Topic: I think I've lost it... (my video game drive.)

[Kairon]

CIV I is godly. It owns my life. I love it. So much.

[Maverick]

You should cheat on Civ 1 with Alpha Centauri.

Anyhoo... I think I got it back.  Taking ShyGuy's advice and skipping out on work to play it really helped!  I seem to have settled in with the game a bit and have started having some real fun with it.  This game is bringin' me back to my Alpha Centauri days.

For some reason, though, no matter how many cities I build, my citizens keep rioting because "it's too crowded".  MOVE YOU BASTARDS!!!!

[vudu]

Any advice for avoiding/fixing civil disorder early in the game?  Like I said it crippled me yesterday.

Make sure to build Temples in every city as soon as possible.

I've never played Civilization, but I have to ask, are you serious?  Is that all it takes?

Jeez, religion really is the opiate of the masses.

[Chozo Ghost]

In Civ 3 you can also boost happiness by building a road to a luxury good like spices or ivory. It's been awhile since I played, but your government also helps a lot. The one you start out with (which I think is dictatorship, but I'm not sure) is pretty much the worst one there is except for anarchism. You'll want to move on to either Republic or Monarchy as fast as you can. And also don't forget to adjust your tax sliders so that you are giving at least 20% towards luxuries. Doing that should pacify most of your citizens.

Another thing you can do to shut people up is starve them to death by limiting the amount of food being produced and when the cities population drops that tends to get rid of the whiners. 

[Maverick]

Another thing you can do to shut people up is starve them to death by limiting the amount of food being produced and when the cities population drops that tends to get rid of the whiners. 

Perfect.

[Chozo Ghost]

Any advice for avoiding/fixing civil disorder early in the game?  Like I said it crippled me yesterday.

Make sure to build Temples in every city as soon as possible.

I've never played Civilization, but I have to ask, are you serious?  Is that all it takes?

Jeez, religion really is the opiate of the masses.

That's not all it takes, but it does help. A temple is probably the first building every city should have before anything else. In addition, temples generate culture points which are also important. But after a while you may need more than a temple, and that's when you should build things like colosseums, cathedrals, and wonders.

[animecyberrat]

Ok, I remember this game, its the one where your a hand and you play God right?

[Chozo Ghost]

Ok, I remember this game, its the one where your a hand and you play God right?

I think you are thinking of Populous. In Civ you're not a God, but the leader of a civilization. You can't raise terrain or cast spells on people, but you can levy taxes and wage war just like the leader of a country.

[Maverick]

I thought he was talking about Black & White.

[animecyberrat]

Maybe not, I never played any of those games. I just remember hearing about them.

[Maverick]

So I've been playing a game for several hours now, and I have progressed to the Industrial Age.  Unfortunately I've been focusing on upgrading all my cities and maintaining my wealth rather than actually expanding my empire or military might. 

The jackass Zulu threatened me and I don't take kind to empty threats.  Unfortunately they were not empty, as I quickly had my ass handed to me and I had to ask for a peace treaty in exchange for my technologies.

I am also by far the smallest country on the planet, and don't know how to progress.

[Chozo Ghost]

So I've been playing a game for several hours now, and I have progressed to the Industrial Age.  Unfortunately I've been focusing on upgrading all my cities and maintaining my wealth rather than actually expanding my empire or military might. 

The jackass Zulu threatened me and I don't take kind to empty threats.  Unfortunately they were not empty, as I quickly had my ass handed to me and I had to ask for a peace treaty in exchange for my technologies.

I am also by far the smallest country on the planet, and don't know how to progress.

My suggestion is to start building the best army you can and then unleash it against your weakest neighbor so you can absorb some or all of his territory.

[ThePerm]

iv lost it too, for me i need to have something totally worht doing in order to do it in a game, unlocking stars in Super Mario Galaxy is not as satisfying as unlocking all-stars in smash bros, even if galaxy is more fun.

[Kairon]

So I've been playing a game for several hours now, and I have progressed to the Industrial Age.  Unfortunately I've been focusing on upgrading all my cities and maintaining my wealth rather than actually expanding my empire or military might. 

The jackass Zulu threatened me and I don't take kind to empty threats.  Unfortunately they were not empty, as I quickly had my ass handed to me and I had to ask for a peace treaty in exchange for my technologies.

I am also by far the smallest country on the planet, and don't know how to progress.

My suggestion is to start building the best army you can and then unleash it against your weakest neighbor so you can absorb some or all of his territory.

I turn into a total bloodthirsty war-loving world domination guy when I play CIV, but isn't there a way that Maverick's small little country can live in peace without invading anyone else? Is there a way a purely defensive military could work such that his small country could go on till time eternal?

[NWR_insanolord]

I always seem to play Civ, Master of Orion, Alpha Centauri, and all those types of games for a long drawn out game. I don't care about multiplayer because everyone always seems to play for the quick kill, but I always set up the biggest size map with just a handful of nations and play well into the modern era. I love going for scientific victory or getting into a war between superpowers that lasts forever.

[oohhboy]

I have found that war is a must for 4X games. Even if you don't start one yourself, some one else will. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse.

You can set yourself up for a defensive war, but depending on your government type, that might not be an option. With govs like democracy, war wariness hits hard and very quickly, so you have American style Shock and awe to end the war quickly and decisively. Basically blitz at least half most, if not all your opponent's cities in ten turns. It requires you to expect a war with your neighbor so position your guys along it. Concentrate most of them in one or two cites depending how large your army is. Then wait for war. Aircraft is a must for intercepting guys making a run for your cities, but those are few. once you knock them back into the defensive, that frees up aircraft to soften retreating units. The bulk of your army should be doing a smash and grab of the cities. If your fast enough, you can out run the defenders and take cities almost undefended. Having aircraft carriers off shore is great for opening up another front to draw off troops. Off course this is all modern age if tanks and mechanized infantry. Forget about artillery, not worth the time or damage to units or cities.

During all this time make sure that your entire nation is mobilized and cranking out units. Some are lost replacement, but most are for garrisoning since that places your taking aren't very happy about it all.

Unfortunately Civ games and especially civ 3 are not very conductive of world domination. It is mathematically impossible to achieve as your nation very easily falls into civil war past 150 cities. The empire size penalty is just too great to compensate for. I have seen A.I.s approach 200, but they are so weak internally, they fall over to a light breeze. Also having overseas holdings isn't worth anything as they are so inefficient, they drain resources as a whole. You pretty much have to burn down most of the world to gain the world domination victory.

[NWR_insanolord]

I have found that war is a must for 4X games. Even if you don't start one yourself, some one else will. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse.

You can set yourself up for a defensive war, but depending on your government type, that might not be an option. With govs like democracy, war wariness hits hard and very quickly, so you have American style Shock and awe to end the war quickly and decisively. Basically blitz at least half most, if not all your opponent's cities in ten turns. It requires you to expect a war with your neighbor so position your guys along it. Concentrate most of them in one or two cites depending how large your army is. Then wait for war. Aircraft is a must for intercepting guys making a run for your cities, but those are few. once you knock them back into the defensive, that frees up aircraft to soften retreating units. The bulk of your army should be doing a smash and grab of the cities. If your fast enough, you can out run the defenders and take cities almost undefended. Having aircraft carriers off shore is great for opening up another front to draw off troops. Off course this is all modern age if tanks and mechanized infantry. Forget about artillery, not worth the time or damage to units or cities.

During all this time make sure that your entire nation is mobilized and cranking out units. Some are lost replacement, but most are for garrisoning since that places your taking aren't very happy about it all.

Unfortunately Civ games and especially civ 3 are not very conductive of world domination. It is mathematically impossible to achieve as your nation very easily falls into civil war past 150 cities. The empire size penalty is just too great to compensate for. I have seen A.I.s approach 200, but they are so weak internally, they fall over to a light breeze. Also having overseas holdings isn't worth anything as they are so inefficient, they drain resources as a whole. You pretty much have to burn down most of the world to gain the world domination victory.

The CPU players get in the habit of building a ton of cities, each with a low population. That's why you don't capture all cities, you burn most of them to the ground.

[Maverick]

Thanks for the help, you guys.  I just saved and quit after Russia declaring war on me.  Fortunately I finally found out to gain alliances, and have my two closest neighbors allied against my overseas invaders.  They're the only reason I'm surviving.

For some reason although I seem to be about equal in tech tree to the more advanced civilizations on the planet, I haven't gotten to advance my units with my civilization.  The most advanced unit I have is a freakin' rifleman and I'm well into the modern age.  What am I doing wrong this time?

[Kairon]

I have found that war is a must for 4X games. Even if you don't start one yourself, some one else will. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse.

You can set yourself up for a defensive war, but depending on your government type, that might not be an option. With govs like democracy, war wariness hits hard and very quickly, so you have American style Shock and awe to end the war quickly and decisively. Basically blitz at least half most, if not all your opponent's cities in ten turns. It requires you to expect a war with your neighbor so position your guys along it. Concentrate most of them in one or two cites depending how large your army is. Then wait for war. Aircraft is a must for intercepting guys making a run for your cities, but those are few. once you knock them back into the defensive, that frees up aircraft to soften retreating units. The bulk of your army should be doing a smash and grab of the cities. If your fast enough, you can out run the defenders and take cities almost undefended. Having aircraft carriers off shore is great for opening up another front to draw off troops. Off course this is all modern age if tanks and mechanized infantry. Forget about artillery, not worth the time or damage to units or cities.

During all this time make sure that your entire nation is mobilized and cranking out units. Some are lost replacement, but most are for garrisoning since that places your taking aren't very happy about it all.

Unfortunately Civ games and especially civ 3 are not very conductive of world domination. It is mathematically impossible to achieve as your nation very easily falls into civil war past 150 cities. The empire size penalty is just too great to compensate for. I have seen A.I.s approach 200, but they are so weak internally, they fall over to a light breeze. Also having overseas holdings isn't worth anything as they are so inefficient, they drain resources as a whole. You pretty much have to burn down most of the world to gain the world domination victory.

The CPU players get in the habit of building a ton of cities, each with a low population. That's why you don't capture all cities, you burn most of them to the ground.

Yeah. If you're a world conqueror, then you have the power to massively control and "re-settle" most of the world's population. It's your right. LOL.

[NWR_insanolord]

I have found that war is a must for 4X games. Even if you don't start one yourself, some one else will. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse.

You can set yourself up for a defensive war, but depending on your government type, that might not be an option. With govs like democracy, war wariness hits hard and very quickly, so you have American style Shock and awe to end the war quickly and decisively. Basically blitz at least half most, if not all your opponent's cities in ten turns. It requires you to expect a war with your neighbor so position your guys along it. Concentrate most of them in one or two cites depending how large your army is. Then wait for war. Aircraft is a must for intercepting guys making a run for your cities, but those are few. once you knock them back into the defensive, that frees up aircraft to soften retreating units. The bulk of your army should be doing a smash and grab of the cities. If your fast enough, you can out run the defenders and take cities almost undefended. Having aircraft carriers off shore is great for opening up another front to draw off troops. Off course this is all modern age if tanks and mechanized infantry. Forget about artillery, not worth the time or damage to units or cities.

During all this time make sure that your entire nation is mobilized and cranking out units. Some are lost replacement, but most are for garrisoning since that places your taking aren't very happy about it all.

Unfortunately Civ games and especially civ 3 are not very conductive of world domination. It is mathematically impossible to achieve as your nation very easily falls into civil war past 150 cities. The empire size penalty is just too great to compensate for. I have seen A.I.s approach 200, but they are so weak internally, they fall over to a light breeze. Also having overseas holdings isn't worth anything as they are so inefficient, they drain resources as a whole. You pretty much have to burn down most of the world to gain the world domination victory.

The CPU players get in the habit of building a ton of cities, each with a low population. That's why you don't capture all cities, you burn most of them to the ground.

Yeah. If you're a world conqueror, then you have the power to massively control and "re-settle" most of the world's population. It's your right. LOL.

No power-mad dictator would have it any other way Kill Maim Frighten Destroy.

[Kairon]

I have found that war is a must for 4X games. Even if you don't start one yourself, some one else will. Hope for the best, prepare for the worse.

You can set yourself up for a defensive war, but depending on your government type, that might not be an option. With govs like democracy, war wariness hits hard and very quickly, so you have American style Shock and awe to end the war quickly and decisively. Basically blitz at least half most, if not all your opponent's cities in ten turns. It requires you to expect a war with your neighbor so position your guys along it. Concentrate most of them in one or two cites depending how large your army is. Then wait for war. Aircraft is a must for intercepting guys making a run for your cities, but those are few. once you knock them back into the defensive, that frees up aircraft to soften retreating units. The bulk of your army should be doing a smash and grab of the cities. If your fast enough, you can out run the defenders and take cities almost undefended. Having aircraft carriers off shore is great for opening up another front to draw off troops. Off course this is all modern age if tanks and mechanized infantry. Forget about artillery, not worth the time or damage to units or cities.

During all this time make sure that your entire nation is mobilized and cranking out units. Some are lost replacement, but most are for garrisoning since that places your taking aren't very happy about it all.

Unfortunately Civ games and especially civ 3 are not very conductive of world domination. It is mathematically impossible to achieve as your nation very easily falls into civil war past 150 cities. The empire size penalty is just too great to compensate for. I have seen A.I.s approach 200, but they are so weak internally, they fall over to a light breeze. Also having overseas holdings isn't worth anything as they are so inefficient, they drain resources as a whole. You pretty much have to burn down most of the world to gain the world domination victory.

The CPU players get in the habit of building a ton of cities, each with a low population. That's why you don't capture all cities, you burn most of them to the ground.

Yeah. If you're a world conqueror, then you have the power to massively control and "re-settle" most of the world's population. It's your right. LOL.

No power-mad dictator would have it any other way Kill Maim Frighten Destroy.

In Civilization, you act as a hive mind for the entire human race. I almost never went to Republic or Democracy when I played the first Civ because those governments diminished my power to rule, and I could better mobilize all of humanity towards a singular goal when I remained Monarchy or Communism.

[oohhboy]

I always rushed for those government types since it allows me to out tech my neighbors. Of course it was inconvenient to have them around for times of war. Although it doesn't make my forces invincible. Bloody bowmen VS Jet aircraft. How dare you scratch the paint work.

In Alpha Centauri you still could do the tech thing almost regardless of faction. There are some factions that aren't err, open to such things. But it is a blast to send just one maxed out needlejet with string guns which clears out entire cities, fleets, armies.

Unlike nuclear weapons in Civ games, I truly feared the planet busters. When the A.I.s have them and are cornered, they have no problem setting them off in their own territory. If you know they have them, you have to form smash teams to waste them on the ground. Lets just say, things don't work out nice like a Tom Clancy novel.

Just go play A.C. It's not main line CIV, but it a heck of a lot better.

[NWR_insanolord]

I always play as the University in Alpha Centauri to really make my research fly to the point where if it were a race I would lap Sister Miriam. As for planet busters, they do make it hard to decide which way to vote about repealing the UN Charter. Having everyone turn on you if you use them is a good way to minimize their use, but nerve stapling can come in handy. Another great thing about Alpha Centauri is how blazingly fast it runs on a modern computer.

[Kairon]

Okay okay, you convinced me, Alpha Centauri is getting bought!

Lets just say, things don't work out nice like a Tom Clancy novel.

LOL

[NWR_insanolord]

You'll probably have to settle for a used copy, the game's been out of print for a while, but it's worth it. It's probably the best PC game ever made. This has got me in the mood for it, I think I'll go play it now.