So this is my first Civ game...

[aaron_c]

I'm totally lost; I've played other games of this sort like AoE and Empire Earth, but this seems much more difficult to grasp. I guess, to start, I have a couple main questions.

How do I get gold? I can get all the other resources by using my various colonists in the colony, but I can't figure out how to get that from food, tobacco, lumber, etc. into gold.

Also, when an explorer finds treasure and I have the guy with the cart of gold, what the heck do i do with him to get that money? I found like 3 earlier and they are just standing around...lol

thanks guys

 

[Flintlock1415]

First of all, this is quite a different variation from Civ 4, so the experience will be quite different. That said, since you never even played any other Civ games, I'd recommend going through the tutorial. Its a bit to grasp at first, but the game (and the rest of the series) is quite fun once you get it down.

I've never played a real-time strategy, but from what I understand it is quite a bit different from a TBS game. There is more strategy allowed, since you can take as long/short as you like (imho.)

 

[aaron_c]

Where is the tutorial? I didn't see it anywhere, I'd love to go through it if I find it.

 

[dalgo]

This is very much a trading game so you get gold by trading. Take your tobacco to Europe and sell it there (but not your food and lumber). Later turn the tobacco into cigars for a better return. Buy goods in Europe that the indians want (especially guns and horses) and send your ship or wagon train to a village to trade.

Send your treasure units back to your colony where the king offers to ship it to Europe for you (for a fee!) or buy a galleon and take it there yourself.

I don't know of any tutorial.

 

[Darkshadows]

I guess he means the help text's by tutorial.

 

[aaron_c]

Oh okay, I'll check the help stuff out- when my ship gets to Europe, how do I give them stuff? I tried to figure it out, I don't see where to drag the stuff to get it from my colony to Europe in the "Europe" page, with the ship and settlers and Purchases menu and all.

 

[dalgo]

When your ship arrives in Europe with cargo aboard there will be a 'sell all goods' icon displayed beside the ship. Alternatively click and drag the goods to the bar at the bottom of the screen. To buy goods you do the reverse.

 

[aaron_c]

How do you get the cargo onto your ship before you leave the colony?

 

[Flintlock1415]

Where is the tutorial? I didn't see it anywhere, I'd love to go through it if I find it.

From the main menu, go to Advanced-->Options-->Game and check Tutorial.
I think for regular Civ there is a whole mod that is a tutorial, but this should hopefully be helpful enough.

 

[aaron_c]

I've about got everything figured out now- making money super fast, since I'm cashing in so much treasure at once. Thanks for the help, i'll let you all know if I need anything else!

 

[aaron_c]

Okay, how do I turn tools into guns for example? Put a person or two in the armory?

And what the heck can I make with all this sugar I have lol

Last but probably most important, how do you make money once you can hardly trade with England anymore because of 'goods parties'? No other civilizations or whatever will buy my sugar, cotton, all that crap lol.

thanks yet again!

 

[Flintlock1415]

You have to build an armory, and then use that to make guns.

Sugar is made into rum at the distillers house.

Don't choose to have the goods parties; just take the tax increase. You can also trade with natives as well.

 

[dalgo]

Last but probably most important, how do you make money once you can hardly trade with England anymore because of 'goods parties'? No other civilizations or whatever will buy my sugar, cotton, all that crap lol.

As you have found out it is often better to just accept the tax increase. However it is not so bad if your boycotts are only for raw materials. Use the cotton to make cloth and the sugar to make rum.

 

[aaron_c]

How do I turn guns into soldiers or whatever? I've just been buying soldiers and cannons but their price goes up every time as you all know, I'm sure there's a way to 'train' them or something- how do I do that?

 

[dalgo]

Any colonist can become a soldier, just give him guns (50 guns in the standard game). It is just another profession like farmer or pioneer. Then give him 50 horses and he is a dragoon.

 

[aaron_c]

how do you give him guns or horses? is it a drag and drop deal?

 

[dalgo]

They only need to be in stock in the colony. When you select his new profession they are used automatically. If there aren't enough guns/horses then you don't get the appropriate option.

It's the same deal with turning a colonist into a pioneer. If you have enough tools in stock it will be listed as another option.

 

[aaron_c]

where do you click to select a new profession? lol

 

[dalgo]

When the colonist is outside of the colony, with full movement points available, a 'Change Profession' icon will appear. This is the same icon you will have used to assign your colonists to professions in your colony such as farmer, carpenter etc. However if the colony has enough guns and horses available the list of professions will also include soldier and dragoon.

Alternatively you can do this from within the colony screen. Drag one of your colonists to the Garrison (lower right of screen) and you will get a list of options including those two.

The best units to use for your military are free colonists, indentured servants or petty criminals. Your specialist colonists are too valuable to waste, although you will probably have to use them when you face the REF.

 

[aaron_c]

awesome, thanks!