New to Civ IV & need some basic advice

[Gagnonator]

So, I've figured out how to play and just about most of the commands and what not, but I'm finding that I'm not very good and would like a bit of advice. I typically play on the Noble difficulty level and find that I usually pull out a Time win and am able to conquer because the AI isn't that intelligent at that level. But I also tend to be losing more than half the games within the first 100 rounds.

1) Is it better to build your city wherever your 1st settler is generated or should I search around for a good spot, like cows?

2) I seem to tend towards a conquest victory the most and I'd imagine that has something to do on build order. But how much?

3) Is there a recommended order in which to build units / buildings? I read in some of the posts that you should build a warrior - slave a worker - worker - archer (I know there's debate on the value of archers).

4) How come, no matter what I do it seems that the computer is always a step ahead of me? I can't ever seem to beat him on research and it always seems to build units so much faster.

Any other help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Crossfire]

Generally I won't move the settler more than one turn in order to settle and often the starting spot is fine. Look for a good combination of food resources and enough hills so that you have adequate hammers to build wonders.

At the lower difficulty levels I tend to start by researching mining and bronze working and building worker, worker, settler while chopping like made until my settler is done, assuming I have enough trees to cut. Otherwise I start worker, settler and research whatever makes the most sense.

In order to compete on tech you need to devote either most of your gold to research, or take some of your workers and make science specialists. You will see lots of discussion on SE (specialist economy) versus CE (cottage economy) on these boards because gold or specialists are the means to compete with the AI. Personally I only build cottages on flood plains and farms on grasslands to maximize my food so that I can settle as many specialists as possible. If I have few grasslands I may even farm my flood plains.

[Vampgelus]

Re: New to Civ IV & need some basic advice

Wellcome to the forum!

[SIZE=1]
1) Is it better to build your city wherever your 1st settler is generated or should I search around for a good spot, like cows?

As Gagnonator said, the first spot is usually fine, and you may only move your settler one turn in order to get access to some thing, but more is generally suboptimal (there will be exeptions to that "rule").

2) I seem to tend towards a conquest victory the most and I'd imagine that has something to do on build order. But how much?

Starting build order won't have much impact on the game past the middle-ages. I don't know if that is exactly what you are asking...

3) Is there a recommended order in which to build units / buildings? I read in some of the posts that you should build a warrior - slave a worker - worker - archer (I know there's debate on the value of archers).

On noble difficulty, replace the archer by a settler, followed by a warrior (or preceded if you may grow during the building of the warrior), you may need archers quickly with raging barbs rule, but even then, you have time to make a settler first. This settler will allow you to get access to horses or bronze if theese are not in your capital.

4) How come, no matter what I do it seems that the computer is always a step ahead of me? I can't ever seem to beat him on research and it always seems to build units so much faster.

The AI is spamming cottages and slaving out units. On noble difficulty the AI is not advantaged. On higher difficulties, it's not (much) smarter but is "cheating" (reduced research and building time). AI will research less and build more army with the "agressive AI" option on.

[Gagnonator]

Thanks for the tips (more are always welcome). What it sounds like to me is that I need to expand at first and make sure I have either specialists or cottages for research.

I've tried the cottages method with limited success (though I just read in another post about how too many cities affects your taxes). That's probably my problem.

My fear with using specialists for research is that it'll take away from growth / production.

Another question I thought of, I've heard some discussion on this board about razing cities rather than capturing them. I don't think I've never razed a city in all the years I've played (I've only played against AI). Is there a reason as to why a person would raze rather than capture? (other than not having enough troops to defend.)

[Vampgelus]

Thanks for the tips (more are always welcome). What it sounds like to me is that I need to expand at first and make sure I have either specialists or cottages for research.

I would say : expand to get critical ressources, then build up your economy, then resume expansion (peaceful or by warfare).

I've tried the cottages method with limited success (though I just read in another post about how too many cities affects your taxes). That's probably my problem.

Do not go beyond 4 cities before you can be sure your economy will stand. You may expand further, but you have to be pretty confident.

My fear with using specialists for research is that it'll take away from growth / production.

I only use specialists when I reached happy/health cap. For the production going away... well it's replaced by great person points, so it's like "building" great people.

Another question I thought of, I've heard some discussion on this board about razing cities rather than capturing them. I don't think I've never razed a city in all the years I've played (I've only played against AI). Is there a reason as to why a person would raze rather than capture? (other than not having enough troops to defend.)

That would be your main problem ! IA sucks when it comes to city placement, so be sure the conquered city will be profitable. If it would be a burden to your economy, there is no reason to keep it.

[Colm]

Re: New to Civ IV & need some basic advice

Originally posted by Gagnonator
1) Is it better to build your city wherever your 1st settler is generated or should I search around for a good spot, like cows?

I ALWAYS move my settler around. First of all, they can move 2 spots while your warrior only 1.
Secondly, those first few turns you miss in the beginning are easily countered with a very good starting location.
And who knows, your settler may stumble upon a goody hut or 2 with a settler or tech.

2) I seem to tend towards a conquest victory the most and I'd imagine that has something to do on build order. But how much?

Best is to just calmly build up your cities and then when the other civs come close to your territory, start building your troops. You can pump out units faster from big cities.

3) Is there a recommended order in which to build units / buildings? I read in some of the posts that you should build a warrior - slave a worker - worker - archer (I know there's debate on the value of archers).

I never slave. I go for worker - city defender - some city improvements until size 3 and THEN start the settlers. Building settlers too early not only cost you money but it slows your city growth too much.

4) How come, no matter what I do it seems that the computer is always a step ahead of me? I can't ever seem to beat him on research and it always seems to build units so much faster.

Find good city spots with plenty of money like gold mines and sea with fish.

Any other help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Maybe start a dificult level lower then you use now, so you can learn the tactics better.
Also take a good look of what you research. There's no need to research horseback riding if you don't have access to horses for example.

[alva]

Re: Re: New to Civ IV & need some basic advice

Originally posted by Colm

I ALWAYS move my settler around. First of all, they can move 2 spots while your warrior only 1.
Secondly, those first few turns you miss in the beginning are easily countered with a very good starting location.
And who knows, your settler may stumble upon a goody hut or 2 with a settler or tech.

Those early turns can be vital, most of the times there's no real reason to move your settler.

Best is to just calmly build up your cities and then when the other civs come close to your territory, start building your troops. You can pump out units faster from big cities.

Depends on your civ, stealing a worker earlier on ( especially on higher levels ) is very lucrative, if not necessary.

I never slave. I go for worker - city defender - some city improvements until size 3 and THEN start the settlers. Building settlers too early not only cost you money but it slows your city growth too much.

Hmmm, sorry mate but slaving is an absolute mute. It's probably the most powerfull weapon at your disposal.

Find good city spots with plenty of money like gold mines and sea with fish.

start a dificult level lower then you use now, so you can learn the tactics better.
Also take a good look of what you research. There's no need to research horseback riding if you don't have access to horses for example.

To learn, I find it better to play at a higher level than you really should... keeps you on your toes....

[Colm]

Re: Re: Re: New to Civ IV & need some basic advice

Originally posted by alva
Those early turns can be vital, most of the times there's no real reason to move your settler.

You may have a point on the other things but this is something I totally disagree on.

Let's say your settler is dropped in the middle of the desert and no resources or sea close by? You just place it there? It will grow at an enormously slow pace.
Also, since the settler can move 2 places per turn, it can travel a very large distance, at least twice as fast as the warrior. And a large chance to find huts with another settler or tech. Almost 1 out of 2 games, my settler found a second settler or a worker. Then missing a few turns at the start will easily make up for that.

And even in the small chance that your settler doesn't find a single hut, building your city to a place with at least 3 resources in its borders will more then make up for the few lost first turns.

[LDiCesare]

1) Is it better to build your city wherever your 1st settler is generated or should I search around for a good spot, like cows?

Unless you're playing on some weird map, starting locations are always rigged to have more resources than anywhere else on the map. Therefore moving far is always a bad idea.
The only reason I can find for moving one or at most 2 tiles is if you need sea access. To move one plot in order to settle on plains hill is also worthwhile for the added production (and defense), but most likely only if it lets you get a visible special ion the fat cross.

3) Is there a recommended order in which to build units / buildings? I read in some of the posts that you should build a warrior - slave a worker - worker - archer (I know there's debate on the value of archers).

I'd say warriors (maybe one scout) till you grow to pop 2. Then either worker or settler depending on your techs, traits and resources. A worker early on may be useful only for wood cutting, which I don't find compelling. If you have low price settlers (imperialist is this?), you're probably better off building one asap.

4) How come, no matter what I do it seems that the computer is always a step ahead of me? I can't ever seem to beat him on research and it always seems to build units so much faster.

In terms of research, do you trade techs? If not, you should, as the ai do and they can be ahead of you because of that alone.
As for units and buildings, slavery is the way to go early on. Later, drafting and gold rushing are also options.
Organised religion is also a great civic if you have a religion when you're building up your empire.

[Supr49er]

Re: New to Civ IV & need some basic advice

Originally posted by Gagnonator ...

4) How come, no matter what I do it seems that the computer is always a step ahead of me? I can't ever seem to beat him on research and it always seems to build units so much faster.

Any other help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Welcome to Apolyton Gagnonator.

Build libraries, and move two citizens to 'Scientist Specialists'. Each Scientist Specialist gives +6 , +2 and +3 birth rate.

[Vampgelus]

Re: Re: New to Civ IV & need some basic advice

Originally posted by Supr49er


Welcome to Apolyton Gagnonator.

Build libraries, and move two citizens to 'Scientist Specialists'. Each Scientist Specialist gives +6 , +2 and +3 birth rate.

Corrected:

Each Scientist Specialist gives +3 and +3 birth rate .

[alva]

Re: Re: Re: Re: New to Civ IV & need some basic advice

Originally posted by Colm

You may have a point on the other things but this is something I totally disagree on.

Let's say your settler is dropped in the middle of the desert and no resources or sea close by? You just place it there? It will grow at an enormously slow pace.
Also, since the settler can move 2 places per turn, it can travel a very large distance, at least twice as fast as the warrior. And a large chance to find huts with another settler or tech. Almost 1 out of 2 games, my settler found a second settler or a worker. Then missing a few turns at the start will easily make up for that.

And even in the small chance that your settler doesn't find a single hut, building your city to a place with at least 3 resources in its borders will more then make up for the few lost first turns.

Note that I did say 'most of the times'.

Also, a settler can only be popped on the lower levels.

[snoopy369]

Re: Re: Re: New to Civ IV & need some basic advice

Originally posted by Vampgelus


Corrected:

Each Scientist Specialist gives +3 and +3 birth rate .

What Supr is trying to say is "Build libraries, the Pyramids, and the Sistine Chapel, and run 2 science specialists each."

[LDiCesare]

Let's say your settler is dropped in the middle of the desert and no resources or sea close by? You just place it there? It will grow at an enormously slow pace.

This simply cannot happen unless you're playing your own custom map or map script.
Map scripts make sure that the surrounding plots are 'beautified'. You may have some desert, but it will be turned into grass by the map generator before the game begins.
Or if you do have desert, it'll have some features in it like flood plains (great) or something you can't see yet but will need later (iron, oil). If it's a bare desert plot, then it means the surrounding terrain is so good the map generator didn't need to change that single plot, you're unlikely to find a better place by moving around.

[LDiCesare]

Also, since the settler can move 2 places per turn, it can travel a very large distance, at least twice as fast as the warrior. And a large chance to find huts with another settler or tech. Almost 1 out of 2 games, my settler found a second settler or a worker. Then missing a few turns at the start will easily make up for that.

Finding settlers is only possible at the lowest difficulty levels. I don't think it can happen on Noble, which is the level the op plays at. It's therefore not a reliable strategy.

And even in the small chance that your settler doesn't find a single hut, building your city to a place with at least 3 resources in its borders will more then make up for the few lost first turns.

Your starting plot will always have at least 3 resources in its fat cross, except some may be hidden (like copper or horses, which are invaluable), unless again you're playing a special kind of map/map script.