Quick Answers / 'Newbie' Questions

[Lord Parkin]

The same expansion pack (BtS) but I don't know about the patch. I have (according to 'About the Build') , Civ Version 3.17 and Save Version 301.

Right. Where's the thread that you got the save file from? It's probably worth checking whether the patch version is different, especially if the post is several months old (or more).

 

[Eco-Friendly]

Here is the thread where I got the save from.

 

[Alkarin]

OK...me and my mate have been playing civ4 alot on MP and we noticed after we started launching nukes the minimap would start getting this blackbox on it. and the more nukes we fired the bigger it would get. What is this black box and what are the consequences?

 

[brandonbrownson]

How do you load mods on civilization 4? I've saved them under the mod folder, I just dunno how to load em

 

[Eco-Friendly]

Starting Menu. Go to the bottom option (Advanced), click it, and it should have another option saying 'Load a Mod'.

 

[Lord Parkin]

Here is the thread where I got the save from.

That would explain it. The thread is from December 2007 - about 16 months ago. The 3.17 patch only came out in June 2008, so that savegame will definitely be for a different patch version. Unfortunately you won't be able to play it unless you reinstall and go back to an earlier patch. (This is not too tricky to do, but takes time. If you want to do it, you might want to PM the author of the thread to see if he can tell you which patch he was using to play the game.)

OK...me and my mate have been playing civ4 alot on MP and we noticed after we started launching nukes the minimap would start getting this blackbox on it. and the more nukes we fired the bigger it would get. What is this black box and what are the consequences?

That sounds rather odd. Do you have a screenshot or savegame? It sounds like it could be a graphics card issue or something.

 

[Eco-Friendly]

Thanks LP.

 

[r_rolo1]

No, Lord parkin, BtS saves are ALL forward compatible. You can load 3.0X saves in 3.13 and both of them in 3.17. I just downloaded and loaded sucessfully the save in 3.17, so the issue has to be other.....

 

[Lord Parkin]

No, Lord parkin, BtS saves are ALL forward compatible. You can load 3.0X saves in 3.13 and both of them in 3.17. I just downloaded and loaded sucessfully the save in 3.17, so the issue has to be other.....

Hmm, okay. Maybe a corrupt download then? Eco-Friendly, you should try downloading the savegame again and see if that helps at all.

 

[Bobbtjoe]

How do you beat Noble difficulty? I can't. I'm such a n00b it's a disgrace!

 

[Lord Parkin]

How do you beat Noble difficulty? I can't. I'm such a n00b it's a disgrace!

That's a rather broad question, so it's tricky (or even impossible) to answer. Each game plays out differently, depending on the map size, land and sea forms, and rival civs present (or absent). Not to mention various other options and choices. So there's really no one hard and fast "do this and win" strategy for every situation.

However, a couple of broad pointers:
- Build a Worker early on. It should be either your first or second build. (You might want a Warrior/Scout first if you want to explore faster, or a Work Boat first if you're on the coast and your civilization starts with Fishing.)
- Research first the technologies that let your Workers do the things you need them to do (Animal Husbandry for pastures, Pottery for cottages, Bronze Working for chopping forests, etc). Later move on to techs that improve your economy and military (and perhaps allow some new wonders, religions, or civics too).
- Don't try to go for the early religions unless your civilization starts with Mysticism.
- Don't build wonders unless you have the time for them, and then don't go after too many at once. They're useful, but they're not necessary... especially if they come at the cost of your expansion!
- Found cities so that they will have at least one food resource, and preferably several different resources available. The more the better!
- A good rule of thumb is to make sure you have 1-2 workers per city (more if there is a lot of jungle or forest to clear, or if the city is growing quickly).
- Don't expand too quickly. A good general rule is if you notice that building a new city makes you drop below 60% on the research slider, stop expanding until you can increase the slider to 60% again without a deficit.
- Build plenty of cottages, especially along rivers.
- Don't be afraid to build good relations and trade with the AI. Switching to a religion that several AI also have helps a lot in improving relations with them.
- Go to war only when you're confident that you're stronger than your opponent and can take some cities easily. Keep wars as short as possible: lots of troops pushing hard into one area all at once, rather than a slow weak stream getting pummelled by the opposition. Build lots of siege units (Catapults and the like) as well as melee (and more advanced) units.

I can't really say much more specific until you've provided some more information, but I hope that helps somewhat.

I highly recommend starting a thread on this forum, and posting a couple of savegames from a game you've played at certain intervals - say 1000 BC, 1 AD and 1000 AD. Then people will be able to look specifically at your game and tell you exactly what you need to do to improve from where you are.

 

[BrantleyL1]

Hi all, I am not that new but the question must be very rookie. In starting a new game in an island setting is it that bad of a strategy to start by building a workboat? What about if there are little natural hammers in the city? Will that set me back that much?

One other useful thing to do in an island setting with workboats is explore. They can't enter the ocean, but if you are in an island cluster, you are typically close enough to the other island that you can cross over and explre around them. Maybe find a better island to go settle.

 

[bestbrian]

How do you beat Noble difficulty? I can't. I'm such a n00b it's a disgrace!

Hi, Bob. Welcome to the Forums. I'd just like to add that a good place to start is with the Nobles Club series. Check out the older games and play along with the current ones - you'll learn quite a bit in a short period of time. And they're fun.

 

[Alkarin]

That sounds rather odd. Do you have a screenshot or savegame? It sounds like it could be a graphics card issue or something.

happens every single game either of us play. wether its multiplayer or single player

 

[BIG sven]

But if u build a mine where the iron is and your city uses it that helps because it gives more production.

Possibly the save is either for a different expansion pack, or a different patch? You can usually only play a save if it was made using the exact same version of the game that you have.


I was referring to Civ4. However, all that I have said (except for the last paragraph about Stone and Marble) should also apply to Civ3.

 

[Sidder]

So ok, I just bought BtS, how do I get myself started with all these mod stuffs im wondering.

Is it possible to do smth along these lines, official patch -> then the unofficial one upon in(the one in general forum) -> better AI mod thing?

Havent installed anything besides the official patch so far dont wonna mess up game .. at least not straight away ..

 

[IAM]

Welcome Sidder!

Congratulations! First post gets three count them 1,2,3 dancing bananas.

 

[bestbrian]

So ok, I just bought BtS, how do I get myself started with all these mod stuffs im wondering.

Is it possible to do smth along these lines, official patch -> then the unofficial one upon in(the one in general forum) -> better AI mod thing?

Havent installed anything besides the official patch so far dont wonna mess up game .. at least not straight away ..

You should have been at 3.17 from the get-go, so no need to patch further. I'd suggest learning the game before doing mods, so just download BUG, but noone ever listens to me anyway. If you're going to do a mod, I suggest WolfRevolution. Phungus merged the Revolution/BUG/BetterAI/DCM/and Wolfshanze mods (and other stuff I can't remember). It also comes with an installer, so you don't have to muck about in CustomAssets folders. He did a nice job.

And welcome to the forums, Dude.

 

[Bobbtjoe]

That's a rather broad question, so it's tricky (or even impossible) to answer. Each game plays out differently, depending on the map size, land and sea forms, and rival civs present (or absent). Not to mention various other options and choices. So there's really no one hard and fast "do this and win" strategy for every situation.

However, a couple of broad pointers:
- Build a Worker early on. It should be either your first or second build. (You might want a Warrior/Scout first if you want to explore faster, or a Work Boat first if you're on the coast and your civilization starts with Fishing.)
- Research first the technologies that let your Workers do the things you need them to do (Animal Husbandry for pastures, Pottery for cottages, Bronze Working for chopping forests, etc). Later move on to techs that improve your economy and military (and perhaps allow some new wonders, religions, or civics too).
- Don't try to go for the early religions unless your civilization starts with Mysticism.
- Don't build wonders unless you have the time for them, and then don't go after too many at once. They're useful, but they're not necessary... especially if they come at the cost of your expansion!
- Found cities so that they will have at least one food resource, and preferably several different resources available. The more the better!
- A good rule of thumb is to make sure you have 1-2 workers per city (more if there is a lot of jungle or forest to clear, or if the city is growing quickly).
- Don't expand too quickly. A good general rule is if you notice that building a new city makes you drop below 60% on the research slider, stop expanding until you can increase the slider to 60% again without a deficit.
- Build plenty of cottages, especially along rivers.
- Don't be afraid to build good relations and trade with the AI. Switching to a religion that several AI also have helps a lot in improving relations with them.
- Go to war only when you're confident that you're stronger than your opponent and can take some cities easily. Keep wars as short as possible: lots of troops pushing hard into one area all at once, rather than a slow weak stream getting pummelled by the opposition. Build lots of siege units (Catapults and the like) as well as melee (and more advanced) units.

I can't really say much more specific until you've provided some more information, but I hope that helps somewhat.

I highly recommend starting a thread on this forum, and posting a couple of savegames from a game you've played at certain intervals - say 1000 BC, 1 AD and 1000 AD. Then people will be able to look specifically at your game and tell you exactly what you need to do to improve from where you are.

thank you so much

 

[Lord Parkin]

happens every single game either of us play. wether its multiplayer or single player

Hmm, that's certainly very strange. I'm not sure what to make of it, sorry. You might want to try posting that in the Technical Support forum.

But if u build a mine where the iron is and your city uses it that helps because it gives more of those hammer things.

Ah, I see - we were talking about two different things. It seemed from the wording of your posts that you were implying that Copper/Iron gave bonus multipliers to building units in the same way that Stone/Marble give bonus multipliers to building wonders. This is not true, but it is of course true that the hammers from a mine on a copper or iron tile will give you a nice boost if you are working them.