Totally new to Civ :x

[Soltaro]

Hello,

Like the title says I'm totally new to the series and need some pointers from you pro's.

I've been playing Medieval 2: Total War a lot and enjoy playing on the campaign map almost more than the actual battles, so I thought why not give Civ a try. I do like micromanagement in general and am obsesed with doing everything right from the start.

I've got plenty of questions but I'll start with some general ones:

1) As a complete Civ newbie, what do I absolutely need to know?
(I'm 24 and haven't had brain surgery recently plus I have plenty of strategy experience so I can probably skip the basic thingies.)

2) There are 2 expansions right now. Should I play vanilla or install both exp right away? What is the difference?

3) I love reading good guides. I'm sure there are a lot floating around. Any links available to the best guides?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Gorman Truart]

1) http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=191807
2) I'd install both right away. Most people seem to agree that the expansions are an improvement, and you won't have to unlearn strategies that worked in vanilla that don't work in BTS.
3) Check out the war academy. http://www.civfanatics.com/civ4/strategy/

 

[dot]

First off:

Welcome to the forums, Soltaro.

Now onto your questions ...

1. If you haven't found it yet visit the War Academy. You'll find a lot of good articles there. Even though some are written for Vanilla, others for Warlords or finally for BtS they all are pretty good. Once you started playing CIV (in which version ever) more specific questions will arise. The more precise you'll ask for help to solve them (i.e. screenies, saves, good desriptions) the more likely you'll get good responses ... and fast responses!
2. If you are a total noob to the series you might as well start with BtS straight away; imho. You don't need to buy Warlords, since the content is included in BtS. And BtS is simply better than Vanilla. But that's just my 2 .
3. See 1.

All the best, .

EDIT: Big fat crosspost. Thanks for the hint to the FAQ, Gorman Truart.

 

[GenocideBringer]

2) Don't bother with Warlords unless you want the scenarios. BTS has everything else.

 

[Soltaro]

Thanks guys, I'll harass that armory site from now on.
Installing the exp right away (minus Warlords) sounds good. But can somebody explain what it changes exactly to the main campaign? Will it have a huge impact compared to vanilla?

I'll go get the game now. In pretty much all other games I love technological advantage. I'm more of a slow expander if it means my other cities get upgraded faster etc... Any tips perhaps on how I should play to do that?
I dunno, I have no idea what to expect lol. Maybe I should just install the game and play -then- ask questions again.

Thanks a lot for the replies so far guys.

 

[GVBN]

But can somebody explain what it changes exactly to the main campaign? Will it have a huge impact compared to vanilla?

- 18 new civilizations
- 26 new leaders
- New leader traits, units, technologies, buildings, wonders
- Great Generals
- Vassals
- Unique buildings
- Random events
- Corporations
- Better espionage

I can't remember all of them

 

[dot]

I'll go get the game now. In pretty much all other games I love technological advantage. I'm more of a slow expander if it means my other cities get upgraded faster etc... Any tips perhaps on how I should play to do that?

I tend(ed) to do that too. But as - I think - most other Civvers around here would agree:

Land Is Power!​

Well, there's a lot more detail to that (as you might have guessed ), for example to avoid overexpansion because it cripples your economy. But to get to those details and see what challenges they bear ...

... just install the game and play -then- ask questions again.

I can't remember all of them

Me neither. But new map types have been introduced and Espionage was actually a totally new concept. And naturally a whole lot of game mechanics have been changed.

Anyway Soltaro ... Get and enjoy and . Maybe patch up, play and then come back to ask.

 

[Soltaro]

Great responses. Thanks.

Maybe patch up, play and then come back to ask.

Installing the BtS expansion will already patch to the latest doesn't it?
Or are there important patches after that?
I hate to play with bugs.

 

[GVBN]

BtS 3.13
http://www.firaxis.com/support/support_detail.php?gameid=16&patch=1

Bhruic's unofficial patch for 3.13
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=246057

 

[dot]

GVBN.