I feel a bit cheeky putting tips on here when there are so many experienced Civ players but I guess we are all back to the same level on Civ III so why not. These are just some things which I sure some are doign and some are not that I found really useful:
Build the Lighthouse and be the first on your continent to get to the other Civs. As soon as you meet the first one trade them communications with the Civs on your home continent. Then do exactly the same thing with all the other Civs you now have contact with and the ones from your 'home' continent.
I got a lot of maps, gold and some tech advances for really nothing.
Once you have done this you can then try and map a bit more of the world with your safe Galley.
A couple of turns later sell your World Map to everyone and again you will get loads for it.
During the early game I have also, as others have mentioned here, traded every tech advance with practically everyone. If you're going to trade with one trade with all as they will trade it themselves!
This is particularly funny when selling Gunpowder to Civs that you know can't use it as you can see before them that they don't have any Saltpeter in their land - the same I am sure will work with Uranium, Oil, Coal etc.
Use this cash boost to rush build even more science improvements or supplement your income while making a 'loss' every turn.
Finally I would also say if another Civ offers you a trade always go for the counter-proposal and check with the foregin advisor if he thinks you will get away with more - I have made loads more gold that way!
Generally I find the easiest and most profitable way to trade is to offer them something find out what they will give me for it and then raise this, with the help of the Advisor, as high as I can get it.
Apologies if I have been telling people stuff that is obvious but I can't be the only one that has found this all out the hard way!
Cheers
Matt
Build the Lighthouse and be the first on your continent to get to the other Civs. As soon as you meet the first one trade them communications with the Civs on your home continent. Then do exactly the same thing with all the other Civs you now have contact with and the ones from your 'home' continent.
I got a lot of maps, gold and some tech advances for really nothing.
Once you have done this you can then try and map a bit more of the world with your safe Galley.
A couple of turns later sell your World Map to everyone and again you will get loads for it.
During the early game I have also, as others have mentioned here, traded every tech advance with practically everyone. If you're going to trade with one trade with all as they will trade it themselves!
This is particularly funny when selling Gunpowder to Civs that you know can't use it as you can see before them that they don't have any Saltpeter in their land - the same I am sure will work with Uranium, Oil, Coal etc.
Use this cash boost to rush build even more science improvements or supplement your income while making a 'loss' every turn.
Finally I would also say if another Civ offers you a trade always go for the counter-proposal and check with the foregin advisor if he thinks you will get away with more - I have made loads more gold that way!
Generally I find the easiest and most profitable way to trade is to offer them something find out what they will give me for it and then raise this, with the help of the Advisor, as high as I can get it.
Apologies if I have been telling people stuff that is obvious but I can't be the only one that has found this all out the hard way!
Cheers
Matt