaders are on

 

[phoenix_sprite]

1595 AD: I'm playing as Brennus, I'm top score but by very little, a few AIs were starting to get a few techs in front of me so I raised my Scientific output from 40 to 70%.

Question at hand: Is it possible to aim for a culture win AND focus on military and science simultaneously? Or should I just go for a UN win? I need to improve my military power because I feel threatened (second before last on power) despite having my own continent and I'd like to invade the weakest civ on the map, Spain, no one likes her anyway.

 

[Sisiutil]

Question at hand: Is it possible to aim for a culture win AND focus on military and science simultaneously?

Yes! Have a look at the Victoria ALC (follow the link in my sig to the ALC bullpen and find the link there). I warred through most of that game, eventually conquering my continent, and won by culture by relying more heavily on artist specialists (and Great Artists) in my three culture cities than on the slider. Mind you, it helped that I (a) discovered Music first for a free GA and (b) built the Sistine Chapel for the boost to all specialists.