Getting started with Civ IV

[JavierLQ]

Hey all,

I just purchased CIV IV and both of the expansions. I have dabbled a little bit into it before. However, I am wondering what is the best way to get started into the game.

I played a little of Civ III a long time ago. I know the basic concept, but was wondering what the best way to get started is. Should I do the tutorial then get started playing the game? If so should I play it with all the expansions, or start with the vanilla version??

I'de appreciate all ideas or tips.

Thanks

[joncnunn]

I'm not sure if you've installed them yet, but with both expansions, you'll want to first install the base CD, next Warlords, and finally BTS. (The BTS install will update Vanilla & Warlords to their final patch.)

Then you need to update BTS to it's latest offical patch, you can skip the intermedate ones and just click the latest.

Then you have a choice, you can either install the unoffical patch on top of that or just remember NOT to give Tanks / Panzers / Modern Armor the Colateratal Damage promotion whose effectiveness was removed by that latest offical patch.

[joncnunn]

The tutorial is more of getting familar with the interface than actual strategy. (I think I posted that recently on another thread). But with only "a little Civ III", probably worth doing.

With the level of Civ experence listed, I'd say try one game at Warlord which will give you a slight handicap advantage. If you win, immedately advance to Noble which is as close to even as there is.

As to what to try first, I'd go with BTS epic. A medium size map & medium time scale as well until you have the basics down.

[joncnunn]

Differences between Civ III & Civ IV:

1. No point road or rail spamming everywhere. Commerce from roads bonus in Civ III (and before) is replaced by the Cottage improvement (which evenually turn into towns). And instead of everything benifiting from rail, only Mines, Lumbermills, and Querries now benifit.

2. Coruption from Civ III replaced with City & Civic Maintance cost. (Civ IIIs waste is eliminated entirely)

3. Harsh terraign types often non productive. (I think I mentioned that recently on another thread as well)

4. No transpasing allowed in times of peace without open borders except for Caravels, Spys, and Great Spys.

5. If war is declared with an opponent's units inside your territory, they are expelled. (No more whack a settler-unit passing inside your territory for free workers). Now might be a good time to mention that Workers in Civ IV have no nationality and so those you capture you have to pay unit maintance on if your over the limit.

6. Many, many things that a human could micromanage that the AI was no good at were eliminated. (No min 4 turn research rule, extra hammers & beakers no longer lost, etc.)

7. But as mentioned on another thread progress towards tech A does not count towards tech B (but in this case the beakers are kept for when you resume A). And building/unit A and switching to building/unit B you can't use As hammers. (In this case the hammers towards A gradually get eroded over time)

[ybrevo]

JavierLQ!

It might be very useful if you check out Sulla´s walkthrough. Personally I learned a lot about CIV4 this way.

You can find a link to it in another recent thread: "Getting started on CIV4 for a CIV2 vet."

Good luck!

ybrevo

[Nugog]

Install all 3, patch them all up - and play.

Best way really.

Post questions here - we will answer (probably with much more detail than you will initially want ).

Also - join the BtS Tournament Novice league and give the games a go. We mix up the settings without getting too funky - so it is a good way to try things out.

:shamelessplug:

[MoonWolf]

Originally posted by Nugog
Post questions here - we will answer (probably with much more detail than you will initially want ).

Yep, and be prepared for starting a 3 page discussion if it's better to get 20 food and 35 hammers in 14 turns or 17 food and 40 hammers in 16 turns when asking about micromanagment in the first turns

[Nugog]

[conmcb25]

Throw the old ICS mentality out the window. As was mentioned previously the waste and corruption is gone, and increasing city maintenance is in.

That means fewer well placed cities, hopefully well placed enough to take advantage of working multipole resources and/ or working to your civ's trait advanatges.

In other words it doesn't pay to spam cities any longer.

[Blaupanzer]

In fact, your budget can go negative if you spam too many cities, zeroing out your science and forcing units to go on strike initially (defend only, no movement) and then to disband to save money. So don't plant or conquer more cities than you can afford.

[TriMiro]

Biggest difference IMHO, is the Economics. In Civ III you just build roads and then you get commerce. In Civ IV you need to build cottages and use specialists. Read about specialist vs. cottage economy.