Quick Answers / 'Newbie' Questions

[Spoonwood]

If you don't want to count/estimate how many shields you'll have once out of despotism, I'd suggest counting how many tiles your capital can work and making sure you have 12 tiles with at least one shield of productivity possible. Of course, one can probably win a 20k game with a city with only 15 shields, although in Conquests that would seem a rather slow game. I'd suggest looking at how many shields you'll have once out of Despotism and aiming for at least 24 if not 25 shields in your 20k city. 27 shields will get your city to 40 shields in a non-despotic golden age. So, if you don't mind throwing more starts away, you might want to try for 27 shields since 40 spt is a good ratio. Looking for a start with anything more, in my opinion, might lead to rejecting other games which had more SGL potential or had something else nice going on, like easy access to ivory. Looking over one of my games which I haven't matched, I noticed I had 26 shields pre-Engineering and I didn't research Engineering until after I went to Free Artistry. So, I'd say 25 shields once out of Despotism.

 

[DWetzel]

When playing 20k games, how many shields per turn for your 20k city is desirable to produce quality results? I realize the answer will vary at different stages of the game i.e. after learning Steam Power. Thanks.

If you don't want to count/estimate how many shields you'll have once out of despotism, I'd suggest counting how many tiles your capital can work and making sure you have 12 tiles with at least one shield of productivity possible. Of course, one can probably win a 20k game with a city with only 15 shields, although in Conquests that would seem a rather slow game. I'd suggest looking at how many shields you'll have once out of Despotism and aiming for at least 24 if not 25 shields in your 20k city. 27 shields will get your city to 40 shields in a non-despotic golden age. So, if you don't mind throwing more starts away, you might want to try for 27 shields since 40 spt is a good ratio. Looking for a start with anything more, in my opinion, might lead to rejecting other games which had more SGL potential or had something else nice going on, like easy access to ivory. Looking over one of my games which I haven't matched, I noticed I had 26 shields pre-Engineering and I didn't research Engineering until after I went to Free Artistry. So, I'd say 25 shields once out of Despotism.

I'll agree with 25 out of Despotism as a good number. I wouldn't necessarily put a huge stock in getting to 27 (for 40); timing the GA that way might be difficult anyway. 27 is a handy number though for those 400 shield wonders (27*15 = 405).

At a dead minimum, I'd say 25 post-Engineering (for forests), with also 20+ in the ancient age IN despotism.

Also, keep in mind that you may be able to do something like run at 25 spt with a 1fpt deficit for a while to get a wonder completed, then drop to maximum food to make up the gap for a couple of turns while buying things like market/cathedral/colosseum.

 

[odys08]

Hi there!

Have a little practical question: Is there a way to automate artillery-fire in a large stack? Might be useful... specially in industrial times

 

[Turner]

Ctrl-b, I believe, should auto-bombard.

What version are you playing?

 

[ChaosArbiter]

I thought Shift-B was Auto-Bombard, but I don't think there's any way to do what I think you want, which is to tell an entire stack of artillery to Bombard instead of each unit.

 

[Turner]

AFAIK there is no whole stack bombard. The Auto Bombard (which may indeed be Shift-B) tells the unit to keep bombarding until there is nothing left, or the city is captured.

 

[TheOverseer714]

Just keep hitting B until you run out of shots.

 

[odys08]

Does the auto-bombard mean I have to auto-bombard every artillery in my stack only for once and then... just wait and see?!

Too bad... there should be a command for a stack of >50 ONCE!

But maybe thats a sign of great Sid that I shouldn't use that artillery that extensively?!

 

[Spoonwood]

No, the lack of a stack bombard isn't an indication you shouldn't use it. In fact, an extensive use of artillery minimizes your loses, so really you should use artillery extensively. Of course you can have too many artillery units, but it seems better to have too many than too few.

Does auto-bombard mean that the artillery type unit will bombard a square once every turn? I've always thought that's what that meant, but it just doesn't make sense to me as to why it's even in the game, as I don't see how it could prove useful. Anyone use it?

 

[vmxa]

Yes it means bombard every turn. I have used it in one game that I can recall. I had a 1 tile choke and there were a few hundred units locked at tha point. I had armies on either side of the AI units.

I set how ever many arties I had there on bombardment. Once I finally started to attack the stack and cleared it, I had to go to each arties and manally stop it.

I also recall doing that to maybe 70 units that surround a choke town and I had two town behind them. I use 8-10 armies to lock them in and the towns artie worked on them. Every now and then they would mess up and leave a few units expose and I killed them with an army.

We did that dance for a number turns, till I cleard those units. I only recall those two times, but there could have been a couple mre that slip my mind. The only reason it work in that instance was the AI patrol seems to move units for no real purpose.

 

[Turner]

I use it a lot, both arty and bombers. It's easy to stop, too, just fortify all then wake all.

I try to auto bombard only about a third to half of my arty/bombers. I like having others to task to other missions. I use it a lot when I'm trying to get a city down to 1 pop, and kill (lethal bombardment is enabled in my games) or redline the defenders.

 

[ChaosArbiter]

I've always thought that's what that meant, but it just doesn't make sense to me as to why it's even in the game, as I don't see how it could prove useful. Anyone use it?

Not in the basic game, but I use it in the AoI mod fairly often.

 

[vmxa]

I use it a lot, both arty and bombers. It's easy to stop, too, just fortify all then wake all.

Doh, I did not think of that. Next time.

 

[LivingDog]

This is such a newbie question that I am afraid to ask it. Of course you can always just ignore the post and do something more important than wasting time replying to this utterly newbie question... what does each special building provide on the continent for the player? E.g. if you build a pyramid then every city on the continent automatically gets a granary. So if you build "X" what "Y" is automatically given to you?

Also, is there a site/thread/wiki which explains how to PLAY??

I've been playing Civ3 for a while and cannot get passed "Chieftain" with more than a "Worthless" rating.


Thanks in advance for any help you may give me.

-ld

 

[Ataxerxes]

This is such a newbie question that I am afraid to ask it. Of course you can always just ignore the post and do something more important than wasting time replying to this utterly newbie question... what does each special building provide on the continent for the player? E.g. if you build a pyramid then every city on the continent automatically gets a granary. So if you build "X" what "Y" is automatically given to you?

Also, is there a site/thread/wiki which explains how to PLAY??

I've been playing Civ3 for a while and cannot get passed "Chieftain" with more than a "Worthless" rating.

Thanks in advance for any help you may give me.

-ld

Welcome to the forums! Don't worry, we all remember when we were new. Don't be afraid to ask. THe best learning how to play is to go to the CivIII War Academy and look at the section for new players. Not everything is completely up-to-date, but it gives a lot of beginner info and the basics haven't changed.

Not sure about the question about wonders. If you build the Pyramids, you get a Granary in every city on the continent. And you don't have to pay maintenance on those granaries, just on the Pyramids. A granary in a city, whether hand built or by Pyramids, basically causes the city to grow twice as fast. That said, I don't build the Pyramids without a Scientific Great Leader. There's a lot of land and a lot of potential victims out there.

Sun Tzu's gives you a barracks in every city. Those barracks make every unit built in those cities a veteran (4 hit points) instead of a regular (3 hit points). Since most of us are warmongers, that comes in handy.

Couple of basic ideas - see if any of these are holding you back.
Do you build enough workers? 1.5 per city is a rule of thumb. Got to improve that land!
The main point in the early game is expansion. Try to build new cities ASAP - the more cities you have, the better. After you run out of land to settle, try taking some from the AI.
This more effects score - How aggressive are you? Better scores go the conquerors and dominators. Most problems can be solved by taking more land and cities from the AI. As a newbie, I used to build like 6 cities and then sit back and try for the space win. Obviously, that got me a low score. Got to put the Artificial Idiots out of your misery.

 

[darski]

The quickest fix is to go to the "War Academy". Great articles there that get you acclimated.

Another great place to start is to read some of the Legendary games and stories to see how other great players got through some interesting times. You have to read Theodora's Always War Excellent adventure just for the fun.

look for the sticky threads at the top of the forum for the index of some great games.

 

[Spoonwood]

Your score will probably improve significantly if you play a higher level than Chieftain. You can't get a very high score at that level.

 

[SpaceLazer]

how do i delete saves games on a windows 7

 

[Sparthage]

how do i delete saves games on a windows 7

C Drive/Program Files(x86)/Fraxis Games/Civilization III Complete/Conquests

you then click on Compatability Files, then saves. From there it should be the same as on XP.

Also,
WELCOME TO CFC!

 

[Arska]

View attachment Caesar of the Romans, 1240 AD.SAV

The attachment is a C3C monarch game. There's saltpeter near Pisae, and as far as I can see, that resource should be in each city's view... but it isn't. How come, is it a bug or something I missed?