Is it possible to play Civ3 for fun?

[MisterMuppet]

In fact is it possible to beat Civ3 without having to know various economic principles, or complex mathmatical equations.
I had downloaded the Apolyton tournament 1 saved game only to lose repeatedly in many entertaining ways. Having only played on Warlord before, I therefore turned to the Civ3 Help forum only to find it full of these complicated mathmatical concepts.
Is this how Civ3 was designed? The only way to win is to have a deep understanding of the underlying game mechanics?
I understand that it is not Quake, and I do find Civ3 fun to play. I just don't win much.

[PapaLenin]

Dude you understand it all wrong. Civ3 is simpliest and most primitive game in the world. It's just all who are sending those mathematical and economical concepts to try make the game looking some complex equation.

[Simpleton]

Yah, don't worry about all that technocrap. Just play it and have fun. I always played the other Civ's (1 + 2) for fun. There are some who take it a bit too far, in my opinion, with all the odd combat calculations, deity winning strategies or ways to cheat. I myself never found the need to play anything harder than King on Civ2. It wasn't because I didn't think I could win at emperor or diety but I found those games too intense, less fun and more scripted. When you play at the highest levels you have less freedom to build your civ because you have to follow a set strategy just to survive.
I would just play a difficulty you find challenging but fun. If you have any problems winning or doing something go to the help or strategy forums.

[Baloo]

IMO Civ game is always been simple so that's why people can readily enjoy it. If we want to delve ourselves on minutiae issues we ought to buy Europa Universalis type of game.

I like both type of games in different occassions. If I have free time I play complex games like EU and hard core flight simulators. The rest of the times I play Civ 3 and (gasp) multiplayer FPS.

The next installation of Civ should have the option to make the game complex (adding government micro-management like some people have suggested) or not (like what it's now). I like both so I'm really Jekkyl and Hyde

[MisterMuppet]

Thanks

I'm glad it isn't just me.

[Simpleton]

Originally posted by Baloo

I like both type of games in different occassions. If I have free time I play complex games like EU and hard core flight simulators.

I actually bought EU but never played more than an hour. It just seemed too involved. I normally like those types of games too but at this time I'm just not interested. In fact, I haven't even played Civ3 that much. I just haven't been in the mood. Oh well I know the urge will return and then it will be Civ3 for 2 months straight!!!

[Grumbold]

EU is at its worst for the first few hours, thanks to a manual that concentrates on history rather than game concepts and a tutorial that does not succeed. If you get past that hurdle, the game becomes really pretty straightforward (pretty much like Civ does).

I play both for fun and have no intention of learning how to perfectly ICS or REX or any other TLA in order to play Civ 3 on Deity. I'd rather just play a good game on a difficulty level I enjoy. At the moment Monarch is suiting me admirably. I have one friend who takes pleasure in analysing all games mathmatically and playing to the highest probablilities. It may float his boat but it doesn't make for interesting conversation

[Kekkonen]

Winning (or rather, "winning") in Civ3 doesn't really affect the fun factor much for me. The absolutely most fun I've had playing Civ3 so far was the first time I played it all the way through and lost -- Cleopatra launched her space ship while I was still researching Laser. I played the French, and I had numerous small skirmishes with the Russians through the ages (none of which were initiated by me) and eventually a full-scale World War (which I _did_ start as a preventive measure once I got a few tanks) that eventually involved everybody on my continent: France, Germany, and England, the French-led "Axis", against the alliance of Russia and China. Nothing much came out of that war (I was more advanced technically than the Russians, but they had HORDES of riflemen and a few infantry -- why does that situation sound familiar?), but it was lots of fun.

[Grumbold]

Yep, I agree. My first game had a world war break out as four of us rushed to complete our spaceships. I had a nuke/armor convoy sailing off to "persuade" the French to back down when it became clear I had the 2 tech lead needed to build the final components. Watching my spaceship blast off while everyone around me was scrapping was a fantastic feeling

[quinalla]

Yes, it is definately possible to play Civ 3 for fun, even if "fun" means not worrying about all the math and code behind the game. If those things do interest you, then you can have "fun" trying to figure them out as some people that post here do. I think it is intersting to see what people discover, but I probably wouldn't try to figure that stuff out myself when I could be beating the pants off the AI or struggling to keep up with it.

-quinalla

[mr.buddylee]

I play just for fun.
If I played trying to win every time I would never play the game again because I've only won 1 time.

Everyone has a different idea of fun though. Some people think that it is fun to figure out the formulas and then use them to beat the A.I.

On the other hand, I think puttering around until I'm strong enough to take over the world is fun. Course, thats only happened once, but it was fun!

BTW, what is EU?

[Chevin]

Just my personal opinion on this topic from a warmongers point of view. !!!please remember this is a warmongers point of view and is not the popular point of view or you might take it is a flame!!!


I think Civ III is horribly complex and decidedly antiwar. Infact it seems Civ III has been designed to deter players from war/conqure tactics. The war wearines and corruption make long protracted wars impossible.

Since long bloody wars are the "FUN" for a warmonger, then I do agree it is not possible to play this game and have fun. You can alter your tactics of course. Fight shorter goal based wars. Hit your target cities hard and fast and then plead for peace. But this isn't how a warmonger would do it.

It was easier to be bloodthirsty in Civ II.

[Wolfgang76]

kicking it...

Most of the time I just kick it on Warlord as its fun. I'm not a diehard gamer anylonger (job, wife, kids) so I just dont have the time to work on improving. Frankly though my favorite game was one in which I was losing badly only to pull out a surprise win by launching my star ship just before the french would have won a Diplomatic victory (canceled ship build to see the results). I guess I am too peacefull as I keep getting kicked around by the French in most of my games.
Eitherway, throw out the math. The more I try to understand it the more confusing it gets as I dont think they know either. Play the game how you want to play.

2cents.

[Magician]

Just pick the level that fit you most and start enjoying the game! No mathematics, no analysis, no models, no REX, no ICS, no..... just have fun with it!

Those mathematical analysis or models just have nothing to do with the game. They are just devised by the hardcore Civ fans who want to know every little bits about the game.. I mostly just ignore them all..

[Grumbold]

Originally posted by mr.buddylee
BTW, what is EU?

Europa Universalis is a Renaissance period game set on the real world map with almost every Nation/State/Province depicted to a reasonable level of detail. You can take over any historical country (8 big ones like Spain by default but an easy text edit will allow you to play any that you want). If you have a look in the 'other games' section of Apolyton you will find some posts discussing it. If they interest you, I would recommend waiting and buying EU2 which is due out very soon. It should be even better and much easier to get in to.

Paradox are also the shining example of how we would like all companies to handle customer support. They have been discussing the game with the players and making requested changes on a regular basis even months after the game has shipped. The features they couldn't squeeze into another patch have gone in to EU2 instead....