Hey guys I downloaded the demo and tried to play it. I played the tutorial and still feel overwhelmed Queston is there any action at all in this game? I love the idea of using all different types of strategies to win and versatility which I hear this game has but it seems so hard. I load it up and I start getting so confused lol. Is this game worth learning? I mean is there a rainbow after the storm? I am trying to peel away from mmo's and RTs because those games to me are tedious and the versatility and flexibility don't seem to be there in RTs games hence why I am really interested in this game. Please give me some advice and if there is a youtube video or any replay I can watch to show some type of build order so can learn to play decent? Pleaase any help would be appreciated. Thanks...
Very much a noob in need of help. Overwhelmed :(
- Thread starter Antmf
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Izipo
Hardcore casual gamer
Welcome to the wonderful world of Civilization.
Also welcome to Civ Fanatics.
You seem to be really interested in the game and that's good, only a few games are better than CivIV (not starting a polemic here).
Civ can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning, because of the nearly endless options and decisions you have to make.
I would recommend :
- Buy the game, you won't regret it if you dedicate yourself to learning the basics and spend some time reading strategy articles to pull your first victory.
- Play the tutorial a few times
- Read the manual, all the way through. Can be a pain, but it's a must-do.
- Go to the war academy, here at CFC (available under the submenu CivIV in the upper navigation bar).
- Start a few games, do whatever you want, explore the map, build stuff or units and see what happens. Read the manual in-between turns to answer a specific question you might have.
- Read a few more strategy articles once you know the language and start to understand the basics (food/hammers/commerce science/economy/happiness...)
- Have fun and spend the next 15 years playing Civ, just like a lot of us who started with Civ I, back in the good old days
Also welcome to Civ Fanatics.
You seem to be really interested in the game and that's good, only a few games are better than CivIV (not starting a polemic here).
Civ can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning, because of the nearly endless options and decisions you have to make.
I would recommend :
- Buy the game, you won't regret it if you dedicate yourself to learning the basics and spend some time reading strategy articles to pull your first victory.
- Play the tutorial a few times
- Read the manual, all the way through. Can be a pain, but it's a must-do.
- Go to the war academy, here at CFC (available under the submenu CivIV in the upper navigation bar).
- Start a few games, do whatever you want, explore the map, build stuff or units and see what happens. Read the manual in-between turns to answer a specific question you might have.
- Read a few more strategy articles once you know the language and start to understand the basics (food/hammers/commerce science/economy/happiness...)
- Have fun and spend the next 15 years playing Civ, just like a lot of us who started with Civ I, back in the good old days
Arnesson
Warlord
The game can be overwhelming, with the myriad of options that are available. Certainly I felt that way when I started with CIV II and migrated up through CIV III and CTP into CIV IV and Warlords. There are still aspects to this game that I am trying to get my head wrapped around after years of playing. But there is joy in learning grasshopper. As Izipo suggests, read the articles in the War Academy, browse these threads as well as the ones in the Strategies and Tactics forum, follow some of the "Expert" games and review the reasons for their decisions.
One approach that worked for me. Start by only playing through to the Medieval Age employing a specific strategy (eg. building improvements). What went right? What went wrong? Then replay the same game trying to correct the "mistakes" with different tactics (eg. chasing Wonders). Repeat with a third strategy (building troops and pillaging your neighbours). Finally, see if you can find a balance between the three that works for you. But remember, the strategy that succeeded in this first game may not work in the next one. That is one of the best things about CIV, that every game is different from the previous ones. Different terrain, different opponents, etc.
One approach that worked for me. Start by only playing through to the Medieval Age employing a specific strategy (eg. building improvements). What went right? What went wrong? Then replay the same game trying to correct the "mistakes" with different tactics (eg. chasing Wonders). Repeat with a third strategy (building troops and pillaging your neighbours). Finally, see if you can find a balance between the three that works for you. But remember, the strategy that succeeded in this first game may not work in the next one. That is one of the best things about CIV, that every game is different from the previous ones. Different terrain, different opponents, etc.
futurehermit
Deity
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2006
- Messages
- 5,724
There is a huge pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, after the storm. Yes, it is worth learning. After a couple of years of playing I am still finding new strategies to try out. And of course the BtS xpac is coming out which will add tons of new continent.
Have faith, the game is amazing fun. Just start on the lowest difficulty. Try and learn as much as you can. After you win a couple games, move up to the next difficulty. Rinse and repeat until you get to a level you can't beat consistently. Hopefully this will be noble/prince level, where most players play.
Then come to these forums and read as many shared-game threads as you can (see the strategy and succession game forums) where you get to read peoples' different suggestions and group-think regarding a shared game. You also get to check out screen shots and saved games. This will help you a LOT and should get you to prince-monarch where most of the experienced players play. From there if you want to become an expert and go to emperor-deity, you need to play and read a lot here.
It takes some time and dedication, but is worth it in my experience.
The first tip I give every knew player is learn bronzeworking.
Play a civ that starts with mining. Pick bronzeworking as the first tech you research. Once done, adopt slavery. Look to see if you have copper. If you don't, restart a new game until you have copper and a reasonably close neighbour (play pangaea map to start).
Once you have copper, a close neighbour, and slavery then you get to practice the three aspects of bronzeworking:
1) Chop rushing. Chop forests near your cities for a production boost. You mainly want to chop workers and settlers because they halt city growth, which is a bad thing.
2) Pop rushing. Once you hit size 4 you can use slavery to sacrifice two population and put that population toward production. Works great on workers and settlers, again, but also on axemen once your workers and settlers are built (you only need 2 settlers--one for the copper city and one for another city).
3) Axe-rushing: Secure copper with your first city and get another city. Hook the copper and your cities together with roads. Build a barracks in each city. Then chop/pop rush and build normally (working food tiles and mined hills) an army of 12 axemen. Then march them to the border of your closest neighbour, aiming for the capital if at all possible. Once you get to the border, declare war on them and march to the capital. Promote some of your axemen to city raider promotions and capture the capital. Promote 1-2 of them with combat one to defend the city.
Once you understand these basic techniques you should be able to move up in skill level.
Good luck.
Have faith, the game is amazing fun. Just start on the lowest difficulty. Try and learn as much as you can. After you win a couple games, move up to the next difficulty. Rinse and repeat until you get to a level you can't beat consistently. Hopefully this will be noble/prince level, where most players play.
Then come to these forums and read as many shared-game threads as you can (see the strategy and succession game forums) where you get to read peoples' different suggestions and group-think regarding a shared game. You also get to check out screen shots and saved games. This will help you a LOT and should get you to prince-monarch where most of the experienced players play. From there if you want to become an expert and go to emperor-deity, you need to play and read a lot here.
It takes some time and dedication, but is worth it in my experience.
The first tip I give every knew player is learn bronzeworking.
Play a civ that starts with mining. Pick bronzeworking as the first tech you research. Once done, adopt slavery. Look to see if you have copper. If you don't, restart a new game until you have copper and a reasonably close neighbour (play pangaea map to start).
Once you have copper, a close neighbour, and slavery then you get to practice the three aspects of bronzeworking:
1) Chop rushing. Chop forests near your cities for a production boost. You mainly want to chop workers and settlers because they halt city growth, which is a bad thing.
2) Pop rushing. Once you hit size 4 you can use slavery to sacrifice two population and put that population toward production. Works great on workers and settlers, again, but also on axemen once your workers and settlers are built (you only need 2 settlers--one for the copper city and one for another city).
3) Axe-rushing: Secure copper with your first city and get another city. Hook the copper and your cities together with roads. Build a barracks in each city. Then chop/pop rush and build normally (working food tiles and mined hills) an army of 12 axemen. Then march them to the border of your closest neighbour, aiming for the capital if at all possible. Once you get to the border, declare war on them and march to the capital. Promote some of your axemen to city raider promotions and capture the capital. Promote 1-2 of them with combat one to defend the city.
Once you understand these basic techniques you should be able to move up in skill level.
Good luck.
Actually there is a huge pot of gold in that hut if you send your scout north from your capital...
And if you really want to drive yourself nuts, wait a couple weeks and buy the Beyond the Sword expansion as well. We're all going to be a bunch of overwhelmed newbies all over again for a while.
And if you really want to drive yourself nuts, wait a couple weeks and buy the Beyond the Sword expansion as well. We're all going to be a bunch of overwhelmed newbies all over again for a while.
Daedal
Prince
It's worth learning, but I'd suggest starting off slow. Here's my suggestions:
1) Start the game on the easiest setting. Follow all the Sid's Tips popups. Veteran players will tell you that these are crap, and they're right, but when you're starting out these tips will help you get going.
2) Read manuals, read strategy articles, etc etc. But first and foremost, play to have fun! Personally, I would recommend playing without looking at the manual at all for a while. Just experiment. Don't even look up other people's strategies. You'll learn terrible habits this way and you'll kick yourself later, but you'll have a ton of fun early on. On the other hand, if you bunker down and read the whole manual every time you hit the next turn button, you'll probably give up after 10 turns with a headache and a very poor impression of the game.
3) Have fun! Keep it simple! This is all you need to know now. You'll pick the rest up along the way.
1) Start the game on the easiest setting. Follow all the Sid's Tips popups. Veteran players will tell you that these are crap, and they're right, but when you're starting out these tips will help you get going.
2) Read manuals, read strategy articles, etc etc. But first and foremost, play to have fun! Personally, I would recommend playing without looking at the manual at all for a while. Just experiment. Don't even look up other people's strategies. You'll learn terrible habits this way and you'll kick yourself later, but you'll have a ton of fun early on. On the other hand, if you bunker down and read the whole manual every time you hit the next turn button, you'll probably give up after 10 turns with a headache and a very poor impression of the game.
3) Have fun! Keep it simple! This is all you need to know now. You'll pick the rest up along the way.
Draknith
King
Welcome to CIV!!! There isn't much more to be said other than what already has been said. The game is amazing. Ever since CIV I I have been hooked. Just remember everything in the game has a purpose. Break things apart. Start on easy levels and worry about building you're cities. When you figure out how to build good cities start a new game and concentrate on expanding your army, or whatever you feel your need work on. Go online and play, and have people help you out (but what out for those warmongers who just want to kill you off!!!) Have fun, and remember if you need help, ask.
demokratickid
King
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2007
- Messages
- 753
Well, keep at it and follow the basic strategy. Build, Exploit, Destroy, Repeat. That is BUILD a decent empire with a strong army and navy. Next, EXPLOIT your weak and strong neighbors alike. Finally, DESTROY a rival and capture his/her cities. REPEAT is self explanitory... This is the formula I use to win every game I have played on CIVs I, II, III, and IV. It'll work, trust me.
This is the formula I use to win every game I have played on CIVs I, II, III, and IV. It'll work, trust me. Tristan daCunha
Pacifist Aggressive
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2006
- Messages
- 274
Not really. I love the game, but action is not one of its strong points. Its not as cerebral as chess, but it is heavy on strategy and light on action.
That said, once you understand the basics I think you will find that the game has a lot of suspense. To help you understand the basics, you might want to read Sulla's Civ 4 Walkthrough. This helped me a lot.
Once you have the basics down, you might want to read Sisiutil's Strategy Guide for Beginners.
Welcome to CivFanatics. You picked a good site to learn from and to share your thoughts (or feelings!)
Lance of Llanwy
King
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2006
- Messages
- 710
If you haven't bought it yet, I hear the Gold Edition with CIV and its two X-Pacs should be coming out soon. If some one could verify that, that'd be great.
Oh, a few points...
1)Action- The closest you'll get is watching your units fight. I actually like single-model units better in Warlords for this reason, because they just kinda duke it out. Maybe I'm weird, but I've always felt it was pretty epic, as they go on swinging at eachother for a good while...
2)Options- They're so many options that a newbie can easily be overwhelmed. Just start slow, on a low difficulty level, and mess around. Experiment, and learn.
3)Read the strategy articles for sure. Some of them will set your head spinning, but I'm sure their meaning will become clearer with play.
4)Sulla's game is a great way to get into it, I say! Reading that convinced me that I needed to go out and buy the game as soon as I possibly could
Oh, a few points...
1)Action- The closest you'll get is watching your units fight. I actually like single-model units better in Warlords for this reason, because they just kinda duke it out. Maybe I'm weird, but I've always felt it was pretty epic, as they go on swinging at eachother for a good while...
2)Options- They're so many options that a newbie can easily be overwhelmed. Just start slow, on a low difficulty level, and mess around. Experiment, and learn.
3)Read the strategy articles for sure. Some of them will set your head spinning, but I'm sure their meaning will become clearer with play.
4)Sulla's game is a great way to get into it, I say! Reading that convinced me that I needed to go out and buy the game as soon as I possibly could
PimpyMicPimp
Regrets His Username.
I prefer Civ over an RTS because in Civ, I need a strategy, in Starcraft I need to click fast...
Welcome to the wonderful world of Civilization.
- Have fun and spend the next 15 years playing Civ, just like a lot of us who started with Civ I, back in the good old days
That's funny. My 13 year old daughter is playing Civ II on an old relic of a computer she has in her room
Back to topic, I agree with everyone that you won't be disappointed. I've had all four versions and still have them around here somewhere. Start with an easy difficulty level because it is very tolerant of mistakes. Your advisors will give you the best advice the AI has to offer until you grasp the mechanics. Then you will find their advise isn't all that great. Around this forum, there are lots of good information about how to play the game, but try not to get too overwhelmed. Look for what you think you need when you think you need it. If the action and activity level seems low, maybe you need to increase the difficulty level. In the low levels, the AI pretty much sits out there and waits for you to come and kill it. Just play with it a bit and you will have a blast!
PimpyMicPimp
Regrets His Username.
I'm new to the game, but I love and am completly happy with my purchase. I'll be honest, it can be very fatiguing, and some days I can't play it or my head would explode, but it's still a complete blast. Civ has been a ton of fun for me, but also very stressful. You'll know what I mean the first time you burn a Great Engineer on a wonder and still lose it to an AI, or the AI beats you to a Space Race/Diplo victory when you only needed 10 more turns to win.
It's all fun, though.
[Edit] I also always check on review sites (especially Gamestop, I have good luck with them) for reviews and opinions about games. They gave Civ 4 an awesome score, as it deserves. They have a bunch of videos there, too. I'd suggest checking it out if the demo and the Civfanatics havn't swayed you
It's all fun, though.
[Edit] I also always check on review sites (especially Gamestop, I have good luck with them) for reviews and opinions about games. They gave Civ 4 an awesome score, as it deserves. They have a bunch of videos there, too. I'd suggest checking it out if the demo and the Civfanatics havn't swayed you
vicawoo
Chieftain
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2007
- Messages
- 3,226
It's quite different from an RTS. There's no videos that will show you how to play, since games take hours (which is why you save). It's a lot of planning, sort of like RTS build orders, only much more in depth.
You might like the posts where they play a game and post their moves.
You might like the posts where they play a game and post their moves.
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