The most important resource?

[LittleDragon]

I'd go iron, for the simple fact that it is used in so many things. I agree with the observation that in the real world iron is a relatively common resource, however there are examples throughout history where it was lacking or very limited. One example is limited iron available in Japan, leading to the development of extremely high quality, durable swords (as opposed to European 'disposable' swords) and the rarity of metal armour or metal anything, really. Even in this example however iron was only limited, not non-existant.

 

[D9phoenix]

For those of you wondering about why Mod Armor requires rubber.. Think it about it. The tracks for one or made up of rubber, alot the interrior has rubber used in some form. It's used in seals and hatches. It is a very vital resource for a Modern Tank.

 

['Copter Pilot]

D9phoenix, someone mentioned above that synthetic rubber was developed in the 60s. Of course the tanks we build nowadays use rubber, but rubber made from oil, not sucked out of trees. For similar reasons, salpeter isn't required to build infantry, even though they still use gunpowder of some form.

Rubber is a great ressource to go to war over. If the AI hasn't got any, they can't build useful reinforcements at all (infantry/mech inf, tank etc.) and you win the game.

 

[BCLG100]

yeh but the problem is if (like me in GOTM9)you dont have any rubber its really hard to have a late war

 

[Stretcherino]

I guess you don't know what you got until its gone. Before reading this thread I wouldn't have thought twice...OIL! It just shows how well designed the game is, and different ways to play it.
I put just about every thing on random, and had a strange game where there were two super-contenents (no islands) with four civs on each one. I played a peaceful game with the Greeks (only one small war til mid-way though Modern era...not started by me). When oil appeared, there was only one resource...on the other contenent.
One player (Germany) quickly dominated. You can't buy anything without it...no planes...no tanks...hardly any ships. So I did the only thing I could...scrambled up the tech-tree as fast as I could...bought nuke-subs and tactical nukes and nuked everybody before the onslought of mechs that would have cruched my infantry! Then built the spaceship just before they recovered enough to nuke me back.
A very violent ending to a previously very peaceful game...all because of the lack of oil.

 

[Higher Game]

Oil? You mean that modern resource you get after you have killed half of the AI civs? Late game resources are pointless because you will have won by then. Iron, however, is so essential early in the game. If you don't have it you don't have a chance of winning.

 

[smallstepforman]

Coal. Without coal, there are no factories or railroads. And coal isn't anywhere near as abundant in Civ3 as Iron and Oil.

 

[Frog Propaganda]

With uranium, you can take the other resources at your leisure.

 

[Portuguese]

Coal... just imagine a civ without railroads

 

[Chris_b_89]

I'd agree with Iron because you need it from the get go, later on you already have contact with everyone and you can either trade for it (although it will cost you an arm and a leg) or you can attack for it.

 

[Higher Game]

Uranium is so useless. I would rather have hundreds of tanks than a few nukes. Coal is very important, although you can make a hydro plant if you can't make a coal plant. Factories do not require coal, I think. Rubber would be more important that coal.

Saltpeter has to be the 2nd useless resource, just behind uranium.

 

[Portuguese]

Coal plant are useless.
Coal is important because...

NO COAL=NO RAILROADS!!!!!

Try to finish a game (till the end of the tec tree...) without a single railroad...

 

[Higher Game]

Yep, I could do that! Railroads are too powerful anyway, so I will make a modded map without coal. I think the railroad is too powerful, and the coal plant comes too soon after factories.

 

[sabo]

I think Beer is the most important resource, it increases happiness levels and decreases war weariness (war?? what war??) But they haven't incorporated Beer into the game yet

 

[sappling]

I vote for ice cream. My citizens love the stuff.

 

[sappling]

Beer is also a good resource. I hope it is in the patch because my citizens keep rioting without it.

 

[Hikeeba]

You're not going anywhere without it. I make it a point to secure every source of iron I run across.

Rubber is a close second. Forget competing in the modern era without it. It's worth starting wars over. Hell, I started a war with Russia, who had an MPP with the rest of the world, for the only source of rubber on the planet. The infantry saved my hide. And then the armor took everyone elses.