Where is the random combat option?

[Xirtic88]

In CivIII there was a check-box (Called???) for making combat results random. I can't remember what it was called but I don't see anything like that in Civ IV. In other words, all combat results are identical no matter if I reload.

This also brings me to my other question. I am playing on Noble. Why is combat so unbalanced in this game towards the computer civs? If I take my warrior against civs warrior on the exact same terrain type, my warrior loses every single time. I can waste 12 to 15 city attack warriors just trying to beat a couple archers in a city. Meanwhile, the computer never seems to have much trouble defeating my city defenses.

I realize the strenghts and weaknesses of the different units but it does not seem to matter.

 

[Percy]

1) There's an option called "preserve random seed" or something like that, somewhere in the options. Uncheck it if you want different resulsts for everything everytime you reload (this also includes getting something different from a hut).
2) The odds for combat are displayed. Do not attack if the odds are not good, obviously. You must realize it's meant to be harder to attack an Archer entranched in a city on a hill than to attack it in the open. Also, cities have cultural defense, based on the level of culture they have, which adds to the defender's strength. Bring siege weapons to attack fortified cities. Contrarily to your last sentence, it is probably that you do not master the way combat works (which is nothing to be ashamed of, considering it's rather complicated).

 

[MrCynical]

In CivIII there was a check-box (Called???) for making combat results random. I can't remember what it was called but I don't see anything like that in Civ IV. In other words, all combat results are identical no matter if I reload.

This was "Preserve random seed". When checked it would ensure identical results on reloads with exactly the same combat. To uncheck that, look for a "no preserve random seed" option in the start up list. There's probably one in there, though I must admit I've never checked. Bear in mind that simply reloading till you get the result you want is essentially cheating and will rather spoil the game.

This also brings me to my other question. I am playing on Noble. Why is combat so unbalanced in this game towards the computer civs? If I take my warrior against civs warrior on the exact same terrain type, my warrior loses every single time

Check the displayed combat odds - rigorous testing has shown them to be accurate. Be careful to check for enemy promotions/defensive bonuses/etc, and bear in mind that at 50/50 odds, you're going to lose as often as you win. That may sound obvious but many people seem to equate a 50%+ chance with winning all the time.

I can waste 12 to 15 city attack warriors just trying to beat a couple archers in a city. Meanwhile, the computer never seems to have much trouble defeating my city defenses.

Again, check your combat odds. They're displayed on mouseover before the attack, and can also be brought up with the alt key. I'd be surprised if your odds of winning with a warrior, even with city raider, against an archer in a city were above 5%. Warriors are simply not credible city attackers once archers are around. I can't think of a case where the AI has managed to beat an archer of mine in a city with a warrior either.

 

[Ankh]

Don't worry combat odds are working as intended:

 

[Lurking Liu]

All the dice are pre-determined under the standard options. So be certain, if this is what you want, to check the Random Seed option in the Custom Game Menu. The reason you would lose all your Warrior-on-Warrior actions is that when you reloaded the game, it would reload the predetermined battle result.

Or, if that's not the case and you have it checked to random already, then it could just be a spectacular vindication of the principle that each combat is a separate entity and therefore just as likely to land on heads as on tails each and every time. Nothing quite so fun as butchering lines from a play, yes?

 

[GenocideBringer]

1) The AI gets no combat bonuses on any difficulty level. Archers have a higher base strength than warriors, have a first strike, have bonuses fighting in cities/hills, can get promotions to improve those bonuses even further, are most likely fortified, and have the city's defensive bonus to add in.