I could really use some help

[Anyong]

Ok. I've had Civ4 for a while now and I can't seem to get past Noble difficulty level. For some reason when I attempt to conquer the AI, it just seems like I can't make units fast enough to keep up with them, even though I have my workers building a bunch of mines and workshops. I'm also falling behind on techs as the game gets into the later ages. It's so furstrating that my games often end in my srceaming "F#%K this game!" at my computer. I've been trying a few tips that I read in this forum but none have seemed to help yet. Does anyone have any tips that could help in this particular situation?

[Ming]

More information is needed to really help. First, are you playing BTS or just vanilla Civ4.

Second, what are you doing about your economy? Are you just building units an no infrastruture to support them?

Other things like, what tech path are you taking... what type of units are you building, when and how do you decide to attack.

The more information, the better we can help you.

[Blaupanzer]

Are you operating with standard rules or customizing your games? What customizing, if any? Have you read Vel's strategy article on how to begin the game (in the references thread above). We will help when we know enough to do so.

[Dinner]

Post some screen shots or even a save from your most recent game and let people look at them.

[Anyong]

...

Ok sorry guys I just didn't know exactly what info you needed. I've got Warlords first of all. As far as infrastructure goes, if I start the game with war on my mind, I build barracks and stables. Churn out at least 3-4 workers somewhat early so I don't have to newly founded cities to produce them. My tach strategy is to begin with the worker techs (agriculture, pottery, etc.) and try to get bronze working and metal casting as quick as possible. I also try to find bronze and iron as quickly as I can (kind of "duh") Standard rules apply except I took the diplomatic victory off.

Something else that seemed wierd to me was that once I stopped playing on Quick speed and changed to Epic, I seemed to do alot better. What's your opinion on that. Is the fact that the game takes more turns for things to happen cuasing me to pay more attention to detail as you go throuhgh the game?

[wodan11]

Skip metal casting. Instead, after Bronze Working go get Alphabet and Code of Laws. Make Libraries and Courthouses. THEN get metal casting.

Every now and then look at the F2 screen. See where all your money's going. If you have a lot of money going to unit maintenance, then you built too many units or you have too many units outside your borders. If you have a lot of money going to city maintenance then you built too many cities.

[Willem]

If you have a lot of money going to city maintenance then you built too many cities.

Or not enough Courthouses.

[Sarco]

Have you tried to

- specialize your cities
- use specialists and optimize them
- decide as early as possible which victory you will aim for?

If you (as I did) have trouble using specialists, try using a specialist economy with a PHI leader. That will force you to learn

[Anyong]

.

Thanks guys. I think these tips are really going to help. I'm going to try them as soon as I get home from work . I can post screen shots but it won't be soon b/c I have to save them to my thumb drive first.

btw this could be a common question but I am new to these forums. How does everyone handle expansion in the early game? It seems that if I try to keep up with the AI my economy goes into the toilet. But if I try to be more conservative with my expansion, they always end up with way more land than I do.

[wodan11]

Generally I wouldn't get more than 6 cities until you have courthouses. You can, however, raze several AI cities to give yourself expansion room later on.

Make sure you prioritize Currency, Code of Laws, etc.

Make a lot of cottages. Alternately, build Pyramids and run scientists everywhere.

[Anyong]

.

I know I have alot of questions but here's one more.
It doesn't really have to do with the game itself but it's an important part of playing Civ. Seeing as how the game is more addicting than heroin and requires so much time and hardcore focus, when do you play? What does your wife/gf think of it? My wife hates it more than anything else. Lately, I've been playing late at night after she goes to sleep.

[Dinner]

Thanks guys. I think these tips are really going to help. I'm going to try them as soon as I get home from work . I can post screen shots but it won't be soon b/c I have to save them to my thumb drive first.

btw this could be a common question but I am new to these forums. How does everyone handle expansion in the early game? It seems that if I try to keep up with the AI my economy goes into the toilet. But if I try to be more conservative with my expansion, they always end up with way more land than I do.

If you want to expand more early game then your choice of civs (each has it's own traits which have pluses and minuses) and which techs to aim for really make a difference. I usually aim for 4-6 cities right off the bat and try to follow the 60% rule. That is don't expand beyond the point where you can profitably keep your research at 60%. Typically, I'll have around two farms per city and I'll try to make the rest mines and cottages. Those cottages slowly grow into villages and towns producing a lot of extra money which you can use to keep your economy going as you expand. Flood plains and grassland tiles on rivers are ideal spots to put cottages. I find cottage spam to be one of the best ways to keep your gold per turn up and thus your research up while you expand.

Also remember to build courthouses as they keep maintenance costs down. Decide early on where you want to aim your expansion towards and build your forgotten city (which lowers maintenance costs) so that it does the most amount of good.

[-Jrabbit]

I know I have alot of questions but here's one more.
It doesn't really have to do with the game itself but it's an important part of playing Civ. Seeing as how the game is more addicting than heroin and requires so much time and hardcore focus, when do you play? What does your wife/gf think of it? My wife hates it more than anything else. Lately, I've been playing late at night after she goes to sleep.

This makes you totally average. But most hardcores have long ago reached the point where our spouses realize they are fighting a losing battle and settle for just trying to minimize the damage.

[Theben]

There once was a poster here named My Wife Hates Civ. Sums it all up, dontcha think?

[wertyu70]

About "wife" problem:
Ten years ago, when I lived alone, sometimes I spent nights playing civs.
But after I managed to "conquer" my wife (better than conquer another civ...)
I realized I haven't enough free time for her and civ.
Some years ago I tried to involve her in civ games, but I failed.
Now I solved the problem by playing in the office at lunch time
(I have 1 hour time, half for lunch, half for civ).