Advice for good multiplayer game

[lange17]

I am a long-time CIV player. Right now, I'm beating Prince level regularly and Monarch level sometimes. I usually play Marathon/Std or Marathon/Huge, and on Continents, Fractal, or Island maps.

I have my Dad and two friends, none of which are particuarly experienced Civ4 players, all starting to play Civ4 regularly (vanilla for now, maybe they'll catch up to BtS eventually.) I think we would have more fun, at least until they gain some experience, playing as teammates against the AI. Can someone either give me advice or point me to a resource on how to best go about that? I'm thinking we can play at a higher difficulty level than I am used to- say, emperor level- and start trading techs and working together only once we "meet" in-game.

Does this sound like a feasible plan? Can anyone recommend a map-type or other settings that would help?

[Robert]

You could play together in one team by selecting the same team numbers in the set-up screen. (now every player gets a unique nr, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. if you, your dad and your friend all take team 1, in example, you're one team)

If you are one team you share techs, you share sight on the map, you can draw lines and signs on the map that all of you can see, you share wonder benefits, etc.

That way you can teach them civ more easily!

You could also create AI teams (same way), then don't make the level too difficult.
You could also fight the individual AI's as a team, though you'll have a huge advantage because you share techs/wonders, while they don't.

Raising the difficulty level in MP games doesn't affect the AI, it only gives more handicaps to you guys. That may be not a good idea for civ rookies. (ie. make their cities too soon unhappy, lose against barbarians and animals, etc.)

Good luck!

[Addled Platypus]

raging barbs
always war
no tech trading